The 3 C's Of Enhancing The Hotel Guest Experience (2024)

Table of Contents
Communication Convenience Choice FAQs

The key to finding opportunities to enhance the guest experience is to focus in on the things that guests secretly crave.

—Justin DeRise

Before we talk about what is important to anenhancedguest experience, we should probably level-set on what is astandardguest experience. We are all very familiar with it but let’s review. First, you make your reservation. Then you travel to the hotel where there is a specific check-in time. You get out of the taxi, head across the lobby and, very often, wait in line at the front desk. The front desk clerk will review your

amenity options with you, give you a key, and point you to the elevators. During your stay you may use the room phone to call for room service. On day of check out, you’ll need to leave by a specific check out time and you will stop at the front desk to review your bill on the way out. However, if there is a line, you may just leave and figure that it not worth it to wait just to review the bill.

Now, you might say that doesn’t seem too bad. But if every hotel is offering the same thing, then perhaps there is an opportunity to make it better and differentiate your hotel amongst the competition. The key to finding opportunities to enhance the guest experience is to focus in on the things that guests secretly crave – the three C’s: Communication, Convenience and Choice. Satisfy the guests needs for all three of these and you are on your way to greater differentiation and incremental revenues.

(1)

Communication

Airbnb is a disruptor in the lodging industry and it’s not just because they have tapped in a new market. The truth is that people have been renting homes, apartments and cottages for years. So what are they doing differently? Airbnb is great at guest communications. The company itself doesn’t do the communicating – they have just set up the technological toolsets so that once you make your reservation, you are in constant communication with the host. The effect of this constant “touching base” is that you, as a guest, feel much more comfortable with this event into the unknown – an overnight stay somewhere far from home. What can hotelier’s learn from this?

Be sure to e-mail and message customer post reservation/pre-stay. Ideally, you should give them real information that is relevant, such as room readiness. We can’t always control our arrival time and often we arrive well before official check-in. An e-mail, generated by your PMS, that indicates that their room is ready and they can select an early check-in takes an enormous amount of pressure off the guest’s shoulders. And when their room isn’t ready, letting them check bags and then receive an automatic e-mail from the PMS when the room becomes ready lets the guest explore the city without having to guess about room status.

The 3 C's Of Enhancing The Hotel Guest Experience (1)

(2)

Convenience

One of the paradoxes of hotel service is that, physically, hotels are set up so that the staff is at the center of things and the guests go to them to get anything done.

But given new technology, things are changing. For example, if you go to an Apple store, where is the checkout register? Where is the line? The staff goes to where the guest is. Mobile technology allows customers (guests) to experience a location without the check-out desk being the center of the universe. That is called guest convenience. The mobility of the staff – or of the guest’s own smartphone – means that the transaction can happen on the guest’s own terms. For example,

if you offer a mobile check-in option, then the part of the front desk conversation that revolves around upselling room upgrades becomes a very non-pressure sales situation. The guest can peruse room options in the taxi at their convenience without the time pressure that comes with people waiting in line behind you. Look into all the processes your hotel requires and ask yourself – is this for the benefit of the guest or is it really for the convenience of the hotel and staff?

(3)

Choice

Sometimes you are on a business trip to a location you’ve been to too many times. Sometimes you are with your spouse and three kids overloaded with luggage.

The 3 C's Of Enhancing The Hotel Guest Experience (2)

Sometimes you are on a business trip to a location you’ve been to too many times. Sometimes you are with your spouse and three kids overloaded with luggage. Sometimes your flight was delayed and you had to sit on the tarmac for hours and you are exhausted. Sometimes you are arriving for an amazing resort vacation and you just want to be

pampered. There is no single way that even one person always arrives to a hotel. So why is the arrival process restricted to one method in most hotels? Give your guests choice. Let them check in via their phone if that expedites their arrival to their room. But also provide a kiosk for those who want to quickly pick up key and avoid the line.

And, of course, provide the full-service option of a staff member – but give your staff a PMS on a tablet so the guest can be greeted at the airport, in the lobby, at curbside or even on the arriving group bus. On day of check-out, let guests review their bill on their own phone so they don’t have to stop at the front desk (which also informs your housekeeping staff that the guest has actually left the building!). Better yet, give them the choice of check-out time if your occupancy for the next day allows for it. Choice conforms to your guests’ different situations and makes their arrival best for their individual situations.

In summary, if you want to truly make your guest experience better, don’t just put chocolates on the pillow. Remember the three C’s. Look into and question all of your guest touch-points and ask yourself – am I really serving my guests’ true needs?

The 3 C's Of Enhancing The Hotel Guest Experience (2024)

FAQs

The 3 C's Of Enhancing The Hotel Guest Experience? ›

The key to finding opportunities to enhance the guest experience is to focus in on the things that guests secretly crave – the three C's: Communication, Convenience and Choice. Satisfy the guests needs for all three of these and you are on your way to greater differentiation and incremental revenues.

What are the 3 guest expectations? ›

What are the three most important expectations of guests in a hotel? The three most important expectations of guests in a hotel are convenience, autonomy, and personalization.

What are the 3 P's of hospitality? ›

The “3 P's” are Protect, Prevent and Promote. We've seen that properties that follow these principles regularly see higher performance than properties that do not.

What are some key factors that could make a guest's hotel experience positive? ›

Hotel guest satisfaction tips and best practices
  • Personalize, personalize, personalize.
  • Post-booking communication.
  • Offer freebies and complimentary services.
  • Implement in-room technology.
  • Be proactive in your service.
  • Reward repeat guests.
  • Offer multiple communication channels.
  • Create an inclusive experience for all.

What is enhancing the guest experience? ›

Enhancing the guest experience post-departure

Leaving guests with a strong positive impression encourages them to return. You can do so by keeping them in the loop about special offers. You could also send out a monthly newsletter letting them know about all the latest developments in and around your hotel.

What are the first 3 major principles of guest handling? ›

There are some basic principles you need to know and use while handling any complaints raised by guests.
...
  • Mind set up: ...
  • Using polite Language: ...
  • Proper Listening: ...
  • Remaining Calm: ...
  • Showing Sympathy: ...
  • Apology: ...
  • Never Blame Others: ...
  • No Excuse:

What are 3 guest relation skills? ›

For this reason, guest relations managers need a commitment to customer service, strong interpersonal skills, the ability to manage others, and the ability to uphold a hotel's image.

What are the four C's of hospitality? ›

As we have learned to flip this perspective to that of the guest, we replace these 4 P's with the 4 C's of a marketing mix: Customer Solution, Cost, Convenience and Communication.

What is 3 star in hospitality? ›

Three star: A broad range of amenities are available, exceeding above-average accommodation needs. Service and design are of good quality. Four star: With a wide range of facilities, superior design qualities and excellent service, these hotels offer a deluxe guest experience.

What are the 5 C's of hospitality? ›

The solution to hospitality interface problems however is not avoidance, but understanding the five Cs of hospitality technology interfacing (Confidence, Contracts, Communications, Comparisons and Contingencies).

How do you create a positive guest experience? ›

10 tips for creating a positive customer experience
  1. Design the ideal customer experience. ...
  2. Know your customer. ...
  3. Create an emotional connection with your customer. ...
  4. Provide value to your customers. ...
  5. Be consistent in your service. ...
  6. Use technology to your advantage. ...
  7. Design a high-quality training program.
Jan 26, 2023

How do you create a good guest experience? ›

Best 15 ideas to enhance hotel guest experience
  1. Touch base with guests' pre-arrival.
  2. Provide an early check-in option.
  3. Ensure a seamless check-in process.
  4. A smile goes a long way.
  5. Make it easy for your guests to get in touch.
  6. Be an insider of your local area.
  7. Build partnerships with local vendors and attractions.
Jan 26, 2023

What makes customer happy in a hotel? ›

Offer beer, wine, and snacks and the availability of the concierge and other hotel staff to plan excursions or set up itineraries in the city during their stay. After a long day of sightseeing or an all-day conference, being able to sit down and relax with a free glass of wine leads to very happy hotel guests.

What are the three Cs of customer magic in the hospitality industry? ›

The three Cs of customer satisfaction: Consistency, consistency, consistency | McKinsey.

What's the most important part of a guest experience? ›

At the heart of every restaurant's potential for profit and success is the quality and consistency of their guest experience. A consistent, quality guest experience translates into loyal, returning customers and the best advertising of all, positive WOM.

What are at least 3 ways of handling guest or customer diversities? ›

5 Best Practices for Serving Diverse Customers
  • Know your clientele. Spend time talking with clients to learn about where they are from. ...
  • Seek out culture-specific knowledge of your customers. ...
  • Recognize patterns for communicating. ...
  • Attract diverse customers by having a diverse workforce. ...
  • Build relationships.
Jun 21, 2012

What is the 3rd stage of a guest cycle in a hotel? ›

Occupancy. Occupancy is the third stage of the cycle and occurs when guest is staying at a hotel. The occupancy stage is all about representing a hotel through superior customer service.

What are the four stages of the guest experience? ›

Guest cycle refers to the distinct stages of guest interaction between the hotel and guests. On the basis of the stage of interaction and activities involved, the Guest Cycle is broadly, classified into four main stages based on the activity type. These are: Pre Arrival, Arrival, Stay and Departure.

What are the 3 elements that build good customer relations? ›

Essentially, the 3 important qualities of customer service center around three “p”s: professionalism, patience, and a “people-first” attitude. Although customer service varies from customer to customer, as long as you're following these guidelines, you're on the right track.

What are the top 3 attributes you think a customer service representative should have? ›

Your agents can be the most empathetic, professional, and positive people in the business, but they also must be able to communicate well with customers. Hire good communicators and commit to training everyone on your customer service team.

What are the C 3 components of the guest experience? ›

The key to finding opportunities to enhance the guest experience is to focus in on the things that guests secretly crave – the three C's: Communication, Convenience and Choice. Satisfy the guests needs for all three of these and you are on your way to greater differentiation and incremental revenues.

What does 4 C's stand for? ›

Have you heard of the 4 Cs of the 21st Century? Do you know what they are? Communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity are considered the four c's and are all skills that are needed in order to succeed in today's world.

What is 4 C's theory? ›

The 4Cs for marketing communications: Clarity; Credibility; Consistency and Competitiveness. What is it? The 4Cs (Clarity, Credibility, Consistency, Competitiveness) is most often used in marketing communications and was created by David Jobber and John Fahy in their book 'Foundations of Marketing' (2009).

What makes a hotel 3 or 4 stars? ›

Three-Star: Three-star hotels ordinarily have some unique amenities and provide quality service. Four-Star: Four-star hotels are often noted for their upscale quality and extraordinary comfort. Five-Star: A five-star property provides flawless guest services in a state-of-the-art facility.

How do you get a Level 3 hospitality? ›

There are three qualifications to choose from at Level 3:
  1. Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery (Preparation and Cooking) (7133-01)
  2. Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery (7133-02)
  3. Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Professional Cookery (Patisserie and Confectionery) (7133-03).
Jul 28, 2022

What does 5 C's mean? ›

Lenders score your loan application by these 5 Cs—Capacity, Capital, Collateral, Conditions and Character. Learn what they are so you can improve your eligibility when you present yourself to lenders.

What are the 5 C's principles? ›

Five C's for teaching. Use connectedness, conversation, curiosity, consideration, and community and culture to create a successful learning environment.

What is C and B in hospitality? ›

C&B (or C and B) – Conference and Banqueting. C&E (or C and E) – Conference and Events.

What are the 5 senses of guest experience? ›

Marketing to a traveler's taste, smell, touch, sight and sound therefore highly contributes to creating powerful memories and presents a real opportunity for hospitality experts to develop customer loyalty.

What makes good customer experience? ›

Great customer service means following best practices like valuing customers' time, having a pleasant attitude, and providing knowledgeable and resourceful resources, but that you also take things a step further to exceed — rather than just meet — expectations.

What are the five senses for guest experience? ›

Engaging the 5 Senses to Improve Guest Experiences
  • Sight. From your lobby to your hallways to every guestroom, your hotel needs to be tidy and showcase some style. ...
  • Sound. ...
  • Smell. ...
  • Taste. ...
  • Touch.
Sep 20, 2018

What are the 5 stages of the guest experience cycle? ›

The 5 Stages of Guest Experience Journey. The Guest Experience Journey has 5 different distinct stages: pre-arrival, arrival, stay, departure, and post-stay.

What are the 10 steps to improve customer experience? ›

How to improve the customer experience
  1. Step 1: Know your customers well. ...
  2. Step 2: Map the entire customer journey. ...
  3. Step 3: Be receptive to feedback. ...
  4. Step 4: Create a customer-centric corporate culture. ...
  5. Step 5: Connect relevant channels and departments. ...
  6. Step 6: Overdeliver on customer service options.
Jun 2, 2022

How do you make customers feel like guests? ›

10 Things You Can Do To Make Your Clients Feel Welcome
  1. Smile in person. ...
  2. Smile on the phone. ...
  3. Office appearance. ...
  4. Greet your clients. ...
  5. Take a genuine interest in your clients. ...
  6. Eliminate distractions. ...
  7. Give your employees a break(room). ...
  8. Create an electronic welcome.
Feb 17, 2022

What attracts guests to a hotel? ›

Embrace special events: During festive periods and special events, people from all over the world usually travel to celebrate with friends and family. Your guests will be happy to arrive at a warm, festive, and memorable welcome. For example, you can offer free Christmas gifts, mulled wine, and the rest.

What makes a hotel feel luxurious? ›

Lavish bathrooms with upscale features such as heated floors and soaking tubs. High-end, lush linens and towels. Deluxe pillows and mattresses so your sleeping hours are as blissful as your waking ones. Beautiful views in every direction – inside and out.

How can I impress my hotel customer? ›

To create an exemplary experience, show guests that you care about them down to every last detail. Offer vouchers: Once you know the nature of their visit, offer museum or sightseeing vouchers. Pre-arrival emails: Develop a rapport with guests before they even step into your hotel.

What are the 3 C's of customer experience? ›

From years of helping companies improve their customer experience, I've seen that it always comes down to three C's: Champions, Culture, and Communications. These fundamentals also apply to managing major change – which is often what's needed to make a measurable impact in your customer experience.

What are the three C's? ›

Clarify= Clearly identify the decision to be made or the problem to be solved. Consider=Think about the possible choices and what would happen for each choice. Think about the positive and negative consequences for each choice. Choose=Choose the best choice!

What do the 3 C's stand for customer consumer and company? ›

The 3 Cs of Brand Development: Customer, Company, and Competitors.

How do hotels add value to guests? ›

Here I am sharing with you some effective methods to add value to your hotel and improve guest experience:
  1. Offer Extra and Exciting. ...
  2. Offer Unusual Loyalty Programs. ...
  3. Communicate With your Guests. ...
  4. Help Guests Break the Monotony. ...
  5. Give More Value to Customers than they Expect.
Feb 8, 2018

What is the importance of improving guest experience? ›

Increasing guest satisfaction is directly connected with business performance. A great experience increases guest satisfaction and the likelihood of that customer coming back. That, in turn, increases your revenue and generates marketing for your business.

How do hotels solve guest problems? ›

The Basics Of Handling Complaints
  1. 1 – Listen. It's possible that the guest(s) who are complaining may be angry or upset. ...
  2. 2 – Empathize And Apologize. People want to be heard and validated. ...
  3. 3 – Find The Root Of The Problem. ...
  4. 4 – Offer A Solution. ...
  5. 5 – The Follow-Up. ...
  6. Take Notes. ...
  7. Isolate The Situation.
Mar 23, 2022

What is a perfect guest experience? ›

The experience could be as follows:

The guest is greeted upon arrival by this employee. They provide suggestions on what to do in the city. They can include their own perspective and opinion here. This way, it is more personal and authentic. Offer to make restaurant reservations.

What 5 key factors must be considered to ensure that the guest feels comfortable? ›

5 ways how to make customers feel comfortable
  • Have a contact page.
  • Have a professional site.
  • Use customer testimonials.
  • Offer money-back guarantees or free trials.
  • Show your interest in meeting customer's needs.
Sep 30, 2014

What are the three Ds of customer expectations? ›

Any company can create a customer experience that sets it apart from the competition. It involves a serious, long term commitment, but means getting just three things right. They are the “three Ds”: Design, Delivery and DNA.

What do you mean by guest expectations? ›

Guest expectations are behaviors or actions that guests anticipate while interacting with your property. Hotel guest expectations are everchanging as new technology, service offerings, and property types emerge.

What are the 3 types of service? ›

Services are diversified in three groups; Business services, social services and personal services.

What are the key elements of quality guest service? ›

There are four key principles of good customer service: It's personalized, competent, convenient, and proactive. These factors have the biggest influence on the customer experience.

What are the important elements of a guest experience includes? ›

Main elements of a good customer experience
  • Reliability. Reliability is a critical factor that significantly impacts the customer's experience. ...
  • Availability. ...
  • Convenience. ...
  • Personalised Communication. ...
  • Simplicity. ...
  • Accountability. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Anticipation.

How do you make guests happy? ›

6 Ways to Make Hotel Guests Happy
  1. Be Reliable.
  2. Free Amenities. Amenities speak volumes. ...
  3. Reward Repeat Guests. If you have repeat guests, you must be doing something right. ...
  4. Personalize the Experience. ...
  5. Be Aware of Special Needs. ...
  6. Know the Area.
Sep 17, 2020

What are the responsibilities of guest experience? ›

Ensure guests are aware of and follow Garden Etiquette, Photography Policy and other organizational policies. Assist with managing crowds during high visitation times. Ensure constant coverage of the admission/retail desk when assigned. Organize, clean and monitor the lobby to ensure it is presentable and safe.

What is the 3 key of customer service? ›

Essentially, the 3 important qualities of customer service center around three “p”s: professionalism, patience, and a “people-first” attitude. Although customer service varies from customer to customer, as long as you're following these guidelines, you're on the right track.

What are the 3 golden rules of customer experience? ›

Define: Identify and agree upon the customer problem(s) to solve. Define a vision. Align customer goals with company objectives and determine success metrics that will drive value. Empathize: Understand the current customer experience and operational environment that delivers it, through a human-centric lens.

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