Hotel Activities to Keep Your Guests Entertained

Guests are spending more and more time researching and planning their holidays than ever before.

When looking for a hotel, they’re typically looking for more than a great room, a pool, and a complimentary breakfast.

As a result, hotel owners are feeling the need to up their game in order to stay competitive in this busy market.

Not only do they need to compete with other hotels, but they now must convince guests that staying in a hotel is a better option than a private rental.

The guest's experience is key. One way to entice guests is to offer activities. Even in a popular tourist location with activities for days, guests will enjoy the simplicity of activities organised by the hotel they are staying in.

Hotel Activities To Wow Your Guests

City Tours

Many guests are looking for the ultimate relaxation on their vacation, and one of the biggest stresses when traveling to a new place is finding out how to get around.

Arriving in a new city can be daunting, but hotels can make this easier for their guests.

Guests will want to experience the local culture of the place they are visiting, and a tour can help show them this.

Showcase the hottest spots in town, and make them fall in love with the city. This is a surefire way to make sure they tell their friends and return for another visit.

A well-prepared tour guide can show off the culture and history of the location, as well as take their guests to hidden gems around the city that may be hard to find for the average jet-setter.

Spa Packages

We’re all dealing with a lot of stress these days, and most people get very little 'me time'.

Spa packages are a great way to help your guest unwind, without even leaving the premises. Many will love a treatment after a long flight to help ease those cramped legs, sore backs, and dry skin.

Many hotels are now offering free treatment per stay to really stand out as caring for their guests. This is sure to make an impression.

Location-Specific Offers

Picking activities specific to the area is a good move, as your guests likely picked the destination for a reason.

Whether it be vineyard tours in wine country, snorkeling on a tropical island, hiking tours in a mountain town, or free transport to the clubs in a nightlife city, guests will appreciate some extra support to do their favorite activities.

Local Cuisine

Food tourism is on the rise, with more guests prioritising trying local food as a way to experience a place or culture.

With the rise in the popularity of TV shows with hosts exploring exotic cuisines, more people are eager to expand their palates and try new things.

Additionally, the trend of taking pictures of exciting-looking dishes for social media only gives young tourists further motivation.

Food is a big part of travel, and guests will be all about sampling the local delicacies while they are away.

Serving local fare at the hotel lounge or restaurant, or taking your guests to the best hotspots in town will help food lovers have a memorable time.

Sports and Games

A hotel's equipment and sports features will help active guests maintain their fitness and relieve stress even when they are away from home.

Many hotels will have pools and fitness centers, but having a tennis or squash court, billiards tables, spin classes, or bowling on-site will make your hotel something special.

Offering guests free use of sports equipment can be a real selling point. Some hotels even have golf courses on-site- which of course may not be practical due to the size and maintenance.

However, if a hotel provides golf club rentals and offers transport to the local course, this can be a great compromise to still cater to these guests (while not breaking the bank).

Movie Nights

Guests are likely to spend their days out exploring the sights on their feet.

The evenings are when many will retire to their rooms to recuperate, perhaps sitting in bed with room service, watching television.

However, not everyone wants to be cooped up in their rooms, even after a big day.

Older teens traveling with parents or adults traveling solo may enjoy doing something in the hotel, but still with other people around. A movie night can be a great way to unwind.

Many hotels are now offering outdoor movie nights. These can be special events, watching movies under the stars, with cocktails, or dinner and a movie.

Guests will love watching movies from hammocks, in restaurant seating, or even right on the water! Consider showing films shot locally to give an immersive experience.

Themed Events

Consider having events particular to the time of year. Guests often travel during major holidays, as it's the only time they get off of work.

Celebrating that holiday at the hotel can help them feel like they didn't have to give up their traditional holiday for their vacation.

For example, you might decorate the lobby during Christmas, play Christmas tunes, and have a Christmas party serving all the traditional fare.

As Christmas may not be celebrated in the location, guests will feel they are bringing a bit of home with them. Guests looking to escape can opt to spend Christmas day out exploring instead.

The Bottom Line

With guests being so well-informed regarding their travel plans, standing out above the rest by offering unique activities can be vital to keeping booking levels high.

While guests love having a comfortable room, a clean hotel, and great service, it's the experiences of their trip that they'll remember best.

This is why the more the hotel is involved in special moments, the more the guest will connect the hotel to their fantastic time.

As a result, there will be a better chance that the guest will recommend the hotel, or return on their next trip as well.

Hotels that surpass their guest's expectations are most likely to succeed.

Above others, guests will remember the hotel that offered them a free massage after that horrible flight, took them to that amazing restaurant they would never have picked, or had a tennis court where they could continue working on their backhand.