Many hoteliers, along with many in the travel industry, face more challenges than ever in this economy making their hotel, inn or resort stand out to tour planners and bus groups. With leisure travel dollars down, the little things make a huge difference. Whether you’re a veteran group sales manager or just starting out in the hospitality industry, here are some quick hints to grow your business.

Promote Your Hotel As Group-Friendly. Contact your local Destination Marketing Organization and tell them you're Group Tour & Motorcoach Friendly. Group tours can range in size significantly, but you can be sure that a fully loaded motorcoach means 55 guests. That means you’ll need a minimum of 28 rooms.

Be Willing To Reserve Discounted Room Blocks In Advance. To accommodate tour and bus groups, you have to be able to say, "I can give you a discounted group rate and hold X-number of rooms for you.” Plus, you need to make sure that all the rooms are about the same so that guests don't feel as though the person sitting next to them has a nicer room.

The Business Game Includes Free Parking: No, not “Monopoly,” but it’s telling that the board game based on business includes a free parking spot. Ever seen that on Risk or Scrabble? Parking access is critical to any group bus tour participant. Many larger hotel resorts are adding dedicated free motorcoach parking blocs and bus entrances because they realize the importance of the group tour segment to their business. You don’t have to remodel. Just maybe remind an inquiring tour planner you welcome “portal-to-portal” passenger pick-up and drop-off – especially in recognition of the mobility impaired.

Enable Fast Check-In Through Pre-Keying: Can you quickly check-in a large group? You should be ready by having your guests “pre-keyed” through a pre-check in system, where the tour operator gives you a list of guests in advance. That way, people just walk up to the front desk, tell you their name, and you hand them a room key. Or, you can also set up a separate table or room for guests on this tour to check in quickly and not intermingle with other guests. The faster the service is, the more ideal your hotel is in the eyes of a tour operator.

Know Your Regional Attractions: If tourists have gone on a long motorcoach tour, they want to stay at a hotel that is relatively close to their end destination. Is there a park near your hotel or resort? What else is fun that’s within walking distance? What do you offer at the hotel or resort? Is there a pool, a spa, a golf course -- any fun activities for people who want to opt out of the activities and lounge around?

Gustatory Guests Feel Empowered: Does your hotel have a restaurant? Can you make things smoother by handing out meal vouchers (so that food can be included in the package rate, and guests don't have to fumble with cash)? Can you give tour groups discounted dinners? Is your restaurant staff fast? Do you have a buffet? Buffets are ideal for motorcoach & tour groups that don't have the time (or the desire) to linger over a two-hour breakfast – especially if they’re on a tight sightseeing itinerary. It's better to just go in, grab what you want, and no one has to wait. If you don't have a buffet, can you offer a group menu? People like choices (chicken, beef or vegetarian) that can quickly be served. It’s part of the trend of personalizing within the group tour dynamic, so everyone feels a sense of personal empowerment through options. If you don't have an in-house restaurant, that's fine. But people have to eat, so be sure to tell the travel and tour operators if there is a diner across the street, or a quick-service restaurant nearby.

Remember the Driver: Your driver got your guests there safely, and acted as customer service representative, baggage handler, and in many other roles other travel modes, such as the airlines, have a different person or even several people to fulfill. If you can comp meals or rooms for the driver and tour guide, it's much appreciated (or even provide them with half-price rooms and meals). The goal is to stay at a hotel or resort where service is fast, and is so seamless and hassle-free that the tourists think the hotel, tour, and motorcoach operator are part of the same company.

Any hoteliers out there have additions to add to this list? Tour operators? What would you like to see in this feature in the future? Email abainfo@buses.org  to offer suggestions on what ABA can do to help you grow your attraction’s business.