There have been instances throughout history of hotel promotions. Some have been successful, and others less so. If you’re going to open a hotel, though, you need to think about how you’re going to promote it. Otherwise, you’re not likely to see the engagement you want.
Certain aspects of running a hotel, like setting up a suitable hotel payment processing gateway and having friendly staff members, are absolutely necessary. You should also take lessons from these examples throughout the history of hotel promotions.
The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan
The Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is generally regarded as the world’s first hotel. It’s located in Japan’s Yamanashi Prefecture. It’s said that it opened and has run continuously since 705 AD.
The reason why it’s noteworthy, other than its antiquity, is that it was built to be as attractive to travelers as possible. It’s a serene mountain retreat featuring traditional Japanese architecture, shoji screens, tatami mats, and other characteristics regarded as being authentically Japanese.
It opened very modestly. Word of mouth is part of what keeps it packed, even if it’s not as luxurious as some other hotels. It’s proof positive that when something simple but desirable is done right, that can lead to lasting success. This hotel isn’t flashy, but its elegance and attention to detail are what set it apart.
The Savoy Hotel in London
The Savoy, located in London, opened its doors in 1889. It was part of the great European hotel boom of the latter half of the 1800s.
The Savoy made headlines and became one of the world’s most desirable hotels because it was the first in that part of the world to feature electric lights, 24/7 room service, and elevators. While all of those are now common, the lesson to be taken from the Savoy is that if your facility is the first to feature the most modern amenities, that can be enough for it to stand the test of time.
The Ritz Paris
In this same era, you can look at the Ritz Hotel in Paris that was the brainchild of Cesar Ritz. Its beauty was such that the term “the Ritz” came to be synonymous with class. If something was fancy, it was described as ritzy.
The rooms featured telephones, which was unheard of at the time. The fine dining available on site was another noteworthy feature. Its grand opening was written about in every major Parisian newspaper. The lesson to be taken is that when you redefine elegance, you can cause your hotel to become a worldwide topic of conversation.
The Mobley Hotel
In 1919, the Mobley Hotel in Cisco, Texas, was bought out and renovated by Conrad Hilton. In addition to having a grand reopening that brought out all of the state’s wealthy elites, Hilton normalized modern reservation systems and points-based loyalty programs.
The lesson here is that if you can come up with innovative ideas for your hotel, it won’t just fill the rooms. It can potentially shake up the entire industry.
