The Revination
October 2025
Explore Revinate’s monthly digest of hospitality’s latest insights and tips. As hoteliers, we know you’re flooded with information. The Revination simplifies that noise, making it easier for you to focus on what’s happening in hospitality, why it matters, and what action you can take today. We also share our perspective on industry trends and highlighting the strategies driving game-changing results for hotels like yours. Subscribe on LinkedIn.
Better upsells with the right technology
It’s undeniable. Today’s hospitality landscape is hyper-competitive. And if you’re holding your breath, hoping that selling rooms is enough to cover your bottom line, well, you might be at risk of passing out.
Because selling rooms isn’t enough to be competitive. Yes, every booking counts, but every guest journey offers more than just a room — it’s also a chance to upsell. And when done right, it becomes a win‑win. Guests feel seen and cared for, and your property drives meaningful ancillary revenue.
Numbers that matter
Leveraging upsells as your revenue superpower
Globally, by 2026, 73% of travelers’ vacation planning will be influenced by their children or grandchildren. Hilton’s 2026 Trends Report reveals that families who travel together often make decisions together, but the children and grandchildren are frequently the main decision-makers. And these young travelers are pushing families toward embracing trips to the fullest — with 86% of families valuing experiences as part of their vacation, especially if it’s local immersion.
Kids and grandkids are no longer passive participants in family travel, but active planners — and that means neglecting their role could leave money on the table for your hotel. That’s why it’s critical to not only adapt room configuration and amenities but also tailor marketing strategies and messaging to this audience.
Why it matters for hoteliers
Families are a goldmine for upsells. With kids drawing attention to anything that can make trips more “special,” your job becomes that much easier. They’re setting the stage for your ancillary revenue strategy.
Hotels that offer tailored packages or personalized offers that appeal across age groups will significantly increase ancillary revenue. It’s about encouraging spending beyond the room and promoting upsell opportunities aligned with family priorities — a spa day for adults or a kids cooking class. Your messaging can no longer be one-sided and only aimed at parents, grandparents, or just “adults.”
And when you align your messaging with the data you have from these families in your guest profiles, your upsells start creating more “best-day-ever” moments instead of shots in the dark. Because kids will remember the hotel stays that went well, making rebooking easier and putting those families on the fast track to becoming loyal guests.
Offer the right upsells, and you’ll deepen guest satisfaction and boost profitability faster than you think.
What’s Revinate’s take?
This trend isn’t new to us. In fact, Alicia Zur-Szpiro, Co-Founder Wanderland Londo, joined Revinate CMO, Karen Stephens, on the Hotel Moment podcast to share, “If the hotel can start to build that relationship with the child or the teenager, you’re already half of the way towards that loyal kind of bonded relationship.” She also shared, “ If you’ve delighted the family and the kids, you’ve locked in that family for life.”
The bottom line is, don’t ignore kids and teens as a segment. Yes, identify the families in your database, but make a messaging plan for how you’ll appeal to all ages. Then time your upsells based on the historical data you have. Promoting amenities at check-in might not land well while the family is frazzled and tired from travel. Maybe pre-arrival is a better bet, as Alicia found that pre-arrival is one of the best times for hotels to engage with families because that’s when kids begin to get excited for their trip.
And, lastly, make sure all your departments are working together on your upsell strategy — like following up with an outbound phone call after booking. Don’t hesitate to sell your amenities here and collect that data for your marketing team to send an email about future offers.
Trends that matter
Turning your 2026 budget into a growth plan
The 2026 budgeting cycle is here, and for many hotels, this year feels different. Instead of cutting costs or playing it safe, forward-thinking hoteliers are reimagining what success looks like, shifting focus from expense control to long-term guest value.
As HospitalityNet notes, the most successful hotel budgets for 2026 will be those that link operational planning with guest insights and technology investments. Budgets are no longer static spreadsheets. They’re living strategies, and how you build them determines whether you’ll just survive another year or thrive in a competitive market.
Why it matters for hoteliers
Budgets are powerful storytelling tools. They show where you’re headed and what you believe will drive growth. And in 2026, that growth will depend on how well you turn guest understanding into revenue opportunities.
Hoteliers who plan for upselling and cross-selling from the start — not as afterthoughts — will be the ones to see the biggest gains. This means baking personalization and automation directly into your annual goals. Not “nice-to-haves,” but non-negotiables.
For example, a guest data platform that reveals spending patterns isn’t just tech; it’s the foundation of your revenue strategy. It allows you to forecast demand, anticipate needs, and identify when and how to present the right offer whether it’s a workspace upgrade for digital nomads, a dining experience for families, or a loyalty incentive for frequent travelers.
When your 2026 budget makes room for personalization, integrated data, and team enablement, it’s not just about preparing for another year. It’s about designing a smarter, more profitable business.
What’s Revinate’s take?
At Revinate, we’ve seen firsthand how data-driven planning transforms hotel performance. When your marketing, revenue, and operations teams work from the same insights, every campaign and upsell opportunity aligns naturally.
As our CMO Karen Stephens often says, “You can’t manage what you don’t measure.” That’s why we encourage hoteliers to see their budget as a roadmap for personalization, a way to connect investments in technology and people with tangible guest outcomes. The more you know about your guests, the easier it becomes to predict demand, tailor experiences, and unlock new revenue streams.
Perspectives that matter
Upselling isn’t new, but AI is redefining how it’s done. See how hotels are using smart automation and guest insights to deliver offers that feel more personal, timely, and irresistible.
Hotel Spero focused on promoting upsells via Revinate Marketing to help generate incremental revenue. Discover how the hotel used Revinate’s upsell functionality to drive average incremental revenue of $3.5K each month.
