Why Low Season Is a High-Value Opportunity
The holiday crowds have faded, airports are calmer, and the safari vans aren’t rolling out in long morning convoys anymore. January in Kenya’s hospitality cycle is officially the “quiet month.”
But here’s what might surprise you:
Guest generosity doesn’t dip with the season — it actually grows.
While overall footfall slows down, our data shows that January travellers tip more per interaction than they do during the high-season rush. And for hotel owners, lodge managers, and guiding teams, this is a trend worth paying attention to.
The Hidden Advantage of Low Season: Personalised Service
In high season, staff are stretched, guests move in large numbers, and the rhythm of service leans toward efficiency. Guests appreciate great hospitality, but the time for deep interactions is limited.
January flips that dynamic.
With fewer guests onsite, staff have more time to:
- engage personally,
- tell stories,
- answer questions,
- create memorable moments, and
- deliver truly attentive service.
And travellers respond to that connection.
More time → better guest experience → higher-value tips.
It’s a simple formula, but one that becomes extremely visible during low season.
Higher Quality Experiences Lead to Higher Tipping
Through the Shukran platform, we consistently see a spike in the average value of individual tips in January.
Travellers who come during this month tend to:
- spend more time with their guides,
- linger longer at the spa,
- chat with reception teams, and
- engage deeper in activities.
This slower pace allows staff to shine — and guests reward that effort with meaningful tips that often exceed high-season averages.
In fact, several partner properties report that January is one of their strongest months for individual service-worker earnings, even with fewer total visitors.
Why This Matters for Hotel & Lodge Managers
The beginning of the year is often framed as “low season,” but these insights suggest a new way to position it:
👉 January is a prime month for earning, training, and elevating guest experience.
With more breathing room, managers can:
- retrain and re-energize teams,
- improve service scripts,
- refine guest touchpoints, and
- maximize moments that lead to higher-value tips.
It’s also an ideal time to introduce new systems (like digital tipping) because staff have more time to adopt them seamlessly.
Digital Tipping Is the Key Enabler
January travellers are typically international and highly cashless — and this is where digital tipping becomes essential.
Through Shukran, guests can:
- tip instantly via card in 135+ currencies,
- use mobile money,
- scan QR codes in key touchpoints,
- and leave ratings and reviews that offer management real-time insights.
This ensures no moment of appreciation is lost simply because a guest didn’t have cash on hand — a common issue year-round, but especially during low season.
When you combine personalised service with frictionless digital tipping, January becomes a high-value month for staff income.
The Bigger Picture: A New Way to View January
January is no longer a quiet stretch to simply “get through.”
It’s a strategic window where:
- guest appreciation peaks,
- staff earn more per interaction,
- teams have room to sharpen service quality, and
- digital tipping fuels a better guest experience.
In other words:
Low season doesn’t mean low earnings — it means higher-impact moments.
