Jul
20
How are you tackling the effects of the credit crunch?
You don't have to delve too deeply into the newspapers in order to read about the problems from the negative brigade:
"The high cost of petrol means people won't travel".
"The cost of credit means the loudest noise you'll hear this year is customers' wallets snapping shut!".
I beg to differ.
The current economic situation could mean the best set of competitive circumstances British (and especially rural) hoteliers have seen for a long time. It all depends about your attitude.
Yes, it's quieter than it has been for a few years.
Yes, customers are looking for better value than they've had before.
...but consider these factors too:
For the first time, British holidays are becoming competitive options when compared against European and Mediterranean destinations.
Tourism bodies such as VisitScotland have finally taken the decision to wean themselves off the North American market and are actually promoting domestic holidays to the domestic market (just as the Americans have done in their domestic markets).
Whether you can take advantage of these and other factors depends on your attitude.
Blaming your poor cash flow on every negative aspect of the business environment does you no good.
Organise your product delivery to offer strong value to your prospects, then reach out to those prospects with your offer.
Understand that you need to invest in your marketing and your interpretation of the local market.
How many rooms have you got to sell each night?
How many prospective customers will sleep within five miles of your hotel tonight?
If you're in a city or town location, explain to me what's stopping you from being full of satisfied customers every night? You need to know this, because addressing what's stopping you is going to help you be profitable.
If you can get this right now, you'll come out of this "downturn" stronger and fitter.
It's nobody's fault that we're in this situation, but it's your fault if you don't make it through to the next stage.
Invest in your marketing.
You don't have to delve too deeply into the newspapers in order to read about the problems from the negative brigade:
"The high cost of petrol means people won't travel".
"The cost of credit means the loudest noise you'll hear this year is customers' wallets snapping shut!".
I beg to differ.
The current economic situation could mean the best set of competitive circumstances British (and especially rural) hoteliers have seen for a long time. It all depends about your attitude.
Yes, it's quieter than it has been for a few years.
Yes, customers are looking for better value than they've had before.
...but consider these factors too:
For the first time, British holidays are becoming competitive options when compared against European and Mediterranean destinations.
Tourism bodies such as VisitScotland have finally taken the decision to wean themselves off the North American market and are actually promoting domestic holidays to the domestic market (just as the Americans have done in their domestic markets).
Whether you can take advantage of these and other factors depends on your attitude.
Blaming your poor cash flow on every negative aspect of the business environment does you no good.
Organise your product delivery to offer strong value to your prospects, then reach out to those prospects with your offer.
Understand that you need to invest in your marketing and your interpretation of the local market.
How many rooms have you got to sell each night?
How many prospective customers will sleep within five miles of your hotel tonight?
If you're in a city or town location, explain to me what's stopping you from being full of satisfied customers every night? You need to know this, because addressing what's stopping you is going to help you be profitable.
If you can get this right now, you'll come out of this "downturn" stronger and fitter.
It's nobody's fault that we're in this situation, but it's your fault if you don't make it through to the next stage.
Invest in your marketing.
