Use Reviews to Boost Your Boutique Hotel's Bookings

Author

Roxana from Infrared
October 18, 2024

As a boutique hotel owner, you know reviews can make or break your business, they’re a powerful marketing tool. Here's how to use them to your advantage.

Embrace All Reviews

  • Don't fear negative reviews

  • A mix of ratings looks more authentic

  • Respond positively to turn negatives into positives

Interestingly, today's customers are often skeptical of a perfect 5-star rating. A mix of reviews, including some moderate or negative ones, increases the authenticity of your review profile, showing potential guests that your reviews are genuine.

Best Practices for Getting More Reviews

  1. Collect Email Addresses

    • Ask during booking or check-in

    • Build your marketing list

  2. Follow Up by Email

    • Write your former guests a short email a few days after check-out

    • Before asking for a review, see if they had a good stay

      After confirming the guest had a positive experience, send a follow-up email requesting a review. Personalize the email, using the guest's name and specific details about their stay to make it more effective.

  3. Use Social Media and In-House Prompts

    • Encourage reviews on social platforms

    • Place reminders around your hotel

Sample Email to Get Reviews

Send something along these lines to recent Guests - 3 Days After Check-Out:

Hi [Guest's Name],

Thank you for choosing to stay with us at [Hotel Name]. We hope you had a wonderful time and that your experience met—or exceeded!—your expectations.

We'd love to hear your feedback about your stay, including your thoughts on our facilities, service, and overall experience at [Hotel Name].

[Include buttons for "Loved It" or "Needs Improvement" to encourage immediate responses.]

Thank you again for staying with us.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Position]

Respond to All Reviews

  • Thank guests for positive feedback

  • Address concerns in negative reviews

  • Show you care about all guest experiences

This demonstrates that you value all feedback and are committed to improving guest experiences.

Why Engage with Reviews?

  • Builds trust with potential guests: Engaging with reviews builds trust and shows potential guests that you care about their experience.

  • Boosts your hotel's visibility in search results: Regularly responding to reviews can improve your hotel's visibility in search engines (SEO).

  • Helps you improve your service: Addressing feedback allows you to make improvements, enhancing the overall guest experience.

Next Steps

Start using reviews to market your boutique hotel today. By actively seeking and responding to feedback, you can enhance your hotel's reputation, attract more guests, and ultimately increase bookings.

PS: Need help with this? We're here to boost your online reputation and bookings.

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