For Innkeepers

The Value of Amenity Collections for Your Hospitality Property

Amenities are an important product that many guests will be paying close attention to during their stay. This is in reference to bathroom amenities like soap, shampoo, and other personal care items that people use for hygiene. The scents and design of these items can affect the initial feeling that guests will have towards your property. With so many different styles and designs to choose from, it can be a daunting task for property managers to select which ones will best fit their needs. This blog will aim to make your selection process simpler. It will describe how to choose between bar and liquid soap, popular fragrances, and the benefits that dispensers offer.

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2022 Trends for the Hospitality Industry

2021 has had many highs and lows for the hospitality industry. COVID-19 restrictions were reduced as vaccinations were offered to the public which resulted in increased travel again. However, the hospitality industry and many other industries struggled with product availability and enough employees to help business operations run smoothly. This resulted in congestion at the ports, less frequent truck shipments, and longer wait times. COVID-19 brought about many changes to the hospitality industry that will likely stay for the long-term. This blog offers insight into some common trends that should be expected in the hospitality industry for 2022. This includes a continuation of local travel, workcationing remaining popular, short-term rental property demand, sustainability awareness, and an increase in technology.

Local Travel

Local travel became a common trend as restrictions slowly began to ease throughout the summer of 2020. Many people who were willing to travel were understandably hesitant to travel very far as many states and countries had their own rules and regulations pertaining to COVID-19. Obviously international travel will increase, but many experts in the industry expect there to still be a large volume of local travel or travel primarily within one’s own country. Many families have said they prioritize experiences and fun activities for vacations, and they have begun to realize that those needs can be met not too far from home. This will also be a good way to help support local businesses since many are still recovering from the pandemic.

Workcations will Remain Popular

“Workcations” are the combination of work and a personal vacation. This became an increasing trend during COVID-19 since many people were still able to perform their jobs without being in the physical office. Remote work granted more freedom to employees to work from wherever they wanted. As long as they had access to a laptop or some tablet and wi-fi, they could essentially work from anywhere. An employee could travel to a new location, work during the day, and then explore their new area during the evening. They need to stay somewhere, so properties like inns and bed and breakfasts could see a wave of new guests simply due to them being able to work remotely.

Short-Term Rental Property Demand

Short-term rental properties became very popular during the pandemic as people were looking for alternatives to hotels. Now that the height of the pandemic has subsided, short-term rentals need to step up their game to stay competitive with other types of properties. Some examples include adding in more amenities to their properties such as personal care items like shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Also, leaving small welcome gifts for guests and stocking up the kitchen with fresh food is a great way to increase guest satisfaction and get good online reviews. There are also consultants, like the Distinguished Guest, that help advise hospitality professionals on hospitality information and inspiration which can help think of unique ways for each rental property to stay competitive.

Sustainability

Sustainability for the hospitality industry involves taking steps to help preserve and sustain our needs for the present without sacrificing the needs of future generations. Simply put, many people, especially younger generations, are looking to support properties that are making an effort to help protect the environment. Some beneficial ways properties can improve sustainability is by limiting energy and water usage. This can be as simple as shutting off the lights, turning off ceiling fans when no one is using the room, and making sure televisions are not running when they are not being used. Also, water can be saved by watering the plants in the garden a few days a week instead of daily. The elimination of disposables like mini plastic amenity bottles and the addition of amenity dispenser systems can help promote sustainability. Composting is also a great way to promote sustainability compared to throwing leftover fruits and vegetables into a trash can.

Technology is Key

Like many industries, technology is expected to have a growing influence in the hospitality industry. A form of technology expected to rapidly expand is virtual reality. Virtual reality will allow potential guests to virtually explore a property prior to booking a reservation. This will help international travelers get a better idea of what the property and its surroundings will be like before they book a reservation. Properties also need to focus on having mobile-friendly services since so many people have smart phones. This includes having a mobile-friendly website and maybe even an app that will allow them to book a room, check in, and see their travel rewards all from their smart phone. A property with fast wi-fi is also critical because many guests will be working from their laptop and will need a fast internet connection.

InnStyle is Here for You

A primary goal of InnStyle is to be a one-stop shop for members of the hospitality industry and all their needs. They are here to help with any linen projects you have for the new year. InnStyle offers a large selection of bedding, amenities, bathroom supplies, lodging accessories, table linens, and much more. Please give them a call if you have any questions or comments about your property. They can be reached at 267-354-6020 or 800-877-4667. Their website is https://www.innstyle.com/.

Bedding: The Ultimate Holiday Gift

Decorations, gingerbread houses, candy canes, presents, and family are some of the many thoughts and memories people might think of as the holiday season approaches. Many people associate the holidays as a time of giving and thankfulness. This time of year can also bring about stress and anxiety about what gifts to give to friends and family. Common gifts people give are new cell phones, clothing, or gift cards. However, there are plenty of other unique ideas for gifts like bedding. This blog will explain why it can make a great gift for the holidays.

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Supply Chain Issues and the Effect on Hospitality

Everyone is aware of the effects COVID-19 has had over almost the past two years. Many of those effects are still lingering even as the public has slowly began returning to normal. The effects from COVID are not just related to health. Two major problems are supply chain and distribution issues and a labor shortage across the world. These issues could become worse as we are now getting closer to the holidays since this is a time when there is always a need for increased help in shipping, retail, and many other important industries. The hospitality industry is no exception to the supply chain issues. Many hospitality professionals have personally experienced the difficulty of trying to order products for the property and have them arrive in a reasonable time frame. This blog will explain the main causes for the supply chain issues.

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Hospitality Pillows: Down vs Down Alternative

It is always a refreshing and welcoming feeling when your face meets the pillow on your bed after a long, tiring day. Pillows are an item that people can quickly become attached to because they become so accustomed to the feel and style of their own personal pillows. As a host, it can be difficult finding the proper pillows to put on the beds for your guests since they all have different preferences for firmness and softness. To go along with that, there are different types of pillows including down and down alternative pillows. There are many factors that are involved when deciding which pillows to purchase for your property. This blog will explain the differences between down alternative and down pillows.

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What is the Ideal Room Temperature for Your Property?

One of the primary goals for the hospitality industry is to make sure guests are comfortable, relaxed, and feeling at home. An overlooked area that can dictate how comfortable a guest feels is room temperature. This can be challenging because everyone has different opinions on what is the ideal room temperature. Ultimately, guests should not feel too hot or too cold during their stay. This blog will explain the ideal room temperature for properties, how men and women prefer room temperatures, and recommend bed linens to help with temperature control.

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Tips for Laundering and Removing Stains from Bathrobes

Bathrobes can be the ultimate luxury item when provided at the property you are staying at. They are a nice added feature that can help you feel extra comfortable after a bath or shower and a great option on a chilly morning. Many guests will enjoy wearing a robe while relaxing by the pool or spa. It is important to make sure the robes are laundered properly and keep their new appearance. This blog will explain how to launder a bathrobe and provide tips for how to remove certain kinds of stains from bathrobes.

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Preserving Water In the Hospitality Community

Record-breaking heatwaves in the western regions of the United States have led to droughts and wildfires. Fresh water is a resource many of us take for granted, and it is important that we continue to preserve it the best we can especially in places where water is scarce. The hospitality industry uses a lot of water, so they have an important responsibility in doing their part to preserve it by taking all the necessary steps to limit their water usage. This will have a positive impact on the community and the individual businesses as the water bills will be reduced. It could be beneficial to look at the different ways water can be saved in the different locations of the property that use the most water. This blog will analyze how water can be saved in the bathroom, the kitchen, the laundry room, and the outdoors.

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How a Weighted Throw Blanket can Benefit Your Property

Everyone thinks of throw blankets as a decorative linen that adds extra warmth to a guest. Someone might enjoy sitting under a throw blanket on the couch with a hot, refreshing cup of hot chocolate. The reality is throw blankets have many purposes. They come in all different sizes, colors, and thickness levels. One of the more overlooked aspects of throw blankets is that they can be weighted. Weighted throw blankets aren’t as common as regular throw blankets, but there are many additional benefits that come with weighted throw blankets. This blog will explain what a weighted throw blanket is, the benefits of weighted full size and throw blankets, and how they can be styled around a property.

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The Emotional Effect Behind the Room Colors of Your Property

An often unwritten and overlooked skill for being an innkeeper or host is creativity. Property managers need to be able to envision the design of all different kinds of rooms when opening a property or renovating an already existing property. There are many furniture options to choose from, bedding linens to select, amenities needed to supply a property, and colors needed to design each room on the walls, ceilings, and floors. The color of a room dictates what kind of moods your guests will develop. Certain colors are more common in specific types of rooms, but the color you choose for your rooms can impact the atmosphere for your guest experience. This blog will explain what different colors can represent, the mood they project, and which types of colors work best for different types of rooms.

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