16 years
I wish I had a clone around, because there would easily be enough work for another Klaus.
I'd recommend you to watch this comedy with Michael Keaton, called Multiplicity. You may want to change your mind! :D
I don´t want extra staff who never see our guests.
IMHO, even if it takes time to figure out what reports and analysis you want to see, it could take a lot if you have to enter everything manually. A good front desk software can help you out in such situation, when you are able to export data or the software does the report instead of you and all you have to do is to check the numbers frequently.
Our neighbor hostel always doubles prices during the construction fair week.
Which one? The one on your left or your right? :D
Question for all the hostel owners who are so fond of yield management: would you double your prices because there´s a big trade fair in town, knowing full well that:
A) you will be full no matter what you charge.
B) none of your guests comes to attend that fair - many just book your hostel because everything else is full.
C) hence, your guests will think you´re ripping them off.
If I'd have to do such thing:
A) We would receive complaints about comparing to the price they paid they haven't had the chance to use platinum silverware and the gold flooring is a fake, also they couldn't find the bellboy anywhere around, because only that type of people would reserve it,
B) Those guests would try to stay somewhere else, either another city or some cheaper alternative,
C) We would receive very bad comments including a lot of grouch faces around and no atmosphere.
Overall, it would harm the reputation and wouldn't worth it. However, if you only adjust your prices regarding how many beds you would be able to sell anyway, and by this method you could increase your profit by let's say just 10%, I think it's worth to try, innit? ;)
If there are many requests or walk ins sent away from the reception, you could increase if you need, without being too cheeky. We never make our prices to be the cheapest or the most expensive but we have bigger costs than the average hostel in the city, so needs a bit floating around.
We have a huge competition here, so we can not afford to hold summer prices, but we do adjust our prices compromising between the possible revenue and having the most bookings possible, regarding the principle being the cheapest wouldn't mean we could make more money.
I think we will have to get used to those downgrading formerly-wealthy people.
Unfortunately bigger chances on that one, regardless there is a crisis or not. Europe is getting too expensive for backpackers anyway. :(
OK, to clarify my point: I am in favor of a return of cheap Interrail. Something like EUR 250 for unlimited travel for a month on the entire continent. Without those stupid zones and without all the extra supplements and reservation fees.
Who knows, if these expensive tickets won't sell, maybe this crisis will awake some heads there and actually do something to improve their package. Otherwise the global youth pass costs 400EUR, which is not that bad for a month, IMHO. EUrail is much more expensive (this is what Americans buy), 1 month is EUR 527, however there are more combinations possible, also it seems they don't sleep as much, regarding their promo pass.
I have spent five paid hours every day reading a novel right next to the boss (who had not much to do either). It was the same on other Jobs in Berlin.
Imagine the same mentality here... even after 20 years of Iron Curtain.
Some parts improved, especially the private businesses, but large companies, like the public transportation or the Hungarian railways are better conserved than Comrade Lenin.
I have an interesting example on teamwork: Wherever you see a group of physical workers around, regardless they fix the road, working a construction or plant in the park, you'll always see one of them working and the rest is watching him, leaned down on their shovel. :confused:
Log in to join discussion