Select Sidearea

Populate the sidearea with useful widgets. It’s simple to add images, categories, latest post, social media icon links, tag clouds, and more.

hello@youremail.com
+1234567890

Beyond the Chamber: upselling strategies for additional experiences and services

Beyond the Chamber: upselling strategies for additional experiences and services

In today’s dynamic hospitality landscape, upselling is no longer confined to simply offering a higher-category room.

The focus has decisively shifted “beyond the room”, embracing a wide range of services and experiences designed to enrich the guest stay, increase satisfaction, and, in parallel, drive additional hotel revenue.

This evolution is crucial in a context where inflation and rising operational costs make it unsustainable to rely solely on increasing base room rates.

The primary goal of effective upselling is not merely transactional; it aims to enhance the guest’s overall experience.

Offering a relevant additional service or experience can transform a standard stay into a memorable one, generating not only incremental revenue but also higher guest satisfaction, positive reviews, and long-term loyalty.

When a guest feels the hotel is prioritizing their needs and desires, they’re more likely to return and recommend the property.

The rich mosaic of add-on services

“Beyond the room” upselling opportunities are vast and can touch almost every aspect of the guest journey.

It’s about monetizing and maximizing every “available square meter” of the property—a key concept in the shift from RevPAR to RevPAM² (Revenue Per Available Square Meter).

Most common and profitable categories include:

  • Food & Beverage: Go beyond breakfast.
    Offers like special dinners, welcome drinks, tastings (wine, beer), premium minibar packages, or in-room extras such as strawberries and champagne, chocolates, or fresh fruit are highly appreciated.
    Event or banquet packages also fall under this category.

  • Wellness & Spa: Spa treatments, massages (including in-room), wellness packages.
    Upsell opportunities include enhancements or add-ons like aromatherapy or a take-home product to extend the spa experience.

  • Local Activities & Experiences:
    Guided tours (historical, city), classes (cooking with a local chef, yoga), excursions (private, boat, vineyard), equipment rentals (bikes), or tickets to local events (cinema, sports, festivals).
    Collaborations with local partners can further expand the offering.
    Today’s travelers—especially Millennials and Gen Z—increasingly seek authentic and immersive experiences.

  • Practical Services & Comfort:
    Early check-in and late check-out are especially popular and convenient for business travelers or families.
    Other options include: parking, airport transfers, laundry/dry cleaning, pet services (e.g., dog walking), extra cleaning (for long stays), and baby/kid amenities (cribs, gear).

  • Exclusive or VIP Offers:
    Packages for special occasions (birthdays, anniversaries), VIP lounge access, tailor-made experiences, premium service upgrades (e.g., evening spa/pool access), and small luxury touches like breakfast in bed or flowers.

  • Sustainability:
    Eco-friendly options such as low-impact tours, sustainable mobility packages, or farm-to-table dining with local ingredients.
    These resonate strongly with eco-conscious travelers, especially younger generations.

     

A YouGov survey found that 47% of Gen Z travelers are concerned about the environmental impact of their travels.

It’s important not to overwhelm the guest with too many choices.
A curated selection of 10–15 relevant offers is often ideal.

The key is to present these offers as added value to the guest experience, not just as a sales pitch.

Data intelligence as the foundation for hyper-personalization

The art of effectively selling additional services and experiences lies in deep guest understanding—this is where data becomes the new currency.

Analyzing booking data, stay history, declared preferences, and even real-time behaviors (e.g., app usage, thermostat adjustments) allows hotels to build detailed guest profiles.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are indispensable tools for processing this information.

They enable hoteliers to:

  • Segment guests into groups based on shared characteristics (e.g., families with children, couples, business travelers, digital nomads, solo female travelers)
  • Predict guest preferences and needs
  • Generate hyper-personalized offers with a high likelihood of acceptance

For example, an AI-powered system could suggest a spa package to a guest who booked a relaxation-focused stay, or a private tour for a family identified through their reservation data.

Businesses offering personalized recommendations see a 74% increase in the likelihood of guest bookings.

 

“Beyond the room” upselling represents a high-potential frontier for hotels in 2025 and beyond.

By leveraging data to understand and anticipate guest desires, using AI to drive hyper-personalization, implementing integrated tech platforms to automate and manage multi-channel offers, and empowering staff through training and incentives, hoteliers can deliver unique and tailored experiences.

This approach not only maximizes ancillary revenue, but more importantly, strengthens guest relationships, builds loyalty, and differentiates the property in a crowded market.

It’s no longer just about selling an extra service—it’s about weaving a richer, more meaningful experience for every guest who walks through the door.