Guest Relations
The “Always” Concept: What We Must Always Do for Our Customers
Shep Hyken | July 29, 2021
By Shep Hyken One of the big concepts we teach in our customer service training programs is the concept of Always. This is the backbone of creating customer amazement. When the customer uses the word always followed by something positive, you are creating a predictable experience, and even more important, you are operating in the zone of amazement. For example, your customers might say: “They are always so helpful.” “They are always so knowledgeable.” “They always get back to me quickly.” “They are always so friendly.” “Even when there is a problem, I know I can always count on them to ...
How to Say Yes – Every Time
Shep Hyken | July 19, 2021
By Shep Hyken How do you say Yes to every customer request? Is it possible? Is this customer service utopia? My friend Christine Trippi wrote a book titled Yes Is the Answer. And Cameron Mitchell, about whom I’ve written before, wrote a book with a similar title, Yes is the Answer. What is the Question? Both of these authors have a hospitality background. Trippi is a world-class, award-winning hotel manager and Mitchell is a super-successful restauranteur. Both know the value of their customers hearing yes for an answer. If you dig a little deeper into the concept, it’s not so much about saying, “Yes” to every...
North American Hotel Guests Want Breakfast Back, J.D. Power Finds
J.D. Power | July 14, 2021
Frontline hotel staff did not have an easy job during the past year. Tasked with enforcing mask mandates, reminding guests which services were temporarily unavailable due to the pandemic and putting their own health at risk daily, these workers still managed to keep guests happy. The hotel industry overall maintains a strong overall customer satisfaction score in the J.D. Power 2021 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index (NAGSI) Study,SM released today. But now that the pandemic is waning, hotel guests have made it clear they want breakfast and other hotel amenities. “Frontline staff have been the real heroes of the North American...
Rebuilding Hotel Profits: How the Road to Recovery Begins With Guest Personalization and an Effective Smart Data Strategy
Sandy James | July 8, 2021
By Sandy James, Director of Business Development - North America at Zoox Smart Data In recent years, big data has grown to become an indispensable asset for virtually any type of business, regardless of industry or customer demographic. But for hospitality in particular, big data has taken on a greater importance as industry professionals search for new ways to provide the ultimate guest stay experience. Capable of offering valuable insight not only into the day-to-day business performance but also into the unique desires and preferences of each customer, the use of big data has even been shown to increase a hotel’s performance over co...
Hoteliers Excited About Improved Guest Satisfaction With Maestro’s New GuestXMS Mobile Engagement & Feedback Tool
Maestro PMS | June 30, 2021
MARKHAM, Ontario— June 30, 2021 — Independent hoteliers operating on Maestro PMS are thrilled to be able to add a new two-way real-time guest engagement module designed to drive guest satisfaction and improve operational efficiencies. Introduced as GuestXMS, and tightly integrated into Maestro, the tool is serving as a comprehensive guest engagement and operational communication hub for hotels, providing enhanced insights into guest needs. Powered in collaboration between Maestro and Fetch, GuestXMS enables hoteliers to send text messages to guests to gauge their satisfaction upon arrival and immediately resolve issues if necessary, r...
Tourism After Lockdown: Guest Expectations Today and Tomorrow
STR | May 17, 2021
As vaccine programs continue across the world and we see warming attitudes toward travel alongside increased accommodation bookings, it is important to take stock and assess how the pandemic, and it’s resultant impact on consumer behavior, may leave an indelible mark on hospitality. COVID-19 has forced us to see the world differently. Previously the hustle and bustle of busy destinations sparked excitement for many travelers, but during the crisis, personal safety concerns and social distancing led to radically different perceptions of these types of destinations and experiences. The extent to which traveler perceptions and behavior w...
Maestro PMS Integration With HelloShift Brings Seamless Guest Messaging and Comprehensive Hotel Operations
Maestro PMS | May 17, 2021
MARKHAM, ONTARIO — MAY 17, 2021 — Following the impact of the pandemic, hotel guest service and communication is more virtual than ever. The new integration partnership between Maestro PMS and HelloShift brings their mutual clients a Guest Messaging Solution that is simple and intuitive for staff and guests to use. In addition, because HelloShift’s unique messaging platform includes comprehensive hotel operations software, no guest request slips through the cracks. Warren Dehan, Maestro PMS President, said: “We are excited and delighted to partner with HelloShift to provide an excellent Guest Messaging and Staff Collaboration solu...
Are You Ready for Takeoff?
JC Thompson | April 29, 2021
By JC Thompson The pent-up desire to "hit the road" is forecasting a strong travel comeback. Are you ready? With hotels not fully opened and yet occupancies are at max capacity, the challenge will not likely be revenue or REVPAR. The challenge will be expectations. Customers will expect the same levels of service. They won't care much about your challenge with finding employees or that your customer service skills have been out of practice as they were replaced with COVID-19 regulations and survival skills. "You have got to be kidding me. I paid $350 for a room that no longer includes daily housekeeping services, there is a stain on the...
How to Care More About the Customer Than the Sale
Shep Hyken | March 17, 2021
By Shep Hyken It seems that most of the companies that customers love to do business with have something in common. They focus more on the customer than they do the sale. Sure, they want to make the sale, add more revenue and get higher ratings. What company doesn’t want that? But when they focus on the customer’s needs, the rest seems to fall into place. A great example of this comes from Dawn Mushill, one of our Shepard Letter subscribers. She emailed me a great story worth sharing. The short version is this: Dawn ordered a product from a vendor. Since she is working remotely, she gave her home address. The company recognized t...
The Year of the Dog Hotel
Larry and Adam Mogelonsky | January 13, 2021
By Larry and Adam Mogelonsky It should come as no surprise to anyone that the pandemic has changed traveler behavior. By understanding some of the nuances of this progression, you can then more precisely target growing niches within the leisure segment, particularly in light of the slow return of groups and corporate guests. For now, 2020’s pivot for operations, marketing and sales was largely focused on: Cleanliness, sanitization and disinfection updates Delivery of contactless service, enabled by technology or otherwise Social distancing through physical, temporal and capacity buffers Privacy, anonymity, seclusion or r...
Thanksgiving Week Special: A Recipe for Amazing Customer Service
Shep Hyken | November 25, 2020
As we approach Thanksgiving, I can’t stop thinking about turkey and stuffing—and all the different ways to prepare them. Always thinking about how everything in life ties to customer service, I wondered, “What is a good recipe for customer service?” So, I’ve listed some of the essential ingredients. I’m sure you’ll have a few more to add to this list. In the meantime, this is enough to get you started. As with any good recipe, feel free to spice it up a little! The Right Culture: This is where it starts. Leadership defines the customer service and CX vision for everyone to follow. Good People: The people on the in...
The Loyalty Question 2.0
Shep Hyken | November 19, 2020
By Shep Hyken If you have been following my work, you may remember something I refer to as The Loyalty Question. It goes like this: What am I doing right now to make sure the customer comes back the next time they need whatever it is we sell? Most people think customer loyalty is about a lifetime. That’s a pretty big goal—making a customer stay for a lifetime. But if you break it down into smaller parts—as in the next time—it becomes much easier. As you ask yourself the loyalty question, think about the next time every time. Eventually, it can become a lifetime. That question is still relevant, now more than ever, but le...
The Mike Moment
Shep Hyken | November 12, 2020
By Shep Hyken We’ve all heard the old adage: “It’s better to give than to receive.” That’s what customer service people do. They give and give and give. They help solve problems and resolve complaints. What they get in return—hopefully—is a nice thank you, which, when you think about it, is fairly insignificant, though appreciated, for the work they do. Yes, they are paid for the job they do, but the people who are amazing at this role aren’t doing it just for the money. The opportunity to serve is fulfilling. They are customer service heroes. This brings me to a story about Mike, a teenager I met back in t...
Volara Named a ‘Hot 25 Startup’ for 2021 by PhocusWire
Volara | November 9, 2020
The future of hospitality communications is now; Voice-based contactless customer engagement provider is keeping hotel guests and staff talking safely amidst the pandemic November 9, 2020, NEW YORK — Volara, the voice hub for the hotel industry, has been selected as one of PhocusWire’s “Hot 25 Startups” for 2021 and has been invited to present their innovative solutions during the Innovation Summit at Phocuswright 2020 on November 12, 2020. The third annual event, produced by PhocusWire, the sister media brand of travel research and events business Phocuswright, recognizes companies that have navigated through the pandemic and,...
Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!
Shep Hyken | November 4, 2020
By Shep Hyken This is a crazy idea, but hear me out. When I was a kid, we had home-cooked meals almost every night. I thought my mom was the greatest cook in the world. She could make the best chicken. As a matter of fact, she made chicken almost every night. It turns out she could follow a recipe and had bought a book that had 365 chicken recipes—one for each day of the year. I remember the day she came home with the cookbook. As a kid, I never tired of the taste of chicken. Can’t say my adult pallet would enjoy such monotony, but I digress. I started thinking about all those chicken recipes. There were so many: fried chicken,...
The New Executive Position: CLO (Customer Love Officer)
Shep Hyken | October 30, 2020
By Shep Hyken The word love is not used that often in the corporate or business world. It may have been Tim Sanders in his revolutionary book, Love Is the Killer App, who helped bring the word love to the forefront for leaders trying to build a stronger culture and create a better experience for their customers. People were scared to use the L-word in business. Some still are. Some people say it’s “too soft,” but my take is that it just makes you real. If you truly love your people, love your customers and love what you do, it shows. It’s obvious. Love becomes part of the culture. My buddy and professional gifting ge...
Customer Service Week: A Time to Celebrate Customers AND Employees
Shep Hyken | October 1, 2020
By Shep Hyken It’s my favorite time of year… the leaves change from green to gold to red, there’s a chill in the air and the holidays are right around the corner. And of course, one of my favorite “holidays” is National Customer Service Week, which happens the first full week of October each year. This year it’s October 5-9. Traditionally, Customer Service Week has been the time to highlight and celebrate the great work employees do to take care of their customers. I also believe it’s a time to think about our customers as well. With that in mind, as this week approaches, now is a great time to ask an important questi...
Angie Hospitality Launches Cloud PBX Service, Modernizes Hotel Telephony and Reduces Costs
Angie Hospitality | September 24, 2020
Reliable Phone Alternative Offers Touchless Experience and Meets Safety Requirements LOS ANGELES, Calif. – September 23, 2020 – Angie Hospitality® by Nomadix, the leading provider of voice-activated and contactless technology solutions for hotels, today announced Angie PBX, a cloud phone service delivered through Angie digital guest room assistants that offers calling capabilities throughout the hotel and meets emergency calling requirements. As the hospitality industry continues to face hardships, this cost-effective solution allows hoteliers to remove outdated equipment, modernize the guest experience, offer touchless functionality ...
When Surprise and Delight Becomes Surprise Without Delight
Shep Hyken | September 9, 2020
By Shep Hyken We’ve all heard the expression surprise and delight. The intention is that we surprise our customers with better-than-expected service. The result is that they are delighted. But what happens when the intended surprise does not delight? That’s exactly what happened to my friend and fellow professional speaker, Beth Terry. She has a three-bedroom home. The third bedroom is used as an office. She hired a cleaning service to clean her home, and specifically told them not to go into the third bedroom. She told the cleaning crew where she wanted them to focus their efforts for the time they were there. She also told th...
Innovative Ideas for Keeping Guests Safe During the Pandemic
David Berger | September 9, 2020
From flying guests private and hosting balcony concerts to leveraging robotics and partnering with local tourism bureaus, hoteliers are finding new ways to help guests stay responsibly. By David Berger With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to impact occupancy rates of hotels across the U.S., hoteliers are doing what they can to signal to travelers that their properties are taking every precaution to keep them safe, but this messaging — even with the continued support of brands and industry associations — is often inconsistent with the narrative consumers are hearing from other sources. The confidence to travel again is predicated on...
The Gale South Beach Adds Volara + Google Contactless Guest Engagement Solution in Preparation for Reopening
Menin Hospitality | September 1, 2020
Menin Hospitality is embracing the voice-based on-command solution for its ability to boost operating efficiency, drive revenues, and deliver a contactless guest experience NEW YORK — Sept. 1, 2020 — When The Gale South Beach, a Curio Collection by Hilton hotel, reopens in October, Volara will be there supporting travelers with a contactless guest engagement and touchless room controls solution on the Google Nest Hub in its guestrooms. Rather than picking up the phone to call room service or request a forgotten amenity at the front desk, guests can speak simply commands in their guestroom to enable private, automated and live and au...
Maestro PMS Offers 24/7 Guest Engagement and Outreach With Integration to Fetch Feedback App
Maestro PMS | September 1, 2020
Leader in hospitality property-management systems teams up with guest-engagement innovator to empower hotel-to-guest and internal staff communication and analytics while disrupting bad reviews MARKHAM, Ontario and TORONTO, Sept. 1, 2020 — To create instant and ongoing communication between hoteliers and travelers, as well as internal staff operations, Maestro PMS, the leader in cloud and on-premise property-management system solutions for independent hotels and luxury resorts, conference centers, vacation rentals, and multi-property groups, has partnered with Fetch to provide a digital hub to enhance guest engagement, communication, an...
Contactless Self-Services Are Here to Stay After COVID-19
Linchi Kwok | August 26, 2020
By Linchi Kwok The new COVID-19 cases finally showed signs of declines across the U.S., but definitely, we should still take cautionary measures to avoid another wave of infections. Now, some people have already claimed that this pandemic would forever change the travel industry. Because the coronavirus is primarily transmitted through direct or indirect close contact with infected people via mouth or nose secretions, social distancing and frequent sanitation are highly recommended. It is not surprising to see consumers demand services with minimum human contact, which in turn promotes contactless self-services. Restaurants Mobile...
Google + Volara Enabling Voice Based Contactless Guest Engagement and Touchless Room Controls
Volara | August 26, 2020
Guest privacy and wellbeing is central to the design of new hotel solution August 26, 2020 — New York — Partnership between Google and Volara is enabling hotels across the globe to deploy the best of Google, including a contactless guest engagement and touchless room controls solution that facilitates private, automated and live, conversational interactions between hotel guests and staff. Running on the Google Nest Hub, guests may ask the popular voice assistant to make calls, play music, watch shows, request amenities, book services, turn on/off TVs, increase the room temperature, adjust the lights, set a...
