Featured
The importance of pricing strategies in the hospitality industry
The hospitality industry is a highly competitive industry where pricing strategies play a crucial role in determining the success of a business. The price of a product is one of the major factors influencing its sales. However, the pricing strategy in the hospitality industry is not as simple as just setting a price. Many factors need to be considered, such as unique selling proposition (USP), cost per available room (CPAR), competitor pricing, and market segmentation.
In the hospitality industry, hotel rooms are considered perishable items, which means that if the product is not sold before the night audit, it results in lost revenue. An empty room in a hotel is lost revenue as maintaining an empty room incurs a running cost. One of the prime principles of revenue management is selling at the right price, but how do you know if you are selling at the right price?
The first factor to consider when setting a price is the unique selling proposition (USP). A strong unique selling proposition must correlate with the right price. USP does not necessarily have to be an inbuilt product in the room; it can be service-related or facilities-related. Value-added benefits will also add value to your product and demand a higher price.
The cost per available room (CPAR) is another important factor to consider when creating price points for a hotel room. CPAR is one of the metrics used in the hospitality industry to calculate the total cost of an unoccupied room at a given time. Understanding the CPAR is important to avoid any loss, and factoring in the CPAR will help generate profit.
The cost-plus pricing method is used during extremely low demand. During the pandemic, many hospitality establishments used this method to sustain their business. The hotel rooms were sold at a lower price, keeping the cost of operating plus a profit markup. Group pricing, especially tour series, can be locked profitably by calculating the rate based on the cost-plus pricing method during low-demand periods.
Refurbishment and renovation of hotel rooms are essential to maintain brand quality and offer quality products. A well-maintained room product often fetches a good price, as the quality of the product still has value. When a hotel room is refurbished, it can be positioned back into the market at a slightly higher price point.
Competitor pricing is another factor that should be considered when setting prices. When your room’s price points are in line with or below the price of your competitors, you may be trying to capture a larger fair share of the market. The method of competitive pricing involves analyzing prices and setting prices based on your competitor set. This technique is very widely used in the hospitality industry.
Pricing strategies in the hospitality industry are a critical component of revenue management. Pricing strategies must be carefully considered and analyzed based on various factors, such as unique selling proposition, cost per available room, competitor pricing, and market segmentation. A well-planned pricing strategy can increase revenue and maintain the hotel’s competitive edge.
Editors Note: The article above is based on a publication by OARS Consultancy, a hospitality consultancy firm located in Dubai. OARS, which stands for OCCUPANCY.ADR.REVPAR.SOLUTION, is dedicated to the hospitality sector with a strong emphasis on revenue management consultation and hotel and resort-related projects. The company comprises a team of professionals from around the world who bring their expertise together with the common goal of providing solutions to optimize revenue growth for hotels and resorts. For more information about OARS visit https://oarsolution.com/
Link to the original publication: Pricing Strateigies
Celebration
Villa Park sets holiday line-up with sunset welcome, Santa visit and NYE gala
Villa Park has announced its Festive 2025–2026 programme, running from 20 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. The schedule moves from lagoon-side mornings to music-led evenings on the beach, beginning with a sunset welcome and continuing with beach barbecues, creative workshops, Christmas Eve dinner, Santa’s visit on 25 December, and a New Year’s Eve gala with a midnight countdown. The season concludes with programmes on New Year’s Day and Orthodox Christmas.
Daytime activities include chef demonstrations, shoreline art sessions, and live music. Evenings feature romantic tables, treetop dining for two, and simple set-ups that highlight the island setting. The programme is designed for couples, friends, and families to join as they wish.
Family programming centres on Park Players, presented as the Maldives’ largest kids’ club, with letters to Santa, gingerbread crafts, ocean-themed art, movement classes, story time, and film nights. Group sizes are kept small to ensure attentive supervision.
Villa Park’s family offering has been recognised beyond the festive season, with the resort named among the Best Resorts for Families in the Maldives at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, a reader-voted accolade reflecting guest feedback on space, programming, and flexible pacing.
Throughout the calendar, private experiences sit alongside larger celebrations, including candlelit beach dining, treetop tastings, floating breakfasts, and open-air cinema for two. Guests can set their own rhythm, whether opting for lively beach gatherings or quiet evenings under lanterns and palms, from sunrise through to the New Year countdown and beyond.
Featured
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas introduces season of wellness with three practitioners
Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is inviting guests to embark on a holistic journey guided by three visiting wellness practitioners, each specialising in distinct approaches to healing. Drawing on traditional knowledge and contemporary practice, the practitioners will offer therapies at the resort’s overwater spa designed to align body, mind, and spirit in a tranquil Maldivian setting. Disciplines include Ayurveda, energy-based therapies, sound healing, and mindful movement, with personalised consultations and bespoke treatments available.
A fifth-generation Ayurvedic physician, Dr Jithurag continues a 300-year family lineage rooted in holistic balance. Trained within the Rameswaram Tantric tradition, he blends Ayurvedic principles with elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, integrating marma therapy and acupuncture with Reiki and Pranic Healing. Using wellness screening technologies to assess biomarkers, he designs tailored treatment plans. Guests may book a complimentary consultation and choose from signature therapies such as TCM Acupuncture, Cupping Therapy, Marma Abhyanga, and Back Restoration Therapy.
Holistic therapist and Ayurvedic healer Sharath Ram brings more than 16 years’ experience in supporting physical, mental, and spiritual balance. His work combines Ayurveda with energy practices and therapeutic yoga to encourage both recovery and transformation. His specialities include Chakra Inner Energy Balancing, Ayurveda Deep Fusion Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Maderotherapy, and Mind-Body Healing. He will also lead complimentary workshops, including The Art of Breathing and Dynamic Meditation, focusing on breathwork and movement to promote calm and clarity.
From Kerala, India, Vinod Narayanan offers over a decade of experience in Ayurveda, yoga, and holistic healing across Europe, Africa, and Asia, including service as a personal physician to dignitaries. At Anantara Kihavah he will provide therapies such as Himalayan Sound Healing Massage, De-Armouring Body Therapy, Abdominal Detox, Access Bars Energy Healing, and Gut-Brain Rewiring. Using vibration, touch, and energy alignment, his sessions aim to release emotional blockages, improve circulation, and support the body’s natural rhythm. Complimentary consultations are available, alongside sound-based journeys that seek to harmonise body and spirit.
Together, the practitioners complement Anantara Kihavah’s wellbeing philosophy, extending from Ayurvedic traditions to sound therapy. Guests are invited to the overwater Anantara Spa for bespoke treatments, meditative workshops, and one-to-one consultations that encourage connection with self and nature.
Further enhancing the experience, the resort has introduced reimagined Beach Pool Villas featuring natural textures, open-plan spaces, and private pools set within tropical greenery.
Celebration
Mindful festive escape: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa focuses on connection and renewal
This festive season, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa will welcome guests to a celebration of warmth, wonder and mindful connection. From 19 December 2025 to 7 January 2026, the resort will transform into a serene island sanctuary where nature, gastronomy and meaningful experiences come together in harmony.
Situated in one of the most untouched atolls of the Maldives, Huvadhu Atoll, Hadahaa embodies a refined simplicity that showcases the beauty of the natural world. Throughout the festive period, guests are invited to slow down, reconnect and rediscover the joy of being fully present, surrounded by turquoise waters, lush island greenery and Maldivian hospitality.
“The festive season at Hadahaa is more than a celebration — it’s a homecoming,” said Anshul Sharma, General Manager of Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa. “It’s a time to reflect, to celebrate togetherness and to embrace the island’s timeless rhythm where nature and joy coexist effortlessly.”
Highlights of the Festive Season:
- Holiday splendour and timeless traditions – From the twinkling lights of the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony to the New Year’s Eve Countdown by the Beach, each event is shaped by the understated elegance that defines Park Hyatt. Familiar festive traditions are reinterpreted with authentic island touches, creating celebrations that feel both comforting and renewed.
- Beneath the holiday surface – Adventure enthusiasts will be able to join Festive Snorkelling and Diving excursions, Turtle Quests and an Exclusive Christmas Night Dive. Each marine experience offers a deeper connection to the ocean’s vibrant ecosystem, enhanced by the festive spirit of exploration.
- Season of renewal – Guests can restore body and mind with holistic spa journeys at The Vidhun Spa, featuring Ayurveda-inspired treatments, island botanicals and festive rituals designed to support inner balance. The resort will also host Dr Jyoti Kodwani, founder of The Sacred Chakras, for a month-long Festive Wellness Residency offering transformative healing therapies.
- Festive flavours and family moments – From Barefoot BBQs by the Bay to elevated treehouse dining beneath the stars, dining experiences are designed to become lasting memories. Younger guests can take part in creative workshops, treasure hunts and Santa’s seaside arrival, ensuring special moments for families and guests of all ages.
This year, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa’s festive programme captures the essence of renewal and joy, celebrating life’s simplest pleasures with a blend of sophistication and soul.
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