Your Guests Want to Spend More, You’re Just Not Letting Them

Hospitality has a blind spot.

It’s not service, or design, or even marketing.

It’s the moment between “I’ll book that table” and “See you Saturday.”

That’s where most venues lose money — not because guests don’t want to spend, but because the system doesn’t make it easy, seamless, or exciting to do so.

We’ve spent years studying how guests behave when booking premium experiences — from beach clubs in Bali to rooftop lounges in Sydney.

And one thing keeps showing up:

People will spend more, if you give them a reason and a frictionless way to do it.

The Myth of the “One and Done” Booking

Most booking systems treat reservations like a transaction.

Pick a table. Pay a deposit. Done.

But hospitality isn’t transactional. It’s emotional.

Guests aren’t booking furniture — they’re buying a moment.

And in that context, the upsell isn’t a “sales tactic.”

It’s an opportunity to enhance the experience before it even begins.

Imagine this: a guest books a daybed. During checkout, they see a short video of your signature bottle parade — glowing sparklers, crowd cheering, that electric moment.

One click, and they’ve just added a premium bottle package to their cart.

That’s not hard selling. That’s storytelling — and it converts.

Why Traditional Systems Fail

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

Most hospitality tech was built for restaurants, not beach clubs or nightlife.

So it’s built to take orders, not create excitement.

Legacy systems bury upsells behind generic menus or text lists. No imagery, no emotion, no incentive.

Even when operators try to promote premium items, they’re fighting against a clunky interface that was never designed for that kind of experience.

The result? Missed revenue. Lower spend per head. Wasted potential.

You don’t need “more guests.”

You need better digital merchandising.

What Great Upselling Looks Like

Upselling isn’t about pushing. It’s about positioning.

Here’s what that looks like in practice:

1. Contextual Timing

Upsells work best when they appear naturally in the booking flow — not bolted on at the end.

For example, after a guest selects their table, show them relevant add-ons:

• A bottle upgrade for that section
• A special event package for that date
• A birthday decoration set for their booking type

The timing matters. It feels personalized, not random.

2. Visual Presentation

A static list of add-ons doesn’t sell — an interactive gallery does.

Videos, lifestyle photos, even short clips from previous events.

When guests see the experience, they want to buy into it.

3. Scarcity & Urgency

Limited-time offers, “Almost Sold Out” tags, and countdown timers all create natural urgency.

These aren’t gimmicks; they’re psychology.

When designed well, they elevate perceived value and drive immediate action.

4. Incentivized Pricing

Guests love a deal, especially when it feels exclusive.

Displaying the difference between standard and online prices — even a small percentage — signals value and rewards early booking.

The Operator’s Perspective: Why It Matters

Every extra item sold online means:

• More pre-arrival revenue
• Less dependency on floor upselling
• Smoother operations (since the team knows what’s been pre-ordered)

It’s not just about sales.

It’s about predictability and control.

Operators who embrace structured upselling can forecast spend with far greater accuracy.

They know, before doors even open, which sections will drive the most revenue — and can staff accordingly.

That’s what separates a “busy day” from a profitable one.

How Clubtech Builds for Upsells

We designed Clubtech’s upsell flow to be irresistible — not because of tricks or gimmicks, but because it mirrors how guests already think.

Our booking journey has a dedicated Add-ons Gallery — a clean, swipeable section built for visual engagement.

Each item features:

• A thumbnail and short description
• Strikethrough “base” price vs. online discount
• A tag showing the percentage saved
• And a central video preview — think TikTok shop.

It’s built to convert attention into action.

Guests can add items to their cart, browse categories, and see their spend update in real-time.

A countdown timer ensures bookings aren’t abandoned mid-checkout, while subtle cues (“Almost Sold Out,” “Popular This Weekend”) guide decisions naturally.

For venues, every upsell is tracked and reportable — giving marketing and operations teams the data they need to optimize promotions.

You’re not guessing what works. You’re watching it in real time.

The Bigger Picture: Building a Culture of Pre-Arrival Spend

Upselling shouldn’t be something your team has to “remember” to do.

It should be baked into your digital DNA.

When your booking engine is designed to drive incremental spend, it changes everything:

• Guests arrive happier (they’ve already curated their experience)
• Your staff spends less time pushing sales
• Your revenue per booking climbs naturally

And the perception of your brand shifts — from reactive to premium, from functional to designed.

Because the venues that win aren’t the ones with the best view.

They’re the ones that make spending money feel effortless.

Let Guests Be Your Marketers

One underrated side effect of strong upselling: social content.

When guests pre-book bottles, decor, or special moments, they’re far more likely to share them.

That means your upsells don’t just increase revenue — they increase reach.

Every parade, every birthday setup, every premium add-on becomes a piece of user-generated marketing content.

And that’s worth far more than a few extra dollars on the transaction.

Stop Leaving Money on the Table

The hospitality industry has evolved, but too many venues are still running like it’s 2015.

Guests can book jets, villas, even private chefs online — but they can’t pre-book a bottle at your beach club?

That’s the disconnect Clubtech fixes.

We help venues turn their booking journey into a revenue engine — one that excites guests, streamlines operations, and unlocks the full potential of every booking.

Because guests want to spend more.

You just need to let them.

Clubtech

Built for venues that treat hospitality like a business.