How to Improve Rating of Your Hotel

15 Best Hacks on How to Improve Website Rating of Your Hotel

For hotels, online ratings can significantly influence potential guests’ booking decisions. A higher rating not only increases visibility but also instills confidence in travelers looking for accommodations.

Let’s outline 15 ways—from encouraging guest reviews to responding promptly to feedback—to improve your hotel rating.

1. Provide personalized guest services

Guests appreciate it when hotels remember their preferences, such as room type or dietary needs, and offer tailored services. Whether it’s surprising them with a birthday cake or suggesting activities based on their interests, these small gestures can make guests feel special. Personalization not only improves the overall experience but also increases the likelihood of positive feedback.

🎯 Tips:

• Use guest profiles to remember preferences (e.g., pillow type).
• Offer birthday or anniversary surprises during stays.
• Provide curated city guides based on guest interests.

2. Optimize room cleanliness and amenities

Cleanliness is often a critical factor in guest reviews and directly impacts satisfaction. Hotels must ensure that every room meets or exceeds cleanliness standards, as any oversight can lead to unfavorable reviews. Beyond cleanliness, offering modern amenities—like free Wi-Fi, smart TVs, and eco-friendly toiletries—enhances the guest experience. Investing in small touches, such as extra pillows or personalized notes, can also leave a lasting impression, helping guests feel more at home.

🎯 Tips:

• Implement a checklist to ensure rooms are spotless.
• Offer complimentary toiletries and refreshments.
• Add extra touches like personalized notes for guests.

3. Enhance dining experiences for better ratings

Food and dining services play a crucial role in guest satisfaction, especially for hotels offering full-service restaurants. High-quality food, excellent service, and unique dining options can leave a positive impression on guests. Seasonal or locally-inspired menus and themed events also attract attention. Gathering feedback from guests about their dining experiences ensures you can make adjustments and continue to meet expectations.

🎯 Tips:

• Offer complimentary breakfasts or exclusive dining packages.
• Create seasonal menus to appeal to diverse tastes.
• Collect feedback on dining services for continuous improvement.

4. Create loyalty programs to encourage repeat stays

Loyal customers tend to leave better reviews. Create effective loyalty programs to motivate guests to return and share positive experiences. Guests appreciate being rewarded for their patronage, and benefits like free upgrades or discounts build loyalty. You can also offer exclusive rewards for customers who leave reviews, such as bonus points or vouchers. A well-structured loyalty program helps foster long-term relationships with guests and boosts your online reputation.

🎯 Tips:

• Offer points or discounts for repeat bookings.
• Provide exclusive perks for loyal members.
• Promote loyalty programs through email campaigns and in-room signage.

5. Collect in-stay feedback for real-time adjustments

Capturing feedback during the guest’s stay allows hotels to address concerns promptly, preventing negative online reviews. A quick survey or casual check-in with guests during their stay shows that you care about their experience. It also gives you the opportunity to correct issues before they escalate, preventing potential negative reviews. Feedback collection during the stay makes guests feel heard and improves their satisfaction.

🎯 Tips:

• Place tablets in the lobby to collect instant feedback.
• Train staff to ask guests about their experience during the stay.
• Resolve complaints immediately to improve satisfaction.

6. Monitor and respond to online reviews regularly

Engaging with reviews shows that your hotel values feedback and is committed to improving. Quick responses, especially to negative reviews, can mitigate damage and enhance the hotel’s reputation. Monitoring reviews in real time allows you to respond promptly, showcasing your commitment to customer satisfaction. A thoughtful response to positive reviews strengthens customer loyalty, while professionally addressing negative feedback reassures future guests. Hotels that actively engage with feedback – apologizing, explaining, or offering solutions – show that they care about the guest experience and continuously strive for improvement.

🎯 Tips:

• Respond to all reviews, including negative and neutral ones.
• Apologize for issues and highlight corrective actions.
• Thank guests for their positive feedback to encourage repeat visits.

7. Improve staff training and customer service skills

Guests often mention staff behavior in their reviews. Exceptional service leaves a lasting impression and reflects positively in feedback. Well-trained, courteous staff can turn an average stay into a memorable one. Training your employees to handle various situations—like guest complaints or special requests—helps improve service consistency. Guests appreciate genuine hospitality, and well-prepared staff create the positive experiences that are often reflected in reviews.

🎯 Tips:

• Conduct regular customer service training sessions.
• Empower staff to handle complaints effectively.
• Recognize and reward staff for positive feedback in guest reviews.

8. Run seasonal campaigns to boost bookings and reviews

Promote special events or seasonal packages to increase bookings and encourage positive reviews related to those experiences. A guest’s glowing review about a Christmas brunch or a summer pool party gives future visitors a preview of what they can expect. Utilizing guest feedback from past events in your marketing materials makes these campaigns even more compelling. These campaigns also foster urgency, driving higher engagement and boosting both bookings and reviews.

🎯 Tips:

• Offer discounts for guests who review their stay during specific seasons.
• Promote themed events or holiday packages.
• Use previous guest feedback to market future campaigns.

9. Use review aggregators to improve visibility

Potential guests often search for a well-rounded view of hotel experiences before booking. Guests are more likely to trust a property with visible, consistent feedback across various review platforms. Displaying aggregated ratings prominently on your website reassures visitors about the quality of your services. Review aggregators also save time by streamlining feedback from different channels, enabling you to monitor trends efficiently and act on guest insights.

🎯 Tips:

• Display aggregated ratings prominently on your website.
• Use widgets to showcase the most relevant reviews.
• Highlight high ratings across platforms to build trust.

10. Deliver seamless check-in and check-out experience

First and last impressions significantly influence customer reviews. An efficient and pleasant experience at these touchpoints can encourage guests to leave positive feedback. Long waiting times, confusing procedures, or unprepared staff can frustrate guests, leaving them with a negative memory. On the other hand, a quick, friendly, and hassle-free process ensures guests begin and end their stay on a high note. Integrating technology like online check-ins or mobile room keys can offer convenience, while personalized greetings and thank-you messages demonstrate care. Remember, every small detail matters to leave guests feeling valued.

🎯 Tips:

• Use digital tools like online check-in options.
• Offer early check-in or late check-out flexibility.
• Provide a warm welcome with welcome kits or drinks.

💖 Elfsight recommendation Discover how to integrate a form builder into your website to effortlessly collect pre-arrival information or post-departure feedback.

11. Encourage guests to leave reviews immediately after their stay

The longer guests wait to leave a review, the less likely they are to write one. To increase the likelihood of receiving positive feedback, prompt guests to leave a review soon after they check out. Immediate reminders via email or SMS keep your hotel fresh in their minds. Additionally, offering incentives, such as discounts for future bookings or gift cards, can provide that extra push to motivate guests. Direct links to review platforms also simplify the process, enhancing participation rates.

🎯 Tips:

• Send follow-up emails within 24 hours of check-out.
• Offer discounts for leaving reviews.
• Provide QR codes at the reception, leading to review platforms.

💖 Elfsight recommendation Learn how to embed Google Reviews on your website and streamline review collection.

12. Use social proof to attract more guests

Social proof, such as positive reviews, testimonials, and user-generated content, influences booking decisions. Travelers often rely on the experiences of others when choosing accommodations. Prominently displaying reviews and guest feedback on your website or social media platforms increases trust and motivates bookings. Actively encouraging guests to share their experiences on social media can amplify your reach and further enhance your online reputation.

🎯 Tips:

• Share guest testimonials on your website and social media.
• Use hashtags to feature user-generated content.
• Embed reviews directly on booking pages to inspire trust.

13. Highlight guest photos to increase engagement

Guests love sharing their travel experiences visually. Displaying their photos can serve as powerful marketing tools. Photos showcase authentic guest experiences, helping potential customers visualize their own stay. Encouraging guests to share their photos online or participate in photo contests can significantly enhance your hotel’s visibility. These visuals not only engage your community but also build credibility, as they reflect real guest experiences.

🎯 Tips:

• Run contests encouraging guests to share their photos.
• Offer incentives for the best photo entries.
• Display guest photos in a dedicated section of your website.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Explore the steps to incorporate a photo gallery to showcase guest experiences visually.

14. Manage your presence across multiple review platforms

Not all guests use the same review platform. Travelers have different preferences when it comes to where they research accommodations – some rely on Google, while others prefer Facebook, Yelp, or TripAdvisor. Make sure your hotel is presented across several review websites. Create detailed profiles with updated images and information, it may help potential guests make informed booking decisions. Additionally, respond to reviews on all platforms. This will demonstrate that you value guest feedback and encourage repeat business and positive reviews.

🎯 Tips:

• Create and maintain profiles on multiple review websites.
• Regularly update listings with new photos and information.
• Respond to reviews on every platform you’re active on.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Learn how to embed reviews on your website to manage them across different platforms efficiently.

15. Promote guest engagement through social media

Social media is an excellent channel to engage with guests and promote positive interactions. Use these platforms to amplify guest reviews and share success stories. Hotels can use social media to showcase stories of delighted guests and highlight unique experiences. This content not only boosts your online presence but also builds trust with future travelers. Running campaigns that encourage guests to post about their stays promotes word-of-mouth marketing, while featuring user-generated content adds authenticity.

🎯 Tips:

• Feature top reviews in social media posts and ads.
• Engage with followers by responding to their comments and messages.
• Run campaigns encouraging guests to share their experiences online.

💖 Elfsight recommendation: Find out how to install an Instagram feed to display live updates from your Instagram accounts.

FAQ