Opening a small hotel is a dream for those who like to interact with people and want to run their own business. Unfortunately, opening your doors is not enough to succeed on your first try. It will take careful research, management and financial planning to make a hotel successful. Keep all this in mind and follow our advice!

A market study is a work of collection and analysis of information with the aim of identifying the market and its characteristics. This work is necessary to ask the right questions. Thanks to this study, you will be able to identify your competitors, suppliers, customers and the different expectations. You can also position yourself on the price and fix your strategy to attract a maximum of customers. This way you can check if your project is viable.

Your location must be able to meet the needs of your target. Your catchment area must be sufficient, the proximity of shops, places of life and tourist places must be important. You should also have a parking lot. Being located near an airport or a train station is a real bonus, not to mention public transportation. Your hotel must be well served.

Don’t be too hasty when choosing a location. This decision is crucial. Indeed, choosing a place in good condition, respecting perfectly the rules of hygiene and safety can avoid you to spend months to invest in renovations.

For your launch strategy to work in a sector as competitive as the hotel industry, you must absolutely promote your establishment through a website. It will also facilitate the search for your future customers, and will allow you a good referencing.

It is the ideal occasion to define your graphic charter. Put also beautiful pictures of the rooms and suites you have. And propose an online reservation system.

To make your hotel known and to keep your customers loyal, you need an effective marketing strategy.

Therefore, rely first on network marketing or what is commonly called “word of mouth”.

Don’t forget to master your digital reputation knowing that all bookings are now made online. Manage your social networks by doing community management.

You can promote your establishment by developing partnerships with other tourism actors: travel agencies, tourist offices, guides.

The reception of your travelers is very decisive on how the rest of their stay will be. A friendly and smiling welcome is necessary. Register the arrival of your clients and take care of the administrative formalities. When they leave, prepare the invoices and collect their payment.

Furthermore, for a very successful welcome, inform the guests about the services offered by the hotel, the cultural and gastronomic activities in your city, give them the wifi code and the useful numbers. Variation: go digital! Let them scan the QR code they will find in their room, they will have access to your digital welcome booklet on their mobile. Simple and effective!