HOTELS
Digital solutions for modern hoteliers
APARTMENTS
All-in-one software for apartments
HOSTELS
A life-time hostel guest experience
Efficient daily hotel operations
Synchronised online distribution
Commission-free direct bookings
Multichannel payment solutions
Digital hotel applications
Centralised guest communication
Get the latest product and industry updates and from the past 30 days and be the first to know about our latest developments.
HOTELS
Digital solutions for independent hoteliers
APARTMENTS
All in one software for an efficient operation
HOSTELS
Give a life-time guest experience
Efficient daily operations
Synchronized online distribution
Commission-free direct bookings
Multichannel payment solutions
Digital hotel applications
Centralised guest communication
Get the latest product and industry updates from the past 30 days and be the first to know about our latest developments.
The key to successfully keeping your customer base during these difficult times is well-thought-out and well-timed communication. If you take the time to plan out a thorough communication strategy now, you can not only make sure people will regard you as a responsible and stable business, but you can also ensure they will be loyal to you and be around when you open your doors to the public again.
We have collected our recommendations for you below regarding the types of messages you can send out during the crisis situation and right after things start going back to normal. Regardless of whether you had to make the decision to close your business for a while or you are still open, we have prepared some guidelines and some more specific example messages for you, which you can utilize while the outbreak lasts. You will also find suggestions in this article for after the coronavirus crisis, so that you can stay competitive, and get ready for new reservations and guests when that time comes.
DURING THE CRISIS
As highlighted earlier, it is crucial that you maintain regular communication with your guests and potential customers throughout this challenging period. Be transparent, and regularly send out honest updates regarding your operations. Make sure you also communicate in an open and reassuring tone which will calm your readers, and inform them of your stable situation. Show them that you are not only strong and determined enough to get through the crisis, but that you are also thinking about the future. Let them know that you are spending your time effectively and that you are working hard on improvements which will make their next stay at your place safe and even more enjoyable.
These messages can come in the form of newsletters, blog posts, and/or social media messages. Whichever option you choose, we recommend you group your communication into two categories:
- Official statements on the status of your operation
- Informal communication regarding how you use your extra time
Official statements
In case you had to close your hotel or hospitality business for an indefinite period of time, make sure you let people know in an open and clear way. Try to convey your message using a direct style, and reassure people that you are doing everything you can to manage the situation. If this is the news you need to deliver, it will inevitably be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be overly negative.
When phrasing your statement, highlight that the reason behind your decision is the safety of your team and guests. An example sentence you can start this message with could be:
“We believe the most responsible decision we can make in this situation is to temporarily close our hotel (hostel/apartment, etc.) in order to protect our guests, staff members, their families and friends. It is important for us that we contribute to our community’s efforts to try to stop the virus from spreading, which is why we decided to take this step…”
After stating the facts it is very important that you switch to a more optimistic and hopeful tone, emphasizing how you and your staff will try to do your best to overcome this situation. Stick to this confident tone in the rest of your official statements as well, and keep your guests up-to-date regarding your plans.
Informal messages
Don’t stop posting on your blog or social channels. Use the messages communicated on these platforms to inform your followers about how you and your staff spend your time to bring about improvements in your hotel, and to deliver some more personal content that helps them keep their spirits up. Some example topics you can create posts about are:
AFTER THE CRISIS
When the effects of the pandemic subside and new reservations start coming in, keep your newsletters, blog and social media communication alive just like before, and introduce some new content to encourage further bookings.
We believe that with an effective communication strategy you can significantly improve the vitality of your hospitality business, build trust, and stay top of mind. However, communicating with your staff is just as important as sending out messages to guests, which can be a challenging task during these times. If you feel like you’re having issues with keeping your colleagues together and your to-do lists in sync, stay tuned for our upcoming content.
In our next post we’ll discuss useful platforms that will help you tackle the challenges of online communication and collaboration within your team.
These Stories on Marketing
Copyright © 2013-2023 SabeeApp Cloud Hotel Software. All rights reserved.