7 Hotel Marketing Strategies to Increase Bookings

Gone are the days when a hotel could thrive on just word-of-mouth promotion. In this fiercely competitive hospitality industry, you need an effective hotel marketing strategy to attract and retain guests. You must make your property attractive to ensure a consistent flow of guests throughout all seasons.

This article shares some of the best marketing strategies for hotels and resorts that have proven effective. With these hotel marketing tips, you can improve online visibility and maximise revenue as well.

Let’s dive in.

1. Define the USP for Your Target Audience

Your USP, or Unique Selling Proposition, isn’t just a fancy term but a key factor that can make or break your business. It helps create a hotel marketing strategy that produces results. A well-resonating USP pushes potential guests to choose your hotel over others.

How Can You Define your USP?

You need to dive into your visitors’ preferences and behaviours. Targeted market research and data analysis can provide invaluable insights into them. They allow you to pinpoint the wants and needs of your ideal guests.

Once you have your USP, you can tailor your marketing strategy around that. This focused approach ensures consistent messaging across all communication channels. An organised strategy like that is 674% more likely to succeed. It can help you stand out in a crowded market and attract loyal customers year-round.

2. Build a Solid Online Presence

The next hotel marketing strategy is to build your online presence. In today’s digital age, a dedicated website is essential. Your website serves as the cornerstone of your online presence.

A website is often the first point of contact for potential guests. It’s your gateway to attracting and engaging them. So, it must be visually appealing and user-friendly. A well-designed website enhances the user experience and instils trust in your brand.

Now, to stay competitive, you also need to work towards improving your rankings on all travel platforms. The idea is to optimise for meta-search and ensure your hotel’s visibility in search engines like Google, Bing, or TripAdvisor. The best metasearch management software helps with that. With increased visibility, you can attract bookings across all seasons.

3. Leverage Social Media to Gain Bookings

In addition to your website, a social media presence is essential for building awareness and engaging with potential guests. Social media platforms enable you to share compelling visual content, interact with followers in real time, and highlight your hotel’s unique features.

Facebook and Instagram can be good starting points for social media marketing. Contests and giveaways are among the most effective social marketing ideas for hotels. These can incentivise engagement and generate buzz around your hotel. Influencer marketing can also be highly effective in reaching a broader audience.

For regular postings, you can try behind-the-scenes glimpses of daily operations and guest testimonials. Once you have built your Facebook and Instagram presence, you can leverage Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube to drive engagement and form meaningful connections. An active social media profile can go a long way in helping you connect directly with your customers and get direct bookings.

4. Implement Email Marketing Campaigns

Email marketing is another effective strategy for hotels and resorts. Email campaigns are an effective way to nurture relationships, drive direct bookings, and encourage repeat visits. By creating targeted email campaigns, you can stay connected with past and potential guests.

You can gather plenty of information through contactless check-in solutions without invading your guests’ privacy. You can then send personalised offers and promotional emails to keep them engaged and interested in your hotel.

With email marketing services like ActiveCampaign, Mailchimp, and Sender, you can segment your audience and tailor messages to suit their preferences. You can also personalise their experience based on their past interactions. It creates a sense of belonging, solidifies their loyalty, and increases the chances of a steady stream of bookings.

5. Offer Special Packages During Peak Season

During peak seasons, you can often win guests by offering memorable experiences. When tailored to their wants, these packages can attract a large influx of travellers to your hotel. Plan unique experiences that appeal to prospective guests during those times.

One of the best hotel advertising ideas during peak times is to partner with specific flights and attract flyers to your hotel. You can bundle exclusive deals and discounts or offer bundled services with room bookings. With such strategic marketing efforts, you can position your property as a desirable option for those seeking exceptional hospitality.

Special events in your region can also attract a large number of fans and travellers. So, make sure you track such peak booking times and market yourself heavily. The higher the number of targeted offers, the higher the chances of bookings.

6. Run Local Ads During Off-Season

To keep your premises buzzing in the off-season, focus on local customers. You can target local residents and businesses through ads and offer them your place for meetings, weddings, and conferences. Special discounts can entice customers who may not have considered your hotel as an option earlier.

You can also consider forming mutually beneficial collaborations with local businesses when promoting yourself during those seasons. Creative local tours and exclusive activities as part of the packages can add value to bookings.

Running ads while highlighting unique promotions can attract those seeking an authentic local experience. And it can help your hotel maintain a steady rate of bookings.

7. Encourage Reviews and User-Generated Content

As you strive to differentiate your hotel from competitors, you should encourage reviews and user-generated content (UGC). Potential guests often turn to online reviews to gauge a hotel’s quality and reputation before making a booking.

Positive reviews and user-generated content help construct a positive brand personality for your hotel. So, ask your guests to share their reviews on TripAdvisor, Google, and Booking.com.

In addition to reviews, you can ask them to post their hotel photos and videos on social media. Offer incentives, such as discounts on future stays, to motivate guests. Such user-generated content reassures potential guests that your hotel will likely meet their expectations.