Quick Answer: What Are Experience Gift Vouchers?

Experience gift vouchers let hotels, spas, and restaurants sell memorable experiences in advance packages like dinners, spa days, or weekend stays that are prepaid and redeemed later. They bring in revenue before the guest arrives, help fill quieter days, and often lead to higher on-site spending when redeemed.

See how Enjovia helps hotels turn experiences into prepaid revenue

The Midweek Lull Problem

It’s mid-week and the restaurant is quiet. A few rooms are still empty, and the spa team has gaps on the schedule. Payroll is fixed, energy costs keep running, and there’s no way to fill the space last-minute without discounting.

Now picture the same day, but prepaid. The dining room is busy with voucher guests. Spa appointments are already booked, paid for weeks ago. No flash sales, no OTA commissions- just steady, predictable revenue sitting in your account before the doors even open.

That’s the difference experience gift vouchers make. They turn empty days into full ones and keep cash flow moving through the quieter months.

In our last post, How the Experience Economy Is Shaping Hospitality, we looked at how guest expectations are changing. This guide shows what to do with that shift - how to package and sell those experiences before guests even arrive.

Why Experience Gift Vouchers Matter in the Experience Economy

Most hotels and spas know the cycle. Summer is busy, then everything slows, but the bills keep coming. OTA fees chip away at margins, and discounts become the fallback just to keep things moving.

Experience gift vouchers help break that pattern. They bring in cash before the guest arrives, fill quieter days without cutting prices, and keep the full value of the sale in your hands.

Picture a city spa in January. It’s usually quiet, but with a Weekday Wellness Pass sold as a gift, those midweek appointments are already booked and paid for.

The Celtic Manor showed how well this works. By offering simple, well-timed experiences that were easy to buy and easy to redeem, they generated more than £2.5 million in voucher sales and turned slow periods into prepaid revenue.

Across the industry, voucher guests spend about sixty to seventy percent more when they redeem. That extra spend, and the new guests vouchers bring in, can make a real difference over the year.

Experience vouchers aren’t just for the holidays anymore. They’re a dependable part of how experience-led hospitality earns steady income all year.

See how The Celtic Manor did it here with the right strategy and tools.

Real-World Results from Leading Operators

Across hospitality, operators who treat experience vouchers as part of their main sales strategy are seeing measurable gains. Rooms fill earlier, cash flow evens out, and marketing reach extends through every gifted experience.

Resorts, spas, and restaurants that package experiences well report steady year-round sales, not just holiday spikes. Voucher guests consistently spend more when redeeming (often sixty to seventy percent above the value of their gift) and many visit again on their own.

Industry reports from the Gift Card and Voucher Association confirm that experience-based gifting continues to grow faster than retail. It’s proof that guests now value memorable moments over material gifts, and that the businesses offering them are turning that preference into real revenue.

How Hotels, Spas, and Golf Clubs Use Experience Vouchers

Experience gift vouchers work best when they feel like products in their own right, not side offers. The strongest results come from packages that are simple, well-timed, and clearly named so buyers know exactly what they’re giving.

Hotels

Many hotels use seasonal vouchers to secure early revenue. A Spring Escape with one night, afternoon tea, and a late checkout can turn slow early-year dates into prepaid bookings. Guests enjoy the sense of occasion, and the property gains guaranteed income before the stay.

Spas

Spas often use vouchers to bring in locals during quiet times. A Rest and Restore Retreat that includes treatments, thermal suite access, and a light lunch fills midweek gaps without discounting. It also introduces new guests who often return for full-price treatments later.

Golf Clubs and Restaurants

A Nine and Dine package  (a round of golf followed by a clubhouse meal) works well as a corporate gift or group offer. Restaurants can do the same with tasting menus or seasonal dining experiences that make easy, thoughtful gifts.

Each example looks different, but the result is the same. Experience vouchers bring in cash before the guest arrives, attract new customers, and usually lead to extra spending when redeemed. Over time, they help operators smooth demand, lift average spend, and keep teams busy all year.

Designing the Voucher Experience Guests Actually Want

A good voucher should feel like the beginning of the experience, not a receipt. The way it’s named, presented, and redeemed shapes how both the giver and the guest feel about it.

The Name

The name is the first impression, so it should make people imagine the moment they’re buying. Something like Winter Hideaway for Two feels warm and personal. One Night Stay with Dinner sounds like a transaction. Small details like this make a big difference in how a voucher sells.

The Presentation

People notice how a gift looks and feels. A well-designed digital or printed voucher feels more considered and shareable. Many guests post them online, giving your brand organic reach before the experience even begins.

The Pricing

Pricing should reflect gifting, not discounting. Round figures look confident and easy to give — £250 feels like a gift; £249 looks like a deal. The goal is to make buying simple and emotional, not technical.

The Booking and Redemption

The process needs to be quick and flexible. Guests expect to redeem online without extra steps or restrictions. When booking is easy, redemption rates rise, and the overall experience feels effortless. That simplicity often leads to repeat visits and higher on-site spending.

Digital vouchers now account for most voucher sales across hospitality. They’re faster to deliver, easier to promote, and better suited to how people shop and gift today.

Selling Experience Gift Vouchers Beyond the Booking Page

It’s easy for vouchers to end up buried in a website footer. The problem is, if guests can’t see them, they won’t buy them.

The example below shows a simple way to fix that - by putting an experience voucher banner right on the homepage, where every visitor will see it.

Once vouchers are visible, sales tend to follow. Add them to your homepage, mention them in email newsletters, and include them in spa menus, restaurant brochures, and in-room materials.

Staff can also make a big difference. When a guest checks out after a great stay, that’s the moment to say, “Would you like to give this experience as a gift?”

Short videos work well too - a chef plating a dessert, a therapist setting up a treatment room, a glass of champagne being poured. Simple moments like these tell the story quickly and remind people what they could give.

Looking Ahead: From Experience to Revenue

The experience economy isn’t slowing down. It continues to shape how guests decide where to stay, relax, and spend their time. People are choosing places that make them feel something, not just somewhere to stay or eat.

For hotels, spas, restaurants, and golf clubs, experience gift vouchers turn that demand into reliable income. They bring in revenue before the guest arrives, attract new visitors without discounts, and create moments people talk about long after they leave.

The operators who succeed are the ones who don’t wait for bookings. They package experiences as vouchers, sell them all year, and let those prepaid sales smooth demand through every season.

If your experiences are worth talking about, they’re worth selling. And if you’re ready to build a voucher strategy that delivers steady, prepaid growth, Enjovia can help you get there.

FAQ: Experience Gift Vouchers in Hospitality

Further Reading

If you want to keep learning about how hotels are turning experiences into steady income, take a look at:

• The Experience Economy and How It’s Shaping Hospitality
  
• Gift Card Trends: What’s Driving Experience Gifting
  
• The Problem with Gift Cards (and How to Fix It)
  
• 9 Revenue-Boosting Ideas for Hotels
  

If your experiences are worth sharing, they’re worth selling.
See how Enjovia helps hotels and spas turn great moments into prepaid revenue.

Quick answer: What Is the Experience Economy?

In hospitality, the experience economy is the shift you can see when guests start choosing places for how they feel rather than what they buy. It’s about the mood of a stay, the story behind a meal, the memory that makes people come back or tell their friends.

The Experience Economy Has Become the Hospitality Economy

Walk into any hotel or spa right now and you can feel it. The attention has moved from the things guests buy to how those moments make them feel.

You can see it if you spend time in the business. A couple buying a massage day instead of another gift card. A restaurant team turning a slow Thursday into a small tasting night just because people want something to remember. Guests are still looking for value, but what they really want is a feeling they can hold onto. That’s the space hospitality is working in now, the one people have started calling the experience economy.

It’s not a passing phase or a marketing idea. It’s a change in what people value when they travel and spend.

How the Experience Economy Is Shaping Hospitality

You hear people mention the Experience Economy a lot now, but the idea isn’t new. It first came up back in 1999 when Pine and Gilmore described it as the next step after goods and services. What’s changed is how deeply it’s shaped travel. Technology, social media, and the habits left behind from the pandemic have turned experiences into the main currency of the industry.

Reports back this up. The World Travel and Tourism Council expects the sector to reach around eleven trillion dollars in value this year. Hilton’s 2024 trends study shows more travellers mixing rest with a bit of discovery, and Gensler’s research found 73% of people are happy to travel further and spend more for something that feels immersive.

For anyone working in hospitality, the message is clear enough. Growth now depends on how well you can design and deliver experiences that guests want to come back for, or tell their friends about later.

These shifts sit at the centre of current hospitality trends, shaping how operators think about travel, design, and guest connection.

How Hotel Guest Expectations Have Changed

Guests care about comfort, but additionally, they’re looking for something deeper. They want to be part of a story, create a memory- not just another booking. A dinner that celebrates local produce or a quiet spa moment can mean more than any upgrade. The difference comes from how each part of the team shapes that feeling, from the welcome to the farewell. When it’s done well, the stay feels personal instead of routine.

How Hotels Create the Moments Guests Remember

The memories guests talk about later rarely come from one big gesture. They come from the flow of small, thoughtful details that fit together. 

That’s what guest experience design really means in practice. Creating a rhythm guests can feel but not always name. When every part of the stay shares the same idea of what it should feel like, it shows.

It shows in everything they do. Guests will remember how it felt, and that’s what brings them back.

The Four Realms of Experience in Hospitality

Every strong guest experience usually hits a few emotional notes. The Four Realms of Experience help explain why some moments stay with people.

Entertainment

This one shows up first. You can feel it the moment you walk in. Maybe it’s music drifting from the bar, people laughing a little louder than usual, the chef stepping out to tell a story about what’s on the plate. It’s that mix of sound and movement that makes a place feel alive.

Education

This one’s about curiosity. Some guests like to understand what they’re tasting or seeing. A few minutes with the bartender showing how a drink comes together, or a gardener pointing out what’s in bloom, can turn a visit into a memory. They leave knowing something they didn’t before.

Escapism

This one is quieter. It’s when a guest forgets what day it is. Maybe they’re floating in the spa pool or walking a path they’ve never seen before. The noise of home drops away, and they’re just there in the moment. That’s escapism at its best.

Aesthetic

This one happens before a word is spoken. The light, the smell in the air, the way a space feels when you step inside. It’s what sets the mood before service even begins. Guests don’t always name it, but they feel it right away.

When a stay brings all of these feelings together, it starts to tell its own story. The guest might not think about entertainment, education, escapism, or aesthetics as separate things, but they feel the balance. Each touch, each sound, each small act of care adds another layer. That’s when service begins to turn into something more memorable.

From Service to Storytelling

When the elements of an experience come together, the story begins to tell itself. In the experience economy, every touchpoint becomes part of that story.

• Check-in can be an arrival ritual.
• Dinner can become a narrative of local ingredients.
• A farewell gift can remind the guest of how the visit felt.
• These stories are what turn a transaction into loyalty.
• They also spark the kind of word-of-mouth that marketing can’t buy.

The Business Case for Experience-Led Growth

Designing better experiences is not only about creativity. It directly improves key metrics and, as our Gift Card Trends in Hospitality report shows, can open new prepaid revenue streams through experience-led gift programmes.

Higher emotional satisfaction increases repeat visits.
Immersive experiences lift average daily rate and on-site spend.
When guests talk about your property, direct bookings rise and reliance on third parties falls.

Experience-led growth is measurable. Operators who invest in experience design see stronger brand preference and steadier year-round revenue.
This is how hotels, spas, restaurants, and golf clubs can grow without discounting or commissions.

It’s a practical example of experience-led growth, where creative design turns guest emotion into measurable results.

Looking Ahead- From Experience to Revenue

The Experience Economy is evolving into its next stage, sometimes called the Transformation Economy, where guests seek personal impact as well as pleasure.
For hospitality leaders, the question is how to turn this demand into consistent income.
One of the most effective ways is to package and pre-sell those experiences so that revenue arrives before the stay.

This approach also answers the rise in experiential travel, giving guests something to anticipate and operators income they can rely on.

FAQ

If you want to see how leading operators are turning their experiences into prepaid revenue, read our next article:
Experience Gift Vouchers - Hospitality’s 2025 Growth Play.

TL;DR/ Quick Summary: Hotels facing shrinking margins need more than cost-cutting; they need smarter operations. By automating workflows, forecasting staffing needs, optimizing guest journeys, and launching experience commerce strategies, hotels can unlock up to 12% more margin without compromising service.

How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance? 

Smarter Strategies for Inflation-Era Hospitality

Burnout doesn't mean you're failing. It usually means your operating model no longer fits the reality you're working in.

You've already cut costs, reduced service hours, and scaled back your offerings. Yet the numbers aren't improving.

If you're managing hotel operations, this likely feels all too familiar. Despite all efforts, profit margins keep narrowing.

Why Margins Are Under Pressure

Most hospitality models were built in a different economic climate. They aren’t coping well with today's sustained inflation.

Since the pandemic, costs have climbed across the board. Energy bills are higher. Laundry services cost more. Wages have increased. Even when room revenue appears stable, the bottom line tells a different story.

This isn't just a pricing issue. It's a deeper problem with how margins are being squeezed.

You might see RevPAR holding steady, but other key metrics like GOPPAR, ARPAR, and EBITDA reveal a decline in profitability.

What This Blog Covers

This post isn’t about making more cuts. It’s about using operations more strategically.

We’ll walk through four ways hospitality teams are reshaping their operations to protect profit, deliver value, and stay resilient in a high-cost environment.

The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency

Manual processes. Rigid scheduling. Disconnected departments. These aren’t just operational headaches; they’re profit drains.

Inflation is squeezing every line on your P&L. Labour costs rose by 4.8%, and maintenance expenses (including utilities) increased 5.0% across U.S. hotels in 2024, according to CBRE. Meanwhile, linen inefficiencies add up fast. One analysis shows that a typical 150-room hotel can lose 20–30% of its linen inventory annually, with costs exceeding $50,000/year (HospitalityTech).

The result? Revenues may look stable, but profitability is slipping. While TRevPAR (Total Revenue per Available Room) rose 2.7%, Gross Operating Profit margins shrunk by 1.1 percentage points — meaning every extra pound earned cost more to service (Hotel News Resource).

Missed margin opportunity: Hotels running on manual processes and disjointed operations often forfeit 8–12% of potential profit, lost in unnecessary labour, utility overuse, and avoidable guest friction (PwC UK Hospitality Outlook).

Even with strong RevPAR, profit isn’t guaranteed. As revenue flows through operating layers, inefficiencies can quietly erode margin. This progression shows how performance KPIs compress when ops aren’t optimised.

4 Operational Levers That Grow Hotel Profitability

It’s time to think about operations as a performance toolkit. Here are four levers smart hoteliers are pulling:

1. Workflow Automation

If you're exploring how to reduce hotel operating costs without compromising service, automation is a high-leverage starting point.

Hotels that automate key workflows report efficiency gains of up to 30–40%. 

After switching to a cloud-based PMS, one UK hotel group saw a 37% improvement in operational efficiency and a 40% reduction in admin workload (HospitalityNet).

2. Smart Staffing & Forecasting

A lot of hotels still plan staff rotas based on what worked in past years. But things have changed. Guest demand is more unpredictable now, and those old patterns don’t hold up. That’s why many hotels are starting to build rotas around real-time demand instead. They’re using up-to-date booking data to plan shifts, so the right number of staff are on when guests actually need them.

Switch to smart staffing unlocks:

• Improved forecast accuracy by 35%
• Falling labor costs by 5-15% 
• Aligning staffing with real demand prevents burnout and boosts morale
• One hotel group reported a 17% drop in staff turnover and up to 40% better forecasting precision after adopting AI-powered scheduling tools. (Shyft) 

Building your labor model on live performance indicators, rather than relying on guesswork, leads to thriving teams and improved margins. This approach fosters a more effective and efficient work environment.

3. Revenue Protection via Experience Commerce

Experience-led revenue is resilient revenue, especially in uncertain markets. By offering pre-paid bundles, seasonal vouchers, and high-conversion upsell paths, hotels don’t just increase income, they safeguard it.

Selling curated experiences in advance, such as spa packages, romantic getaways, or chef-led tasting menus, boosts TRevPAR and ARPAR. It also helps to reduce no-shows and late cancellations. By monetizing guests before they arrive, you avoid relying on upgrades at checkout.

This pre-arrival spend model is fast becoming a revenue backbone. Guests buying into the experience early make them more committed, emotionally invested, and less likely to cancel.

4. Guest Journey Optimisation

Guests feel every moment of friction, whether it's a clunky check-in, slow service handoffs, or unclear payment flows. And in hospitality, every delay costs both loyalty and upsell potential.

Today’s leading hotels are eliminating these blind spots with real-time operational dashboards. By syncing teams across departments and reacting to guest signals in the moment, they deliver a smoother, more responsive experience, from check-in to spa to checkout.

The result is fewer delays and faster upsell windows. The guest journey feels intentionally choreographed, not reactive. This is how operations management enhances hotel performance in real-time. It unblocks service friction before it affects satisfaction.

The Strategic Ops Mindset

How profitable are hotels that embrace operational leverage? 

To survive in today’s climate, ops can’t just run the hotel, they have to grow it.

Enter the concept of Operational Margin Leverage. The strategic use of smarter processes and real-time data to increase profit per guest without adding cost.

This mindset means treating your operations team the way you treat your revenue team: a source of leverage, not just logistics. The same strategic thinking you apply to marketing. 

How Enjovia Powers Profit‑First Operations

Enjovia is more than a gift voucher platform. It’s an operations-driven growth engine, built to integrate seamlessly into your hotel’s existing tech stack. By enabling smarter monetisation, tighter fulfilment, and real-time reporting, it turns back-office workflows into front-line profit levers.

Integrated Experience Commerce

Offer guests curated, pre-paid experiences. From spa days to tasting menus, with built-in upsells at purchase points. Enjovia can integrate directly with your PMS and POS to trigger operational flows as soon as a booking is made.

Real-Time Revenue Reporting

Track 50+ data points per sale, sync directly with Google Analytics or your CRM, and monitor redemptions and guest spend in real-time, all without leaving your dashboard.

Operational Fulfilment Automation

Enjovia’s integrations enable task handoffs to departments automatically, based on what the guest purchased. QR redemption and POS syncing reduce admin load and improve delivery accuracy.

Flexible, Plug-and-Play Architecture

Enjovia is designed to connect easily with your PMS, POS, and CRM. No complex rebuilds, just smoother data flow and smarter operations.

When your sales engine talks to your ops engine, profitability stops leaking and starts scaling. Enjovia helps you get there, without disruption.

FAQs- How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance

Conclusion: Own Your Ops, Protect Your Profit

How Can Operations Improve Hotel Performance?

Smart operations aren’t about spending more, they’re about spending wiser. From experience commerce to automation, the tools are already within reach, and Enjovia is purpose-built to help you activate them.

Profit isn’t just about bookings. It’s about building a business that works smarter, not harder.

Sign up with Enjovia today

Quick Answer: What Is a PMS System?

A PMS system, or property management system, is the software that runs a hotel’s daily operations. It manages bookings, check-ins, payments, and room status in one place. Modern PMS platforms also connect with tools like Enjovia to personalise stays and boost revenue.

What Is a PMS System? The 2026 Guide to Connected Guest Journeys

Another app. Another login. Another platform that doesn’t quite talk to the others. If that sounds like your hotel’s tech stack, you’re not alone.

According to Hotel Tech Report, over 80% of hoteliers believe technology improves efficiency. But fewer than half feel it actually gives them a competitive edge. That gap often comes down to one thing: fragmented, poorly integrated systems.

This guide is built for general managers and operations leaders who are tired of tech noise and ready for clarity. It unpacks the tools that actually improve guest satisfaction, drive efficiency, and boost revenue, mapped neatly to each stage of the guest journey.

We explain important technology tools for hotels, such as property management systems, guest messaging apps, virtual reality, and digital upsells. 

We cover what these tools do, why they are effective, and how to get started. Whether you are changing systems or improving what you have, this guide will help you with your hotel's tech tools. 

Evolving Hospitality Technology

Technology moves fast, and the hospitality industry is now being influenced in a bigger way than before. Since the pandemic, hoteliers recognised the importance of using tech for growth.
With fewer staff and new guest needs, automation and personalization have become essential.

Today’s guests want convenience. They expect smooth check-ins, instant communication, and tailored offers. Meanwhile, hotel staff are stretched thin. They need tools that simplify their work.

Hotels need to reconsider their technology strategies. They should focus on how different systems work together and invest in tools that enhance both revenue and guest experiences.

Why a PMS System Is the Central Nervous System of Your Hotel

Think of a PMS as the hotel’s central nervous system. Coordinating bookings, check-ins, payments, and even cleaning schedules. Without it, things fall apart fast. 

Modern PMS platforms include features like mobile check-in and guest messaging, improving the guest experience. Without a good PMS, hotels may struggle with disorganized operations.

Essentially, a PMS manages all hotel tasks, ensuring a smooth experience for guests. A modern PMS streamlines processes and prepares hotels for future tech updates. 

And it’s an important feature! With UK hoteliers reporting in the UK Hotel Trading Performance Review, the constant pressure they feel to keep their technology updated and current.

How to Choose the Right PMS for Your Hotel in 2026 

When choosing a Property Management System (PMS), keep these important points in mind:

1. Cloud readiness

Can your team use it from anywhere?

2. Integration

Does it work well with other tools you use?

3. Guest experience

Does it offer automation and self-service options?

4. Efficiency

Does it cut down on manual work and provide real-time updates?

5. Scalability

Is it suitable for small hotels, larger resorts, or multiple properties?

The right PMS boosts your tech and improves the guest experience.

Look for user-friendly options, which have a simple design that makes training easier. 

Checklist for Switching to a New PMS

Switching to a new PMS can feel daunting, so here’s a quick checklist to help you decide if you need to make the next move. 

Do you resonate with any of these pain points? 

“Our current PMS limits integration with other guest tools”
“Staff complain about slow, clunky interfaces”
“We're not leveraging guest data for personalisation”
“Manual tasks slow down front desk and housekeeping”
“We rely heavily on IT to update or connect systems”
“We’ve missed some revenue because of tech delays”

If you checked three or more, it may be time to consider a platform that's ready for 2026. 

Leading PMS Platforms in 2026

Illustrative Example: The Switch to a Modern PMS

When boutique hotels switch from old management systems to new cloud-based ones (like Mews), everything runs more smoothly, making it easier to keep operations flowing.

For example:

• Hotels like Paradise Resort Gold Coast and Postillion Hotels reported up to 30-36% faster check-in times using digital and self-service tools powered by Mews.
  
• At Pillows Hotel Reylof, automating upsells via Mews and Oaky led to a 23% increase in upsell conversions,  directly lifting total revenue per available room.
  
• The C-Hotels group cut 93% of calls between housekeeping and front desk by streamlining operations through Mews’ automation tools, dramatically reducing manual errors and miscommunication.
  

These aren’t outliers; they’re real-world outcomes from hotels embracing the potential of modern PMS integrations. By simplifying operations, hotels unlock time for what matters most: delivering an exceptional guest experience.

Top PMS Integrations That Improve Guest Experience

Is it top B2B hospitality tech integrations that truly elevate guest experience and efficiency? It depends on how well your tools connect, not just which tools you use.

Your PMS is only as good as the tools it integrates with. For hoteliers, that means prioritising connections that enhance personalization, automation, and guest independence. 

Guest messaging platforms

When your PMS is connected to tools like Duve or Akia, your team can send timely, personalized messages through SMS, WhatsApp, or email. Whether it's a welcome message or a feedback survey, these touchpoints feel thoughtful and improve the guest experience.

Upselling tools

Platforms like Enjovia and Oaky use booking data from your PMS to suggest upgrades that actually fit each guest’s stay. Instead of pushing generic offers, guests see relevant options before arrival, increasing both satisfaction and revenue.

Virtual reality travel experiences

Virtual reality travel experiences give potential guests a way to explore rooms, amenities, or spa packages before they book. These tools become more than just a visual aid when integrated with your PMS. Guests can check availability and confirm their reservation instantly, creating a seamless booking journey from preview to purchase.

Kiosks and mobile keys

Self-check-in systems and smart room access only work well when they update in real time. A connected PMS ensures that access codes, room status, and ID verification are accurate across all platforms, helping guests check in smoothly.

API-first platforms

Modern PMS systems like Mews are built to integrate easily with other tools. This approach allows your team to expand or refine your tech stack without long development delays or vendor lock-in.

"43% of travellers now use VR to plan their trips"
"80% of travellers prefer automated front desk options."
"Legacy PMS = slow, costly integration." 

Smarter PMS Integrations = Smoother Guest Journeys

What are the leading integrations for hospitality businesses in 2026? It’s not about stacking tools - it’s about connecting the right ones to your PMS to personalise, automate, and grow.

Focus your tech strategy around these four essentials:

• Prioritise integration: Fragmented tools lead to fragmented service.
• Invest in guest-centric platforms: Think automation and personalisation.
• Use data to personalise: Insights from Enjovia and PMS drive better timing.
• Focus on experience commerce: Guests buy stories, ease, and anticipation.

Leading hospitality tech isn’t about collecting platforms, it’s about creating cohesion.

Mapping Tools to the Guest Journey

Every guest journey has multiple touchpoints. When your systems are connected via your PMS, each one becomes an opportunity to impress, personalise, and convert.

Examples of Hospitality Tech Tools Mapped to the Guest Journey

Pre-arrival

• Enjovia-  Gift voucher and experience commerce platform
  
• Duve - Guest experience platform for check-in, upsells, and communication
  

On-site

• Canary Technologies - Contactless check-in, tipping, and guest messaging
  
• Digital Keys - 5G IoT-powered smart room access
  

Post-stay

• Akia – AI-powered guest messaging and CRM
  
• Salesforce – CRM with personalised guest re-engagement tools
  

Example: The Connected Guest Journey in Action

A guest books a spa weekend using Enjovia → receives a pre-arrival upgrade offer via Duve → uses a mobile key for seamless check-in → and ends their stay with a personalised loyalty message from Akia.

This illustrates how a connected tech flow with the right property management system (PMS) creates seamless and personalized guest experiences at every step.  

FAQ

What’s Next for Hospitality Tech?

The Property Management System (PMS) has evolved into a vital tool that enhances guest experiences, boosts revenue, and improves operations. 

As we look toward 2026, hotels need to emphasize flexibility and strategic planning. Integrations will become essential, and personalization will shift from a luxury to an expected standard. Successful hotels will effectively align technology with key points in the guest journey.

If your current setup feels disjointed, it’s time to reassess. A modern PMS can streamline operations while fostering loyalty, driving innovation, and ensuring long-term success.

Discover How Enjovia Helps

Tech should never slow down service. Enjovia empowers hotels to shift from system juggling to guest journey optimisation, all while unlocking new revenue streams.

With Enjovia, you can:

• Pre-sell meaningful experiences - from spa to dining bundles
• Connect seamlessly with your PMS for smooth operations
• Gain data insights on redemption and repeat bookings
• Ensure smooth checking in/ redeeming with responsive support
• Adapt to any hotel type- from resorts to boutiques
• Personalise guest interactions through data-driven insights
• Free up staff time by automating upsells and gift redemptions

Enjovia helps you sell more than rooms - you sell anticipation.

Ready to turn tech into a competitive advantage?

Enjovia helps hotels enhance gift vouchers by linking offers with guest data and booking behavior. Want to convert those vouchers into bookings? 

Quick Answer:

An OTA is an Online Travel Agency, like Booking.com, that sells hotel rooms for a commission, helping visibility but reducing direct profit.

Introduction: The Hidden Cost of OTA Dependency

What is an OTA, and why does relying on them cost you more than you think?

OTAs are Online Travel Agencies like Booking.com or Expedia.

As a hotelier, you’ll likely be aware of OTAs, as 77% of online bookings in Europe are made through them. 

The OTA Trade-Off: Visibility vs. Value

77% of bookings come through OTAs, but at up to 30% commission. Who really profits?

While OTAs offer exposure, they come with trade-offs:

1. Revenue loss 

Commissions of 15-30% per booking can quickly erode your profit.

2. Limited guest insights

OTAs often only share basic info like name and stay dates. Making it hard to upsell, follow up, or build loyalty.

3. Brand dilution

Guests often remember the OTA, not your hotel. Reducing the chance of direct repeat bookings.

While the bookings are great, the convenience comes at a cost. The commission ends up eating into your margins. OTAs also control the guest data, limiting your ability to market personally or build long-term loyalty. It's like renting your guest list- convenient, but unsustainable.

OTA vs Direct Booking Revenue Impact Example

Shifting even 20% of OTA bookings to direct can return thousands to your bottom line and put guest relationships back in your hands.

What a Direct Booking Strategy Really Looks Like

A smart direct booking strategy doesn't just add more tools. It makes every touchpoint work harder for you. A good booking strategy focuses on three interconnected pillars:

1. Mindset-first

Great bookings start with great experiences. Instead of chasing transactions, optimise your guest journey to feel personal, seamless, and worth returning to.

2. UX-led

Your website is your digital front desk. From mobile responsiveness to intuitive navigation, every detail should guide the guest naturally toward booking.

3. Brand-led

People remember experiences. Your hotel or spa has a story that OTAs can’t tell. Let your brand voice, photography, and values shape how you connect with guests.

Think of this as building a digital concierge that reflects your brand and removes booking friction at every stage.

Effective hotel marketing has upgraded. It’s experience-led, emotionally aware, and designed to convert. When these three elements align, you’re increasing direct bookings and building lasting relationships.

The Independent Guest Funnel

Awareness → Consideration → Conversion → Retention

This funnel turns online visibility into lasting guest relationships. 

1. Awareness

SEO-rich blog posts grab attention and provide valuable information. When you pair them with engaging social media and targeted ads, your brand reaches more potential customers.

2. Consideration

Make your offering stand out by showcasing guest reviews. People trust what others say. Use comparison tools to make it easy for them to see the differences. Highlight clear benefits that help make a smart choice.

3. Conversion

Encourage customers to book by providing an easy booking process. Make sure you’re highlighting special offers. Use clear calls to action (CTAs) with the booking link simple to find. This will motivate them to book with you! 

4. Retention

Stay connected post-stay to turn guests into repeat, satisfied customers. Use your email list, loyalty programs, and referral incentives.

Fragmented funnels = fragmented revenue. 

Align each stage with your digital marketing for hotels strategy to get more direct bookings online.

Ready to turn interest into bookings? Below is your guide on how to get more bookings online. 

How to Get More Online Bookings

1. Optimise Your Booking Engine

Why it matters

A one-second delay in page load can reduce conversions by 7%. 

Slow loads, a poor mobile experience, or a confusing flow block bookings.  If you experience any of these, you’ll lose conversions. It’s that simple.

What to do

Step 1: Speed first

Ensure your online booking system loads in under 2 seconds on mobile.

Step 2: Frictionless checkout

Offer one-click or autofill payment options.

Step 3: Build trust 

Include trust signals like secure payment icons, recent reviews, or a contact number.

Quick win: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to test your current setup.

2. Streamline Your Website Funnel: Guide Visitors to Book Faster

Why it matters

Your website funnel is the journey from the homepage to booking confirmation. If it’s confusing or cluttered, visitors might leave before booking.

What to do:

Step 1: Prioritise the journey

Highlight one primary call to action per page.  Such as “Book Now,” “Special Offer,” or “Get Offer”. 

Step 2: Declutter navigation 

Remove distractions like pop-ups or competing buttons. 

Step 3: Visual and verbal clarity

Use short, benefit-driven copy paired with high-quality imagery. 

Quick win: Test your homepage! Is the booking action obvious within 5 seconds?

3. Use Gift Vouchers (aka Gift Cards) as Conversion Tools: Turn Interest into Revenue

Gift cards were once a fast way to raise cash. Today, they’re a key part of hotel marketing. As the guest experience becomes increasingly important, voucher systems are evolving. They are designed to deliver more value at every interaction.

• Attract new guests with gifts.  
• Generate off-peak demand to extend seasonal reach.  
• Reconnect with past visitors through personalised offers.  
• Boost direct revenue with pre-paid bookings.  
• Increase sales with upsell bundles and add-ons. 
• Use built-in analytics and promotional tools to promote new campaigns and forecast revenue. 

Leading hospitality brands treat vouchers not just as products, but as part of their experience commerce strategy. 

Gift vouchers create emotional purchase moments that lead to measurable revenue.

What to do:

Step 1: Choose a feature rich gift voucher system.

Not all gift voucher systems are built the same. Choose one that not only supports your revenue goals but also avoids the common pitfalls many platforms face. This post outlines the key features that make the difference: https://enjovia.com/the-problem-with-gift-cards/ 

Step 2: Promote creatively

Use paid ads, seasonal content, and social media platforms to spotlight your offers and draw in potential customers. Heres a helpful guide on how to use social media for gift card offerings: https://enjovia.com/social-media-gift-cards-promotions/ 

Step 3: Bridge booking gaps

Offer time-limited vouchers to email subscribers or visitors who didn’t complete their booking. It’s a compelling second-chance CTA.

Step 4: Upsell at checkout

Prompt current guests to “add a gift” when booking. Turning bookings into future revenue and referrals. Here’s nother quick guide on how to introduce add-ons in your selling funnel: https://enjovia.com/create-unique-experiences-with-gift-voucher-add-ons/

Quick win: Hotels using Enjovia’s gift card system often see seasonal uplift and better cash flow. Because Enjovia integrates easily with your existing tech stack, you can launch branded, flexible vouchers that drive real bookings, without the operational headache.

Try this: Map where a voucher could live in your own guest funnel. Is it part of your booking abandonment email? A homepage promo banner? Use it to reduce friction and build intent.

4. Capture Lost Traffic (Email & Exit-Intent)

Win Back Visitors Before They Leave

Why it matters: 

In the travel industry, over 80% of bookings are abandoned before completion. With, hotel websites experiencing abandonment rates around 70%!

Without a strategy to re-engage these visitors, potential revenue is lost.

What to do:

Step 1: Implement smart pop-ups 

Utilize tools like Sleeknote or OptinMonster to detect exit intent and present visitors with last-minute deals or incentives.

Placement of these tools is crucial to avoid disrupting the website funnel. Trigger exit-intent pop-ups on high-intent pages like room listings, special offer pages, gift voucher pages, and cart/checkout pages. 

Avoid placing them on the homepage or blog/info pages where immediate action isn’t needed. These tools pop up when the mouse moves towards the browser bar or close button, providing a last chance to re-engage without interrupting the browsing experience.

Step 2: Send follow-up emails

Deploy automated emails reminding visitors of their incomplete bookings. This is a great opportunity to include personalized offers to encourage completion.

Step 3: Personalize incentives

Tailor offers based on the visitor's behavior. Such as the pages they viewed or the duration of their visit. This increases relevance and conversion likelihood.

Quick win: Test an exit-intent pop-up offering a 10% discount for email sign-up. Studies have shown that well-crafted exit-intent pop-ups can recover 10–15% of abandoning visitors.

5. Incentivise Repeat and Referral Bookings

Increase Lifetime Value

Why it matters

Acquiring new guests is costly. Incentivising return visits and referrals maximises each stay’s value.

What to do:

Step 1: Reward repeat stays 

Offer perks like late checkout or exclusive discounts.

Step 2: Create a referral loop 

Give guests a reason to bring a friend.

Step 3: Use loyalty tiers

Gamify benefits with bronze, silver, and gold status.

Quick win: A simple “Refer a friend, get 20% off” campaign can boost bookings and guest loyalty.

How Enjovia Solves This

Enjovia is a gift voucher and experience commerce platform built specifically for hospitality businesses.

Many tools add layers of complexity to your booking process. Enjovia simplifies it, making it easier for guests to buy and for operators to manage experiences without technical hassle. Each capability is designed to solve the challenges that matter most:

You don’t need to rebuild your tech stack, just rethink your guest flow.

Reclaiming control over your revenue, brand, and guest experience shifts you from survival mode to long-term sustainability. 

Resulting in building loyalty, driving higher margins, owning your guest journey, your guest relationships and your brand.

Quick Recap: How to Get More Bookings Online

Ready to stop handing your profits to OTAs? Book a free strategy call with Enjovia.

Frequently Asked Questions