You walk past that quiet room and imagine what one more could earn.
Your mind starts making lists: new deck furniture, upgraded bedding, maybe even a hot tub or small pool.
Before you start ordering supplies or calling contractors, pause for a moment.
Because even small upgrades can turn into big expenses. The average cost to add a single guest room runs $160,000 to $250,000 in a midscale property (HVS U.S. Hotel Development Cost Survey, 2025).
That is a lot of money to gamble on what you think guests want.
What if your next big win is not built or installed at all?
What if it is already hiding in your guest reviews?
The $40 Demand Test
Goal: Find out what guests truly value before you spend big.
Time: 7 days
Budget: $40 or less
Step 1 — Listen First
Look at your last 10 guest reviews.
Circle any feelings that repeat, words like calm, cozy, connected, or escape.
Those are not just compliments. They are clues.
Step 2 — Create One Small Offer
Pick the feeling that shows up most and create a low-cost experience around it.
Calm: Coffee basket delivered for sunrise ($25–$35)
Connected: Firepit s’mores kit (~$40)
Escape: Picnic setup at your favorite lookout ($35–$45)
Share it with your next 20 guests.
If even one or two say yes, you have proven interest without touching a shovel.
If you run a higher-end property, try a slightly bigger “entry test.”
Indulgent: Private wine and story evening (~$95)
Inspired: Guided sunset photo walk (~$125)
The 10-Minute Shortcut with AI
If you use ChatGPT or Claude, copy this prompt and paste your reviews.
Here are my last 10 guest reviews: [PASTE REVIEWS]
Find the 3 feelings that show up most often.
Suggest one creative experience under $40 that deepens each feeling.
Make a simple table: Feeling | How Often | $40 Idea | Why It Fits.
In ten minutes, you will see exactly what emotions keep guests coming back.
Real-World Proof That Small Wins Work
No one has published a “$40 test” case study yet, but the idea of testing small, emotion-driven experiences is already showing results.
Airbnb’s Guest Favorite listings, based purely on reviews, see 52% more clicks and 2.5 times higher bookings, adding up to over 250 million nights so far
Lark Hotels uses Plusgrade to let guests buy small extras like late checkout or curated amenities. Guests who purchase these spend about 15 percent more on average, and some pay $300–$500 for premium add-ons.
Mayfair House Hotel & Garden in Miami built loyalty through simple daily rituals like Cafecito Time at 3:05 p.m. and sunrise yoga, turning moments into memories without adding rooms.
Different properties, same lesson: test small before you build big.
Why It Matters
High season brings pressure to improve, but not every project pays off.
A $40 test gives you clear feedback this week.
It is the cheapest research you will ever run, and it could save you from a very expensive mistake.
Even the best upgrades fail when they are based on assumptions.
Build what guests prove they want, not what you hope they want.
The New Rule of Growth
Old Way: Add more → attract more
New Way: Attract more → then add more
You do not print menus before you have cooked the food.
Even smart upgrades work best when they are built on real demand.
What I Learned the Hard Way
When I ran my reservation company in Mexico, I saw it again and again. Small hotels rushed to add new rooms instead of refreshing the ones they already had.
Guests mentioned in their reviews that the existing rooms felt dated or needed small updates, but owners were convinced that more rooms meant more money. They spent hundreds of thousands building new space when a fraction of that invested in better lighting, linens, or local touches would have delighted every guest already walking through the door.
The truth is, growth does not always mean expansion.
Sometimes it is just paying closer attention to what guests are quietly telling you they love, or what is starting to slip.
Quick Recap
10 minutes · $40 · 7 days = Proof of Demand.
If no one buys, you still learn what not to invest in — a six-figure lesson for the price of lunch.
Try It This Week
Send me the top feeling you found — Calm, Connected, or Escape — and I will reply with three simple offers you can try right now.
At Smart Pineapple, we help small hotels, inns, and vacation rentals grow through creativity, not guesswork.
P.S. Want to see how it works?
Forward your latest guest reviews to kay@smartpineapple.ai, and we’ll run your first $40 Demand Test for free. You’ll get back three ideas tailored to your property.