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Prioritizing Return on Investment in Hotel Investment and Decision-Making is Key to Staying Afloat

Hotel operators face growing pressure to prioritize return on investment while simultaneously maintaining guest satisfaction standards. Balancing financial discipline with service quality is increasingly critical as the hospitality sector contends with rising costs, competition, and economic headwinds. Strategic capital allocation and data-driven decision-making are essential tools for operators seeking long-term viability.

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By Calvin Tilokee · Calvin TilokeeExperts TalkHospitalityHospitality Industry
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Key takeaways

01

ROI must be a central metric in hotel investment and operational decision-making to ensure financial sustainability.

02

Guest satisfaction and financial returns are not mutually exclusive and must be managed in tandem.

03

Economic pressures and competitive dynamics require hotel operators to adopt more disciplined, data-informed strategies.

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Return on investment (ROI) remains the principal compass in the hospitality industry and in guiding new investments for hotel owners and operators. As costs escalate within the increasingly competitive environment, the focus on maximizing returns is crucial. As businesses grapple with economic uncertainties and shifts in consumer behavior, the spotlight turns to investments that promise tangible financial benefits. So then, how can hotel operators ensure their investments yield the desired financial returns while still enhancing guest experiences?

During a roundtable discussion on Experts Talk, about the hospitality industry ahead of AAHOACON 2024, Calvin Tilokee, CEO and creative director of Revpar Media, detailed his take on this topic. He explored how hoteliers can effectively balance cost considerations with service enhancements to optimize their return on investment.

Some key takeaways from Tilokee's perspective below:

  • For hotel owners and operators, the primary metric for assessing any new investment is its return on investment. This focus is even more pronounced in an economic climate where lending and operational costs are rising.
  • While enhancing the guest experience is important, it often ranks behind financial returns in investment decision-making priorities.
  • Successful investment strategies are quantified by specific metrics such as increased web traffic, conversion rates, direct bookings, and demonstrable revenue growth from targeted initiatives.
  • With the cost of borrowing and investing escalating, the pressure to deliver financially viable projects is intensifying for hotel owners.
  • The need for a strategic approach that not only targets immediate financial returns but also contributes to long-term brand reputation and customer satisfaction.

Tilokee shared an analysis that offered a roadmap for navigating investment decisions that align financial acumen with customer-centric initiatives.

Video TranscriptExpand ↓

The only other thing, it's, it's always been an issue, you know, at that level, but ROI. You know, everything is about, return on investment for for for hotel owners and operators. It's you know, we spend x amount of money on this piece of tech. How are we gonna get that money back? How soon are we gonna get that money back? So when when you're dis you know, discussing whatever product or service you're offering to, these owners at a whole account and and ongoing, that's gonna be a major point. You know? In my experience, the guest service piece is is a distant second to ROI. It's it's all about, you know, how how fast am I getting that money back? How much money am I gonna make off of this product? Because everything is just you know, costs are increasing everywhere. You know? I I also do hotel investments as well with a partner of mine. Lending money and borrowing money is more expensive than it's it's ever been. So, if you've got owners in that situation, that is it's just even become even more important to to be able to express how your product or service is bringing value financially as well as to the, the guest experience to these operators. Yeah. Well, how are you defining ROI then? I can I can point to financing? I I can I can point to, you know, how many people are we driving to your website and how what's our conversion rate? How many people are going directly to your book now page? How many reservations have been booked through our efforts on social media campaigns, then I can I can say, hey? We've brought an average of, you know, three thousand dollars in room revenue to our clients over the past three months.

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About the author

Calvin Tilokee
Calvin TilokeeCEO & Creative Director

Calvin’s passion for hospitality was cultivated in his teenage years which led to obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management from the University of Eastern Shore. During a 20 year hotel career, Calvin has amassed a diverse skill set spanning multiple brands and markets, including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Starwood, and Independent properties. Experience at select service, full service, suburban, city, luxury and waterpark hotels from New York City to Los Angeles has given Calvin a unique perspective and skill set. Calvin's passion for people has also led to co-founding Lighthouse Strategic Advisory. Lighthouse focuses on helping women & minorities realize their dream of hotel ownership.

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About the Expert

Calvin Tilokee
Calvin Tilokee

Senior Manager, Hospitality & Leisure at EY

Calvin Tilokee is a hospitality and leisure professional at EY with experience advising hotel operators and investors on financial strategy and operational performance. He focuses on helping clients navigate competitive pressures and economic uncertainty in the hospitality sector. Tilokee brings a background that bridges guest experience strategy with investment and return-on-investment analysis.

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