A poor first impression is inevitable if guests can't find a place to park their car. Many hotels still struggle with parking issues, forcing the front office to manually register parking spaces or, worse, direct frustrated guests to find alternative parking. This doesn't have to be the case. Parking problems can be solved without expanding your car park. Want to know how? Read on.
Challenges in the hotel sector
A car park adds significant value to a hotel by increasing accessibility and offering extra convenience to guests. However, managing a car park presents several challenges:
- Overcrowding in smaller car parks
- Lack of a parking policy, relying only on a "first come, first served" basis
- Limited or no insight into parking data
- An overloaded front office burdened with too many manual tasks
These challenges not only affect the hotel but also impact the guest experience.
Bad reviews affect your bookings
The guest's experience begins in the car park. Parking issues create a negative first impression, often leading to bad reviews.
Potential guests frequently check reviews before booking online, and negative feedback about parking can deter them from choosing your hotel. Therefore, optimising your parking process is crucial to avoid bad reviews and maintain high booking rates.
The optimal parking experience for your guests
Offering an optimal parking experience is essential. Here are three tips to achieve this:
1. Allow guests to easily book a parking space
Implement a system that fully automates parking registration. With Smart Parking Software, guests can easily reserve a parking space when booking their room. They can then enter at their reserved time using a license plate recognition system or a QR code. If parking is unavailable, guests are informed in advance and can make alternative arrangements, preventing any last-minute frustrations.
2. Relieve your front office with automation
Automating your parking process frees your front office from manual tasks, saving them an average of 8 hours per week. With automation, you can eliminate spreadsheets and access card hassles, allowing your front office staff to focus on welcoming and assisting guests.
3. Gain insight into your parking capacity
Track not only current occupancy but also analyse usage over time to understand under- and overcapacity. A clear dashboard can show peak parking times and trends, enabling you to make informed decisions. For example, you might offer free parking on less busy days and charge a fee on busy days.
Tip: Did you know that you can monetise your car park with Toogethr and EasyPark?
Meet ever-increasing expectations
Provide your guests with the best parking experience so they can quickly enjoy their stay. Satisfied guests leave positive reviews, attracting more visitors and giving your front office more time to enhance the guest experience. Interested in improving your hotel’s parking process? With Toogethr Smart Parking, you can automate parking management, enhance the guest experience, and streamline front office operations.
For more information, download our hospitality brochure or contact one of our parking specialists.
