Win more RFP bids
Date: 7/5/2022 / Author: chovyIf you're a hotel owner or manager, then you understand the importance of standing out from your competitors. But if you're not careful, your RFPs can end up blending into the background noise and losing their impact. Fortunately, there are ways to make sure that doesn't happen:
Do you want to stand out among the competition? Then your RFPs need to be better.
RFPs are a great way to get new customers, but only if you win them. And the more RFP bids you win, the more likely you are to be successful in your business. In fact, RFPs have become an important part of many companies' marketing strategies and serve as another way for businesses and organizations to find the right products or services for their needs.
But how do you make sure your company wins as many RFP bids as possible? The answer is simple: write better responses!
What differentiates you from your competitors?
What differentiates you from your competitors?
A lot of people think that simply being the best hotel in town is enough to win an RFP. But as competitive as the hospitality industry has become, and for good reason, it's not enough to be "just" a great hotel. Hoteliers need to take a hard look at why they are better than their competitors—and then make sure they communicate this difference clearly in their proposal. For example:
- If you have a smaller footprint that allows for more personalized service and less waiting time, say so.
- If you offer an offsite dining experience that is worth traveling across town for, say so.
- If your location offers a view of something special (a national park or city landmark), mention it!
What are the greatest threats to your market share?
For each of these threats, list the top three to five ways you can mitigate that threat.
For example:
- Competition: We will be offering a new product line in the next six months that will increase our presence and reduce competition for our current clientele.
- Technology: Our company has developed a proprietary mobile app that will allow customers to access our products from anywhere at any time. This will make it easier for them to shop with us without having to drive all over town trying different stores looking for what they need or want.
In a poor economy, how well do you manage costs and expenses?
- How do you manage costs and expenses?
- How can you cut back on expenses?
- What are the most effective ways to reduce costs in a hotel?
- What are the most effective ways to reduce costs in a hotel chain?
How do you measure the success of your hotel?
Hotel success can be measured in any number of ways. It's important to understand what your goals are, and then to measure the items that will drive your goals. Here are some examples:
- Revenue (i.e., room nights sold)
- Guest satisfaction (i.e., customer satisfaction surveys)
- Number of repeat bookings by existing guests
You can also measure other things like brand awareness and social media engagement, but those are less likely to have a direct impact on revenue.
How do you measure guest satisfaction?
How do you measure guest satisfaction?
It's a common question that hoteliers ask. Guests are the lifeblood of your business and if they stay happy, then things will run smoothly for your hotel.
The best way to gauge guest satisfaction is through surveys and feedback. You can try asking them if they would recommend the hotel to friends or family members or perhaps see what their biggest complaint was about their stay. This information can be used as a starting point for improving customer service and making changes to improve it further down the line.
It's much more effective than relying on reviews alone because those only reflect one person's experience while reviews are often filtered by travel bloggers who want a good review themselves in exchange (and often don't tell anyone else).
How does your hotel support the community?
How does your hotel support the community?
To win an RFP, you need to know how your hotel's services support the interests of all stakeholders (customers, employees and community). Your community involvement should include:
- Community outreach programs that help bring awareness to local issues affecting people in the area.
- Community events, such as charity walks and cultural festivals.
- Donation programs that provide funding for local charities and non-profits that align with your brand. This could include food donations or money donated through a matching program where customers donate money to a designated organization when they stay at your hotel.
What tools does your hotel use to track guest feedback and preferences?
Customer feedback is one of the most powerful tools you can use to improve your hotel's guest experience, satisfaction, loyalty and retention.
But if you're not tracking customer feedback effectively, it's like driving a car without a steering wheel or brakes. You'll never be able to make any changes or improvements until something goes wrong (and then it might be too late).
Here are some questions for you:
- How do you know what your guests want?
- Are your employees always giving feedback? Do they know how important it is?
- Do you have a system in place to gather guest comments and complaints and analyze them regularly?
Making sure that your RFPs are targeted and personalized is important in this industry.
Making sure that your RFPs are targeted and personalized is important in this industry. Don't just send out a standard response to every RFP you get; make sure it's tailored to the hotel and community in question. To do this, first read the RFP thoroughly to determine what they're looking for. Then make sure that your proposal answers those questions and addresses their needs properly. Remember: they're not just going to give the bid away because you answered all of their questions correctly - there are other companies out there vying for the same job as well! You'll have to go above and beyond if you want them to choose yours over theirs!
Conclusion
We hope that our tips and tricks for improving your RFPs have helped you win more bids. We know that this is a competitive industry, but if you know how to reach out to potential clients and make them want your services then there's no reason why you shouldn't be successful!