|
|
Hey 👋
You’ve just opened Hotel Nuggets, a not-boring newsletter for hoteliers.
Today’s edition:
- 🤳 Ditch the WiFi password post-it
- ☎️ Zoku’s phone booths
- 🧦 Hotel swag that guests actually want
- 🔍 Join the Google Hotel Pack
|
|
|
|
#1 Ditch the WiFi password post-it
Let’s be honest: nothing kills the “welcome” vibe faster than guests struggling to type in a 16-character WiFi password with random capitals and numbers.
The CEO of Shopify dropped a post on Twitter:
|
|
|
|
He’s right. Instead of printing out complicated codes, use a tool like wificard.io to generate a scannable QR code. Guests just point their phone camera, tap, and boom💥… they’re online.
It’s a tiny upgrade that feels magical. No more reception calls about WiFi. No more awkward “I think that’s a capital I, not an L.” Just smooth, instant connectivity.
💡 Pro tip: Stick the QR code on the key card holder, the welcome booklet, or even the TV screen saver. Guests will love you for it.
|
|
|
|
#2 Zoku’s phone booths ☎️
If you’ve ever tried coworking in a hotel lobby, you know the pain. You’re focused, typing away… and suddenly someone starts a 45-minute sales pitch two meters from your laptop.
Zoku Amsterdam noticed the same problem in their common areas and solved it brilliantly. During their recent renovation, they added 3 phone booths.
|
|
|
|
Even better:
- They’re free to use – no booking, no charges, no friction.
- They’re placed in a corridor space that wasn’t used much before.
The result? Guests can take calls without disturbing others, and the whole coworking vibe is calmer and more productive.
|
|
|
|
You don’t want to spend your hard-earned profits on Instagram ads that don’t bring recurring customers.
|
|
|
|
#3 Hotel swag that guests actually want 🧦
Hotel merch isn’t just a “gift shop thing”.
Done right, it’s an extension of your brand and a sneaky way to keep your hotel living rent-free in a guest’s daily life.
|
|
|
|
A few tips from the pros at Longitude:
- No cheap trinkets. If it feels like a giveaway at a trade show, skip it. A heavyweight mug or cozy hoodie will get used again and again.
- Curate, don’t clutter. A few beautiful, well-designed items are better than a wall of random stuff.
- Tell a story. Subtle design beats slapping your logo everywhere. Think local motifs, inside jokes, or collabs with nearby makers.
- Grow in tiers. Start with basics (mugs, blankets), then expand into lifestyle drops, and eventually a signature collection if it fits your brand.
The payoff? Guests buy into your lifestyle, not just your rooms. Plus, every hoodie or tote in the wild is free marketing.
Check out also our swag report from Ace Hotel Tokyo 🇯🇵
Need more inspiration? Take a peek at Swagalogue for a gallery of tech company swag that’s fun, fresh, and anything but boring.
|
|
|
|
#3.5 How to sell your hotel without anyone knowing?
Not every owner wants the world to know their hotel is up for sale.
Maybe you don’t want your employees panicking, your competitors celebrating, or your neighbors gossiping.
Instead of blasting your listing publicly, or use an agent with a tiny network, there is a 3rd option:
Share your hotel for sale confidentially with vetted buyers at Buy That Hotel.
|
|
|
|
#4 Join the Google Hotel Pack 🔍
Every hotelier wants to be in Google’s Hotel Pack: that map section with local hotel results when someone searches “family hotel near Kuta Beach” or “boutique hotel in Seminyak”.
Here’s the catch: you cannot pay your way into it.
|
|
|
|
The Hotel Pack is earned real estate.
Listings are pulled from your Google Business Profile and ranked by three things: Relevance, Distance, and Prominence.
OTAs can show prices in the comparison or run ads, but they don’t get their own listing. Only hotels do.
👉 Eduard Ruppel shared some insights about what matters most:
- Profile quality: complete categories, 20–50 good photos, weekly posts, Q&A, booking engine connected.
- Local SEO: location keywords on your site, consistent citations, backlinks from local tourism boards or blogs.
- Reviews: volume, recency, and replies (every single one).
🚫 Myths busted:
- “We’ll boost ads to get in.” → Wrong. Ads don’t buy listings.
- “We’re far from downtown, so no chance.” → Wrong. Relevance and prominence can beat distance.
- “Once we rank, we’re done.” → Wrong. It’s ongoing work.
📌 Playbook for this week:
- Claim and perfect your Google Business Profile.
- Upload those 20–50 quality photos.
- Post updates weekly.
- Add top FAQs to your Q&A.
- Fix room pages with unique copy + direct booking perks.
- Build local backlinks.
- Ask for reviews, reply to all.
Bottom line: OTAs can’t buy the Hotel Pack. But you can earn it.
|
|
|
|
That’s all for now, have a fantastic rest of the week!
Cheers,
Peter from Hotel Nuggets
How did you find this edition?
👍 YES – I liked it
😑 MEH – Average
👎 NO – Almost no value
|
|
|
