How to Market Your Hotel in the Online World

You’ve built your hotel, now it’s time to promote it.

Just as there are thousands of luxury hotels around the world, there are also thousands of budget-friendly hotels and Airbnb properties competing for your attention. Your job, as a hotel marketer, is to stand out and make your hotel special. You want potential guests to discover your hotel, find out what makes it unique, and book their stay accordingly. If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these marketing ideas from luxury hotel brands around the globe.

Global Hotels And Luxury Branding

It’s no secret that the world is a bigger place than ever before. Thanks to devices like the smartphone, people are able to access information from anywhere. This global perspective is exactly what you want from your hotel. Seeing as the majority of your guests will be traveling internationally, you want to make sure that every aspect of your hotel is aligned with global themes and standards. For example, you could consider using brighter, more vibrant colors or adding a touch of luxury with a branded item or two. One way to achieve a more luxurious feel without adding a lot of extra cost is to invest in a luxury hotel brand. They will provide you with a steady stream of visitors along with all the marketing material you need to grow your hotel.

If you own a Four Seasons Hotel or a Waldorf Astoria Hotel, for example, you can access a curated collection of luxury brands and their goods. When someone books a stay at your hotel, whether it’s through your website or app, you can send them a curated collection of luxury brands and their goods to take a look at. It’s a free gift to thank them for staying with you and aligning your brand with theirs. It’s also a great way to educate prospective guests about your hotel’s unique history and culture. People interested in history will enjoy learning more about your hotel’s connection to some of the most famous names in luxury hospitality. This is also a good way to gain credibility with consumers who may question your brand’s level of quality based on your hotel’s price point. After all, more expensive hotels usually mean higher tiers of quality.

E-commerce And Online Marketing

If you’ve ever shopped online, you may have noticed that many luxury brands offer an e-commerce store where they sell their products, including hotel rooms and travel gadgets. If you’re interested in exploring e-commerce as a means of marketing your hotel, you can use special software to track store purchases from potential guests. With this data, you can gauge the effectiveness of your online marketing campaign and determine what content is resonating with your audience. For example, you may find that people are more likely to purchase luxury watches after reading an in-house blog post about the benefits of owning a luxury watch.

To further explore this strategy, you can consider using Google Analytics to track the path that leads to bookings. With this data, you’ll be able to determine what content is most effective and determine what content should be focused on in the future. It’s important to keep in mind that the online world is constantly changing, and staying relevant and updated is more important than ever. While there are plenty of opportunities to get stuck in the past, with the right tools and strategies, you can stay ahead of the curve and continue to grow your hotel.

Social Media

Social media is another great tool for marketers, especially those in the hospitality industry. With a significant amount of users across social channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you have a chance of reaching a large audience. You can use social media to connect with existing and prospective guests in a personalized and relevant manner. For example, if someone has booked a stay at your hotel, but doesn’t yet know much about it, you can use social media to engage with them and learn more about their needs and wants. If you run a large enough social media account, you can also allow users to see what other users have said about their destination and encourage potential guests to learn more about what makes your hotel special.

On the flip side, if you’ve ever tried to reach out to people and engage with them on social media, you know how difficult it can be to have a relevant conversation with someone who isn’t already interested in what you have to say. It takes time to find a niche that will mesh with your target audience and provide you with something worth sharing. However, if you do have an interesting story to tell or just want to keep in touch with someone important to you, you can always reach out to them on social media and see what happens. You might get a response, or you may not, but at least you tried.

Radio

Like social media, radio is another great way to expose your hotel to potential guests. Unlike social media, however, you’ll want to focus on non-promotional content that’s fun, engaging, and informative. For example, you can use radio to provide your hotel’s daily schedule or list of attractions, or even just offer a beautiful soundscape for your guests to listen to. They might not always want to hear about your hotel’s impeccable service, but they will definitely want to know what times your restaurant is serving or if there are any special offers or discounts for guests. Some hotels use radio advertising to promote their deals and attract new customers. If this is something you’re interested in exploring, be sure to contact your hotel’s corporate division or marketing department for more information. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

Local Marketing

For some hotels, proximity to valuable resources is more important than ever before. If you’re located in a popular tourist spot or a significant commercial area, you can use local marketing to generate business. While other businesses struggle to gain traction, especially during the pandemic, you’ve been able to flourish thanks to the demand for your product. One of the best things about being in a popular spot is that you’re bound to encounter a lot of people who are interested in what you have to offer. With social distancing becoming less of a priority and more people being brought back to work, you’re able to engage with potential guests more easily than ever before.

While it’s great to gain traction and make your hotel a destination people want to visit, it’s even better when you can establish yourself as the go-to option for those in your area looking for a hotel. If you’ve ever shopped at a luxury hotel brand before, you know that they usually leave a mark on their customers. The luxury brands aren’t cheap, and often employ talented marketers who seek to establish themselves as the preferred option for guests in their area.

If you’re interested in exploring this option, contact your hotel’s corporate department or marketing team for more information on how to establish your hotel as the preferred option for locals.

Your job as a hotel marketer is to make your hotel special. Whether you intend to use one of these methods to gain traction or not, you’ll still want to ensure that every aspect of your hotel is aligned with global themes and standards. For example, if you see that a lot of your bookings come from China, consider investing in products and services that will make your hotel even more appealing to Chinese guests. If you want to explore online marketing or establish your hotel as the preferred option for locals, it’s important to do so responsibly. Be sure to consult with your hotel’s legal department before making any significant changes to your website or social media pages. They will be able to provide you with the necessary guidance.