Bed & breakfasts have been around for a long time. It has always been popular, it never really fell from popularity, although they are in a niche market. In the United States, for example, the first B&B dates to Colonial America in the late 1700s. There were not many hotels or inns, and it could be difficult for people to find lodging. The B&B was a simple and natural solution, and it allowed people to make some additional money by offering a room and some food for a night or two.
There was a time when they were an alternative to other forms of lodging, while today, they are often the preferred form of lodging for many travellers. They have continued to grow and now there is a booming business from B&Bs. Today, travellers who are looking for a different kind of getaway are choosing B&Bs. Age no longer really matters, either. People of all ages like the idea of staying at a bed & breakfast.
If you are the owner of a B&B, you will want to make sure that you are getting plenty of bookings and that you find ways that you can boost your revenue. Below are 10 of the best ways that you can increase the money you are making with your business.
Tip #1: Improve Your Website And Content
Many people who are looking for a true B&B are going to be looking at your website before they go through third-party sites. Of course, they have to be able to find your site and navigate it. This means putting in some effort into the quality of the design and the type of SEO-friendly content that it features. Having a blog about your B&B, the surrounding area, and things to do can help.
Tip #2: Make Booking Easier
If you want to get more revenue, you want to have more guests at your B&B. To help ensure that you have more guests, you want to make booking as easy as possible. Instead of sending people to a third-party site to book, you should ensure they have the ability to book right through your site with as little hassle as possible.
This is where Hotelogix bed and breakfast booking system comes into the picture. It provides an efficient and robust web booking engine that allows guests to book directly from your website as well as your Facebook page.
Tip #3: Special Offers for Guests
To get guests to come back, you might also want to provide special offers. A discount for coming back to stay at the bed and breakfast will work well. Something like providing a free bottle of wine to returning guests, or even first-time guests, can be an enticement.
The more you make your guests feel welcomed and the more you increase your chances of getting a high number of repeat bookings.
Tip #4: Create A Loyalty Program
Customer loyalty programs are a fantastic idea for any type of business. It’s one of the best ways to build loyalty to your brand because the guests know that if they continue to come to the B&B, they will be rewarded. It might be a free day’s stay, movie tickets, or some other reward, but it will keep people coming back, which means increased revenue for you.
Tip #5: Listen To The Guests
Whether in-person or in a review, it is a good idea to listen to what the guests are saying. If all of the guests are complaining about the same thing or if they are requesting the same thing, then it is time to listen (within reason). This helps to ensure that future guests don’t have the same issues.
Tip #6: Consider Seasonal Pricing
There are likely certain times of the year when things slow down at your B&B. Look at the seasonal dips that you have and consider offering slightly lower rates during that time. Better rates can give people a reason to want to come to your B&B. Even though you might have lower rates at that point, it’s better than having empty rooms.
Tip #7: Consider Allowing Pets
This can be tricky, as some B&B owners simply don’t want pets in their property. However, there are some benefits. People love to travel with their cats and dogs, and it will provide you with a new group of potential customers. In addition, it is possible to charge extra for pets, which will increase your revenue.
Tip #8: Provide an Extended Stay Discount
If you want to keep your rooms filled for longer and make more money in the long run, consider offering an extended stay discount. Having a better rate for staying five days instead of three can get many people to opt for a longer stay because they believe they are getting a good deal when they do.
Tip #9: Have Upsell Options
Upselling has always been a tactic that works to help increase revenue, and it can certainly work with a B&B. For example, you might offer champagne in the room for an added fee as part of a romantic package. You might offer certain types of items on the menu for an added charge. There are plenty of options, and each B&B will have its own upsells that work well for them. Find yours.
Tip #10: Remember the Guest
By collecting some basic information about the guest, such as when they visited, what they did and enjoyed while at the B&B, their birthdate, etc., you can personalize offers to the guest. This can help to entice them back. For example, if a guest visited during the fall, next year, you could send an early reminder email about how great the fall colours are going to look.
Even B&Bs Should Incorporate a Property Management System
While running a B&B might not be as complex as running a large hotel or a hotel chain, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Those who have a B&B and who want to give it the best possible chance to succeed will want to consider using a property management system and B&B Reservation Software like Hotelogix. With its cloud option, it will allow you to run your business from a single location, and you don’t need to have much infrastructure in place.
In fact, just having a computer with Internet access is all that’s needed. With the Hotelogix mobile app, it allows you to work from any location you like. You will be able to book right through your site, you can provide returning guests with VIP accounts for faster booking, promote services and offers, and automate many tasks. It is cost-effective and easy to use.
You can learn more about why Hotelogix cloud solutions like B&B booking system is a good fit for your B7B property here. It could be the perfect solution for your bed and breakfast booking system and more.
