The Hospitality Industry is Booming
The travel and hospitality industry is estimated to reach $107 billion in online sales this year. According to a recent study, over 114 million people are expected to research travel online. Of those 114 million potential customers, 83 percent of them will ultimately book online. Here’s another fun fact. 468 million smart phones will be sold this year alone, a whopping 58 percent increase from last year. 35 percent of those new smart phone users expect to book their travels on their phones next year. This is great news for the hospitality industry.
Digital Marketing for Hotels
Hotels today can take advantage of the growth in online spending and smart phone technologies by embracing social media and mobile marketing strategies. There are many advantages for brands to integrate digital strategies into their marketing mix. Some of these advantages include gaining access to client relationships that would otherwise be lost to online travel agencies, positioning the brand at the forefront of online discussions, increasing profit margins with direct client bookings and furthering the brand’s image by communicating core values directly and in a complimentary environment.
Below are digital marketing tips hotels can implement to make an impact on their business.
Social Media Tips for Hotels Whatever the course of action, hotel brands must recognize that they now have the power to persuade potential clients directly. Vice President of Starwood Hotels David Godsman aptly said that hotels should “start a conversation [with their clients] from the 10 days they stay to all year long.” With digital marketing, hotels can now regain the customer relationships that were lost to their competitors and to the online travel agencies like Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia. Hotels now have the power to increase the value of their brand image and their client experiences…all by the click of a button.
Mobile Marketing Tips for Hotels
Implementing a Digital Strategy
A number of the aforementioned guidelines can be implemented in-house, but to ensure a seamless communication strategy, we recommend hotel brands partner with experienced marketing agencies (ahem) to guide them through the process of assessment, planning and execution of a digital and mobile campaign.