Moteliers often ask us what they can do to increase trade.

The starting point is to firstly set a solid base and make certain you do them well. I am continually amazed at what people are prepared to stay in and when reps find quality they often return.

When we say the basics, the priorities are a decent bed, clean and fresh bed linen and towels, a decent shower and a clean room. The internals need to be presentable, but the basics need to be in place.

Beds are not expensive items, speaking to some it seems for Commercial bedding the warranties can be between 5 and 10 years and for a Queen ensemble, depending upon the quality, can range from $350 out of QLD to $500 from Victoria and the like. The last lot I recommended was $470 delivered from Melbourne due to the quality of the sleep and the criteria we needed to meet. Not expensive for the importance.

Often cleaners miss the air conditioning filters, these are essential to the room and the ambiance as the dirty filters do retain smells and do not create a fresh environment. Please check the filters at least once every 6 months.

Then comes the quality of the food or the room service / chargeback availability, security off the street for the car and general lighting. I was recently at a three and a half star property, the linen was thin, the majority of the lights needed light bulbs and you could smell it was not as clean as what it should have been.

The rule to start with is always like investment property ask yourself, would I stay at the property and if so why and what would I expect. The basics are the best point to start.

The externals create a first impression, you need to remove the weeds, clean the gutters and sweep the paths on a regular basis. People do not like stale cigarette buts in the garden, it is a turn off and a sign that other areas are lacking.

Once these are done, then start on the property and work your way through each unit, one at a time. Once a unit is completed, make certain that is the one given to your regulars and if you are lucky enough, your reps as they will return.