Unlock Hidden Revenue: Why Hotels Need More Than Just Room Revenue to Thrive in 2025

The difference between good and exceptional? The extras.

In 2025, relying solely on room bookings is no longer a sustainable hotel revenue strategy. Today’s travellers are looking for more than a place to sleep—they’re seeking immersive experiences, wellness options, personalization, and digital convenience.

To stay competitive and improve profitability, hotels must maximize Total Revenue per Available Room (TRevPAR) by monetizing every step of the guest journey—not just the stay itself.

But before you dive into launching new guest services, it’s important to understand what works—and what doesn’t.

❌ What Not to Do: Common Mistakes Hotels Do That Hurt Guest Experience and Extra Revenue

Even well-intended upsells can backfire if done incorrectly. Avoid these common pitfalls:

• Hard-selling at check-in — Guests don’t want a sales pitch when they’re tired from travel.

• Hidden charges and surprise fees — Unexpected fees damage trust and lower review scores. Be fully transparent about extra service pricing.

• Low-quality or cheap-looking extras — Guests notice, and it reflects on your brand. Offer only well-curated extras that feel premium and thoughtful.

• Irrelevant or untargeted offers — Offering pet grooming to someone who didn’t bring a pet? Tailor your offers using guest profile data and booking behavior.

• Requiring app downloads — Guests won’t download an app just to order a fruit platter.

• Spamming with generic messages — Leads to annoyance, not conversion. Use timed and relevant offers that feel useful.

Guests should feel like you’re adding value to their stay, not selling to them.

✅ What to Do Instead: Proven Strategies to Drive Extra Revenue

Here are smart, proven ways to increase hotel revenue through extra service sales—without overwhelming your team or your guests:

• Train your front desk team to recognize natural upsell opportunities—without being pushy. Help them make thoughtful suggestions that feel like service, not sales.

• Use automation tools to scale upsells via email, SMS, and guest-facing web apps. Tools like HotelBuddy offer seamless delivery of pre-arrival offers when guests are still in booking mode.

• Make booking frictionless by being clear and flexible about terms and cancellation policies. Guests are more likely to book if they feel secure and in control.

• Focus on post-booking and pre-arrival communication, when guests are actively planning and open to enhancing their stay.

• Have a guest chat available so potential buyers can ask quick questions about services. A real-time answer often tips them toward booking.

• Make all your extras easy to explore through a digital guest directory or online guest shop that works across all devices and requires no downloads.

• Craft irresistible product descriptions that highlight the benefits, describe the experience, and use high-quality imagery to boost conversions. Read our tips on writing extra service descriptions that convert →

🎯 Want a free tool to do all of the above? Try HotelBuddy Lite — a zero-cost upsell platform built to help independent hotels automate and optimize their extra service sales.

Traditional Hotel Upsells That Work

These tried-and-tested extra services continue to deliver consistent revenue when offered thoughtfully:

• Early check-in / late check-out

• Romantic room setup (flowers, candles, rose petals)

• Fruit & cheese platters

• Pillow menu

• Airport or city transfer services

• Spa and wellness treatments

• Breakfast or meal packages

• Parking or luggage storage

Setting up extra services in HotelBiddy admin

Out-of-the-Box Hotel Services To Try

Innovative services aligned with digital, wellness, and personalization trends:

• Mini wellness kits (yoga mat, resistance bands, foam roller)

• Biohacking corner (red light therapy, PEMF mats, adaptogens, healthy snacks)

• Custom in-room scent selection

• Branded bath salts or pillow sprays

• Personalized mini-bar (stocked with guest-selected drinks and snacks like craft beers, keto snacks, vegan treats)

• Curated book drop or themed book rental (local authors, novels set in the city, destination-inspired reads).

• Local insider experiences (e.g. pasta-making, street art tours)

• Pet butler service (pet walking, grooming, in-room pet amenities)

• Remote work concierge (monitor rental, ergonomic chair, productivity supplies)

• Refresh-on-arrival room (shower, basic grooming kit, refreshing drinks)

• Picnic kit renting (blanket, utensils, snack pack, map to scenic spots)

• In-room gaming console renting (Nintendo, XBox)

• Eco-impact dashboard (track water saved, carbon offset, etc.)

• Sleep concierge (sleep mask, earplugs, white noise machine, aromatherapy, herbal teas)

• Emergency Amenity Kit (essentials like razors, pads, lip balm, bath salt, mini fragrances)

• Personal travel photographer (professional photo sessions around the city or property)

Bundle Your Extras for Higher Conversion

Some guests love simplicity. Bundling your extra services into themed packages can make choices easier, increase perceived value, and encourage higher spend.

Popular bundle can be for example Romantic Escape Package → rose petals on the bed, champagne for two, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a bouquet of roses.

Pricing your bundle slightly below the combined cost of individual items helps drive conversion and makes it easier for guests to justify the purchase.

While bundles are preferred by some, most guests today want flexibility. A romantic couple may not drink alcohol. A guest with allergies might not want flowers in the room. That’s why it’s essential to offer each component individually as well. Bundles are ideas, not limitations. it inspires guests with a complete vision, clearly showcases all available options and increases chances of partial conversion even if the full package isn’t selected.

For example:

“Our Romantic Escape Package includes everything you need for a magical night: rose petals, champagne, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and a bouquet of red roses. Prefer something different? All items are also available individually—customize your own perfect welcome!”

From rose petals to chilled champagne—this setup speaks the language of love.

Measuring What Works: Track and Optimize

To scale extra services from occasional wins to steady profit streams, tracking performance is essential. Metrics every hotel should monitor:

• Uptake rate — How many guests say yes to each offer?

• Top-performing categories — Do wellness, F&B, or convenience sell best?

• Price sensitivity — Which price points convert most often?

• Timing — Do offers sent 3 days before arrival work better than same-day upsells?

• Channel success — Email, SMS, digital guestbook—what performs best?

Final Thoughts: Extra Services Are A Strategy

Today’s hotel guests want more than a room. They want comfort, flexibility, and experiences that feel uniquely tailored to them. By offering relevant, well-timed extras through smart channels, hotels can increase TRevPAR, improve guest satisfaction and build loyalty and repeat business. It’s not about selling more—it’s about offering more value at the right time, through the right touchpoints.

Ready to Start Selling Extras with No Upfront Cost? 🚀

Try HotelBuddy Lite — a digital upsell solution made for independent hotels that want to grow revenue without complex systems or app downloads.

Free and completely risk-free:

✅ Effortless setup – Use pre-built templates to launch in minutes, no tech skills required

✅ No downloads needed – Runs on any browser; guests access it via URL or QR code

✅ Smart service shop – Guests can browse and purchase extras in a cart-based webshop

✅ Proven to increase pre-arrival sales – Reach guests when they’re planning

👉 Learn more about HotelBuddy Lite and start turning your extras into a profit engine.