Pre-Arrival Magic: Let Local Partners Help Guests Fall in Love with Their Stay Before They Even Arrive

A guest books a room at your hotel. They’re excited, but their mind is already racing ahead: “What should we do while we’re there?” Instead of leaving them to Google for ideas (and possibly book with someone else), imagine sending a warm pre-arrival email: “Book a reserved a spot on a private sunset wine tasting at our partner vineyard, complete with hotel transfer and a special welcome glass on us.”

Guests choose to book this and suddenly their stay feels thoughtfully planned. You’ve just turned a simple room reservation into higher total spend – all without lifting a finger on extra operations inside your property. This is the beauty of partnering with local businesses and using TrevPAR Upsell to do pre-arrival upselling. It opens up revenue streams far beyond your four walls while making guests feel like VIPs from the moment they confirm their stay.

WHY LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS CREATE SUCH POWERFUL UPSELL OPPORTUNITIES

Local businesses bring authenticity that guests crave. A guided food tour through the city’s hidden markets, a relaxing massage at a nearby wellness studio, or a seamless airport transfer combined with a scenic route – these experiences feel genuine and memorable. Guests are far more likely to say “yes” to something that sounds like a real discovery rather than a generic hotel add-on.

For your hotel, the advantages are clear and compelling:

• Extra Revenue with Low Overhead: You earn a healthy commission or markup on every booked experience without needing to manage staff, inventory, or logistics yourself.

• Higher Total Guest Spend: Pre-arrival bundles encourage guests to commit to extras early, boosting ancillary revenue from tours, wellness, dining, and transport.

• Stronger Direct Bookings: Exclusive partner offers give people a compelling reason to book directly with you instead of through OTAs.

• Happier Guests Who Return: Thoughtful, local experiences create emotional connections. Guests leave raving about “that amazing tour your hotel arranged,” increasing repeat visits and positive reviews.

• Mutual Growth: Your local partners gain steady business from your guests, and many will happily reciprocate with referrals back to your hotel.

PRE-ARRIVAL UPSELLING: THE PERFECT TIMING WINDOW

The pre-arrival phase is golden for these partnerships. Guests are in planning mode – open to ideas, budgeting for their trip, and eager to make it special. A well-timed, personalised email or booking confirmation page can present curated packages like:

• “Arrival in Style” – Airport transfer + welcome drink at a local café

• “Discover Our City” – Half-day guided tour + lunch at a partner restaurant

• “Unwind & Explore” – Wellness session at a nearby spa + evening cultural walk

Because everything is bundled and easy to add with one click, conversion rates are often much higher than in-stay offers. Guests appreciate the convenience and feel the hotel has their best interests at heart.

MAKING PARTNERSHIPS WORK SMOOTHLY

Choose partners whose quality matches your brand – reliable tour operators, charming local restaurants, trusted wellness providers, or efficient transfer services. Start small: negotiate simple commission structures, co-create appealing packages, and test what resonates with your guest mix.

Promote confidently in pre-arrival communications. Highlight the exclusivity (“Available only to our hotel guests”) and the ease (“We handle all the bookings and transfers”). Track what sells best and refine your offers over time.

TREVPAR UPSELL: YOUR PARTNER IN SEAMLESS PRE-ARRIVAL REVENUE

At TrevPAR Upsell, we specialise in helping hotel owners and managers turn pre-arrival moments into profitable opportunities. Our platform makes it simple to create, personalise, and deliver local partnership bundles at exactly the right time – integrating smoothly with your existing systems while keeping the guest experience warm and natural. We provide the tools and know-how so you can focus on building great relationships with local businesses while watching ancillary revenue grow.

Partnering with local businesses isn’t just good for the community – it’s a smart, low-effort way to unlock exciting upsell opportunities that happen beyond your property.