An online gift voucher solution is helping hotels drive revenue across various departments while alleviating the stress on guest services.  

Traditionally, customers have had to call, email, or present in-person to request a gift voucher. Guest services then had to process payment and create the voucher before posting it out to the customer.

Now, HyperGift is simplifying the process from start to finish.

The online gift voucher solution for the hotel industry can be tailored to a hotel, resort, food and beverage venue or spa. An extension of the company website, with the same branding, the system allows users to purchase vouchers easily online and receive them immediately via email.

OmniHyper Director, Michael MacDonald, says the solution has provided a revenue stream for hotels pre, during and post pandemic.

“It was interesting that during the pandemic, HyperGift actually drove significantly more sales than pre-pandemic,” MacDonald said.

“This probably reflects the fact that we could only travel nationally, so there was a lot of staycation vouchers, corporate gifting vouchers etc. It really was quite amazing.

“Post pandemic has seen the trend continue, where people are choosing to give the gift of travel to their loved ones.”

Raising revenue

Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Marketing and Partnerships Manager, Jay Nikolin, opted to introduce HyperGift because the outdated gift card system in place at the hotel was highly labour intensive, wasting time and money.

He wanted a user-friendly solution that was easy to manage and would generate more revenue for the business.

“Having a website for easy access for the user or guests to purchase their own gift vouchers and have them readily [available] through their email – it was a no brainer,” he said.

Since introducing the system on August 1, 2021 to July 19, 2022, the hotel has generated over $168,000 in sales through this channel.

“Approximately $13-$15,000 on average per month has been generated through the gift voucher website, which is phenomenal, and far greater than what we would have generated with the old process,” Nikolin said.

“There are no set up fees, and we only pay a 4.5% commission on what we sell.”

With HyperGift, the hotel also keeps all the money received from unclaimed vouchers.

“After three years, 32% of vouchers are not redeemed (on average),” MacDonald said.  

“This is a big win for a hotel, as we pay all money directly into their bank account every day.” 

Importantly, the system supports last minute purchases, meaning that revenue is coming in right up to the day of an important occasion such as Christmas or Mother’s Day.

“It’s a much faster process,” Nikolin said.  

“It’s immediately sent through to their email by PDF so it’s saving them time as well, especially for those last minute gift purchases for Christmas, Mother’s Day etc. I think we would have missed out on those revenue opportunities with the old system.”

In December 2021, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins generated more than $40,000 in revenue through vouchers using the new system.

A number of other Sofitel properties are utilising the new system including Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, Sofitel Gold Coast Broadbeach, and Sofitel Adelaide. The solution is also suited to lodges or resort accommodation, with Pullman Bunker Bay, Marramarra Lodge, and Fairmont Resort & Spa Blue Mountains all on board.

For more information or to get started with HyperGift, visit https://hypergift.omnihyper.com/