By Jerry Mooney
If you are in charge of your own hotel, you are probably well aware of how stressful it can be. Those who have been in this situation will tell you that it is always the case. However, that doesn’t mean that it has to be that way. There are, in fact, many things that you can do to ensure that your hotel business runs as smoothly as possible. One of the major aspects of running a hotel is keeping your guests happy. Of course, all businesses need to keep their customers as happy as possible. However, with hotels it often seems to be particularly important. After all, without those guests, it is unlikely that your hotel will continue for much longer. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the key considerations for running a hotel, zen-style.
Go Above & Beyond
A hotel is one of those settings where it is really important to please the customer as much as possible. Of course, this is much easier said than done. However, there are some basic approaches you can adopt to ensure that your people are as happy as possible. On a basic level, you should make sure that you are always going above and beyond to please the customer. This is something which you should always be trying to do, no matter the circumstances. Going the extra mile is often what makes the difference between an okay hotel and an exemplary one. To that end, train your staff to go that extra mile every time. Your guests are bound to be delighted.
Prioritise Simple Comfort
When it comes to the design of your hotel rooms, you should take a lesson from Zen. Here is somewhere where simplicity really pays off. The more simple and stripped-back your approach here, the more likely the end result will be a positive one. When it comes to the layout of the rooms, go for something which is both stylish and simple. This is, of course, much easier to achieve than it might seem. However, it is well worth aiming for. The bathroom, too, should be an example and a reflection of this simplicity. Go for easy-to-clean shower pods and other facilities. That way, your bathroom is much more likely to stay in its best state possible.
Remember The Importance Of Location
Your hotel’s placement is hugely important in determining how well it does as a business. This is something which needs a lot of consideration if you are to enjoy any kind of long-term success. However, it is also much easier said than done. When you are starting up your hotel business, try to find locations which are relatively central in the local area. However, if you go for somewhere too central, you might have a lot of competition from other hotels. Finding this perfect balance is difficult and takes a great deal of time. However, if you get it right, it really does pay off. Ultimately, this is your number one concern.
Jerry Mooney is co-founder and managing editor of Zenruption and the author of History Yoghurt and the Moon. He studied at the University of Munich and Lewis and Clark College where he received his BA in International Affairs and West European Studies. He has recently taught Language and Communications at a small, private college and owned various businesses, including an investment company. Jerry is committed to zenrupting the forces that block social, political and economic justice. He can also be found on Twitter @JerryMooney