Room revenue is the foundation, but it should not be the ceiling. The most profitable hotels generate 30 to 50 percent of total revenue from sources beyond the nightly rate -- food and beverage, events, services, and experiences that enhance the guest stay while strengthening the bottom line. For independent and boutique properties especially, ancillary revenue is the difference between surviving and thriving.
The best part is that most of these strategies leverage assets you already own: space, staff expertise, location, and guest trust. Here are 15 ancillary revenue ideas, organized from quick wins to longer-term investments, that can meaningfully impact your total revenue per available room (TRevPAR).
1. Premium early check-in and late checkout
This is the lowest-hanging fruit in ancillary revenue. Many hotels already offer these informally, but formalizing the service with a set fee captures revenue that is currently left on the table.
Price early check-in (as early as 9 AM) at $30 to $75 depending on your market, and late checkout (until 4 PM or later) at a similar range. Offer it during the booking process, at online check-in, and at the front desk. Guests traveling with families or attending events will pay happily for the flexibility. Automation through your booking engine can make this entirely self-service.
2. Curated local experience packages
Partner with local businesses -- wineries, adventure outfitters, cooking schools, art galleries, guided tour operators -- to offer exclusive experience packages. Your role is curation and convenience; the partner delivers the experience.
Structure the economics so you earn a 15 to 25 percent commission or a flat referral fee. Promote packages at booking, during pre-arrival emails, and in-room. The beauty of this model is zero inventory risk: you only earn when a guest books. A well-curated experience menu also differentiates your property from chain competitors who cannot offer anything local.
3. Event and meeting space rental
If you have any flexible space -- a boardroom, a patio, a private dining room, even a well-designed lobby area -- you have event revenue potential. Small meetings, corporate off-sites, bridal showers, and private dinners can generate $500 to $5,000 per event in room rental and catering revenue.
Package your spaces with standard setups, AV equipment, and catering menus so that inquiries can be quoted quickly. Use HotelAmplify's meetings tools to streamline proposals, generate BEOs, and manage event details without a dedicated events department.
4. Parking monetization
If your property has a parking lot or garage, structured parking fees are an expected revenue line in most urban and resort markets. Even in suburban locations, offering a self-park and valet tier creates revenue and perceived value.
Beyond overnight guests, consider selling day passes to local workers or event attendees. If your lot has unused capacity during weekdays, platforms like SpotHero or ParkWhiz can fill those spaces with zero effort on your part. Monthly parking passes for nearby office workers can provide a steady baseline income.
5. Co-working and day-use spaces
The remote work revolution created a permanent demand for professional workspaces outside the home. Hotels are naturally positioned to serve this market with spaces that are already furnished, climate-controlled, and equipped with Wi-Fi.
Offer day-use rooms ($50 to $100 for a 4-hour or 8-hour block) or designate a co-working area with hourly and daily rates. Include coffee, printing access, and a quiet environment. Market to local remote workers, traveling professionals, and small teams needing an off-site meeting space. Some hotels have found success with monthly memberships that include a set number of day-use hours.
6. Spa and wellness services
You do not need a full-service spa to generate wellness revenue. A single treatment room with contracted therapists (massage, facials, nail services) can generate significant income with minimal fixed cost.
If space is limited, consider in-room services -- mobile massage therapists, yoga instructors for private sessions, or guided meditation experiences. Wellness is one of the fastest-growing guest preferences, and even a modest offering signals that your property values guest well-being. Package wellness add-ons with room bookings for higher conversion rates.
7. Food and beverage experiences beyond the restaurant
Standard dining revenue is important, but experiential F&B drives higher margins and guest engagement:
- Chef's table dinners. A monthly or weekly prix fixe dinner with the chef generates premium revenue and social media content.
- Cocktail-making classes. A 90-minute session with your bartender costs little to run and can charge $50 to $75 per person.
- Wine or whiskey tastings. Partner with local distributors who often provide the product at no cost in exchange for exposure.
- Breakfast-to-go bundles. Pre-packaged breakfast bags for guests departing early capture revenue that would otherwise walk out the door.
- Minibar reinvention. Replace standard overpriced minibar items with curated local products: artisanal snacks, craft beverages, and locally roasted coffee. Guests are more willing to pay premium prices for unique local items than for the same Pringles they can buy anywhere.
8. Pet fees and pet packages
Pet-friendly policies are a competitive differentiator, and pet owners expect to pay a reasonable fee. A $25 to $50 per night pet fee is standard, but the real opportunity is in pet packages: a welcome kit with treats, a water bowl, a pet bed, and information about local dog parks and pet-friendly restaurants.
Premium pet services -- dog walking, pet-sitting while owners are at dinner, or partnered grooming services -- can command additional fees. Pet owners are an intensely loyal demographic; treat their animals well and they become repeat guests and vocal advocates.
9. Retail and grab-and-go
A small, well-curated retail area near the front desk or lobby can generate meaningful revenue with minimal staffing. Focus on items guests actually need:
- Travel essentials (toiletries, chargers, adapters)
- Local products (honey, hot sauce, coffee, artisanal goods)
- Branded merchandise (if your property has a strong brand identity)
- Grab-and-go snacks and beverages (especially important for properties without 24-hour dining)
The key is curation. A cluttered gift shop feels dated; a thoughtfully arranged shelf of local products feels like a discovery. Mark up appropriately -- guests expect and accept retail pricing in a hotel setting.
10. Laundry and pressing services
Guest laundry and dry cleaning services are a classic ancillary revenue stream, but many independent hotels have outsourced or eliminated them. If you have or can contract laundry services, offer express and standard options with clear pricing in-room.
For extended-stay guests and business travelers, a weekly laundry package at a slight discount can drive consistent usage. The margins on laundry services are typically 50 to 70 percent, making this one of the most profitable ancillary categories.
11. Photography and celebration packages
Hotels are backdrops for celebrations: anniversaries, proposals, birthdays, babymoons, and milestone trips. Offer celebration packages that include room decoration, a champagne amenity, a custom cake, and optional photography.
Partner with a local photographer to offer 30-minute or 60-minute photo sessions on property. The hotel earns a referral fee, the photographer gets clients, and the guests get professional photos in a beautiful setting. Promote these packages during the booking process and in pre-arrival communications, especially for bookings that indicate a special occasion.
12. Airport and local transportation
If your property is near an airport or in a location where transportation is not straightforward, shuttle or car service can be both a guest amenity and a revenue generator. Options range from a complimentary shared shuttle (factored into the rate) to a premium private transfer service.
Partner with a reliable car service and negotiate a commission on bookings made through your concierge. For resort and destination properties, offer half-day or full-day driver services for sightseeing. Transportation is often the most stressful part of a guest's trip -- solving it earns goodwill and revenue simultaneously.
13. Equipment and gear rental
Depending on your location and guest profile, equipment rentals can be a natural extension of the stay experience:
- Beach and pool properties: Cabana rentals, paddleboard and kayak rentals, snorkel gear.
- Mountain and ski properties: Ski storage, snowshoe rentals, hiking pole loans.
- Urban properties: Bicycle rentals, e-scooter partnerships, umbrella loans.
- Family properties: Stroller, crib, and car seat rentals.
For items you do not want to own, partner with local outfitters and take a commission. For high-demand items (bicycles, cabanas), owning the asset and renting directly delivers better margins.
14. Business services and printing
Business travelers still need to print boarding passes, contracts, and presentation materials. A self-service business center with per-page printing fees, scanning, and basic office supplies is low-cost to maintain and generates a steady trickle of revenue.
For groups and events, offer dedicated business service packages that include printing, binding, name badge production, and signage. These are high-margin, low-effort additions to meeting packages that planners appreciate.
15. Subscription and membership programs
Beyond a loyalty program, consider a paid membership or subscription that provides ongoing value:
- Locals membership. For $50 to $100 per month, local residents get access to your pool, fitness center, co-working space, or F&B discounts. This fills underutilized amenities and creates a community around your property.
- Dining club. A monthly dinner series with prix fixe pricing for members builds predictable F&B revenue and a loyal customer base.
- Stay credits subscription. Guests pay a monthly fee and receive discounted stays or credits. This model works well for properties with a loyal base of repeat guests who stay 3 or more times per year.
Key takeaways
- Ancillary revenue should represent 30 to 50 percent of total hotel revenue -- if you are below that, there is significant upside available.
- Start with low-investment, high-return strategies like early check-in/late checkout fees, parking monetization, and local experience partnerships.
- Experiential offerings (chef's tables, wellness services, photography packages) command premium pricing and differentiate your property.
- Promote ancillary services at every guest touchpoint: booking, pre-arrival email, check-in, in-room, and post-stay.
- Track revenue per ancillary category monthly to identify what is working and where to invest further.
Next steps
Maximize your property's revenue potential beyond room sales. Use HotelAmplify's revenue tracking and sales tools to monitor ancillary revenue streams and identify growth opportunities. Get started today or see how our platform supports independent hotels at pricing.