How hotels can attract couples looking for romantic experiences

April 25, 2019

Looking to attract more couples, honeymooners, and newlyweds to your hotel? In order to sweep couples off their feet, you need to create a romantic atmosphere, offer truly attentive service, and go the extra mile with personalized experiences and thoughtful decor.

With that in mind, here are our top tips to attract more couples to your hotel.

1. Romantic dining experiences

An intimate meal is often at the heart of a romantic getaway. Want to make a table at your hotel restaurant the most attractive option in town? Offer couples the option to have a candlelit dinner beside your pool, dress up a table in a tucked-away area of your restaurant, or offer them a personal dining experience on their bedroom balcony.

To enhance the loved-up mood, decorate their table with flowers, candles, or lanterns. Just try to keep things subtle — too much decoration can hamper the romantic mood. For parents traveling with kids, consider offering them complimentary babysitting for the evening so they can enjoy a quiet meal together.

When it comes to special occasions such as Valentine’s Day, think outside the box. You could host a wine-tasting dinner, give your evening a famous love songs theme, or screen a romantic movie in your restaurant on a giant projector.

2. Tailored itineraries

While some couples might be happy to laze in bed all morning, others will be eager to explore your destination. So for those adventure-seeking couples, offer them plenty of tips to help them make the most of their romantic getaway.

Suggest special date night experiences and venues in your destination, such as dance classes, theater shows, or intimate cocktail bars. Let them know about the best places to enjoy romantic strolls and the most swoon-worthy spots to watch the sunset. To enhance their day trip, create a picnic hamper complete with a snug blanket, luxury snacks, and a bottle of wine.

You might also want to host personalized tours just for two, with a trip to the most cherished spots in your destination.

3. Couples-only packages

Woo your romance-seeking guests with indulgent packages that entice them to enjoy their couples-only time with you.

The Westin New York at Times Square has created a “Take Your Love to New Heights” experience. This exclusive experience includes an evening in a presidential suite, a black car service from the hotel to Central Park for a personal horse-drawn carriage ride, a candlelit 4-course dinner and wine pairing prepared by the Executive Chef, and Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries delivered to the suite at turndown time.

Of course, your own hotel’s offering don’t need to be quite so lavish. An enticing package could include a bouquet of flowers upon arrival, an in-room dining experience with a complimentary bottle of Champagne, and breakfast in bed the following day. Providing late check-out is also a nice extra that lets couples make the most of their time together.

Think about adding on-property experiences too. Design a package that offers a personalized cooking class with your head chef, or a cocktail-making session for two with your bartender. Better yet, survey your guests and ask what couples-only experiences they’d like to see.

4. Special requests and services

Perhaps more than anything else, attending to special requests is a sure-fire way to entice couples to your property. Especially when it comes to guests looking to impress their partner.

For instance, if a guest tells you that they plan to propose during their stay with you, help them create the perfect atmosphere. For instance, offer to provide a chauffeur-driven car to whisk them to and from the venue they‘re planning to pop the question. And have Champagne chilling on ice when they return.

Or how about arranging tickets to a favorite show, booking a table at an exclusive restaurant, or providing a tour of your region’s best jewelers with a personal shopper? Simple gestures can also help ease pre-proposal jitters, such as offering to order flowers or gifts.

The Merchant Hotel in Belfast offers a variety of proposals packages that include the option to book a chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce, a horse-drawn carriage, or enjoy an eight-course tasting menu. Each package also comes with a standard set of extras, including Champagne, chocolates, tea light candles, a personalized playlist, and a photographer/proposal curator to capture the big moment.

5. In-room experiences

This tip is especially relevant to newlyweds. After a whirlwind wedding ceremony, most couples will want to quickly check-in to their room and enjoy some quiet time. To help them unwind and carry on the romantic mood, take the time to create the perfect in-room ambiance.

Special arrangements could include dimmed lights, scented candles, Belgian chocolate beside the bed, and scattered petals on the pillow. To go the extra mile, provide a collection of romantic movies and music, stock the bathroom with perfumes and luxury vanity packs, or offer a complimentary in-room massage at a time of their choosing.

Bear in mind that some guests will be looking for a more low-key romantic getaway, so try to establish personal preferences where possible. As an example, you could offer an in-room movie experience, complete with a favorite film, selection of snacks, gourmet popcorn, and a glass of bubbly or specially crafted cocktail.

6. Create a dedicated weddings section

If your hotel attracts a significant amount of wedding bookings, it’s worth having a dedicated wedding packages section on your website. To help couples visualize their dream day, include plenty of quality photos, video content, or self-guided virtual tours of your venue and past weddings. Testimonials from past newlyweds are also a great way to add social proof.

In addition, be sure to include all the essential information wedding bookers will be looking for. Pricing, seating capacity, floor plans, sample food menus, entertainment options, and transport and parking information are all likely to be top of mind.

Langstone Hotel in Devon, England has a comprehensive Weddings section on their website. Along with all the most important details, a helpful ‘Procedural Guidance’ page is packed with information about how the big day might unfold.

How hotels can engage with more couples

While some hotels only really focus on Valentine’s Day, there’s a huge opportunity to attract more couples to your property throughout the year. From intimate dining experiences and romantic room decor, to tailored trips and thoughtful proposals packages, the tips above will help you win over the hearts of more guests seeking a loved-up getaway.