AI for hospitality
Sep 5, 2025
How Reservation Teams Can Sell More in 2025
Reservation teams are no longer just about answering booking emails and changing dates. In 2025, they are also one of the main drivers of hotel revenue. The easiest way to grow revenue without adding new rooms is through upselling—selling extra services and experiences that guests already want.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 3 hotel upsells in 2025, explain why they sell so well, and show how reservation teams can boost sales without extra stress.
Top 3 Hotel Upsells in 2025
1. Instagrammable Local Tours
The top-selling upsell in hotels worldwide is now local tours and experiences with a strong “Instagram factor.” Guests don’t want another crowded, expensive excursion. Instead, they are searching for:
Authentic activities led by trusted local guides
Short, affordable tours that fit into any stay
Hidden places where they can take unique photos to share online
Think about a street-food walk, a hidden rooftop view, or a sunset hike. These kinds of experiences feel special, and they sell better than traditional big group tours.
2. Early Check-In & Late Check-Out
Flexibility is gold for travelers. Many guests arrive early on long flights or need extra rest after a late night. Offering early check-in and late check-out is one of the simplest ways to increase revenue while improving guest satisfaction. Hotels that promote this option in advance often see very high acceptance rates.
3. Classic City Tours
Traditional city tours are still strong performers. The key difference in 2025 is personalization. Guests want smaller groups and tours combined with “micro-experiences,” like cooking workshops, local market visits, or cultural shows. Reservation teams that highlight these details will find it much easier to close upsell sales.
How Reservation Teams Can Sell More
Promote before arrival: Guests are most open to buying extras after they confirm their booking but before they check in. This is the best time to send offers.
Match the upsell to the guest profile: Families want fun activities, business travelers want flexibility, and solo travelers usually prefer affordable short tours.
Use photos and visuals: A strong image of a hidden street, rooftop, or food market convinces faster than words alone.
Upselling is not about being pushy—it’s about helping guests get more out of their trip while your hotel earns extra revenue.
Let AI Do the Hard Work
The problem is that reservation teams are already busy. Answering emails, adjusting dates, and managing requests leaves little time to focus on upsells. That’s why many hotels now use AI tools like GEX—the Guest Experience Assistant.
With GEX, hotels can:
Reply instantly to common guest questions (cancellation policy, Wi-Fi password, check-in hours).
Send upsell offers like local tours, early check-in, or late check-out automatically—matched to the guest’s booking data.
Route requests directly to the right department or partner without manual follow-up.
This means reservation teams spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time focusing on high-value bookings.
If you don’t want to manually sell partner tours and local services, switch on GEX and let it upsell for you—24/7.
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