A hotel for all… languages
There was a time in the old days when guests arrived in a hotel and were happy to see the same smiling faces as the year before, friendly and courteous, ready to make the best of a 2 week’s stay vacation without stress and worries about anything but time passing slowly, eating, sleeping…
Today’s guests are a different. What I mean is that the concept of a journey in our hotels is exactly the same… BUT… needs are completely different.
First of all, technology is part of everyday life and even if a guest is staying for leisure, he or she will demand free internet broadband. No doubt. Guests will have a Tablet and will in no way accept slow connection or problems with wi-fi.
Second, accommodations have to meet a global standard that over the years has been dictated by Booking and Tripadvisor by reviews written, or should I say, permanently carved on-line by guests around the world. These standards are air-conditioning (Heat or Cool), super comfy mattresses (Top Line brands Tempur Simmons etc.), high quality linens (Egyptian etc.), a choice of pillows, bathroom amenities and softer towels, windows and doors that cancel noise from the outside world, flat panel Tv sets and a breakfast that has to surprise even the most discerning guest.
Whether your accommodation is in the center of Rome or in a small country house in England, no matter size or stars, I believe that these requirements should be met as a standard. You don’t have to top all of them, but you should include them on a basic level according to your offer and capabilities.
Also, air travel cheaper fares have made it possible for everyone to change destinations in a whim and shorten stays but doubling locations. This means that there will be more experienced guests arriving at our hotel, demands and comparison with other structures will be exponential.
Meeting my guest’s needs is the first and most important task in my line of duty. But how do I truly find out what could be changed, bettered or added in my hotel? I certainly read every review carefully and pickup any negative concern or criticism. And I don’t judge guests when they tell me they weren’t satisfied with something, instead I thank them and address immediately if possible the issue.
One concern over the years has been multi-lingual channel selection distribution in our rooms. As an English speaking guest, I personally demand at least my news channel be in my language wherever I travel around the world. And I can certify that in most structures I find at least one English channel.
But what about a German or French or Italian speaking guest? Should they demand the same? YES!
In fact, I think, that an accommodation that wants to truly satisfy guests from around the world should deliver multi-language channels in-room.
I found htlapp.net. A great service. Cost effective, no infrastructure and works on any HDMI TV. It uses internet to deliver thousands of channels from around the world and is a game-changer with foreign guest.
Every now and then, I occupy one of our rooms and… enjoy “travelling” with my television… changing channels by language and “visiting” the whole world with my remote.
Thank you Htlapp
Jason B.
Hotel Manager
