Hotel activities are the various things guests can do for enjoyment during their stay. Examples can range from spa treatments and live entertainment, to city tours and outdoor adventure activities.

The hotel activities on offer can make a huge difference to the guest experience, helping to create memorable moments. Designing your hotel to offer interesting or unique activities can help separate your hotel from rivals.

In this article, you will discover some of the most engaging activities offered by hotels and learn how these contribute to business success. You will also find best practices and strategies for implementing activities effectively.

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Understanding Hotel Activities

The recreational and educational offerings in and around a business in the hotel industry can be broadly described as hotel activities. They provide hotel guests with enjoyable experiences during their stay.

Guest activities in hotels can include traditional offerings, like spa treatments or swimming, as well as modern options, like sustainable tourism activities. Some offerings are also provided by the hotel, but happen away from it.

There is a growing trend of offering unique, culturally relevant activities. This may include on-site cooking classes, where people learn to make local dishes, or cultural excursions, where people experience real local life.

Why Hotel Activities Are So Important

Hotel activities are important because they help to determine whether guests have a positive stay. It is no longer enough to provide a comfortable bed and a safe place to shelter – guests want memorable experiences.

If you offer great hotel activities for guests, people are going to be more likely to book with you. Implementing activities that are engaging, unique and memorable is one of the top ways for a hotel can stand out from rivals.

Additionally, providing hotel activities can help your hotel to diversify revenue streams and generate more revenue from each hotel customer. This, in turn, can assist with your revenue management strategy.

5 Key Types of Hotel Activities to Offer Guests

Hotel activities can be separated into some broad activity types. Here, you will learn about five of the most significant types and why they are beneficial to hoteliers and their customers:

Wellness and Fitness Activities

Some of the most popular hotel activities are related to the ideas of fitness and wellbeing. Examples of this include fitness classes, yoga classes and guided meditation sessions.

Offering guest activities in hotel settings related to wellness and fitness is important because there is a growing wellness traveler customer base. These people want to prioritize their health as part of their stay.

Relevant activities can be offered within your hotel, if you have the necessary hotel facilities. Alternatively, you may be able to partner with gyms, fitness centers and instructors in the local area.

Cultural and Educational Activities

Cultural and educational activities provide guests with opportunities to learn about or engage with local customs, traditions and ways of life. Examples include cooking classes focused on local cuisine, or historical tours.

These activities are important because many guests do not want to simply stay in a location; they want to experience life in that location. Hotels can make this easier for guests by carefully selecting appropriate activities.

Educational experiences allow guests to take something tangible away from their stay and can help to bridge the gap between the local community and tourists. Some of these activities can also boost the local economy.

Family-Friendly Entertainment

Family-friendly entertainment describes hotel activities that are suitable for guests who bring their children. Examples can include live performances, kids’ clubs, child-friendly classes, treasure hunts and group games.

These hotel activities are important for any hotel targeting families as a major guest type. While difficult to achieve, the ideal activities will be able to be enjoyed by children of all ages, as well as adults.

Guest activities in hotels that are suitable for children can help to provide a family-friendly atmosphere. This can also help your hotel to develop a positive reputation and strong word of mouth marketing.

Outdoor Activities and Adventures

Adventure and outdoor activities are ways to keep guests occupied outside of the hotel. Some popular examples include hiking, jet skiing, kayaking, rock climbing or sports like tennis and golf.

Providing hotel activities of this kind is important because many guests want to get away from the hotel itself. These activities can appeal to guests with a sense of adventure, or guests who want to stay active.

Your hotel may be able to partner with local businesses, activity organizers and others in the nearby area. Partnerships of this kind can provide two-way benefits and may also earn you extra referrals.

Video: Barceló Margaritas Hotel, entertainment and outdoor activities | Barceló Hotel Group

Social Events and Evening Entertainment

Social events help guests to have memorable interactions with other people. Hotel activities providing evening entertainment may include parties, live performances and cocktail-making classes.

These hotel activities are important for keeping guests entertained after dark. Many of the most memorable experiences for people on vacations happen in the evening, rather than through the day.

Try to find options that allow people to get together and have fun. Themed events, partnerships with local nightclubs and performances from local musicians and comedians can all help here.

Key Types of Hotel Activities to Offer Guests

A Complete Guide to the Best Hotel Activities

Equipped with an understanding of the main categories of hotel activities, it is important to focus on some specific hotel activities for guests, so you can engage customers and generate extra revenue:

Local Tours

Local tours are among the most popular hotel activities, providing opportunities for guests to explore the area. Tours can take many forms, like walking tours, bus tours, photography tours and even horseback riding tours.

Such tours are a great way for your guests to explore the local town, city or area, in an organized way. They can be important for helping guests to feel safe while checking out unfamiliar locations.

The best tour experiences will provide an educational experience, too, and your hotel can work with local guides with a strong reputation to deliver this. Try to provide multiple options to appeal to different guest types.

Culinary Activities

Culinary activities provide interesting or educational experiences related to kitchens and food. This includes cooking classes, chef experiences, behind-the-scenes access to kitchens, cocktail-making classes and more.

Providing hotel activities related to food can be important for helping guests connect to the local culture. Learning how to create authentic dishes, for example, can enrich the guest experience and help guests feel connected to the area.

It can be important to provide options for different skill levels, but most guests are going to be beginners. Cooking classes may be able to be held within your hotel and can increase revenue earned from your kitchen.

Adventure Activities

Adventure activities are hotel activities taking place outdoors, offering enjoyment, challenges, or a sense of discovery. Examples include kayaking, rock climbing and hiking in natural environments.

For many guests, vacations are all about a sense of adventure. The right hotel activities in this area can greatly boost the overall guest experience, resulting in improved customer satisfaction.

It is essential to take sensible precautions around safety and to work with local experts to deliver these experiences. If you can combine adventure with local places of interest, you may be able to boost guest interest.

Spa Packages

Hotel spa packages can deliver beauty and wellness treatments as part of the price of the booking. Guests may enjoy everything from massages and skin treatments, to time in a sauna or guided relaxation.

For hotels with a spa on-site, these hotel activities can significantly boost overall revenue. The presence of a spa and the availability of packages can also be a key competitive differentiator.

Try to provide opportunities for guests to relax, unwind, and enjoy some downtime. Beauty treatments are also popular, especially with women, while some treatments can help guests connect with local customs.

Gym Activities

Activities in the hotel gym are an ideal way to keep fitness enthusiasts busy during their stay. Options could include sessions with personal trainers, group gym classes, or simple access to a high-quality gym.

Gym activities can benefit you as a hotel owner or business leader, because your gym can become a major ancillary revenue source. You can charge money for classes, access to the gym, access to specialist equipment and more.

Provide options for people at different fitness levels. An aerobics or yoga class for beginners may attract more guests than a more advanced weight-lifting class, so try to optimize offerings based on customer demographics.

Children’s Play Activities

Many hotel guests will bring children with them, but providing relevant hotel activities can provide much-needed respite. Options can include children’s play areas, kids’ clubs, treasure hunts, and other similar activities.

This can be an especially important activity to provide if your hotel attracts a lot of families. Children’s play activities can enhance enjoyment for the kids, while allowing parents to have some time to themselves.

Many hotels will offer numerous options, including all-day clubs, half-day clubs, and shorter play activities. Some of these activities can also be designed to allow parents to get involved and join in the fun.

Art Classes

Art classes can enable hotel guests to get hands-on with hotel activities and learn new skills along the way. Options include painting and sketching classes, photography lessons and pottery or embroidery classes.

For guests, art classes not only provide an educational experience, but also an opportunity for self-expression. These classes can also help solo travelers to meet new people and enjoy a social experience.

Classes could take place on the hotel premises, for added convenience. Hotels in some destinations may be able to provide culturally relevant art classes, focused on traditional styles or techniques.

Cultural Excursions

Cultural excursions are experiences in the local area that help your hotel guests engage with local ways of life. These hotel activities may focus on local history, customs or traditions.

Working with local tour guides and organizers, you can help set guests up with excursions to cultural places of interest and historical attractions. This can often be more convenient for guests.

Some of your hotel guests may specifically book their trip to coincide with local festivals or holidays. It can be a good idea to capitalize on this by offering relevant excursions. Hotels and tour operators in some destinations offer outings using traditional modes of transport, like riding horses, camels, or donkeys.

Dining Experiences

From traditional recipes, to romantic meals, or wine tasting sessions, some of the most popular activities are dining experience. These could showcase local dishes, offer home comforts, or provide a unique setting.

Food and drinks play a major role in most travel experiences and hotel activities can help to boost guest satisfaction. It can be important to provide options for people with special dietary needs, including vegetarians and vegans.

Dining experiences can be led by your hotel restaurant, or you could partner with nearby businesses. On-site experiences can be especially beneficial for your hotel’s reputation and can help to generate more bookings.

Personalized Experiences

Hotels are increasingly focused on personalization and this can include tailored hotel activities and experiences. Possible options may include custom itineraries, or luxury transportation to local attractions.

By providing personalized experiences, you can tailor the offering to suit individual needs and preferences. This helps guests to feel valued and understood, which can greatly enhance their time in your hotel.

You may be able to use local connections to make special arrangements for your hotel guests. This could include visits to museums outside of conventional opening hours, or behind-the-scenes access to entertainment venues.

Video: HOTEL & RESORT ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS: Engaging and Exciting, Interactive Activities for Adult Crowds!

Wellness Coaching

Wellness coaching involves providing specialist support and guidance on health-related hotel activities. Coaches may be able to work with hotel guests on fitness, nutrition, stress management and other areas impacting wellbeing.

Providing these options is important for gaining a foothold in the growing wellness tourism market. Some guests may specifically book your hotel to access wellness coaching in areas that are relevant to them.

This growing market has also given rise to unique offerings, like silent areas, alcohol-free bars, or accommodation businesses that put sleep quality at the center of their services.

Vehicle Hire

Some hotels connect guests with methods for getting around the local area more easily. The most common options are bicycles and quad bikes, but luxury hotels may be able to connect guests with chauffeurs too.

Helping guests to access vehicles or equipment can greatly boost convenience and may provide access to additional outdoor or hotel activities. These options could save guests money on car hire too.

Road bikes can be ideal if your hotel is in an urban area, while mountain bikes may be beneficial in more rural settings. For hotels near the coast, quad bikes have become a popular option. Your hotel may be able to connect guests with these vehicle options directly, increasing revenue, or you could partner with nearby specialists.

Educational Workshops

Workshops can help to teach your guests new skills. There are a huge number of options available to hotels and nearby business partners, including language workshops, craft workshops, and technology workshops.

These workshops can provide hotel activities for solo travels, or could be aimed at group travelers, couples, or other demographics. They offer a great chance to connect guests with experts from the area.

It may be possible to deliver themed workshops, which connect to your wider hotel offering. Educational workshops may also appeal to specific types of hotel guests, including business travelers or couples.

Live Entertainment

Some of the most popular hotel activities can be categorized as live entertainment offerings. Examples range from live music in the hotel bar, to performances from comedians, dancers or actors.

For hotels, live entertainment can keep guests happy and may help to draw them to key areas of the hotel, like the bar, restaurant, or outdoor areas. For guests, live entertainment may provide a social experience.

In truth, the options for hotels are almost endless. Some properties host bingo nights, boxing matches, or theatrical productions. The best live entertainment will also offer interactive elements.

Movie Nights

Movie nights are events within the hotel where guests can come to relax and enjoy a film in a pleasant environment. Movie nights can bring guests together and offer a cinema-like experience in the evenings.

Hosting movie nights can help your hotel to generate more money, while keeping guests happy. The movies you select can be based around your location, upcoming holidays and festivals, or events in the nearby area.

Some hotels host special themed nights, like horror or comedy nights. One of the most unique ways to select movies is by running a poll on your hotel app, which helps to make the entire experience more personalized and interactive.

Sustainable Tourism Activities

Sustainable tourism activities are experiences that place a premium on environmental responsibility and ethical use of resources. This may include conservation work, nature walks or sustainability workshops.

Providing sustainable tourism experiences can be important for appealing to the ever-expanding eco-tourism market. Many guests want to travel to destinations where the harms of tourism are kept to a minimum.

The smart hotel concept has helped to accelerate movement toward more sustainable accommodation, but activities help guests feel more actively involved in efforts to protect the environment, wildlife and the planet.

Local Wine and Beer Tours

Some hotel activities are built around alcohol consumption or the production process. Among the most popular examples are wine-tasting sessions, local vineyard tours, brewery visits, and similar outings.

Many of the best wine and beer experiences will combine alcohol consumption with educational experiences. Guests might learn how beer is made, or the advanced techniques used in wine tasting.

Some of these experiences can be direct hotel activities, like wine-tasting events in your bar area. For other experiences, you may need to form partnerships with local winemakers, breweries, bars or pubs.

Wellness Retreats

Some hotels take their commitment to wellness to the next level by placing it at the heart of their service. Some examples of this include wellness retreats, silent retreats, yoga retreats and mindfulness retreats.

In addition to the broad wellness tourism market, there is a growing demand for more specialized retreats. This allows guests to make a particular aspect of their wellbeing the primary focus of their trip.

Options to focus on include abstinence from alcohol, relaxation, meditation, spirituality and nutrition. Some hotels only offer vegan foods, or are geared towards helping guests to detoxify.

Special Offers

Finally, accommodation businesses may promote special offers around hotel activities. This could include priority access to hotel facilities, all-inclusive offerings, or discounts on spa services or the hotel gym.

Special offers, promotions and discounts are an important way to incentivize bookings. These offers may be the difference between a guest choosing your hotel or deciding to book with a rival property instead.

Hotels may offer discounts on hotel activities during times of low demand, or at particular times of the year, such as Christmas. Package deals can help guests to book a more complete experience, rather than just reserving a room.

A Complete Guide to the Best Hotel Activities

Best Practices for Launching Hotel Activities

Here, you can learn about some of the best practices for implementing hotel activities in your property:

  • Hotel Activity Design: Create experiences that match your hotel’s design elements, facilities, marketing strategies and most likely customers. Think carefully about who will engage with these activities.
  • Resource Management: Make sure you have the right labor resources and physical space to provide your chosen hotel activities. If supplies, equipment or goods need to be provided, manage your inventory carefully.
  • Guest Communication: Promote guest activities in hotel or external environments clearly. Use advertising, your hotel app, and pre-arrival emails to explain what you offer and how guests can take part.
  • Safety Measures: Ensure you have appropriate safety protocols in place. Continue to meet all of the compliance standards necessary to deliver the hotel activities you want to provide.
  • Quality Control: Listen to feedback from guests and make necessary changes to your hotel activities. Cut the activities that do not generate revenue or enhance the guest experience.
  • Financial Management: Set an appropriate budget for hotel activities and stick to it. As you generate more revenue, you may be able to allocate more financial resources to new or existing hotel activities for guests.

Maximizing Success With Hotel Activities

Here, you will find a summary of the best ways to optimize the hotel activities you offer:

  • Strategic Implementation: Launch new hotel activities at the right time, factoring in demand and labor resources. Make sure these activities will appeal to the types of guests you attract.
  • Staff Training: Educate all of your employees about the hotel activities on offer. When activities are happening on-site, make sure you have trained staff available to supervise.
  • Technology Integration: Use digital tools to promote your hotel activities and use up-to-date booking systems to manage guest access. Digital scheduling tools can also help to maximize operational efficiency.
  • Guest Feedback: Create a system for guests to share their opinions on your hotel activities. Use their feedback to make improvements or to introduce new activities for guests.
  • Hotel Marketing: Utilize your various marketing and guest communications channels to ensure people know about your hotel activities. Keep all marketing efforts in keeping with your branding strategy.
  • Performance Metrics: Track how much revenue different hotel activities generate over time. Continually measure other relevant metrics, such as profit, guest satisfaction levels and labor costs.

Understanding Different Hotel Guest Types

Hotel guests are not a monolith – they visit your property with different intentions, or in search of different experiences. Understanding the different types of guests a hotel can attract helps you plan out your hotel facilities, service standards, design features, pricing strategies, and the hotel activities you offer.

In the “Different Types of Hotel Guests and Tips on How to Appeal to Them” article, you can learn the differences between business travelers, digital nomads, wellness guests, eco-conscious travelers and more.

Exploring the Most Essential Hotel Amenities

Hotel amenities are the additional items and extras provided by a hotel at no extra cost. Amenities all play a role in defining the guest experience and increasing the hotel activities available. Examples range from the most basic items like toiletries and personal items, to technology-based amenities, including smart TVs and free Wi-Fi.

In the “Hotel Amenities: Meet and Exceed Your Hotel Guests’ Expectations” article, you can take a deep dive into the importance of amenities and read an overview of the most crucial amenities to provide.

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Hotel activities can improve the experience of staying in a property, providing guests with memorable moments. By adopting a strategic approach to activities, you can potentially gain the upper hand on rival businesses, improve your hotel’s reputation and increase demand for bookings.

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This article is written by:

Martijn Barten

Hi, I am Martijn Barten, founder of Revfine.com. With 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I specialize in optimizing revenue by combining revenue management with marketing strategies. I have successfully developed, implemented, and managed revenue management and marketing strategies for individual properties and multi-property portfolios.