Hotels Drumming up a Little Tour Business

Hotels and resorts are trying to drum up a little business anyway that they can.  From special promotions to free nights, from fruit baskets in the room to dinner credits, from room upgrades to concierge activities.  They want you to have a good time, of course, but they also want you to spend a little money.

I’m generally a fan of these approaches, being of the mind that travel can offer something for everyone.  I’m just a little concerned with what time of day some of these offers are made.

On a recent trip, I found myself awake rather early.  Since I was up early, and it was supposed to be paradise, I figured a beach walk at dawn would be a good idea.  The walk soon was lovely, and soon turned into breakfast — because I couldn’t pass up macadamia pancakes.  It was probably close to 8 am when I finally got back to my room. 

To find my message light blinking.  Which, at that time of the morning, was a very disturbing thing.

I rang up for my messages, and to my surprise, it was from the concierge desk, reminding me of the various activities and tours they suggested and could book for me.  They even offered a discount if I would call or come down and book right away.

Now, I actually think this is a pretty good idea.  They suggested some things that I hadn’t thought of, and a discount made it attractive.  But for crying out loud – why would you call and leave a message in someone’s room before 8 am?!

I happened to be awake, but I would not have been happy to have been awakened by a sales call like this.  Someone suggested that perhaps it wasn’t really a call, just a voice mail message that then activated the blinking message light.  Perhaps.  But I wouldn’t have been in a much better mood if it had been a blinking light that had woken me up instead!  At a vacation destination, I this that is too darned early for a call.

I’m all for creative marketing and promotions – just do it at respectable hour of the day.  What do you think is a reasonable time for a hotel to make a marketing call to your room?  Is it okay to just leave a voice mail?

Photo credit:  SXC

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