Before the First Guest

Who this book is for

Chủ và quản lý cơ sở lưu trú, homestay, khách sạn nhỏ, resort, cùng người làm lữ hành và kinh doanh trải nghiệm ở Việt Nam; quy mô từ bốn phòng tới hai cơ sở, hoặc một công ty tour vài người. Người đọc là NGƯỜI KINH DOANH, không phải khách du lịch.

Sound familiar?

• Finishes the renovation, then works out how many booked nights are needed to cover the rent.
• Spends on what the owner likes rather than on what guests pay for.
• Doesn't know how long the low season lasts here and runs out of money in month five.
• Leaves permits and licences until later, and deals with them when asked.

Each chapter answers one question

1. Chapter 1: Does welcoming everyone mean nobody picks me?

   Who stays overnight at my place, and where are they staying right now?

   A property that serves every kind of guest gives nobody a reason to choose it.

2. Chapter 2: Is one more room more money, or more trouble?

   With this property, how many sellable rooms can I create?

   Room count decides nearly every number that follows, and it cannot change once renovation is done.

3. Chapter 3: Do guests pay for style, or for a good sleep?

   Where should my first money go?

   Guests pay for sleep, hot water and cleanliness before they pay for style.

4. Chapter 4: How risky is opening first and filing paperwork later?

   What permits does my property need, and how long do they take?

   Paperwork left for later is paperwork that will halt the business right in peak season.

5. Chapter 5: Am I renovating before knowing my break-even?

   How many occupied nights do I need each month to cover costs?

   The break-even occupancy figure must be known before spending the first dollar on renovation.