What is a hotel package?
A hotel package is a curated bundle of amenities, services, and experiences designed to enhance a guest’s stay while offering added value. Far more than just a room booking, a hotel package aims to provide a holistic experience, often at a discounted rate compared to purchasing each element separately.
Whether it’s a romantic getaway package that includes a couple’s spa treatment and a candlelit dinner, or a family adventure package featuring tickets to local attractions, these packages are tailored to meet specific needs and preferences.
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Why are hotel packages beneficial for your business?
Hotel packages are more than just bundled offerings; they’re a strategic asset that can significantly elevate your business on multiple fronts. Here’s why they’re beneficial:
Revenue diversification
Hotel packages allow you to diversify your revenue streams by upselling various services and amenities. Whether it’s spa treatments, dining experiences, or exclusive tours, these packages encourage guests to spend more, boosting your overall revenue.
Enhanced guest experience
By offering curated experiences tailored to different guest profiles, you’re not just providing a room but an unforgettable stay. This enhanced guest experience leads to higher satisfaction rates, positive reviews, and ultimately, repeat business.
Competitive edge
In a saturated market, hotel packages give you a competitive advantage. They allow you to differentiate your offerings, making your hotel more appealing to prospective guests who are looking for more than just a basic stay.
Increased occupancy
Strategically designed packages can help fill rooms during off-peak seasons or weekdays. By bundling services and offering them at a discounted rate, you’re providing an incentive for guests to book during times when the hotel might otherwise have low occupancy.
Stronger partnerships
Hotel packages often include collaborations with local businesses, such as restaurants or tour operators. These partnerships not only enrich your packages but also create a network of local businesses that can cross-promote services, benefiting the community as a whole and increasing the attractiveness of your region across the board – always good for tourism.
Streamlined operations
Bundling services into packages allows for more efficient operations. Knowing in advance what services will be utilised enables better staff scheduling, inventory management, and resource allocation, leading to cost savings.
Common hotel packages examples
Hotel packages come in various themes to cater to a diverse range of guest needs, offering something for everyone. Here are a few examples to get you inspired:
- Romantic package: Includes a candlelit dinner, rose petal turndown service, and a bottle of champagne to set the mood for love.
- Family fun package: Features tickets to a nearby amusement park, complimentary meals for kids, and a family movie night setup in the room.
- Spa package: Bundles a night’s stay with a selection of rejuvenating spa treatments like massages, facials, and body scrubs.
- Business package: Offers complimentary airport transfers, high-speed Wi-Fi, and access to meeting rooms for the busy professional.
- Work from hotel package: Includes a dedicated workspace in the room, premium Wi-Fi, unlimited coffee or tea, and extended check-out times for a productive stay.
- Wedding package: Takes care of everything from the ceremony venue to the honeymoon suite, including catering and floral arrangements.
- Golf package: Perfect for golf enthusiasts, this package could include green fees, cart rentals, and even lessons for those looking to improve their game.
Unique hotel package ideas
Special offers and value-added packages will increase bookings at higher price points, but it helps when they have intriguing themes that get noticed. The best ones we’ve found have one or more of the following qualities:
- They incorporate local culture and attractions
- They serve niche demographic markets or lifestyles
- They tie in to holidays or special commemorative days
- They include an extreme or quirky experience
- They incorporate ultra-luxury, high-end elements
Let’s take a look at five great examples of unique hotel packages for inspiration:
1. Show off local culture and attractions
At the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas, the ‘Cowboy it Up’ package plays on local history and heritage.
This deal includes amenities – such as two pairs of cowboy boots, two Stetson hats, and a cooler with local craft beers and house-made beef jerky – as well as a target shooting session and a grilling demonstration.
“Our packages are always highly anticipated because they are so creative and elaborate,” said general manager Arthur Coulombe.
“This one strikes a chord because it showcases our unique Texas Hill Country ambience, with a tip of the hat to our proud western culture.”
2. Serve your guests looking for a niche
Look at those speciality markets that you serve. Families with children, pet owners, or people in specific occupations will all appreciate the extra attention. It’s always wise to cater to kids, so think about activities the whole family can enjoy.
The Frenchman’s Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands recently introduced the ’Under The Sea’ package with a mix of active and educational adventure, including stand up paddleboarding, swimming with sea turtles, snorkelling excursions, night kayaking, and admission to the St. Thomas Coral World Ocean Park.
Even small properties can offer intriguing packages. At the Caldwell House Bed and Breakfast in New York’s Hudson Valley, active military are entitled to a special ‘At Ease’ offer that includes a visit to the nearby United States Military Academy at West Point.
The Alfond Inn in Winter Park, Florida offers a VIP (“Very Important Pup”) package that welcomes guests to stay in dog-friendly rooms with their pets.
Four-legged guests receive complimentary keepsake water bowls, a private dog walker session, and turn down treats. For each package that’s booked, the inn makes a donation to The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando.
3. Commemorate important dates
Another option is to tie in your package to an upcoming holiday or other significant date.
The advantage to this is that while that phrase is trending in the news, there’s a greater chance that your package will be discovered in conjunction with it. The disadvantage is that it could have a finite shelf life, unless you extend it or re-introduce it the following year.
This year, the Bulgari Hotel in London offered a “Royal Package” to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday.
The three-night stay included chauffeur service; private wine tasting; a tour of the royal parks, Westminster Abbey and Kensington Palace; and a riverboat trip to Henley-on-Thames with lunch at the historic Cliveden House.
To commemorate ‘Be a Millionaire Day’ (May 20 for those interested), the Sonesta Coconut Grove in Miami, Florida offers a ‘Be a Millionaire’ package available through August.
Deep-pocketed guests who want to live like a millionaire stay in a two-bedroom suite with an on-call chauffeur, in-room champagne and caviar; a private yacht excursion with a professional photography session; and a pair of freshwater pearl earrings.
4. Think outside the box and go OTT
If your clientele isn’t looking for money-saving packages, you can make your hotel stand out with over-the-top amenities. Incorporate luxury goods and services, like cars.
At the Mandarin Oriental in Prague, the two-night ‘Electrifying Prague’ package provides guests complimentary use of the all-electric BMW i3.
In Italy, Il Salviatino in Florence and Palazzo Victoria in Verona offer the Gran Turismo experience, including a self-driven Ferrari tour between Florence and Verona with a stop in Maranello to visit the Ferrari museum.
5. Quirky works, too
Sometimes, the most impactful packages are the ones that get you noticed, even if they don’t bring in that much business. For example, the ‘Ink & Stay’ package at the Hotel Erwin in Venice Beach, California includes a $100 voucher for a tattoo at the nearby Black Rose Tattoo parlour.
The hotel also throws in an ice pack and skin lotion, as well as a bottle of pain-numbing tequila. When the package was introduced, it was covered in major newspapers and online news outlets.
The bottom line here is to be creative. Think about what you can offer within a unique theme, give the package an eye-catching title, and promote it through every marketing channel at your disposal.
Mirja Wolf,
Manager
Hotel Kragemann
How to promote hotel room packages
The smart hoteliers we mention in this blog are selling these packages on their websites – direct and commission-free. It’s really important to use an online booking engine that can host bespoke packages with flexibility built-in.
There’s no point in creating a local vineyard package if it’s going to be closed during winter but still for sale on your website.
SiteMinder’s booking engine allows hoteliers to take control of their selling options and packages.
Here are a few more packages we think work well:
- The American Girl Dream Package at the Omni Berkshire in New York City
- The Experience Virginia Wine Country package at the Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg, Virginia
- The Guitar 101 package at the Westin Austin Downtown in Austin, Texas
Creating the best Valentine’s Day hotel package
Valentine’s Day is a rare period of opportunity for your hotel; when guests may come from the local neighbourhood or from across the world .
Short-term and last-minute bookings will explode and the chance to earn revenue from packages and deals will be especially lucrative.
So it’s the perfect time for your hotel to create romantic, unforgettable Valentine’s Day experiences to offer guests who are hungry to escape the day-to-day and celebrate with a significant other.
A romantic hotel package to set the mood on Valentine’s Day
Some couples enjoy a traditional approach, others are more adventurous, while some simply want to relax as much as they can. It’s important to think carefully about how to play to the strengths of your property and also how you can utilise other local businesses and locations.
Consider some of the following ideas for your room packages:
- Traditional: A basic setup might include rose petals adorning the bed, two glasses of champagne waiting, chocolates and fruit, with breakfast in bed delivered in the morning.
- Decadent: His-and-hers spa day, a couple’s massage, and a full five-course candlelit dinner at your hotel restaurant.
- Experiences: surfing/skiing lessons, rock climbing and abseiling, or horseback riding.
- Something different: painting or pottery classes, cocktail making, cooking classes, chocolate making.
- Frisky: champagne, massage oil, scented candles, and contraceptives.
- Big spenders: sunset cruises, personal serenades, or helicopter rides around nearby sights.
- Galentines: don’t leave out travelling friends when preparing for Valentine’s Day. Tailoring these around sightseeing and nearby attractions is the way to go.
- Social event: Use your bar and restaurant to your advantage, create a theme, and even hire local musicians to perform at your hotels’ own public party.
Best practices for hotels during Valentine’s Day
Here’s how to market Valentine’s Day at your hotel and make it a profitable time of year.
1. Run a Valentine’s Day hotel campaign
Targeted emails, dedicated event pages on your website, and themed social media posts will help your hotel catch attention as couples are making their plans each year. This is the perfect time to offer exclusive deals to past guests or guests who regularly stay with you, as well as introductory discounts for guests who have never stayed before. You could even run some competitions with romance-inducing prizes.
2. Use imagery on social media
Couples will want to be inspired by your marketing – they’ll want to picture themselves enjoying a romantic evening at your hotel. Without inspiring imagery, that’s practically impossible. It’s a good idea to take new photos of your property, rooms, and amenities showcasing what you have to offer those celebrating the season of love.
3. Encourage sharing and feedback
Use your guests for some free advertising by making it easy for them to tag your hotel and use specific hashtags on their photos or uploaded Instagram stories. If you’re being especially extra over Valentine’s day, this is a great time to ask for reviews as well – positive reviews are the lifeblood of a business and it’s the kind of word of mouth that will sway new guests to stay with you.
4. Boost social engagement and sharing with music
Why not create playlists to go along with your rooms or packages and share these on social media, asking guests to add songs that fit with each different offering. Then when they book a stay, the playlist will be playing for them when they arrive at their room, including songs they specifically requested.
5. Find the way to guests’ hearts through their stomach
Romance and food also have a very close relationship. Most couples bond over a meal when forming a relationship so eating a meal together is very important for Valentine’s Day. At this time of year, think about changing up your menus to add a special touch and convince potential customers they can’t miss out on limited time items.
6. Use an app to provide better service and capitalise on upselling opportunities
Once guests are in your hotel, a specialised app can be easier to sway them to indulge a little further with extra food, drinks, and entertainment. If you haven’t got your own app, there are plenty of providers you can use for the job. Go check out SiteMinder’s Hotel App Store.
How can your hotel stand out on Valentine’s Day?
It’s important to play to the strengths of your business and make those clear alongside the themed promotions you’re already running. For instance, some guests may be looking for an amazingly romantic night but they also want convenience. If your hotel is super close to transport, local restaurants, and attractions, make sure you maintain that messaging in your Valentine’s Day marketing. The same applies to guests looking for a true romantic getaway and your hotel can offer an escape and digital detox.
You also need to ensure your guests are excited by what you’re offering.
Should your hotel market to singles on Valentine’s Day?
You should never turn away a potential guest by making everything about couples – leave some room for the single pringles too.
Fun ideas could include:
- Holding a speed dating event in your bar
- Giving solo diners a free drink when they eat at your restaurant
- Hosting a movie night
- Hosting a comedy night
- Offering ‘off the grid’ hiking adventures via local guides
- Selling deals that include tickets to attractions like zoos or museums
