The power of hotel reviews: How to boost your online presence.

Why are ratings so important?

Imagine you’re planning a vacation. What is one of the first things you do? Like the majority of people, you probably check the reviews first. Reviews are like digital word-of-mouth and give potential guests a little insight into what they can expect. A high rating and positive reviews can significantly increase your bookings, while a few bad reviews can drive potential guests to your competitors.

Reviews not only build trust, but also improve your search engine ranking. Search engines love fresh content, and frequent reviews can help keep your hotel’s page active and relevant. They also give you valuable feedback and show you where you are doing particularly well and where you can still improve.

How can you increase the number of ratings?

Now that we know how important they are, we need to get more guests to leave reviews. Here are a few strategies to increase the number of reviews:

Ask at the right time: timing is everything. Ask your guests to leave a review while their stay is still fresh in their mind. A gentle reminder at check-out or a post-stay mail a day or two after departure can work wonders.

The process can easily be simplified for this: Provide direct links to your review pages in your post-stay mail, on your website or your social media pages. The easier it is, the more likely guests are to leave a review.

Create incentives for feedback: Offer small incentives, such as a discount on the next stay or a free drink at the bar, to motivate your guests to leave a review. However, make sure that the incentives apply to honest feedback and not just positive reviews.

Get involved in social media: Use your social media platforms to promote reviews. Share positive reviews and thank the authors publicly. This not only shows your appreciation, but also encourages others to share their experiences.

How can I respond to reviews more quickly?

A quick response to reviews shows that you care about your guests’ feedback. Here are some tips to make sure you keep track of your reviews:

• Set up notifications: Use tools and apps that notify you immediately when a new review is published. This allows you to react quickly and show your guests that their feedback is important to you.
• Templates for responses: Create a series of templates for different types of reviews (positive, neutral, negative). You can customize these templates to address specific comments, but having a basic structure can save time.
• Use AI solutions: Consider using AI-powered tools to help you manage and respond to reviews. These tools can compose responses based on the content of the review, ensuring timely and consistent responses. AI can also analyze sentiment in reviews to prioritize urgent issues.
• Delegate responsibility: Assign a specific team member or service provider to manage and respond to reviews. This ensures that no review goes unnoticed and that responses are made promptly.
• Regular reviews: Make it a habit to check your review platforms at least once a day. Consistency is key to maintaining a good relationship with your guests.

Are you ready to change your valuation strategy?

Understanding the importance of reviews, implementing strategies to increase them and ensuring timely responses will put your hotel on the path to online success. Remember that every review is an opportunity to shine or learn, so embrace it wholeheartedly.

Let’s toast to more reviews, more bookings and happier guests!