With the holidays right around the corner, many of us are getting our homes ready for friends and family to stay the night. For most of us, that means tossing the “good” comforter on the sofa bed, but a little extra thought can go a long way when it comes to making your visitors’ stay as blissful as possible. So we turned to the pros – some of our favorite hotels – for some of their best hospitality tips that you can copy right in your own temporary bed and breakfast. But just be warned that after experiencing these little extra touches, your guests may never want to leave!
A Versatile Backdrop
You may have noticed that many hotel rooms are adorned with a mostly white palette offset by a few pops of color. In addition to energizing the space, vibrant concentrations of color such as a bright cushion here or a brilliant chair there allow for a finished look that’s also very easy to maintain. You can also swap out your accent pieces easily when your canvas is so neutral.
Snack Time
Even if you plan on feeding your guests, make sure they stay sated between meals by placing a basket of snacks and drinks in their room. They’ll be especially delighted if you copy The Allison Inn and Spa in Newburg, Oregon and select delicacies and beverages that are local to your area.
Custom Minibar
By the same token, we can guarantee that you’ll be the world’s most popular host if your visitors arrive to find a minibar awaiting them in their room. It can be as simple as a selection of their favorite spirits and some glassware on a desk or as elaborate as a fully stocked minifridge!
Local Flair and Flavor
If your visitors are from out of town, introduce them to your area by infusing their room with a taste of local culture. When I stayed at the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel at Kau U Fong in Hong Kong, I was excited to see that rather than diluting the Chinese aesthetic as some of the larger hotels in the city chose to do, it embraced it wholeheartedly. So if you live in Amsterdam, don’t be afraid to play up those Delftware hues, and if you’re in Nashville, treat your guests to some cool music-themed lodgings.
The Paper Factory Hotel in Queens, New York gives a nod to its former life by incorporating old newspapers into its flooring.
Setting the Mood
All it takes is one whiff to know when you’ve stepping into a W Hotel. The hospitality brand is well-known for their intoxicating signature scent, which can even be purchased and brought home. Take an aromatic tip from the haute hoteliers and lace your home with a scent of its own. You can even offer it up to your visitors as a take-home gift when they depart.
Help your visitors take a load off by providing them with a sitting area like you’d find in almost any hotel. Whether it’s a full desk, or just a single chair, just one extra place to sit or drape a jacket will be greatly appreciated.
Some people love sleek and sexy accommodations, but one of my favorite things to see in a hotel room is a touch of nostalgia. There’s just something about a retro rotary phone like this one at the Jade Hotel or an old-school gramophone that shows that careful thought has been put into the room’s design.
And finally, this one’s pretty obvious but, hook your overnighters up with luxurious, comfortable sheets! One of the most commented-on aspects of any hotel stay, bedding choices can make all the difference in the world when it comes to a restful or ratchet night’s sleep. So do yourself a favor and splurge on some quality sheets for your guest bedroom.
W Hotels treat their guests to soft yet crisp EKOCYCLE sheets made from recycled plastic bottles.
Put some of these professional hospitality tips to work the next time you have guests and they may even leave you a tip at the end of their stay!
