Cycle tourism is one of the new trends that is in the process of expansion and hotels are looking ways to approach this new type of customers, but which services are they looking for?

After publishing one of our previous blogs about hotels focused on cycle tourism, we are now following up with some suggestions on what to do and to offer if you want to come on board as well.

Before repositioning your hotel, or extending the target group, some minimal requirements need to be met. Obviously the environment needs to be cycle friendly, which means that it is safe enough and fun, as well as challenging with great plains, smooth hills, steep slopes, curves, long straight lines, etc.

Secondly the hotel needs to be provided with sufficient space in order to offer guests the proper services needed for this sport. These services are, for example, space to keep the bikes, a place to clean them and laundry service (either or not self service) for the sport clothes. Other services as an extra that support creating a maximum satisfaction to this type of tourism, are:

• Guided tours
• Maps of the environment with cycle routes
• Covered  and well-secured parking for bikes
• Space for bicycle repairing with the needed tools
• Sale of bike accessories, spare parts and nutritional products
• Wellness and sports treatments
• Sports buffet

In relation to some projects we have carried out we have also seen the following facilities, that serve as being of additional value for sports tourism:

• Sports clothing shops
• Separate access especially for the cyclists.
• Spa with both cold and warm water
• Physiotherapists on request
• Hypoxia equipment

These types of services can for example be commercialized in different packages that additionally include a certain amount of overnights and offer of a selected board that may include sports menus. When composing these packages, be aware of the fact that there are different types of cycle tourism: mountain bikers and racers, that like to look for their maximum limits and recreational cyclists that take it a bit easier and especially want to enjoy nature.

Is it too complicated to organize all above mentioned services internally? It may work out to collaborate with a tour operator or simply a cycle centre in the neighbourhood to still be able to offer a complete and satisfying stay for the guests.

The hotel factory has experience with conceptualization of hotels that have cycle tourism included in their target group, making sure the hotel fulfills all needs of this segment. Do not hesitate to contact us for any questions about this subject.