How Digital Marketing for Hotels Can Help Boost Their Sales

Digital marketing does offer some great advantages for hotel promotion. The following details strategies that help hotels boost their sales. 

 

With the growing prominence of digital and Google travel search, a customer’s journey for a hotel booking has become increasingly complex. Even hotel managers don’t just have to service guests only, manage rooms, availabilities, and pricing. They are now expected to compete for guests in new channels and digital communities. That said, over 87% of today’s travel expedition begins online wherein a customer might visit a third-party website or the hotel’s online site, looks at the various deals available, then make an informed decision.

 

So, how cans a hotel like Ramada, stand out from the competition?

 

For hotels to stay competitive, they need to be consistent, up-to-date and informed about the latest digital marketing trends and customer behavior. With a comprehensive digital marketing strategy in action, you can effectively market your hotel online, boost room sales, and organically grow your business. 

 

How exactly does digital marketing for hotels work?

 

For many hoteliers, digital marketing is still a very novel concept. However, while you might prefer sticking to your traditional marketing concepts, leaving the digital marketing needs of your business unattended will cost you guests, sales, and ROI. Moreover, since the digital era is here to stay, hotels need to stay vigilant in their marketing practices. 

 

The following are some tried and proven digital marketing strategies for hotels that will drive success even in 2021. 

 

Your hotel’s website and the booking engine are priority:

 

Several users will visit your website once they start booking their stay for a particular location. This is the first opportunity to make sure you can engage with and sell services to your guest. As per reviews, on average, guests spend less than 6 minutes on hotel websites, which is like ample time for you to connect with a customer, sell them your hotel photos, offer them deals, and opt for easy-to-read descriptions along with attractive offers. Your guests need to experience the same mentioned in the description. This is one way you can mesmerize your guests. 

 

Separate your hotel and direct OTA channels:

 

Over the years, several hotel chains have suspended their services and contracts with OTA to maximize direct sales. Although the OTA strategy might work well for established hotel chains that already have a large customer base and brand presence, when it comes to independent or boutique hotels, such services are less of use. 

To allow more direct bookings with your hotel’s website you can incentive customers to book directly, deliver targeted marketing campaigns, customize the guest experience, and segregate different booking packages.