5 ways to encourage your visitors to return to your B&B

When running an establishment as modest as a B&B, you could soon find repeat business to be that B&B’s financial lifeblood. So, it is in your interest to show visitors why they should keep coming back – and here are a few examples of ways you can do that. Don’t be daunted by competition from hotels, as these tips could help your B&B punches above their weight.

Tailor your marketing to a specific demographic

Right now, you might think that marketing is primarily about attracting new customers rather than enticing back old ones. If you market to people especially likely to use your B&B, like families, because your B& B is near a safe and pleasant beach, you can incentivise them to make not just visits but also repeat ones.

Don’t let technology get in the way of people.

For people who arrive at your B&B, it can feel soulless to be greeted by someone sitting at a computer. Sometimes, it seems that technology can divide us more often than connect us.

However, you could try stripping away unnecessary administrative procedures to streamline the check-in service, as advised in an article on the Nestlé Professional website. This approach can free up time for you to spend personally welcoming guests and assisting them with queries.

Cultivate a “home from home” feel.

Pick up the habit of getting to know guests by their name, not room number – especially if they visit regularly. In doing this, you can help yourself create the kind of cosy atmosphere that these guests would usually expect in their own homes.

Don’t neglect to consider guests’ specific requests, such as for particular types of food or a morning newspaper. Please demonstrate that you have closely considered guests ahead of their arrival.

Provide a good experience to foster positive word of mouth

However much hype and excitement you might generate through marketing, you can’t really expect those good vibes to particularly last if you don’t provide sufficiently good service at the B&B.

Some of the things that you should do to ensure this service might go without saying. For example, you should thoroughly clean rooms between guests and keep those breakfasts tasty. Also, when guests check out, ask them to write a review of the B&B.

Continually seek new ways to improve.

Of course, reviews – and remember to ask for honest ones – left by your guests can enhance your understanding of where you are going right or wrong with your B&B. However, you could also research to see if you can find other ideas that your guests hadn’t even realised they wanted.