Ep 6. St Alfeges

The Hotel Inspector is a British television show that revolves around an experienced and no-nonsense hotelier, Alex Polizzi, who visits struggling hotels across the UK and helps them turn their businesses around. In season 3 episode 6, titled "St Alfeges," Alex Polizzi travels to Greenwich, London to help the owners of a small boutique hotel.

The hotel in question is St Alfeges, a two-star establishment that is struggling to attract guests and make a profit. Alex Polizzi meets the owners, Chris and Jenny, who have invested all their savings in the hotel but are yet to see any return on investment. Chris and Jenny present Alex with a hotel that has a lot of potential but has been neglected and in dire need of renovation.

Alex starts by inspecting the rooms, and it doesn't take her long to notice that the rooms are in poor condition, with outdated decor and furniture that is falling apart. Alex advises Chris and Jenny that updating the rooms is the most significant task they need to focus on if they want to attract guests.

Another problem the hotel faces is its online presence. Alex observes that even though the rooms are relatively cheap, the hotel's website is outdated and unappealing, making it hard for prospective guests to trust the hotel. Alex advises the owners that they need to work on their online presence and start engaging with their guests to manage their reputation. They also need to improve the breakfast offering since it is underwhelming and doesn't provide guests with an incentive to come back.

Apart from the hotel's infrastructure, Alex observes that Chris and Jenny need to have a better rapport with their staff, who are essential in providing guests with a pleasant experience. Alex holds a team meeting and encourages the staff to share their views, and they all acknowledge that they need a clear direction and training to provide the best service to guests.

The show continues with Alex Polizzi taking Chris and Jenny through the importance of branding and creating a unique selling point. Alex recommends that they take advantage of the hotel's location, which is next to a prominent attraction, Greenwich market, and offer guests a tailor-made experience that incorporates the area's rich history and culture.

The episode concludes with Chris and Jenny's commitment to implementing Alex Polizzi's recommendations, which will hopefully put the hotel on the path to success. The show serves as an excellent lesson for small hotel owners, who need to keep updating their offerings to remain relevant in the highly competitive hotel industry. With Alex Polizzi's guidance, the owners of St Alfeges can potentially rebrand and transform their hotel to attract more guests, thus realizing their startup dreams.