How to Run a Hotel Business Successfully - Expert Advice and Tips

Do you dream of owning and running a successful hotel business? Are you looking for expert advice on how to make it happen? If so, you’re in the right place.

The hotel industry is an ever-growing and competitive market. The path to success in this field requires substantial effort and hard work. Although there is no one-size-fits-all formula to guarantee success, some essential tips and strategies help hotel owners stay ahead of the competition.

In this complete guide on how to run a hotel business successfully, we’ll provide some expert advice and essential tips. So read on and start planning how to make your hotel the number one in town!

What is the goal of a hotel?

The goal of any hotel is to provide a comfortable, pleasant, and satisfactory experience for guests. This means providing clean rooms and facilities, excellent customer service, and considering each guest's needs.

You should also aim to give your guests more than they expect – an unforgettable experience that will make them want to return.

Types of hotels

Before we jump into how to properly run a hotel business, we thought we're giving you some inspiration on the types of establishments you could run in the hotel industry.

• Boutique hotel: Boutique hotels are typically smaller and offer personalised, intimate guest experiences. They usually feature unique designs with modern, chic styling that reflects the local culture.
• Luxury hotel: Luxury hotels are much higher-end than other hotel types and provide high-end amenities and services for guests. They are typically highly regarded in the industry and provide extra experience with elements such as spas, swimming pools, room service, and more.
• Business hotel: Business hotels cater to corporate travellers who need business-related amenities like meeting rooms, conference facilities, internet access, etc.
• Budget hotel: Budget hotels are very popular in the hotel industry. They provide basic accommodation for relatively low rates, so they attract travellers who are on a budget.
• Eco-friendly hotel: Eco-friendly hotels are becoming increasingly popular in the hotel industry. They focus on sustainability and green practices inside and outside their hotel.

Check out more hotel business ideas and inspiration in our new blog!

Tips for running a successful business in the hospitality industry

Now that we’ve covered the different types of hotels, let’s get into the business side of running a successful hotel business. Here are 12 essential tips for success in the hospitality industry:

Find your niche

The first step to running a new hotel business is finding your niche. You need to decide how to differentiate yourself from competitors and how you’ll stand out in the market. What will make people choose your hotel over others? Do some market research, create a unique concept, and use it to set yourself apart from other hotels.

This is essentially the foundation of how to run a hotel business successfully and can be the difference between success and failure. We've already shared some hotels you can consider, but how do you make your hotel stand out from the others?

Develop a comprehensive hotel business plan

A hotel business plan or business strategy is a road map to success. It lays out how you’ll achieve your goals, how you’ll finance your hotel, and how you’ll market it. A solid business plan should also include the following:

• A description of how your hotel will operate
• Financial projections for how much revenue you anticipate generating and how much profit you expect to make
• Strategies for how you’ll manage costs, such as labour and supplies
• A plan for how to market and advertise your hotel

If you’re looking for a more comprehensive how-to guide on how to start a hotel business, check out our blog post.

Develop a financial plan

When it comes to how to run a hotel, you should always have a financial plan in place. This plan should include the following:

• A budget for how much money you’ll need to start your business and keep it running
• Projections on how much revenue you anticipate generating from different sources (room sales, restaurant sales, etc.) and how much profit you expect to make
• Strategies for how you’ll manage costs related to labour, supplies, and other business expenses

By developing a comprehensive financial plan, you’ll be able to set realistic goals and have an idea of where you stand financially at any given time.

Location location location

Location isn't key in the hotel industry, but the hospitality industry alone. It’s essential. You need to find a place with the right balance of attractions and amenities while being accessible and convenient for your guests.

Your hotel's concept will influence how you choose the location for your business. For example, if you’re running a luxury hotel, you might want to select a more affluent area or near tourist attractions that will attract higher-end customers. If you’re running a family-friendly hotel, you’ll want to choose a location close to family attractions such as theme parks or other family-oriented activities.

Find the right employees

When it comes to running a hotel business successfully, the people you choose for your team are key. You must hire people who understand how to provide exceptional customer service and have experience in the hotel industry.

If you’re unsure how to find the right employees, consider hiring through an agency specialising in the hotel industry. They’ll be able to connect you with qualified and experienced people who understand how to run your own hotel business.

Hiring tips for hotel owners:

• Find yourself an efficient and experienced hotel manager
• Make sure the applicant has experience in the hotel industry and in customer service
• Have a clear job description for the role so applicants know how to best prepare themselves
• Ask targeted questions to determine how they’d handle certain situations
• Have an onboarding process that outlines expectations and how employees should interact with guests
• Make sure you conduct interviews in person if possible, as this gives you the best insight into how they would fit in the role

Generate great leads

Lead generation is how you will attract customers to your hotel and how you’ll make money. To generate leads, you need to create a hotel marketing plan that focuses on bringing in new customers—and the best way to do this is through a comprehensive marketing plan.

You can use various digital marketing tactics such as content marketing, email campaigns, social media campaigns, and search engine optimization (SEO). These tactics will help you bring in more guests, generate leads, and ultimately ensure you have a profitable business.

Keep an eye on your hotel's review

When running a business in the hospitality industry, customer reviews are essential. Positive online reviews can improve business and help attract new customers, while negative reviews can have serious consequences.

That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on your hotel's online reputation and respond quickly to any negative feedback you might receive. Responding to reviews is a great way to show customers that you care about their experience and want to make it better.

You can also use reviews as an opportunity to improve your business. Use the feedback you receive to identify weaknesses in running the business and ways to make improvements.

Keep up with technology

Technology is evolving quickly, and it’s important that you stay up to date on trends and innovations in the hotel industry. Adopting new technology can make running a successful hotel much easier, more efficient, and more cost-effective.

For example, using a cloud-based property management system can help you automate many of the tasks associated with managing your hotels, such as reservations, check-in/check-out, housekeeping, and more. Additionally, investing in an online booking platform can make it easier for customers to book their stay at your hotel directly from your website.

You'll also want a hospitality POS system, which can help you keep track of inventory, manage customer data, and set up a loyalty program. A POS system should also come with integrated payment processing services to make processing payments much easier for your staff and customers.

Give your customers something extra

If you want to run a successful hotel, it’s essential that you give your customers something extra. This could be anything from free WiFi access to complimentary breakfast and 24/7 room service to discounts on local attractions and activities.

Creating a loyalty program is also a great way to show your customers how much you value them. Offering discounts and other incentives for repeat customers can help increase customer satisfaction and encourage more people to come back to stay at your hotel.

Some tips for creating a successful loyalty program include:

• Offering rewards points for each night stayed at your hotel
• Creating tiers so customers can earn additional rewards as they stay more nights
• Giving special discounts or perks to loyal customers
• Having an easy way for customers to track and redeem their points

Communication is key

One of the most crucial skills hotel owners need to have is communicating effectively with customers and staff. Communication can make or break hotel businesses, so it’s important to get across what you want clearly and concisely.

If you don’t feel like you’re very good at communicating, consider taking a course in leadership or management. This can help you become more confident when speaking to customers and staff, giving you the skills you need to become a successful hotel owner.

You should also ensure that your staff are regularly trained to effectively communicate with customers and each other. Having clear policies for how employees should handle customer inquiries and how they should communicate with each other can help ensure that everyone knows how to handle any situation.

Give your management team flexibility

Providing your hotel manager with the flexibility to make decisions and solve problems on their own can help ensure that things run smoothly at your hotel. While it’s important to have policies in place, giving your managers the authority to act quickly when necessary can help them make decisions that will benefit your customers and staff.

For example, if a customer is unhappy with their stay, it’s better to allow your manager to decide how best to handle the situation than having them wait for approval from higher-ups. By giving your managers the autonomy to make decisions, you can help ensure that customers enjoy your hotel's experience.

Throw a killer grand opening

If you want your business to get off to a great start, it’s important that you throw a grand opening event. Hosting an event will give potential guests the chance to experience what your hotel has to offer and can be a great way to build relationships with them.

Organising an amazing grand opening event doesn’t have to be expensive. You can offer free drinks, snacks, and fun activities such as live music or a photo booth. You can also invite local business owners and influencers to attend the event to get more people interested in your business.

Learn how to start a hotel business with no money today!

What qualities do you need to successfully run a hotel?

Now that you know some tips and tricks for running a successful hotel business, it’s time to focus on what qualities you need to have to be successful. Here are some of the key characteristics that every successful hotel owner needs:

Problem-solving skills

As a hotel owner, you will often face challenging situations that require quick problem-solving skills. You should be able to come up with creative solutions to any problem and make decisions quickly and effectively.

For example, let's say a customer has an issue with their room. This could be anything from a noisy neighbour to a faulty air conditioner. You must be able to quickly assess the situation and devise an appropriate solution for the customer. You may offer a discount or complimentary services or even upgrade the customer to another room.

Financial management skills

Managing your finances is essential for a successful hotel business. You need to be able to budget properly, manage staff salaries, keep track of revenue and expenses, and more. Strong financial management skills can help you make the most of your resources and ensure your business remains profitable.

A strong financial plan is especially important if you’re planning on expanding your business. You need to be able to properly budget for any additional costs or upgrades that come with expanding your hotel, so having strong financial management skills is essential.

Communication skills

Good communication is essential for running a successful hotel. You need to communicate clearly with both customers and staff to make sure everyone understands what’s expected of them and how they should handle different situations.

Communication isn't just about talking but actively listening as well. Paying attention to what customers and staff have to say can help you identify potential issues before they become more significant problems. This will make it easier for you to provide solutions and ensure everyone is happy with their experience at your hotel.

Flexibility

Being flexible is key when it comes to managing a hotel business. Things can change quickly, so you need to be able to adapt quickly and respond appropriately in order to remain successful.

Some ways to stay flexible and adapt to changing conditions include:

• Being open to new ideas and technologies.
• Embracing feedback from customers and staff.
• Developing processes that allow for quick response times.

With the right attitude of flexibility and adaptation, you’ll be much better equipped to handle unexpected situations.

Organisational skills

Organisation is essential for any business, but especially for those in the hospitality industry. Having strong organisational skills will help you manage your staff, keep track of reservations, maintain your inventory, and more.

Some tips for staying organised include creating a detailed plan for the day, delegating tasks to staff members, using technology to keep track of data and reservations, and keeping everything well-maintained. By staying organised and having processes in place, you’ll be better prepared to handle any challenges that come your way.

By developing these important qualities and following the tips mentioned above, you should be able to run a successful hotel business. You can achieve your business goals and enjoy running a successful hotel with hard work and dedication.

Final thoughts

Running a successful hotel business takes hard work, dedication, and business savvy. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can set yourself up for success and ensure that your business is successful in the long term.

Remember to focus on creating a fantastic customer experience, investing in training for staff, and providing extra value to guests. You'll also want to brush up on the brilliant skills you can bring to the table as a hotel owner. This means being organised, communicating effectively and being able to solve problems.

With the right strategy and financial plan in place, you’ll be well on your way to running a thriving hotel!

Want more insights into starting a hotel business? Check out our blogs below:

• How to start a hotel business 
• Hotel business ideas 
• How to start a hotel business with no money