3 Ways to Make the Hotel Bar the Focal Point of Guest Experience

Don’t let the bar stools sit empty – encourage guests to spend on this often-overlooked amenity.

Drinking at the hotel bar isn’t for everyone, but it could be.

There are many reasons why guests might be skipping out. If there’s nothing drawing them to it, then they’ll find somewhere else to get their drinks. If your bar is lacking life, put effort into making it worth guests’ time and money, and watch your profit grow.

If you’re looking to improve guests’ vacation experience, start at the bar.

1. Where the minibar fails and the bar succeeds

The minibar has had many ups and downs. It seems like every few years, news sites are declaring their end. When deciding what amenity to invest in, this one just doesn’t seem sound.

The Washington Post’s report credits factors like hospitality labor shortages and the popularization of convenient delivery services for major blows to the minibar, on top of its reputation for being outrageously overpriced.

Buckley of Atelier Ace told the Post that they’re combatting its fall by bringing local brands to the minifridge so that guests get to enjoy community from their private room. Agrario of Bartech, the company behind automated minibars cutting down on labor costs, argues that classic big name brands are the way to keep profit coming in.

Winning or losing, making bank off of the minibar has proven an uphill battle. It may have gained a following for its convenience, but there are many things it just can’t offer.

The hotel bar has something that the minibar doesn’t: the experience. Guests won’t find a story to tell, personal drink recommendations, or even their favorite cocktail in their room’s minifridge.

Making the most money off of the hotel bar means focusing on giving guests a reason to go.

2. Creating the right atmosphere

The convenience of having a bar in the same building as guest rooms will only go so far when it comes to attracting business. The work won’t be done for you; put effort into creating a bar that guests will truly enjoy.

Guests looking to grab a drink might walk right past the hotel bar for several reasons. For many, the joy of drinking while traveling comes from getting to partake in local culture. Tap into that.

Offering local brews is a great way to make the experience unique to the location, something that guests would otherwise have to seek out outside the hotel. Shake things up with themed cocktails, too.

Embodying that local charm goes beyond the drink menus. Inviting seating arrangements, captivating decor, and the overall appearance play a big part in drawing customers in.

Creating the right atmosphere is key.

Employees will always have a huge role in the experience. Welcoming staff and friendly, knowledgeable bartenders will encourage guests.

When it comes to cultivating your hotel bar, take a page out of the book of some of the best in the country. Common attributes of their success include passionate staff and a well-composed theme.

3. Drink menu considerations

While making everyone happy may be impossible, it’s still important to take all your guests into consideration when creating a drink menu.

Offering handcrafted cocktails and high quality wines as well as inexpensive liquors mean there’s something for every budget. On the flip side, having cheap options can feel like it cheapens the experience for some. Again, consider the atmosphere you’re trying to create and the customers you’re trying to attract.

Go beyond the paper umbrellas and make something memorable. Custom glasses, decorative pieces, and animated ingredients like dry ice turn a drink into an experience.

That isn’t the only way to turn your drink menu into an event. Demonstrations like champagne sabering will really put your bar into a class of its own.

When it comes to being inclusive of all guests, consider offering nonalcoholic beverages. At little cost, children or guests with health concerns can participate in the fun.

In order to make the hotel bar a bar worth spending on, the same effort must be put in as if it were its own establishment. Travelers want to satisfy their thirst somewhere as exciting as the rest of their trip, and that won’t be at the dingy, underdeveloped hotel bar.

Make your hotel’s bar an integral part of every guest’s experience. Create something that they won’t want to miss out on.