Which extras should you offer your guests before they arrive?

The room is booked. The stay hasn't started yet, but the guest is already thinking about their arrival: what time to arrive, should they book breakfast, what events are planned at the hotel, or what activities are available for children?

This is precisely when certain extras become truly valuable.

The goal isn't to present the hotel's entire catalog before the stay. It is to offer services that facilitate arrival, improve comfort, or enhance an experience the guest is already preparing for.

So, which extras should you offer before arrival, and how do you choose the ones that are actually likely to interest your guests?

Which extras really belong before arrival?

Not all hotel services are relevant at the same time.

A guest preparing for their arrival can easily see the value in reserved parking, breakfast, a transfer from the station, or a few extra hours in their room.

They will generally be less receptive to an offer that addresses a need they haven't encountered yet.

That is the whole difference between presenting more services and presenting the right service at the right time.

A strategy ofhotel upselling needs to follow the guest journey rather than concentrating all offers at the front desk.

Before arrival, four categories of extras are particularly relevant.

1. Services that simplify arrival

These are often the most natural to offer pre-stay, as they address a question the traveler is already asking themselves.

This can include:

• a parking space;
• a transfer from the train station or airport;
• early check-in;
• streamlined arrival with a specific service.

A guest who knows they are arriving by car can book their parking before hitting the road. A traveler landing at 8 p.m. can arrange their transfer without waiting until they arrive.

The extra then doesn't feel like an upsell. It solves a problem before it even arises.

This type of offer is often the most natural fit for a pre-stay email. When the hotel wants to go further, thepre-check-in email can also become a useful touchpoint to prepare for arrival and showcase certain services before the stay.

2. Extras that enhance stay comfort

Before leaving, the traveler also starts to imagine their stay.

This is a great time to offer them an easy-to-understand upgrade: a room category bump, a superior room, a specific view, or any other comfort option available at your property.

A couple planning a weekend getaway might be interested in a room with a better view.

A family might value extra space or specialized amenities more.

The key is to present the tangible benefit, rather than just the commercial name of the category.

"Enjoy a more spacious room for your family stay" is more compelling than a simple line item like "Deluxe Room Upgrade."

The same principle applies to special touches: a bottle in the room, decorations for a special occasion, or personalized amenities, provided these services are part of your offering.

Which extras help shape the experience even before the stay begins?

Some purchases do more than just make arrival easier; they allow guests to start planning what they will do once they arrive.

3. Breakfast, dining, and catering

Breakfast is a simple example.

If the booked rate doesn't include it, the guest can decide before arrival whether they would like to add it.

The benefit is twofold: the traveler has their plans sorted, and the hotel can better anticipate volume.

The same logic applies to restaurant bookings where reservations are recommended, dinner packages, or special in-room amenities.

The idea isn't to present every menu before the stay.

Instead, highlight services that require prior decision-making or planning.

4. Spa, wellness, and experiences

Booking a massage or spa slot before arrival can also be a good idea, especially when availability is limited.

Guests can choose their preferred time at their leisure rather than finding out upon arrival that the schedule is fully booked.

Depending on the property's positioning, this could also include:

• a local activity;
• a tour;
• bike rentals;
• a dining experience;
• an activity offered by a partner.

These services gradually transform a simple room booking into a more comprehensive stay.

The upselling techniques in the hotel industry work best, however, when they are truly tailored to the property's clientele, rather than sending the same catalog to everyone.

Should you offer the same extras to all guests?

Probably not.

Business travelers, families, and couples on a weekend getaway do not arrive with the same priorities. Yet, the differences can be quite simple.

For business guests, highlight services that save time: parking, transfers, breakfast, early check-in, or late check-out.

For families, practical services often hold more value: cribs, parking, suitable rooms, breakfast, or kid-friendly activities.

For couples, an upgrade, the spa, a dinner, or a special in-room amenity may better align with the experience they are looking for.

For a long stay, certain services related to comfort or daily organization may become more relevant.

GetWelcom allows you, for example, to vary the extras offered in the check-in form based on the guest's profile, such as families, business travelers, or couples.

The goal is not to build dozens of scenarios, but to select a few profiles that are truly useful for your property and observe what works.

Adapting extras to the traveler's profile is not just about increasing upsells. It is also part of a broader strategy of pre-stay loyalty building, by showing the guest that the hotel anticipates their needs.

Personalization should therefore remain simple: fewer choices, but more relevant suggestions.

When should you present extras before arrival?

The right extra presented at the wrong time can easily be ignored.

Immediately after booking, the guest primarily needs reassurance: their reservation is confirmed, and they know their dates and the main terms.

As the arrival date approaches, they shift more into a preparation mindset.

This is where a pre-stay message or digital check-in can become valuable touchpoints for presenting services tailored to their stay. The GetWelcom check-in, in particular, allows you to offer extras while the traveler is preparing for their arrival.

However, avoid sending multiple communications solely for the purpose of selling.

A pre-stay message should first and foremost help the traveler: preparing for their arrival, completing their information, and understanding the available services.
Extras come naturally within this useful journey.

To structure your pre-arrival welcome more broadly, you can also consult our guide on pre-stay and guest welcome.

For example:

"Your arrival is approaching. You can now prepare your check-in and, if you wish, book your parking or add breakfast to your stay."

A single communication then fulfills several functions without becoming an additional advertisement.

This logic is also part of a more global approach to communication based on the customer journey : before the stay, messages should primarily prepare and reassure.

How do you choose which extras to really highlight?

More choice does not necessarily mean more sales.

A list of fifteen services forces the customer to do the sorting themselves. A short, consistent selection helps them make a decision more effectively.

Start with your existing services.

For each one, ask yourself three questions:

• Can the guest anticipate this need before they arrive?
• Does booking in advance improve their experience or our operations?
• Does the service truly correspond to an identifiable segment of our clientele?

If the answer to all three is yes, the extra probably deserves a spot in the pre-stay phase.

Next, look at the results.

Which services are being viewed? Which ones are being booked? What are different guest profiles buying? Are certain extras being consistently ignored?

Your catalog should evolve based on these behaviors.

The goal isn't to accumulate services, but to gradually build a selection of extras that adds value for the guest and revenue for the property.

Offer your extras at the right point in the guest journey

GetWelcom allows you to showcase your additional services directly within the check-in process and the Room Directory, with offers tailored to the guest's profile and centralized orders for your team.

Request a GetWelcom demo

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