Boutique hotels are becoming more popular by the year, with travelers choosing to stay in cozy, unique hotels rather than their more generic luxury counterparts. Because of this, starting a boutique hotel has become a hot business idea. If you’re thinking about starting a boutique hotel, here are seven tips to help you along the way.
1. Know Your Budget
No matter what kind of business you’re starting, it begins with understanding your operating budget. When you know how much money you have to spend, you can make a realistic plan for how you’re going to build your business and stick to your budget. Otherwise, you’re going to end up spending more than you can afford to, putting you in a financial hole that’ll be hard to dig out of once you’re in too deep.
2. Understand the Cost
While there are ways you can save a bit of money when starting a boutique hotel, there are certain costs you can’t avoid. It’s important to know how much you’ll need to spend to start a boutique hotel, as well as how much you could end up spending if things don’t go as planned. Having a detailed business plan that includes the potential cost of everything will help you get a better picture of things.
3. Cater to a Wide Audience
Boutique hotels are supposed to be unique, but that doesn’t mean you have to cater to one very specific niche. One way boutique hotels are reaching out to a wider audience is by offering rooms that each fit a different theme. You can also go with a broader theme while maintaining the boutique look and feel of your hotel.
4. Focus on Comfort
Everybody wants to be comfortable when they stay in a hotel, so make sure you’re keeping that in mind as you decorate. For starters, you can install PTAC units in all the rooms so everybody has access to heating and air conditioning. You should also invest in high-quality bedding, towels, carpeting, and all the other little things that make hotel rooms comfortable.
5. Make Your Hotel Unique
The whole point of boutique hotels is that they’re unique. People who don’t like to stay in major chain hotels can stay in a smaller boutique hotel to get a different environment and level of service. It’s important to find the unique selling point of your hotel and emphasize it to potential customers. If there’s something historic or unique about your hotel, making it the focal point can help draw in a lot of customers.
6. Offer More
To some people, a boutique hotel means fewer amenities and modern comforts. The truth is, boutique hotels can be just as service-forward as a modern chain hotel while still maintaining their charm. You can offer all sorts of little things to make your guests more comfortable, including room service, a kitchenette in the room, and a gift basket for guests upon arrival. Little gestures like this really make your hotel stand out from the crowd, so remember to offer as much as you can.
7. Decorate
Boutique hotels are all about aesthetics, so make sure you decorate your lobby and rooms to make a great impression. You can hire an interior designer and work with them to figure out how to make your vision a reality, or you can have somebody completely take the reins and do the design work for you. If you want your boutique hotel to be unique and attract customers, you need to decorate it just right.
Starting a boutique hotel is a great business opportunity in today’s economy, especially in areas where tourism is booming. That being said, it’s not all that easy to run a successful boutique hotel. Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to a smooth start.
