Top 5 Pre-Opening Mistakes Hoteliers Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Opening a hotel or resort isn’t just about finishing construction and cutting a ribbon — it’s about strategic readiness. Many properties struggle in their first 6–12 months not due to market issues, but because of avoidable pre-opening errors.

At Aum Hospitality Consultants, we’ve seen these mistakes repeatedly — here are the top five and how you can avoid them.

1. Delayed Planning of Pre-Opening Phase

Many promoters believe pre-opening tasks can wait until the last few weeks.👉 Reality: This phase should begin 6–8 months before opening and include recruitment, system selection, branding, SOPs, and trial runs.

Start early to avoid chaos later.

2. Underestimating Marketing Lead Time

Marketing is often a last-minute activity — websites, booking engine, OTAs, and social media all go live too late.

Build digital presence and awareness 90 days before launch. Take bookings in advance.

3. Inadequate Recruitment & Training

Hotels open without trained staff or with temporary hires. The result? Poor service, bad reviews, and lost repeat business.

✔ Invest in pre-opening training and HR planning. Your first 100 guests set the tone.

4. Missing Operating Systems & SOPs

No PMS, no defined check-in procedures, no back-of-house workflows. Without SOPs and proper tech, you’ll operate in firefighting mode.

✔ Set up systems like PMS, inventory control, F&B costing, and SOPs well in advance.

5. No Trial Run or Soft Launch

Jumping into full operations without a soft launch often leads to operational embarrassment and reputational damage.

✔ Do a 2-week soft launch with internal audits, mock guests, and service trials.

The Aum Advantage

We don’t just consult — we walk with you from concept to commissioning. Our pre-opening service ensures your hotel opens with:

• A trained team

• Defined SOPs

• Live marketing platforms

• Revenue strategy in place

  
  

• Avoid common mistakes. Launch strong. Deliver memorable first impressions.

📞 Need a pre-opening plan tailored for your hotel?📧 Write to: subodhgupte@aumconsultants.net📱 Call/WhatsApp: +91 8108205025🌐 Visit: www.aumconsultants.net