Today’s travelers leave a digital trail of preferences, expectations, and pain points. From post-stay surveys to online reviews, the voice of your guest has never been more accessible. But are you using it to drive your revenue strategy?
NB: This is an article from TCRM, one of our Expert Partners
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We believe revenue management is about more than numbers; it’s about people. Here’s how hotels can turn qualitative guest feedback into smart, profitable decisions.
Start Listening Beyond the Stars
A five-star review is great, but what’s in the text matters even more. Are guests raving about your beds but regularly calling out your outdated bathrooms? That’s an opportunity. Are they saying the food was overpriced or the service was inconsistent? These are red flags that may be hurting repeat bookings or new bookings.
Partner with operations and marketing to tag recurring guest comments by theme (amenities, pricing, cleanliness, etc.) and track frequency. Trends in guest feedback often predict booking behavior. A bad review can also hurt more than you think.
Use Feedback to Fine-Tune Rate Strategy
Guests might not say “Your ADR was too high,” but they’ll say “Not worth the price” or “Felt overpriced for what we got.” When you hear this consistently, it may be time to re-evaluate perceived value, which may also lead to considering whether you are benchmarking against the right competitors.
If a specific room type or rate package is underperforming and is also mentioned negatively in feedback, don’t just discount it. Consider repositioning the offer with added value or re-bundling it based on what guests actually want.
Let Reviews Shape Your Promotional Calendar
If guests consistently praise your rooftop bar, proximity to local attractions, or seasonal décor and menus, those become marketing assets. Promotions that tap into emotional or experiential highlights have stronger conversion potential than generic rate discounts.
Build packages and seasonal promos around what guests are already loving. Turn “surprise and delight” moments into reasons to return and create book direct exclusive offers.
