The guest checks in, checks out, and you never hear from them again. Does it sound familiar? ‍

Hoteliers today face different challenges, and one of them is low guest loyalty. This means your guests are not returning to your property. They are one-time visitors, and that is it.

If you are currently facing this or a similar situation, different things can be affecting your guest loyalty and you need to fix them if you want to grow those numbers.

Remember, guest loyalty is the best way to ensure repeat business and a long-term relationship with your guests, which is why fixing it is crucial for the future of any hotel. Additionally, bringing existing guests back is definitely way cheaper than attracting new customers, so this topic is also very important for your hotel marketing team.

Then, why are your guests not coming back? Here are five hidden reasons.

But first, why is guest loyalty important? Why do you need them to come back?

Reason 1: It is too difficult to be a guest in your hotel

In simple words, it is too hard for them to get anything done. From getting information about something to making a request, checking in earlier, and so on, all processes are long and have too many steps.

Guests love processes that are simple and don’t take too much of their time. They don’t want to put too much effort into getting something done. Especially for millennials and Gen-Z, if they need to call you to get information instead of just texting, that is already too much to ask.

Processes need to be simple, clear and easy to follow. Information needs to be out there before they even ask for it. In that way, you will deliver a smooth experience instead of a painful one.

How to solve the high customer effort?

In the first place, consider all your processes and identify the most difficult ones. What can you do to make it easier for guests? Place yourself in your guests’ shoes and what are the things you find complicated. Try that exercise with someone out of your organisation and listen to what they have to say.

For example, if you offer attention only via phone, consider adding social media channels or a website chat.

Another important step is to put information out there. Identify your most frequently asked questions and provide answers to them already on your website, so guests can get answers right away without any extra step.

Read more about customer effort in this article: What to do when your guests think is difficult to stay in your hotel

Reason 2: Your brand is not memorable enough

There are hundreds of hotels in the same area where you are. To make guests come back for a second visit, you need to be a brand worth remembering. Otherwise, what is stopping them from trying out another place?

If your property is seen as one more place to sleep, it is very unlikely guests will remember your brand and tell others about it.

Many aspects can impact the memorability of your brand, for example, it has to do with the service, with the uniqueness of our concept, with the guest journey and with the overall experience.

How to solve the lack of memorability in your guest journey?

Think about your brand as a destination itself. The same story you tell about your brand online, should be perceived when they arrive at the property.

If your concept focuses on sustainability, highlight those aspects and offer amenities that are related to it. On the other hand, if your brand is more into wellness, add these elements into your services.

For example, giving guests the opportunity to have a yoga mat in their room, to choose the pillow type for maximum sleep comfort or even adding an air purifier in the room to provide extra quality.

Little things can help you stand out from the crowd and make your hospitality brand a more memorable one.

‍Do you want to know more about what guests expect? Read: A complete guide on Guest Expectations for 2025.

Reason 3: Lack of a consistent guest journey

If you disappear after the guest makes a booking and don’t talk to them again until it’s time for check-in, you are wasting the opportunity to connect with them and build a relationship. It might sound cliché, but it is actually true.

Customers want brands that empathize with them, send them relatable content (a honeymoon offer to a couple travelling with children? Hello?) and offer them value instead of just asking them to buy.

According to Mckinsey, 71% of customers are expecting for brands to reach them with personalised messages or services, and 76% of them get frustrated if this does not occur.

Therefore, a key part of working on your guest loyalty and on turning first-timers into returning guests is to have a consistent guest journey in place. It doesn’t mean bombarding them with messages from the booking moment but deliver actual planned communication that is personalised and segmented.

How to create a consistent guest journey that boosts guest loyalty?

Don’t think about pre-stay communication as being related only to cross-selling. There are many things you can tell your guests to enrich their experience. This will make them feel seen and heard because you are taking their needs into account.

Take some time to plan out your guest journey, the touchpoints you should include, what you should say and which are the predominant guest groups in your brand, so you can create different messages.

At the same time, you should think about engaging with guests through their preferred channel, as this is the best way to reach them in a friendly way and treat them in a personal way. Remember, every guest has different behaviours and preferences, and you need to acknowledge those differences in order to create value.

To learn more about creating a guest journey, read: 7 best practices for creating non-boring hotel guest journeys

Reason 4: Expectations weren’t fulfilled

If you lie to your guests or exaggerate the truth, this will not end in a good way.

When you promise something wonderful and reality does not como close, you are setting yourself up for loss.

For example, if you advertise your hotel as having a complete indoors gym, but what you offer is actually a set of dumbbells in a room, you are creating false expectations. If you say that you have a fully stocked breakfast buffet that includes something for people with allergies or different food restrictions, and in reality you only offer basic breakfast, you will disappoint your guests.

When they see that the description and photos of the different areas in the hotel did not match the reality, they feel tricked (and definitely not happy).

When that happens, you are no longer an option for the future; on the contrary, you become the brand they will complain about to their friends.

How to solve this and create realistic expectations in your guest journey?

The main rule for this is not to overpromise. Make sure you use creativity when describing your hotel or engaging with guests, but always be truthful. Highlight the best aspects of your services but still call them for what they are.

If you identify your different audiences, their profiles and their needs, you will understand more about what they value and how you can provide them with that without having to exaggerate what you can offer.

On the same note, the more they connect with your brand, the more they will get to know the essence and resonate with the experience.

Reason 5: The relationship is with OTA’s but not with your brand

OTAs have captured not only transactions but also the relationship with guests. They make the best use of the guest data from the moment the booking is made.

When this happens, the next time they want to make a booking, they will go to the OTA’s website, but not to your hotel. Therefore, building a relationship with your guests is more important than it seems.

Read more about OTAs and how to reclaim some power in Checkmate OTAs: 5 winning strategies to recover direct bookings.

How to own the relationship with your guests?

In the first place, make sure you are the one sending the booking confirmation and welcoming to your property. Look for opportunities to recover their real data so you can communicate with them independently, without using the OTA email just like this hotel in Sweden did.

In addition, make sure to highlight the value of a direct booking, such as getting a discount for a second visit, getting access to exclusive services and more.

The power of bringing guests back

Guest loyalty is more than just a metric, it’s the heartbeat of sustainable growth for your hotel.

By focusing on the reasons why guests don’t return and addressing these challenges, you unlock the power to turn first-time visitors into lifelong advocates for your brand. Loyal guests not only come back themselves but also amplify your reputation, driving new business through recommendations.

Invest in the guest journey, simplify their experience, and build authentic relationships that resonate beyond a single stay. The effort you put into fostering loyalty today is what will set your property apart tomorrow.

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