The first thing we do when we enter a hotel is to make a small evaluation of what we see. We judge everything we see around us. The color of the walls, the size of the reception desk, the hotel furniture or the atmosphere we find when we arrive, among many other things. From this judgment we generate a first impression that will mark, to a great extent, our opinion about our stay. For this reason, no detail should be overlooked when decorating the lobby. We must ensure that we make a great impression on our guests. Therefore, we want to leave you with a series of tricks to improve a hotel lobby with which to improve the overall experience of your guests and keep them coming back again and again.
Tips to improve a hotel lobby
Adapts the lobby to the needs of your guests
Before making any changes in the lobby, take some time to think about the needs of your guests. The type of customer that typically visits your hotel dictates the choice of furniture depending on the use that your particular type of customer will make of it.
For example, a resort that caters to families will have a very different lobby than a hotel that caters to business travelers or conference attendees.
Ask yourself who your guests are, how old they are, what kind of job they have, what their habits are, what activities they do while they are in the hotel or how long they stay there.
By answering these questions, you will be able to identify what they need during their stay. Make a list of what would enhance their stay and determine what elements you can add to your lobby.
Creates zones within the lobby itself
Any guest wants to feel at home while staying in a hotel, so make the lobby a comfortable and welcoming space. The reception area is not only a place where guests enter and leave. Start thinking of it as a space with different areas that can be used for different purposes.
Create several zones for different groups. For example, place sofas around coffee tables with some entertainment on them, such as magazines or books for those looking for a little relaxation.
Place
high tables
with stools for those who use the hotel as a meeting space with clients, or, chairs chairs with high backs for those who wish to sit comfortably to work. Also, be sure to provide different types of seating so that the guest has a choice.
Show useful and attractive information to your customers
During their stay, your guests may need information about different places of interest, such as places to eat or areas to visit. Use the lobby as an opportunity to give them what they need.
You can share information about:
- Events organized by the hotel.
- Local areas of interest.
- Restaurants and places to eat.
- Maps.
- Hotel services such as spa, restaurant, swimming pool, fitness center, etc.
- Information on public transportation.
- Weather conditions.
A good way to keep all this information up to date is to put up an interactive display instead of using brochures that you have to constantly update.
Place screens in areas where the customer needs them most. For example, you can place one of them with information about events and hotel services near the reception desk and another one with weather information, transportation or local maps near the exit.
Catering to quench your thirst and indulge your cravings
Offering a drink, some nuts, jelly beans or fruit is an option that the customer will certainly appreciate and that will enhance and improve the hotel lobby. You can offer your guests an area where they can serve themselves coffee or snacks, or even a bar area with a bar and stools in the lobby.
Offering food and drink to your guests in the lobby creates a more welcoming and comfortable environment and feels less like a transitional space.
Provide appropriate entertainment for guests
Another way to enhance a hotel lobby is to provide various forms of entertainment.
The type of entertainment you offer will vary depending on the clients. For example, the entertainment offered at a family hotel is very different from that provided at a resort that caters to honeymooners.
Some of these options may include:
- Live music.
- Animators.
- Screens with short video clips.
- Video games that allow some of your guests to play.
- Paintings by local artists.
Use your imagination to provide the best entertainment based on your guests’ tastes. It could be anything that helps them pass the time and creates a more welcoming environment.
Remember that the lobby is the first and last impression that the client gets from your hotel. So create a space worth remembering and use these tips to improve a hotel lobby. Make it an ideal destination space and give your guests an unforgettable experience that will leave them wanting to return.