Elevating Curb Appeal
By Mary White
When people used to talk about curb appeal, it was based on the overall attractiveness of your property - how the exterior of your inn looked, from the condition of the paint to the landscaping. Today, it has expanded beyond basic beauty. Now in order to meet market demands and stay competitive, innkeepers have to up the ante to impress guests.
Don't get me wrong. Of course the importance of curb appeal is still critical since you never get a second chance to make a first impression. However, your curb is rarely your guests’ first impression of your inn. All of the work you put into perfecting the exterior needs to be channeled into other aspects of your business as well. Some things to think about include how you furnish your inn; making breakfast a memorable meal; marketing your inn, and maintaining it. Above all, the guest experience is still top priority.
Start with the first impression a guest has about your inn, which is often a result of your marketing efforts. It is these initial thoughts that will make the difference between choosing your inn and skipping over it to find another. Because of this, it is essential to identify the key characteristics that make your inn unique and why a guest should choose you. Think about what you would want a guest to say if they were describing a stay at your property to a friend. This will help you to develop an effective marketing message.