Revamping Hotel Jargon: the Power of Meaningful Room Descriptions — Photo by Manuel Moreno on Unsplash

Hotel industry leaders, it's time for a change. The way you describe your rooms is a crucial part of how guests perceive and understand your offerings. Yet, many hotels fall into the trap of using generic, uninspiring terms like "premium", "deluxe", "superior", and "executive" to describe their rooms. As a result, these descriptions often lack clarity and do not offer a real sense of what the traveler can expect. This open letter urges you to redefine your room terminology and embrace the power of meaningful, guest-centric descriptions.

These vague descriptors, devoid of any meaningful substance, leave potential guests scratching their heads in confusion. What differentiates a "superior" room from a "deluxe" one? What makes an "executive" room worth the extra price tag? These terms, once perhaps unique and enticing, have been rendered hollow and meaningless through overuse. This lack of specificity does a disservice to your potential guests and to the distinct qualities that each room possesses. It's time to step away from these worn-out terms and present your rooms in a more authentic, meaningful manner.

Understanding the Customer Perspective

Travelers are looking for descriptions that give them a real sense of the room. Is it spacious or cozy? Does it have a stunning view or a luxurious bathtub? These are the details that can truly sway their decision. With generic terms, they're left to guess what the room might be like leading to potential dissatisfaction if reality doesn't meet their expectations.

Consider the modern-day traveler who values authenticity and transparency. These generic terms may leave potential guests feeling uncertain, even frustrated. The shift toward meaningful descriptions isn't just about hotels being clear in their communication. It's about respecting and valuing the guest's perspective, about understanding that they deserve to know exactly what they're getting when they book a room at your hotel.

The Power of Meaningful Descriptions

When you move away from one-size-fits-all labels like "executive" or "superior," you open up a world of opportunity to create a lasting impression in the minds of your guests. A description that truly reflects the room's attributes, such as a "sea view suite with handcrafted furnishings," is not just more informative, it's also more inviting. It paints a vibrant picture, stirring up a sense of curiosity and anticipation in the potential guest. This is the power of meaningful descriptions.

Such precise descriptors not only provide a clear snapshot of the room but also offer an enticing glimpse into the experience that awaits the guest. For example, using a phrase like "cozy, vintage-inspired room with a panoramic cityscape view" can evoke feelings of warmth and excitement. This level of transparency in your communication establishes a foundation of trust with the guest. It communicates that you value their needs and respect their right to know exactly what they're investing in when they choose your hotel.

Emphasizing Unique Selling Points

In the bustling landscape of the hospitality industry, shining a spotlight on your unique selling propositions is the game changer. Let's take an example of a room that offers an unobstructed ocean view, adorned with vintage décor, or a room boasting a magnificent handmade four-poster bed. Labeling these treasures as simply "deluxe" or "superior" belittles their charm. When these unique traits are the core of your hotel's individuality, they need to be clearly and proudly reflected in your room descriptions.

Imagine a guest reading about a room labeled "Deluxe". Now picture them reading about a "beach-facing suite adorned with vintage decorations and a unique handmade four-poster bed". The latter not only paints a vivid picture but also speaks to the specific tastes and preferences of the guests. This approach helps your hotel to resonate on a personal level with your prospective guests, creating an emotional connection that a generic "deluxe" room can't match.

The details that separate your rooms from the rest, whether it's the locally sourced artwork or the state-of-the-art technology integrated for convenience, are the elements that should be center stage in your room descriptions. They will make your rooms truly memorable, driving guests to choose your hotel over competitors. Remember, generic room classifications can blend into the background in a sea of similar choices, but a room that narrates its unique story stands out. So let's amplify the elements that make your rooms unique.

Moving Towards Consumer-centric Terminology

To truly drive home the point, let's unpack the issues with generic room descriptors. Rather than sparking interest, these ambiguous labels often elicit confusion from potential guests. They bring no real sense of the room's unique selling points to the table, hindering your connection with potential guests.

When we champion the power of precision and transparency in room descriptions, we open a whole new dimension of guest engagement. Each detailed description paints a vivid picture, allowing guests to envisage their stay. By replacing a term like "executive" with a descriptor such as "spacious suite with an expansive city skyline view", we instantly add depth, clarity, and intrigue to our offerings.

Embracing uniqueness and charm in our room descriptions allows us to break free from industry norms and connect on a more personal level with potential guests. For instance, highlighting features such as hand-painted murals or an antique clawfoot bathtub can create a sense of anticipation and excitement that generic terms simply can't match.

By moving towards consumer-centric terminology, we place the guest experience at the forefront. It's about understanding that today's traveler craves authenticity and wants to know exactly what they're booking. Unleashing the potential of meaningful descriptions allows us to transform each room from a mere space into a unique experience. We're not just selling a bed for the night - we're inviting guests into a carefully curated, personalized space that meets their exact needs and preferences.

Embracing the Future of Hotel Marketing

As we delve into the future, it’s clear that providing our discerning guests with a sea of generic room descriptions is no longer sufficient. The next leap in our industry isn’t merely a swap of terminologies; it’s a transformative approach to how we market our rooms. By focusing on the unique qualities that make our rooms extraordinary, we can paint a compelling picture for our guests, stirring their imagination and fostering a sense of anticipation.

This shift, from vague labels to precise, evocative descriptions, allows us to enhance the guest experience, strengthen our brand distinctiveness, and forge deeper connections with our guests. As we reshape our room type language, we are not just changing words; we are inviting our guests into an immersive narrative, offering them a window into the delightful experiences that await them at our hotel. So let's set sail, away from the well-trodden path of generic descriptors, and toward a future of rich, meaningful, and guest-centric room descriptions. It’s time to revolutionize our communication and connect with our guests on a deeper, more personal level. The future of meaningful room type naming conventions is here, and it is rooted in authenticity, detail, and a profound understanding of traveler's needs. Let's embrace it!

Gary Stringham
REVREBEL