We've compiled a list of things you may want to consider before your guests arrive.
Tea and Coffee making facilities
Depending on the price and quality of your accommodation, you can either go for sachets and UHT milk or real coffee provided in jars and fresh milk provided in a flask. Do you want to provide hot chocolate or sachets for those who don't drink tea or coffee?
Cake and biscuits
Do you want to offer something extra? If so provide cakes or biscuits in the rooms with the tea and coffee.
Dressing gowns
Providing dressing gowns for rooms which don't have ensuite is a nice gesture. You may also wish to provide dressing gowns in colder months.
Hairdryer
Guests will expect to find a hairdryer in their bedroom and rarely bring their own.
Linen
Have clean, ironed, fresh and plain white linen. It is modern and looks pleasing in any room. When linen gets tired replace it. Have two pillows per person and lighter duvets in summer months. Have a blanket in the wardrobes that guests can use if they get cold.
Towels
Clean, soft white towels should be provided. You need to leave a separate hand towel, hair towel and bath towel per person in each bathroom.
Liquid soaps and shower gel
Leave high quality liquid soaps at the basins. You can refill these and they are more hygienic than soap bars which you would need to replace for each guest. Also have shower gels and bubble baths in the shower/bath areas.
Flowers in the room
Flowers in the room add colour and scent and are a welcoming touch for guests.
Seats
In your higher priced larger rooms why not provide some extra seats?
How to work things
Provide instructions for working anything in the room which may not be obvious. This includes TV's, DVD players, Showers, etc.
Children's facilities
If you offer accommodation for children make sure you have a cot which can be easily assembled and placed in bedrooms as well as a high chair for the breakfast rooms. You may also want to keep a few games in the communal area for rainy days.
Local area guides and leaflets, brochures and maps
In a communal area or in the entrance hall provide brochures and leaflets of local attractions, pubs and restaurants. A few maps that guests can take out on walks is also a good idea.
Taxi numbers
In a communal area or the entrance hall provide the cards of a local taxi provider.
Entrance halls
First impressions cannot be undone. Keep entrance halls clean and clutter free. You may want to put some flowers in here. Keep family shoes and coats in a cupboard o shoe rack with a door.
Keys
Make sure you have spare copies of all keys in case your guests loose them.
Family pets
Keep family pets away from the guest areas in case your guests are allergic or afraid of them.
Ironing
If you do not have individual iron presses in the bedrooms offer use of your iron to guests who may be going to vents such as weddings.
Magazines
A couple of recent, high quality lifestyle magazines look good in your rooms and give your guests something to read whilst drinking their coffee.
DVDs
If you have DVD players in some of your rooms why not keep a selection of DVD's in a communal area for guests to borrow. This will give guests something to do when kept in due to bad weather.
Books
You may also wish to keep a selection of novels on a bookshelf in a communal area for guests.