The first impression of your guest starts in your car park. First impressions have a lasting impact, and it's more important than ever to provide your guest with the best experience upon arrival. So, how do you achieve this? And what is the impact of parking on overall guest satisfaction?
Hotels face rising costs and high expectations
It’s a challenging time for hotels. Despite increasing occupancy rates, hotels still have to manage rising costs and meet high guest expectations. Guests expect higher quality and want to be pampered from the moment they arrive. And where does the physical part of their stay begin? In your car park.
Parking remains a challenge
Although your guest forms their first opinion during parking, providing a seamless parking experience is often not a priority. Hotels with their own car parks usually don’t have enough spaces for all guests. This means guests may encounter a full car park and a closed barrier. Additionally, the parking process is not always automated, requiring guests to visit reception for a parking pass or register via the intercom.
The impact of your parking process on guest satisfaction
Is your parking process not yet optimised? This can significantly affect guest satisfaction and, consequently, your revenue.
An overly busyfront office has less time for guests
When your car park is managed manually, it takes up a lot of your front office’s time. They may need to issue parking passes manually and open barriers, often recorded in a confusing spreadsheet. This not only creates unnecessary work but also prevents the front office from focusing on assisting guests. Potential long queues during check-in and check-out and overworked staff negatively impact the guest experience.
Negative experiences lead to bad reviews
It might seem obvious, but negative experiences often lead to negative reviews. Did your guest have a poor arrival experience due to lack of parking? Or did they wait half an hour in line at check-in? Chances are you’ll see this reflected on Google or Tripadvisor. According to TrustYou travellers read an average of 9 reviews before booking a room, so it’s important to minimise negative reviews. The more negative reviews, the more likely potential guests will be put off, leading to fewer bookings.
Ensure a positive start to a stay with smart parking
A poor parking experience leads to lower guest satisfaction. But how do you provide the best experience from the start of their stay?
Implement a smart parking management system
With a smart parking management system (smart parking), you automate your entire parking process. Through an online reservation system, guests book a parking space with their stay, ensuring they always have a spot. Upon arrival, the car’s number plate is scanned. If it’s recognised in the system, the guest can drive straight in.
Making your car park smart also centralises all important data. When is parking most frequent? How many no-shows occur in your car park? Your front office won’t need to manually maintain spreadsheets thanks to clear dashboards and reports, saving up to 8 hours per week. The result? Higher guest satisfaction, more positive reviews, and ultimately increased revenue. Who wouldn’t want that?
Tip: did you know you can generate even more revenue by opening your car park to short-term parkers?
Automate your car park with Toogethr
Can your guests easily park at your hotel? Is your front office still busy issuing parking tickets? See what Toogethr Smart Parking can do for you. Download our free hospitality whitepaper or contact one of our smart parking experts directly.
