Opening a new hotel is always a complex undertaking, not only because of the financial and time commitments involved, but also because it requires attention to a wide and varied range of details that will determine whether the final result is a success or a failure. In this context, having a plan designed for the pre-opening phase of a new hotel is often overlooked—a grave mistake, given how crucial this plan is to the future of the new project.
Since we at IHCS understand that the value of having a good pre-opening plan for a hotel is often overlooked, we have decided to write this article to explain what it entails and why it is important.
Table of Contents
What is a hotel pre-opening plan?
A hotel pre-opening plan is basically a plan developed with the objective of preparing and positioning the future hotel in the market , recruiting the necessary human resources and establishing the standards that will be followed in the different operational functions that will be carried out once the hotel is up and running (service standards, operational and administrative procedures, marketing plans, etc.).
When should a hotel’s pre-opening plan be developed?
As a general rule, a timeframe of 12 to 18 months is set for large and medium-sized hotels, and 6 to 9 months for those with fewer than 50 rooms. Of course, this is an estimate that generally works well, although it’s always best to tailor the timeline to the project’s specific needs.
What tasks are included in a pre-opening plan for a new hotel?
As one might expect, the tasks and actions included in a hotel’s pre-opening plan are numerous and varied, so the best and most practical approach is to divide them into different areas to facilitate a better understanding and more effective execution. Thus, we can divide the tasks in this plan into the areas of Human Resources, Marketing, Financing, and Inspections and Classification.
Human Resources in the Pre-Opening Plan
In this part of the pre-opening plan , we must initially focus on hiring the hotel’s workforce , starting with the highest positions, such as General Manager, Marketing and Sales Director, Finance Director, etc. Once these positions are filled, we move on to the next level, and so on down until all necessary positions are filled.
Before a new hotel opens, it is also essential to prepare and train all employees to perform their duties properly, a process that should also be detailed in the pre-opening plan. In this way, thanks to this plan, we will have a team that is ready to make the new hotel project the success we hope for.
Marketing in the Pre-Opening Plan
The second part of the plan developed for the pre-opening phase of a new hotel focuses on the commercial development of the project. Thus, this section is responsible for defining the hotel’s corporate identity, as well as the marketing campaign to be implemented. Similarly, it will define the pricing policy and the distribution and sales channels to be used to market the hotel’s various services.
Last but not least, the marketing component of the pre-opening plan will also handle pre-opening room sales, ensuring that there is no unnecessary delay in attracting new guests from the moment the property opens.
Financing in the Pre-Opening Plan
As with any project, proper financial planning is essential to achieving the best results. In this regard, the pre-opening plan will define the budget for the entire pre-opening phase, as well as for the hotel’s first 12 months of operations. The pre-opening plan will also determine how this budget will be managed, define how risks will be managed, and aim to minimize financial contingencies to zero.
Inspections and Categorization in the Pre-Opening Plan
This phase of the plan focuses on preparing the hotel to undergo the inspections required to obtain all necessary permits (including those inspections one might consider unlikely): from the Occupational Safety and Health inspection or the elevator inspection to the one to be conducted by the International Hotel Group to which the hotel will belong (if that is the case, of course), the plan for The pre-opening process is designed to ensure that the hotel is fully prepared to pass these and any other inspections.
As we can see, the importance of a hotel’s pre-opening plan lies in the fact that it cuts across the various stages of the preparation process, thereby allowing us to organize the entire process in an orderly, clear, and systematic manner.
We hope this article has helped clarify some aspects of the pre-opening plan for your future hotel. If you’d like more information on this topic, please don’t hesitate to contact us, and we’ll explain how our Project Development service can assist you in creating and implementing this plan.
