Last Updated on March 27, 2025 by SampleBoard
First impressions matter. By wowing your guests as they arrive, you can immediately build their trust and help them to relax.
As a result of putting your customers in the right mindset, you could find that they’re less likely to look for things to complain about and more likely to enjoy their stay.
This could lead to more positive reviews and more return business.
Just how do you create good first impressions?
By making sure that your hotel entrance takes their breath away.
Below are 10 hotel entrance ideas that are certain to impress your guests.
Eye-catching signage is important for helping guests to find you, as well as potentially attracting guests who may be looking for somewhere last minute to stay that night.
The quality of your signage can also suggest a lot about the signage of your hotel.
A dirty or damaged sign could suggest that you’re a neglectful hotel owner.
Make sure that your sign is clean and in good condition.
Choose a font that matches the theme of your hotel and consider illuminating your sign so that it can be seen at night.
Creating a mini garden in front of your hotel can help to add vibrancy.
Consider planting trees or adding some beds of boldly colored flowers.
You could even splash out on a fountain or create a welcome sign out of flowers.
If there’s a lawn in front of your hotel, make sure that this is carefully manicured with visible stripes.
Outsourcing a landscaper could be necessary to maintain all of this.
Make sure that your landscaper doesn’t disturb your guests by not scheduling them to come too early and by opting for an electric lawn mower instead of a petrol mower.
Artwork is designed to visually grab people’s attention.
This could include a sculpture outside your entrance or a large painting inside your lobby.
Choose artwork that matches the atmosphere that you want to create.
A remote relaxing spa hotel might want to consider a calming landscape painting, while a vibrant city youth hostel might want to consider an energetic abstract painting.
If you’ve achieved any award plaques or certificates, why not consider displaying these in your lobby?
Showing off your awards can instill confidence in guests by proving that you are a reputable hotel.
These could be placed above your reception desk or opposite a couch in your lobby that guests are likely to sit on.
Floor your guests by installing some opulent flooring in your lobby.
If you can’t afford natural stone flooring, consider opting for a shiny polished concrete floor.
Alternatively, you could invest in a tiled floor with a mosaic-like pattern in it. If you’d prefer to create a sense of warmth, opt for a luxury patterned carpet.
It’s worth noting that your floor will only impress guests if you succeed in keeping it clean and in good condition.
It could be worth getting into a habit of cleaning it each day to make sure that it always looks spotless.
You can also impress your guests by having fun with the furniture in your reception lobby.
Choose couches that are not just comfortable but aesthetically interesting.
This could include choosing brightly colored couches or oddly shaped couches.
If your hotel is situated in an older building, you may want to consider traditional sofa styles like Chesterfields or camelback sofas.
You can also explore unique styles of coffee tables such as rustic wooden coffee tables, polished stone coffee tables, or a colorful resin coffee table.
Make sure to also consider the style of your reception desk - some companies can produce bespoke reception desks with logos printed on the front.
There are lots of creative ways to use lighting inside and outside of a hotel.
Lighting can be used to create an atmosphere or it can be used to guide guests to certain areas.
If you want to save money on energy, focus on lighting up the most important parts of your hotel entrance - this could include adding lighting around the door and lighting around your reception desk.
Those with a larger budget may be able to consider lighting in other places such as lights on either side of pathways or even a large chandelier hanging over the center of the lobby.
Don’t forget that natural light can also have an impact - some hotels opt for a large glass front door or skylights to encourage cheerful sunlight to pour in during the day.
Touches of local history and local culture can remind your guests where they are.
If your hotel is located in a historical building, consider looking into the building’s backstory and displaying some informational plaques to tell this story.
There may even be historical artifacts that you can display that relate to the building’s past use.
As well as celebrating your hotel’s past, consider artifacts and ornaments that tell a story of your local area.
This could include photos of local festivals, portraits of famous local figures, models of landmarks, or pictures of local wildlife.
You can also use sound to create an atmosphere.
To encourage a relaxing vibe, you could use the sound of trickling water from a water feature or play ambient music.
If you want to create a more energetic vibe, consider playing more upbeat music.
Be wary that you will need a music license to play copyrighted songs in a public space.
Technology can be used to simplify the arrival and check-in process for guests.
You could encourage customers to check in online beforehand.
Alternatively, you could set up touchscreen self-service computers that guests can check in on that automatically distribute keycards.
Some hotels also use cameras to capture registration plates.
Guests can then confirm their registration plate during check-in to ensure that only paying guests use your car park.
Just make sure that any technology you implement is well-maintained and user-friendly - bad technology could have the opposite effect on your guests!
In conclusion, creating a memorable first impression at your hotel is essential for fostering guest trust and satisfaction.
By implementing these ten impactful entrance ideas, you can transform your hotel’s facade and lobby into inviting spaces that captivate and enchant your guests right from the moment they arrive.
Whether it’s through striking signage, beautiful landscaping, or captivating artwork, each element plays a crucial role in establishing a welcoming atmosphere.
Investing time and resources into these details not only enhances your guests’ experience but also boosts your hotel’s reputation, leading to positive reviews and repeat business.
Ultimately, the first impression you create sets the tone for the entire stay, so make it extraordinary!
