Taking Stock: Reflecting on 2025, Setting Goals for 2026 with ROI and Experiential Design in Mind

Seasonal photography plays a crucial role in setting the tone for your guests' expectations, strengthening your brand identity, and ultimately driving more bookings. With the changing seasons offering unique opportunities to capture the beauty and personality of your property, showcasing your space through seasonal imagery can help you build a connection with your ideal guests while ensuring they know exactly what to expect. Let’s explore how seasonal photography can enhance your brand, attract guests, and boost loyalty.

Reflecting on 2025: Inventory and Review

Before looking ahead, it's important to pause and reflect. Take inventory of the design elements, amenities, and changes you’ve implemented over the past year. Which investments generated the most ROI? Which spaces received the most attention and praise from guests? Understanding what worked and what didn’t will help you refine your approach for the upcoming year. Remember, this isn’t just about financial returns; it’s also about how your design choices contributed to guest experiences, satisfaction, and loyalty.

Setting SMART Goals for 2026

Setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals is the first step in creating a roadmap for success in 2026. Whether you're aiming to increase bookings, enhance guest experience, or boost your brand’s visibility, goal-setting should be focused on ROI. Consider what areas of your property or business you want to prioritize, and set clear targets for growth. For example, you might want to invest in enhancing your outdoor spaces for year-round use, add new experiential features, or expand your offerings through branded partnerships.

Planning for Experiential Design

In 2026, experiential design should remain at the forefront of your planning. Guests are increasingly seeking more than just a place to stay; they want an experience that immerses them in the local culture, nature, and story of the space. Reflect on how you can evolve your design to offer even more immersive experiences. This could be by curating multi-use spaces, offering seasonal activities or services, or incorporating local elements that truly connect guests to the destination. Focus on creating moments that make guests feel like they are part of something special.

Emphasizing ROI through Strategic Design Investments

ROI is a cornerstone of any successful design plan. As you look ahead, identify investments that will yield the highest returns in terms of both guest experience and financial impact. Consider both the immediate returns, like increased bookings from appealing amenities, and long-term gains, such as building brand loyalty through well-thought-out, timeless design. Whether it's investing in outdoor heating systems for winter, adding customized branded keepsakes, or upgrading technology for guest convenience, make sure each design choice aligns with your business goals and delivers value.

Anticipating Industry Trends and Adjusting Your Strategy

The design and hospitality industries are constantly evolving. To stay competitive, it’s crucial to anticipate trends and adapt your strategy accordingly. For 2026, keep an eye on emerging trends like sustainability, wellness-focused experiences, and technology integration. These shifts in guest expectations could influence the type of design investments you choose. Stay informed and be proactive in adjusting your plans to meet these evolving needs, while maintaining a strong focus on ROI and guest satisfaction.

A Note from Kate

With over 7 years of coaching experience guiding clients through their projects, I’ve seen how critical it is to strategically use your year. As the year winds down, we often get caught up in the hustle and bustle, but it’s essential to set aside time at the beginning of the year for business retreats and planning. The time to think ahead and lay out your goals is in October and November—before the noise of the holidays takes over. By scheduling this important work in advance, we can craft a focused plan for the year ahead, ensuring that your business thrives in 2026 and beyond.

I’d also like to give a huge shoutout to Johanna Setta, who has been instrumental in helping me translate my coaching skills into actionable strategies for my business. Johanna has worked with a diverse range of clients—farmers, creatives, designers, restaurant owners, and those in the vacation industry. If you want to zoom out and get a holistic view of your business, Johanna is your girl for both business and personal upleveling. You can schedule a call with her here to start planning your next big leap.

Taking stock of 2025, setting goals for 2026, and planning for ROI through experiential design investments is a powerful strategy to ensure continued growth and success. By reflecting on past performance, setting clear goals, and focusing on the experiences that matter most to your guests, you can create a path forward that drives bookings, strengthens your brand, and delivers value.

Ready to set your goals for 2026 and ensure your design investments align with your business objectives?

Schedule a Design Lab session with Wild Birch Design today. Let’s take a deep dive into your space, reflect on what’s working, and craft a forward-thinking plan that will maximize ROI and create unforgettable experiences for your guests.

Design Lab with Kate

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