Iveta Per
Florida International University
Abstract
This paper summarizes my research in area of lodging and hotel industry, focusing on importance, ordering and controlling amenities in hotels. I have gather information from hospitality industry journal articles, web sites and also directly from facilities to gain knowledge on importance of hotels amenities and guest perceived value of these amenities. This research also seeks to understand how the hotels can use amenities to attract guest, promote the property, increase sales and set themselves apart from others.
Using hotel’s amenity as a tool
Amenity is defined in dictionary as any feature that provides comfort, convenience, or pleasure. This is especially true in lodging and hospitality industry where all types of travelers seek comfort and convenience. Hotels use amenities as tool. Amenities can be used as selling point and they also help differentiate one from other. According to Trip advisor 36% of hotel owners will use special amenities to attract guests this year (www.tripAdvisor.com). Many times amenity becomes associated with the brand, such as Heavenly bed for Westin Hotels, Bliss Spa for W hotels, or Red Door Spa for Wyndham. At time when guest is booking hotel, the search engine will help search for hotel with particular amenities that are important to specific type of traveler. This can be business center for business traveler, spa, for girl’s getaway, or golf course for avid golfer. There are amenities that became essential to all hotels as guests put extreme importance on it. Last year, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, the hotel industry spent $5.5 billion on capital upgrades, much of it for amenities, services and systems that directly or indirectly affect guest service (Stoesssel, E., & Watkins, E. 2008). Several polls were conducted to gauge the importance and the perceived value of hotel offered amenities. Importance of hotel
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