The other day, I got a notification from Strava. You know, the app that tracks your runs, bikes, swims, and all those well-intentioned efforts to balance out the hotel buffet? The message was clear:
«Uh oh! You’re not the Local Legend anymore.»
Ouch.
I’d lost the top spot on a 700-metre segment I’d been running regularly. Someone else had racked up more runs than me in the past 90 days. And yet, rather than feeling defeated, I felt… motivated. I was itching to lace up my shoes again.
That got me thinking.
If an algorithm can make me want to run those 0.7 km more often (on the same road, no less) just to reclaim a digital title… why do we so often struggle to inspire our teams in hotels to stay consistent, push further, or simply enjoy the «run» of their daily work?
A small nudge, a big impact
Strava didn’t throw a bonus at me. It didn’t offer a free coffee or a medal. It just noticed what I was doing, recognized it, and let me know I’d been overtaken. In doing so, it triggered a very human response: the desire to rise to the occasion.
Hotels are full of opportunities for similar nudges. Yet, we rarely use them.
How often do we recognize our receptionists for efficient check-ins, our spa teams for upselling treatments, or our housekeeping staff for positive guest feedback?
I’m not talking about «Employee of the Month» plaques buried in HR emails. I’m talking about real-time, relevant, personal feedback (automated or otherwise) that says:
«Hey, I saw what you did. That was great. You’re making a difference.»
Motivation doesn’t have to be complicated
Here’s the good news: motivating teams like this is easier than it seems. Let’s look at what Strava does so well, and how we can translate that to hospitality.
1. It tracks progress automatically
Strava keeps tabs on my performance effortlessly. In hotels, we have data everywhere: from POS systems, PMS, CRM tools, and review platforms. Are we using this data to motivate?
Why not send your Receptionists a weekly report showing who had the highest Revenue per room upsold, just like a leaderboard?
2. It recognizes consistency, not just peaks
Strava’s “Local Legend” title doesn’t go to the fastest runner. It goes to the most consistent one.
Imagine giving a shoutout to the housekeeping team member who had the fewest late-room turnovers this month; not just the one who did something flashy once.
3. It uses gamification subtly, but effectively
I didn’t get a prize from Strava, but I got a title, a bit of social proof, and a nudge to get back out there.
What if your hotel had internal challenges: “Top Room attendant of the week” or “Upselling champion of the Lobby Bar”? Small, friendly competition that encourages excellence.
Why don’t we do this more often?
Let’s be honest: most hotel managers are stretched thin. Between meetings, fire-fighting, and operations, we often forget that our teams crave recognition more than they crave raises (although raises help too, of course).
Sometimes, the mental block is this idea that motivation requires a huge budget or a grand initiative. It doesn’t.
A personal WhatsApp message saying “That TripAdvisor review mentioned you by name. Amazing job!” takes 10 seconds and costs nothing.
A printed leaderboard on the staff noticeboard costs less than a cup of coffee.
An automated weekly email showing top performers in F&B upsells. That’s a one-time setup with recurring value.
Hospitality is human
We talk a lot about guest experience. But guest satisfaction is built on team motivation.
A demotivated receptionist won’t deliver a warm welcome. A disengaged room attendant won’t spot the stain on the pillow. A bored waiter won’t offer that bottle of wine that would’ve doubled the guest’s spend.
Motivated teams don’t just perform better. They feel better. And they make your guests feel better too.
Start small, start Nnw
Take a page out of Strava’s book:
- Track what matters
- Celebrate consistency
- Nudge with kindness
- Gamify gently
- Recognize often
If a fitness app can get me out of bed at 6am just to defend a virtual crown… imagine what a well-timed, thoughtful message could do for someone on your team.
Let’s get better at recognizing our hotel heroes. Not just the ones who run marathons, but the ones who show up every day, keep the engine running, and go the extra 0.7 km when nobody’s watching.
