August 2023 Newsletter
August 2023 Newsletter
In the August 2023 Newsletter, we have a lot of exciting news to share. Firstly, No Vacancy is back for a 5th year running in Australia, and GuestPoint will be there. We take a deeper look into the reality of a recession for Australia Motels. We have curated a step-by-step guide to sending emails from GuestPoint, as well as a management tip, on how post-stay emails can help you get more repeat and direct bookings! We take an exclusive look at GuestPoint Pay, how to collect payments within GuestPoint as well as a video tutorial. Our property of the month of August is Royal Motel Miles. We look at the latest update GuestPoint v9.7 & v11.2. Finally, we end the monthly newsletter with some trivia, do you know how much money is thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day?
Industry News
No Vacancy is Back in Australia for the 5th Year!
As Australia’s premier hotel and hospitality industry tradeshow and conference, NoVacancy has earned a distinguished reputation for presenting the latest trends and innovations that truly shape the future of the industry.
At NoVacancy, you’ll find an extensive array of tools and resources meticulously designed to streamline your operations. If you’re in the hotel and accommodation business, this presents an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in a world where the industry convenes, forging invaluable relationships while accomplishing essential business ventures.
We are thrilled to announce that GuestPoint will be returning to this year’s NoVacancy Expo, showcasing our latest cutting-edge solutions. Join us at the prestigious ICC Sydney, where you can visit our stand (355) from the 31st of August to the 1st of September. Discover how GuestPoint can revolutionize your business and elevate your guest experience to new heights. We can’t wait to meet you there.
Blog Article
What Does a Recession Mean for Australian Motels?
During a recession, the Australian motel industry can face several challenges that directly influence its performance and profitability. Let’s delve into some of the potential effects:
1. Decline in Demand
As consumers tighten their budgets during economic downturns, their priorities shift towards essential expenses, leading to a decrease in spending such as travel and vacations. Consequently, the demand for motel rooms and accommodations declines.
2. Reduced Occupancy Rates
With a decrease in demand, motels experience lower occupancy rates. This decline poses a significant challenge as it directly affects their revenue streams.
3. Increased Price Sensitivity
In times of economic uncertainty, travellers become more price-sensitive and actively seek out deals and discounts. As a result, motel operators are under pressure to lower their rates to remain competitive.
4. Shift in Consumer Preferences
During a recession, consumers tend to opt for cheaper accommodation options. Budget motels or alternative lodging platforms such as vacation rentals or sharing economy platforms gain popularity
5. Business Travel Reductions
To reduce costs, many companies curtail business travel during economic downturns. This reduction in corporate bookings can significantly impact motels that rely on business travellers for a substantial portion of their revenue.
6. Operational Challenges
Motels may face difficulties related to staffing, maintenance, and upgrades, which can impact the overall quality of services provided.
Explore the detailed impact of a recession on the accommodation industry on our blog. Discover valuable survival strategies for Australian motels. Read more on our website now.
GuestPoint Guide to:
Sending Emails Within GuestPoint
GuestPoint offers a convenient bulk-email tool that allows you to send emails to individual guests or groups of guests. This feature is useful for various purposes, such as sending promotions, seasonal greetings, or notifying guests about changes. Follow these step-by-step instructions to send an email within GuestPoint:
Step 1: Finding Guests
Access the customer’s tab and select ‘Guests’ at the top.
Use the basic or advanced search function to find the guests you want to email.
Once the list is generated, select the desired guests, whether it’s all guests or a specific group, and click ‘Send Email’ to start drafting.
Step 2: Email Editor
You will be directed to the email editor.
Choose the desired time for the email to be sent using the drop-down menu. It’s important to stay logged in to GuestPoint for the email to be sent at the scheduled time.
If needed, attach files such as brochures by clicking the ‘Browse’ button.
Use the ‘Insert Fields’ button to personalise the email with merge fields. For example, you can use the ‘First Name’ merge field to automatically insert each guest’s first name into the email.
Step 3: Send Email
Once you are satisfied with the email, simply click ‘Send’ to deliver it to your guest’s inboxes.
🎉Congratulations, You have successfully sent an email to your guests from within GuestPoint. This feature allows you to communicate important information seamlessly and maintain contact with guests even after their stay.
Management Tips & Tricks
Post-Stay Email
Attracting repeat stays and securing direct bookings are crucial for maximizing revenue and building long-term guest loyalty. With the powerful emailing function in GuestPoint, you have a valuable tool at your fingertips to engage guests and encourage them to choose your hotel for their future stays. To help you make the most of this feature, we have compiled 5 management tips that will leverage the GuestPoint emailing function to your advantage. By implementing these tips, you can enhance guest satisfaction, increase repeat stays, and drive more direct bookings. Let’s dive in and unlock the potential of this powerful tool together!
1. Personalise and Express Gradtitude:
Example:
“Dear [Guest’s Name],
Thank you for choosing [Hotel Name] for your recent stay. We sincerely appreciate your decision to stay with us and we hope you had a fantastic experience.”
2. Offer Exclusive Benefits
Example:
“As a valued guest, we would like to extend a special offer to you. Book your next stay directly with us and enjoy 10% off our best available rates. Additionally, you’ll receive a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe room.”
3. Highlight Positive Expereinces and Enhancements:
Example:
“We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our attentive service and luxurious amenities during your stay. We have recently renovated our rooftop pool area, adding a stunning sundeck and a new poolside bar. We can’t wait to welcome you back to experience these exciting enhancements.”
4. Create a Sense of Urgency:
Example:
“Take advantage of our exclusive offer by booking your next stay within the next 10 days. This limited-time promotion expires on [date], so don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy discounted rates and special perks.”
5. Clear Call-to-Action and Easy Booking Options:
Example:
“To make your reservation, simply click the button below or visit our website at [Hotel Website]. Our friendly reservations team is also available 24/7 to assist you. We look forward to welcoming you back and providing you with another exceptional stay.”
By applying these 5 management tips, you are well-equipped to leverage this powerful tool and make a significant impact on your hotel’s revenue and guest loyalty.
GuestPoint Guide to:
Processing a Payment Within GuestPoint Using GuestPoint Pay
Access Reservations Tab: First, navigate to the reservations tab within GuestPoint.
Select Guest: Locate the guest who wants to make a payment from the list of reservations and click on their name to access their contact card.
Check Card Information: Scroll down to the bottom of the contact card. Check if the guest’s card number is already stored there. If it’s present, you can proceed to the next step. If not, you have the option to add the card to the vault for secure storage.
Add Card (If Needed): If the guest’s card is not already in the vault, select the option to add the card. Follow the prompts to securely store the card details.
Make Payment: After ensuring the card is in the vault, go to the Room account associated with the guest’s reservation. Look for the “Make payment” button and click on it.
Enter Payment Amount: Enter the amount the guest wishes to pay in the designated field.
Process Payment: Click on the “Charge Card” button to process the payment using the card stored in the vault.
Confirmation: Once the payment is successfully processed, a confirmation pop-up will appear on your screen, indicating a successful transaction.
Access GuestPoint Pay Transactions: To review all transactions made within GuestPoint Pay, navigate to the management tab.
Select GuestPoint Pay: From the management tab, find and select “GuestPoint Pay.”
Choose Transactions: Within GuestPoint Pay, select the “Transactions” option to view the complete list of transactions made using this payment system.
Property of the Month
Royal Motel Miles
Discover the Casa Nostra Motel, Rockhampton’s finest accommodation choice. With 38 spacious rooms and villas spread across 38 acres of land. This well-managed property offers a home away from home. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, ensuite bathrooms, and undercover parking. Excitingly, the motel is expanding, adding 20+ rooms with individual kitchens.
Ranked 1st in Rockhampton by TripAdvisor, Casa Nostra Motel sets the standard for exceptional service and guest satisfaction. Experience comfort, luxury, and tranquillity at this remarkable property.
System Update
GuestPoint v9.7 & v11.2
On Monday the 10th of July, GuestPoint underwent a system update. But you may be thinking, what has changed? We have summarised it all below for you:
v9.7 GuestPoint Desktop App:
- GuestPoint Pay feature has been added. Once a property joins GuestPoint Pay, they will get an additional payment method on their ‘Make Payment’ screen, allowing them to process online payments through GuestPoint.
- The Group table now updates correctly after saving changes in the Dates and Rooms section of the Edit Group Reservation. This ensures accurate arrival and departure dates in group confirmation emails.
- Balance Highlight calculation no longer gets overwritten during synchronisation, resolving issues with balance highlights for clients using this feature.
- The Make Payment screen now closes after a successful payment when clicking on the Ok button. This prevents accidental duplicate payments.
v11.2 GuestPoint:
- GuestPoint Pay feature has been added. Once a property joins GuestPoint Pay, they will get an additional payment method on their ‘Make Payment’ screen, allowing them to process online payments through GuestPoint.
- Performance improvements have been made to Resplan for properties with a large number of bookings or long bookings.
- Session storage has been optimised to reduce crashes in the App caused by excessive storage usage.
- We have made improvements to the Promotion option, which now allows the display of a banner for a promotional offer on WebPoint. Additionally, this feature can be used as part of our Loyalty Program Rooms are now marked as dirty after performing Multiple Instant Check-out on Group Booking.
- Auto-save functionality has been implemented on the Dynamic Rates and Online Inventory screens, ensuring changes are saved when switching between tabs.
- Various bug fixes have been made to enhance the Dashboard graphs.
- Today At a Glance area of Resplan has undergone improvements.
- Several bugs have been resolved on Group Check-in, Check-out, New Reservation, and Edit Reservation screens.
- We hope these updates enhance your GuestPoint experience and improve your property management efficiency. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.
Did You Know?
Coins Thrown in the Trevi Fountain are Donated to Charity?
A visit to Rome wouldn’t be complete without tossing a few coins into the famed Trevi Fountain. Every day, more than $3,500 worth of coins are thrown into the water! When you add your 2 cents, you can be confident that it’s going towards a good cause. At the end of each day, the money is collected and distributed among several local charities.
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