Why establishing a strong online presence is crucial in the digital age. A recent study showed that 34% of travellers in 2022 were inspired to plan their travel based on what they saw on popular social media platforms, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
The ever-evolving digital landscape is constantly revealing innovative and unpredictable ways for the hospitality industry to provide revolutionary digital experiences. It is imperative for every hotel to differentiate their brand experience by leveraging the power of personalised marketing and social media.
Luxury boutique hotels face fierce competition from established brands in the hospitality industry, leaving hoteliers unsure of how to boost sales and drive customers to their brand. The Social Hippi team recently examined the digital marketing trends with the greatest impact on the hospitality industry and how top performers are utilising them. We believe that these trends can be customised to benefit boutique hotels specifically in boosting sales and attracting their target audience.
Did you know that 71% of customers expect brands to deliver personalised interactions and 76% of customers get frustrated when this doesn’t happen? Furthermore, recent data has shown that brands that effectively implement personalisation generate 40% more revenue than their competitors.
Long gone are the days when one-size-fits-all marketing approaches were the norm. Personalisation is no longer just a desired feature for customers; it has become a demand. Hotels can now take advantage of customer data to offer tailored experiences that cater to the specific needs and preferences of their guests. This includes targeted promotions, personalised newsletters, customised recommendations for hotel activities and nearby places, and tailored messaging that effectively communicates the unique features and selling points of the property.
Personalisation goes beyond just a message to the customers, it extends across all digital platforms including the property website, social media handles, emails and newsletters, and advertisements. Creating seamless, tailored experiences for your customers can go a long way in solidifying brand loyalty through consistent targeted marketing.
Did you know that 27% of the global population is using voice search on mobile devices? Voice search is gaining immense popularity owing to the adoption of smart speakers and its ease of usage.
With a surge in voice-based search, hoteliers must be proactive in optimising their marketing channels to accommodate such enquiries and ensure that their target audience can easily locate them. The key to doing this is curating content that flows naturally, including long-tail keywords, and providing comprehensive answers to frequently asked questions in a colloquial manner. Implementing such content in your website and blogs can improve your hotel’s ranking for voice-related searches.
Did you know that 81% of travellers often read reviews and recommendations before making a booking?
The reviews that hotels receive are social proof of their genuinity and drive other people in booking their stay. Posting customer testimonials on social media channels will improve brand reputation and boost sales. The level of credibility and popularity that an online brand holds with its customers can have a significant impact on its success. One of the ways this can be measured is by analysing the quantity and quality of positive reviews that the brand receives.
For instance, in the case of a hotel, a high number of positive reviews can help to enhance its online reputation, which in turn may boost its search engine rankings, making it more likely to be found by potential customers in local searches. Therefore, it is essential for businesses to actively manage their online reviews and engage with customers to ensure they are providing excellent customer service and maintaining a positive brand image.
Did you know that 93% of marketers use influencers to promote their business?
The use of influencers and celebrities to promote hotels has become increasingly popular in the hospitality industry. With the rise of social media, the number of travel influencers has skyrocketed, giving luxury boutique hotels a plethora of options to choose from. However, selecting the right influencer can be challenging due to the numerous misconceptions surrounding influencer marketing.
To help hoteliers navigate this issue, there are resources available that can provide valuable guidance on how to select the most appropriate influencer for their brand. By overcoming these misconceptions and partnering with the right influencer, boutique hotels can effectively promote their properties and reach a wider audience, ultimately driving increased bookings and revenue.
Accurate content is king for any brand. With the advent of hotel websites and social media channels, investing in high-quality content has become one of the top hospitality marketing trends. Luxury boutique hotels must focus on creating engaging and informative content to attract potential guests and build their brand reputation. Images and videos are a vital part of content marketing. The first thing a customer sees when they open a hotel’s website and social media channel is video content and attractive images. It is imperative that boutique hotels provide valuable information to travellers through images, videos, and engaging content.
In the hospitality industry, many boutique hotels are adapting to the digital era to create a more personalised and cohesive experience for their guests. This includes using customer data to tailor marketing efforts, utilising virtual and augmented reality technology to showcase properties from afar, optimising marketing channels for voice search, enhancing booking engines, and utilising AI-driven communication.
By embracing these trends, hoteliers can create a more efficient and immersive experience for guests across all touchpoints, providing a modern digital brand experience. In doing so, they can establish themselves as leaders in the industry, setting themselves apart from competitors and attracting new customers. In 2023 and beyond, it is essential for hotels to continue to invest in digital innovation to keep pace with changing consumer preferences and behaviours.