Hotel Supplies and Amenities - Managing Expectations to Increase Occupancy Rates

Not unlike other businesses, hotels have been forcedorder to maintain their occupancy rates, hotels are
to step up their game as people travel less and, whenconstantly striving to best their competition. This is truer
they travel, their budget is smaller in a still laggingthe more sophisticated the hotel as they know
economy. While the goal is always full occupancy andconsumers have a wide variety of options and the
high occupancy rates, all hotels have unoccupiedstandards such as drinking glasses and coffee service
rooms that need to be filled. Hoteliers realize that theirare no longer enough. Instead, hotels must study what
hotel are each one among many and that consumersthe new basic is and add it to their repertoire of hotel
have a variety of hotel options to choose from. Hotelssupplies and amenities in order to impact their
realize that part and parcel of maintaining theiroccupancy rates.
occupancy rates is offering the right amenities at a5 Star hotels and resorts are on a unique plane in
competitive rate in order to attract new guests andevery way from the level of guest services they offer
retain returning ones. In the lodging industry, hotels mustto the list of available conveniences and amenities
be ahead of current trends in order to better theiroffered to attract guests and increase occupancy
occupancy rates which means being mindful of hotelrates. Microfiber bathrobes and slippers,
supplies guests prefer as the mind their budgets.monogrammed glass tumblers, video game systems
Hoteliers start with the premise that most hotels offerand fog free shaving mirrors are among the high
the same basic hotel supplies and amenities such asquality hotel supplies offered to guests at resorts and
complimentary toiletries, durable ice buckets andluxury hotels. They hope, and the numbers tell them,
functional hangers. They offer the basics in an effortthat by offering amenities that are above and beyond
to make a guest's stay comfortable by offering thethe basic hotel supplies provided by their competition
conveniences of home. While the definition of "basic"they'll not only attract and retain wealthier guests but
hotel supplies will vary depending on the hotel class,increase their occupancy rates as well.
most hotels provide drinking glasses, either plastic, anIt's a given that hotels, regardless of their rating and
ice bucket of either shatter proof plastic or fauxprice point, want to please their guests by offering the
leather and an iron with ironing board. Hotels competebest possible hotel supplies and amenities. However,
with one another for business. The amenities theywhen hotels are reviewing the amenities they may
offer are part of that competition which is why guestsoffer guests, deciding which specific hotel supplies
find many hotels in the same general area and pricethey'll offer will depend in part on their budget and
range with the similar amenities and hotel supplies.what prior hotel guests have indicated they'd like to
Depending upon the sophistication of the hotel itself,see or be likely to use. Hotel supplies are an intrinsic
guests may define 'basic' differently. Absorbent towels,part of the hotel experience and their impact cannot,
bed linens with higher thread counts, bowed showerand should not, be under estimated as they can affect
rods, and heavy duty wooden luggage racks becomeoccupancy rates. All else being equal, the right hotel
basic, expected hotel supplies in mid-grade hotels.supplies can make or break a guest's experience.
Because they're constantly competing for guests in