Change is one of the only constants in hotel and tourism. After several years of pandemic-related instability, many hoteliers are more aware of how technology helps them work efficiently.
The importance of change management
When you make a major organizational change — like launching a new service, undergoing a digital transformation, or restructuring your business model — you need to handle a huge number of different tasks and run the risk of serious errors.
Managing this process smoothly can make the difference between a successful, fruitful transition and a chaotic, expensive disaster.
The bad news is that research shows that only 34% of change initiatives succeed. To do well here, you need to do everything right.
6 steps to effective hotel change management
Let’s take a look at 6 steps you can take to drive a smoother and more successful change management process for your hotel.
Clear and transparent planning
Clarity is an essential ingredient in successful change. You need to clearly outline not only why change needs to happen, but also the expected benefits for the company.
The clearer and more detailed, the better. Create roadmaps, complete with timelines and milestones, showing how the change process will unfold and what to expect. Make sure everyone involved understands their specific roles, and encourage questions and feedback.
Transparency is also key here. Make sure everyone understands that they are part of the process and that their views and opinions are welcome. Do your best to identify and resolve any areas of confusion and promote collaborative problem-solving.
Communicate and hold feedback sessions
Change management is a team effort, and must be approached in a collaborative way. Hold regular feedback sessions where your team members can share how they feel and discuss any concerns or ideas they have. You can also use surveys and focus groups to encourage further insights. Then, make adjustments to your overall strategy based on what people are saying.
Make the most of technology
Technology can be a major asset when leading change management. Collaboration tools like Slack, Asana, and Coda can help bring teams together, share key info, and organize tasks.
Your hotel software can also play a major role here. Tools like a channel manager and booking engine can make it much easier to implement new promotion and distribution strategies, and a central reservation system can help reorganize and optimize your internal processes. Technology should play a central role in your change management.
Gain the support of leaders
If you want to effectively drive change, it’s crucial to get buy-in from your leaders.
This means making a strong case for change management. When you present your ideas, be as prepared as possible to make a detailed and compelling argument. Leaders, ideally, should be enthusiastically in favor of the change management plans and should actively engage with staff throughout the process.
Continuously improve
To succeed in change management, you should aim to foster a culture of continuous improvement.
Everyone should be part of this — encourage team members to suggest ideas and get involved. You should also actively assess and refine your processes and activities, striving all the time to keep things on track and stay ahead of the industry.
Seek external expertise
Often, the best change management initiatives are supported by outside help. Working with third-party experts and consultants with experience in change management can be a huge advantage. Seek out professionals with a proven track record of driving results in change management.
Change with Hotel-Spider
Leading change management in your hotel is much less challenging when you have the support of your online distribution platform.
At Hotel-Spider, our suite of tools makes it easier than ever to make widespread, effective changes, driving your hotel into a new era and gaining a crucial edge.
Get in touch with us to learn more.
