Introduction
Are you looking for new strategies to increase your ski resort hotel sales and profitability? With the global ski and outdoor hospitality industry forecast to reach 7.3 billion by 2024, now is a great time to explore how you can take advantage of recent trends.
One of the best ways to grow your seasonal business is to capitalize on the current importance of travel-focused vacations. By adopting the right strategies, hotel owners and ski resort operators can tap into this trend and attract more visitors, increasing sales and profitability.
This article will provide you with such strategies and help you increase your ski hotel sales and profitability.
Reduce prices with promotional discounts
Promotional discounts are a great way to boost ski resort hotel sales and profitability. This can be done by offering discounts, such as a percentage off the regular price, or discounted rates for early bookings. These discounts, when advertised strategically, help attract customers who otherwise might not have stayed.
In order to be successfully implemented, promotional discounts must be properly evaluated to attract the desired target customers. This means pricing discounts in such a way that it appeals to the desired demographics, but does not negatively impact profits. This is done by taking into account the expected increase in sales and dividing it by the reduced amount.
For example, if the discounted price is offered for 3 weeks and the resort expects to reach 3x the number of bookings than usual for that period, the discount should be set at least 1/3 of the regular price. As a result, the resort is essentially paying 1/3 the price for 3x the business – a great return on investment.
It’s also important to limit promotional discounts to the walk-in crowd. Offering these discounts exclusively to those who book directly with the resort eliminates competition from online travel agents (OTAs) and helps ensure that all revenue goes directly to the resort. It also helps increase customer loyalty by encouraging customers to become repeat visitors.
Additionally, setting minimum length of stay and/or advanced booking time requirements can help the resort limit the costs associated with the discount. For example, limiting the discount to more than 5 night stays discourages customers from booking one or two night stays which generate less profit for the resort.
Promotional discounts can be very successful in driving sales and profitability for a ski resort hotel. Offering the right discounts at the right times helps attract more customers, drive more bookings and ultimately increase revenue.
Provide customers with personalized vacation packages
Customizing vacation packages can be a great way to increase sales and profitability at a ski resort hotel because it allows companies to focus marketing efforts on specific demographics and drive repeat bookings. It also increases customer loyalty, which makes it easier to select and cross-sell.
In addition to increasing sales, creating customizable vacation packages offers the opportunity to provide customers with a unique and personalized experience. Guests can select from a variety of services and activities that best suit their needs and budgets. Customers can also customize their packages to include specific activities or services, such as spa treatments, ski lessons and special dining experiences. This means that when customers are looking for the perfect ski vacation, they have options, which will lead to more bookings.
Tips and Tricks for Creating Customizable Vacation Packages
- Determine the types of customers you want to target. Are you targeting families, couples or adventure seekers?
- Develop a portfolio of vacation packages that caters to different types of customers. Include activities and services that appeal to the target market.
- Focus on creating packages that offer value-added services. Consider discounts on other activities or freebies such as ski passes.
- Promote packages through social media, email marketing and other channels.
Impact on sales and profits
Creating customizable vacation packages can have a significant impact on sales and profits. By targeting customers who are likely to become repeat customers, businesses can increase revenue while reducing costs associated with marketing. Additionally, customers who feel they get a lot are more likely to book multiple services or activities. This could lead to additional revenue and a greater return on investment.
Calculation example
Let’s say a ski resort hotel creates a customizable vacation package that includes a stay in a luxury suite, two ski passes, and a SPA treatment. The average package cost is ,000. The hotel then promotes the package online and through email marketing. If the hotel sells 10 packages, that’s an immediate turnover of ,000.
On top of that, if the hotel is able to sell guests on additional activities and services, such as ski lessons and restaurants, they will be able to generate even more revenue. Improving customer satisfaction can also lead to repeat customers, leading to even more sales and profits.
Order your hotel online with social media
Social media marketing plays a vital role in the success of any hotel these days. It is the most efficient and cost-effective medium for reaching new potential customers and following up on current ones. By adopting this form of marketing, ski resort hotel owners can increase their sales and maximize their profitability.
Here are some tips on how ski resort hotels can use social media to promote their business:
- Share relevant content – Share information about ski trends, upcoming events and promotions, interesting resorts, helpful tips and other interesting facts that your targeted audience would like to read. Be sure to engage your followers through polls and Q&As to keep them interested.
- Set up an active customer service department – Build a strong customer relationship by responding quickly and positively to customer queries on social media, quickly resolving customer complaints, and actively taking customer feedback. By doing this, you will earn customer loyalty, which will keep coming back.
- Share Customer Reviews and Experiences – Credible content about customer experiences boosts another customer’s faith in your ski resort and encourages them to book. Ask customers to share reviews of your ski resort on social media platforms.
- Include visuals and videos – organize visually appealing photos of your ski resort, from mountain and ski lifts to rooms and amenities. Videos work great for vacation spots like ski resorts to convey the same message in a better form.
Marketing with social media is a cost-effective way to spread the word about your ski resort and reach more customers (who may not even live near your place). Research shows that businesses like hotels have 13% higher occupancy rates when they have an active social media presence. Also, when customers use booking platforms, they often check social media reviews before booking.
Example: Let’s say you own a ski resort hotel with 50 rooms. If you have an active presence on social media platforms and that increases your occupancy rate by 13% (an average increase), that would mean 6.5 more rooms are occupied each night. With an average room rate of 0 per night, this would bring in an additional revenue of 0 per night, or an additional ,450 per week.
If you implement the right strategies in your social media marketing plan and ensure that your website is optimized and user-friendly, you can maximize your occupancy rates and increase your hotel sales and profits in one go. no time.
Partner with airlines to offer lower flight costs
Creating partnerships with Airlines is a great way to promote your ski resort hotel and attract more visitors. By working with airlines, you can offer guests discounted or free flights to your hotel, greatly reducing their total vacation cost. This can make your offer much more attractive and boost sales. It can also be a great promotion for airlines as more and more people will be exposed to their services.
Here are some tips and tricks for implementing this strategy:
- Do your research and compare the services, prices and locations of various airlines. Once you’ve done that, select the airline that offers the best deal for your guests.
- Negotiate with the airline to create an attractive offer that will benefit you both.
- Promote the agreement prominently on your website and publicity materials. Highlight the savings customers can make.
- Offer airline exclusivity or exclusive offers to customers who book with them.
- Monitor partnership impact and use analytics to track sales, occupancy, and profit to assess whether the partnership is delivering a positive return.
The impact of this strategy can be substantial – according to a 2017 report, Pricewaterhouse Coopers found that 72% of respondents saw an increase in sales as a result of online partnerships with airlines, tour operators and others hospitality providers.
For example, a hotel in the ski resort with 50 rooms can reduce flights for 25 customers, who pay an average of 80 euros for their flight and stay for three days. The hotel would therefore save 2,000 euros in flight costs. If these customers spend, on average, 60 euros per day in the hotel, this would result in an additional profit of 1,800 euros. This is a net increase in profit of 3,800 euros.
Working with airlines is beneficial for ski resort hotels of all sizes and can lead to increased sales and profitability.
Prioritize customer service to ensure satisfaction
As a ski resort hotel, ensuring guest satisfaction is key to your success. Any customer dissatisfied with the service they receive is unlikely to return, leading to a dwindling customer base and reduced sales. Here are some strategies you can use to prioritize customer service and, in turn, increase your ski hotel sales and profitability.
Personalize the experience:
Take the time to acknowledge returning visitors and make them feel welcome. A personalized touch can make all the difference to a returning customer. Try to contact them before their stay and ask them what other amenities they would like to experience during their visit. Add an extra special touch by offering free gifts at check-in. This will show them that you value their loyalty to the hotel and appreciate their business.
Attend Details:
You may think you have it all, but double check to make sure all the details are taken care of. It’s important to be responsive when a customer asks for something, whether it’s a specific room type or a late check-in. It also pays to invest in amenities such as reliable Wi-Fi or fresh linen so guests can have a comfortable stay.
Provide exceptional service:
It is important to ensure that your staff are well trained and competent in the hospitality industry. Create a customer service course for your hotel and make sure your staff is aware of the services you offer. Provide excellent customer service by being friendly and helpful. Be sure to provide prompt resolutions to any issues that may arise during a guest’s stay
Rate your performance:
Rate and review your hotel’s performance often. Use customer reviews and feedback to measure the success of your strategies and services. Consider implementing guest surveys or having a customer service representative speak to guests after their stay. This feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and determine the effectiveness of your strategies.
By prioritizing customer service, you can increase your ski hotel sales and profitability. Make sure you invest in the right resources and make sure your staff are knowledgeable and well trained. By personalizing the experience, taking care of the details, and providing great service, you can keep guests coming back and help ensure your hotel’s success.
Conclusion
For any ski resort hotel owner or operator looking to increase sales and profitability, implementing the right strategies is essential. Strategies such as reducing prices with promotional discounts, offering customers personalized vacation packages, marketing the hotel online through social media, partnering with airlines to offer lower flight costs, collaborating with ski shops and lift companies and prioritizing customer service can all play a key role in helping your ski resort hotel reach its full potential.
As the global ski and outdoor hospitality industry grows, leveraging these strategies to increase your hotel sales and profitability has never been more important. We hope this article has given you a solid foundation for doing just that.