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There are over 700,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. In the United States, 62.2% of all hotels and motels are occupied at any given time.

Hotel marketing strategies are a vital part of ensuring the percentage of occupied rooms stays high. That’s why hospitality digital marketing is so important.

Most travelers find out about where to stay by doing an online search. If you run or own a hotel or any other dwelling where people can stay, continue reading.

We’ve got seven digital marketing trends everyone in the hospitality business needs to know about.

1. Hospitality Digital Marketing Differs Depending on the Generation

Baby Boomers have reached a stage in their lives where less is more. They also prefer traditional travel experiences such as touring and sightseeing, while Gen Z travelers value experience over everything.

Meanwhile, Gen Xers prefer relaxing on the beach or spending time in the spa. There is not one target market in hospitality.

Have Separate Campaigns for Each Generation

If you’re not creating hotel marketing strategies for each generation, you’re losing out on potential business. It’s important to understand each target audience.

Learning what they want, how much they’re willing to spend and where they spend most of their time helps you determine the best strategies to reach them.

2. Begin a Hospitality Email Marketing Campaign

One hotel marketing strategy that’s been around for 40 years and still continues to offer a budget-friendly ROI (Return on Investment) is email marketing.

There are over 3.8 billion email users worldwide. It’s the easiest way to get in front of your target audience, but it’s useless if you don’t know what you’re doing.

How to Use Email Marketing

Start by personalizing your emails. Since the average person receives around 121 emails per day, using their first name makes recipients more likely to open up the email.

Your subject headline needs to be strong enough to get people to open up your email. In the body of your email, use eye-catching images and highlight local tourist attractions.

3. Social Media Marketing

While social media is a great place to share your stunning photos, remember that other competing hotels are doing the same thing.

Since every hotel has gorgeous views, focus on what sets your hotel apart from all the rest. That’s where your hotel’s personality comes into play.

Find influencers to help you spread the word. Make sure they have a strong following and relevancy to your niche.

The Best Sites for the Hospitality Industry

Facebook, SnapChat, and Instagram are the three best social sites for the hotel industry. Create a regular posting schedule to maintain interest.

Always respond to comments or complaints as quickly as possible. People want to know they’re engaging with humans, not a hotel, even on social media.

4. Make Your Website Pop

Use your website to show off your property. Then add in design elements like CTA’s (Call-to-Actions) and photo galleries.

Make sure your site loads quickly. No one wants to wait longer than 2.7 seconds for your site to load.

Make Your Site Safe

Ensure booking a hotel on your site is easy and safe. If your website doesn’t have an SSL certificate and other signs you’ve taken steps to prevent hackers from entering your site, you’re vulnerable to attacks that might keep paying customers away.

Promote what you think your target market views as a priority. Having multiple offerings allows you to cater to a wide audience.

If you specialize in weddings or other events, make sure your site clearly advertises that.

5. Use Images and Videos

Guests want to know exactly what they will experience before they reach your hotel. Hire a professional photographer to take photos of the various rooms you offer.

Show off your pool, bar and other amenities. Don’t forget to include tons of photos of the surrounding area. Add photos of any local sites and attractions nearby.

Hire a Professional Videographer

Don’t forget to include videos. Create videos for advertisements that show guests what they can expect to experience at your hotel. Leverage these videos on social media.

Encourage influencers to share videos of them staying at your hotel and documenting their experience. Make sure images and videos positively reflect your brand.

6. Content Marketing

Content is king and it always will be. Content marketing includes not just the written word, but blogs, pictures, videos and interactive experiences.

People want to get a better sense of what they’re investing in. They want to compare how your hotel stacks up against your competition without having to visit both hotels in person first.

How to Use Content Marketing

Use content marketing as the foundation of your strategy. Not just because it’s highly effective, but because it’s the most budget-friendly of all hotel marketing strategies.

Write content that interests your guests. Tell them exactly what they’ll experience at your hotel. Show them something they can’t get anywhere else.

Use this approach to welcome your guests before they’ve even booked a room with you.

7. Online Reviews

Online reviews are a must in the hospitality industry. Your guests want to know exactly what staying with you is like.

Online reviews are trusted like a friend or family member giving a recommendation. Reviews are also a great way to have your guests share their experiences with others.

Negative Reviews are Okay

Don’t worry about negative reviews. You can’t please everyone. Learn from negative reviews to help improve your hotel.

Always reach out to those posting negative reviews, but make sure you’re calm when you do it. Your audience wants to see how you handle bad reviews.

Thank people who leave great reviews. One easy way to encourage reviews is to leave a card in each room asking guests to leave an online review and provide them with a simple link.

Get Help

Managing a hotel is a huge responsibility that involves a lot of work. Delegating your hospitality digital marketing campaigns to a professional marketing firm is a smart idea.

We can help you create campaigns designed to reach your target market and stay within your budget. Don’t wait, click here to schedule your free consultation.