The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, thanks to digitization. Today, the average consumer prefers booking a hotel on the internet. Similarly, you can leverage the web to drive customers to your site without overspending on hotel marketing campaigns.
But why is it necessary to optimize hotel digital marketing? First, gone are the days when “any booking” was just okay. Today, the average consumer prefers to reserve a room in your hotel without any human interaction.
With digital marketing, you can also save on commissions deducted by online traveling agencies (OTAs). Most importantly, efficient hotel email marketing can give you complete control over interactions with your customers.
Continue reading to discover how you can increase your hotel bookings in 2021 and beyond.
1. Allocate a Sizeable Hotel Marketing Budget
Different hotels have varying peak seasons when intense marketing is vital. If you run a ski resort off the sandy beaches, summer is your time. Ensure you have a deep understanding of when things are slow or busy.
This will give you actionable insights into the hotel market in your region. With such information, you can determine the proper budget for hotel internet marketing at the beginning of every financial year.
2. Offer Discounts for Direct Bookings
Why should customers book directly to stay in your hotel? Direct bookings can help you cut the commission expenses paid to OTAs. And since not all customers prefer booking directly, you need to give them a reason for doing so.
For instance, offering a percentage discount to all first-time customers could earn you more people for the loyalty program.
3. Market Your Location
Nearly everyone who books a hotel online does so during vacations or business workshops. Thus, there is a high likelihood that any hotel booking starts with researching various tourist destinations and recreation amenities.
This is why your hotel amenities shouldn’t be the primary focus when marketing. Is there any feature that makes your business location a desirable vacation destination? Prospective customers would love to know this.
4. Offer Complimentary Services
Generally, there are two types of hotel clients; those who love to stay and those that hate spending another day. It will help if you go above and beyond for both these customers during and after their stay.
This way, even those who hate hotels will likely leave stellar reviews. Likewise, those who like hotel services will guarantee referrals and return visits.
So, what does complimentary customer services mean?
Anything that makes the client happy is a complementary service. You can give wine bottles for group bookings or a hand-written thank you note. You can also issue refunds for valet parking.
Boost Your Revenues With Key Hotel Marketing Strategies
Leveraging the right hotel digital marketing campaigns at the opportune time is a deal-breaker in forging long-term customer relationships. Use the above marketing strategies to drive more traffic to your hotel website.
Also, ensure your website is intuitive and mobile-friendly for prospective customers to stay longer exploring your amenities. You can reach out to us for a more in-depth consultation and optimization of your ideal marketing strategies.
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