Maximizing Your Hotel Summer Bookings
Hotel demand in April 2023 was only 2% below 2019 levels and spending remained on par with 2022, according to the U.S. Travel Association, indicating a promising outlook for hotel summer bookings. For independent hotels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts, the quest to attract guests during the summer months is the top priority. In this blog, we will show you how to maximize your summer reservations with creativity, unique packages, and themed content.
Collaborate with Local Attractions and Festivals
Forge partnerships with nearby attractions and festivals to extend your property's reach. By cross-promoting events on your website, you connect with broader audiences and provide attendees with a seamless link to unforgettable experiences. This will establish your property as a pillar in the community, strengthening your ties to the local area.
Create Exclusive Packages and Offers
Craft enticing packages that bundle accommodations with event tickets or perks seamlessly within your booking engine, allowing your property to collect additional revenue with every guest reservation. For instance, consider offering a ‘Summer Adventure Package’ featuring a stay at your property paired with passes to a nearby amusement park and a picnic basket with locally sourced treats. These thoughtfully curated packages entice eventgoers and showcase your property’s commitment to creating an unforgettable guest experience.
Push Effective Social Media and Email Marketing Campaigns
Elevate your summer strategy with engaging social media posts and email campaigns that truly resonate with your desired guests. Sharing summer-relevant content across these channels is a surefire way to create a genuine connection.
Here are some best practices for effective campaigns that work for both social media posts and emails:
- Relevance - Tailor content to your ideal guest’s interests, needs, and preferences, offering sought-after information or entertainment.
- Clarity - Craft clear, concise posts addressing your guests directly. Use attention-grabbing headlines, captions, emojis, and hashtags to highlight key points of your message.
- Visuals - Use top-notch visuals that enhance the text, captivate the guest's imagination, and reinforce your brand identity.
- Engagement - Your content should invite and encourage interaction, feedback, and sharing from other guests.
- Timing - Time posts and emails for peak engagement. Utilize analytics, tools, and calendars to schedule effectively. Experiment to find the optimal timing for your content.
Craft Engaging Summer-Themed Content
Create anticipation through captivating blog posts and social media content centered around summer festivities. Share the allure of your destination with timely articles like “Guide to Local Summer Festivals” and blend the written word with tantalizing imagery – a sunrise, poolside relaxation, or a summer cocktail – each piece is an invitation to your property’s warmth. Here are 8 other summer-themed content ideas you can use to connect with guests in new ways…
Blog Content Ideas:
- Top Outdoor Adventures: Curate a list of exciting outdoor activities available near your hotel, such as hiking trails, water sports, and biking routes.
- Summer Wellness Retreat: Showcase wellness activities tailored for the summer season, such as outdoor yoga classes and spa treatments.
- Sun Safety Tips: Educate readers about the importance of sun protection and share tips for staying safe in the sun.
- Summer Recipe Series: Feature a series of summer recipes using locally sourced ingredients, showcasing the culinary experience at your hotel.
Social Media Post Ideas:
- Beach Day Vibes: Post photos of beach-related amenities or nearby beach spots to evoke the feeling of a perfect beach day.
- Guest Adventures: Feature photos and stories from guests enjoying outdoor summer activities around your hotel.
- Outdoor Dining: Showcase your outdoor dining areas and share tantalizing images of summer dishes.
- Local Landscapes: Feature picturesque landscapes, nature scenes, and outdoor spots near your hotel.
Update Your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Reflect the Summer Season
What guests search for in the summer is vastly different from what they’ll search for at any other time. Your website must be optimized to reflect how and what folks are searching for. Now that you have marketing content geared towards summer travelers, you need to make sure potential guests are finding it when browsing the internet.
It’s not too late to attack the summer season!
As the summer days bask in the warm sun, your property is ready to provide a range of experiences that deeply resonate with your guests. Embrace this excitement of events and local attractions to elevate your marketing prowess and create a guest experience that will be cherished long after the season fades and leaves begin to turn.
Want to make sure your property is taking full advantage of summer bookings? Partner with rezStream and you can be sure to maximize your reach and captivate your audience with compelling campaigns that drive revenue.