In the hospitality industry, securing consistent customer bookings is crucial for long-term success. To help drive higher occupancy rates and foster customer loyalty, we've compiled 10 creative promotional strategies that can effectively boost bookings and enhance your hotel's competitive edge!
1. First-Time Guest Retreats
It is very important to make sure your first-time guest will receive the best memorable experience and not a traumatized nightmare when they sleepover at your hotel. You should always be alert that every part of your hotel is ready, such as the front desk officer, the self-check-in kiosk (if any) is in good condition, the room availability, F&B, and more.
Apart from ensuring all things in a good manner, you also preferably could provide special treats for those who are first time visitors and stay in your hotel. Let's see what are the best treats that you can offer to them :
- 25% off to all room types selected by the first-time guest
- A Free New Menu Breakfast's voucher
- Last night stayover Dinner Treats
- A voucher claim of VVIP Master Bedroom with swimming pool on the third time of their visiting
- Do a collaboration with any popular clothing brand that near with your hotel (if any) such as Uniqlo, F.O.S, ZARA, and Naelofar to make a shopping voucher for you guest
This is a rare ideas that hoteliers could think of, so it be a really exclusive and limited edition if you are the one who start do it!
2. Exclusive Holiday Packages
Offer exclusive holiday packages tailored to different customer needs. Hotels can engage in targeted marketing by creating seasonal promotions for specific holidays or events, such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or summer vacations, attracting guests who are looking for special experiences.
One of the example that hotel could do is offers the Birthday Surprise Celebration for the guests who are having their birthday on that particular month. Other than that, Anniversary Treat also will be something great for guest especially to the married couple! All these holiday packages can be promote for every month so it will be more exclusive and limited edition.
3. Loyalty Programs That Delight
A hotel loyalty program rewards guests for making repeated visits and purchases with a hotel.
First, hotels typically offer members the opportunity to earn points for every stay, which can be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, or other amenities, creating a compelling reason for guests to choose their hotel over competitors. These points accumulate with each booking, encouraging guests to stay more frequently to reach thresholds for rewards.
Here are some of rewards that you can offer for the loyalty program :
- Offer discount 10% for stayover 3 night and above that it is not will applicable for the non-members
- Free breakfast treat for any room on the first and last day of their stayover
- Early check-in & late check-out
- Free room upgrades
- Speedy check-in and check-out
By offering a combination of these benefits and personal touches, a hotel loyalty program can significantly enhance guest satisfaction, build long-term relationships, and increase repeat bookings.
4. Partnerships with Local Attractions
When guests are searching for accommodation, their primary consideration is often proximity to their desired destination. Following that, they will assess whether the hotel is located near popular attractions or points of interest. This presents a significant opportunity for hoteliers to partner with local tourist spots and businesses, creating collaborative packages or promotions that make your hotel the ideal choice for guests looking to explore the area. By aligning your offerings with local attractions, you can attract more visitors and enhance their overall travel experience, increasing bookings and customer satisfaction.
This is an example of the collaboration technique that you may try:
Let's say your hotel in Melaka, you might have the Melaka River Cruise's owner to collab with your hotel. You create one special promotion that allow your guest experiencing the Melaka River Cruise package by getting the cheaper and valuable price under your hotel code.
This kind of package is actually could help attract the people to try stay at your hotel along the way that they want to have a holiday in Melaka.
Hence, you surely also can do this no matter where your hotel are located as every states has their own best and unique place that need to explore!
5. Social Media Contests and Giveaways
Have you seen other business like skincare brand will have their own contests and they will give some special gifts for the chosen one?
This idea is really helpful as you will start to engage closely with your guest in doing this contests. It is not only increase your brand's visibility but also create a buzz around your hotel, attracting more bookings.
Let's see how you can do these contests and giveaways for your hotel :
- "This or That" Contest : You offer the valuable first-time price for Breakfast Set and Dinner Set for your guest to try and ask them to take their picture with the meals and create the best comparison which meal set is the best. The great one will won one of the best recipe of food from the hotel's chef (they can request any one recipe they want).
- Secret Special Giveaways : Guest need to take the most fantastic picture during their stayover and create a short story diary about your hotel and post in on their social media account with tagging the important tag that you have to specify to them for the giveaways requirements. You decide what is the special gift you would like to offer to the best one (could choose 3 top of them).
Hence, you could imagine and plan what types of contests and giveaways event you would like to have in social media as it is clearly can significantly enhance hotel bookings by increasing engagement, expanding reach, encouraging user-generated content and most importantly incentivizing direct bookings.
6. Early Bird Discounts
Early bird discounts can significantly boost hotel bookings by encouraging guests to make reservations in advance, which helps secure a more predictable revenue stream and improves occupancy rates during peak times. These discounts create a sense of urgency among potential guests, prompting quicker decision-making and leading to more bookings.
Here are the 5 ideas that you may offer in your Early Bird Discounts' Package :
- 10% discount for booking at least 14 days early from the check-in day
- RM 20 off for booking any room on weekdays in January until May with 1 week early
- Grab Solo Room 3 weeks early with valuable Free Lunch Treat on the first and last day of guest's stayover
- Free pickup service from any near public transport if guest buy the Master Bedroom 2 weeks early from their check-in day
- 25% discount dinner treat for the last night stayover when guest make a reservation for any room one month early
7. Unique Themed Stays
Create unique themed stays that offer a one-of-a-kind experience. It is rare to find a hotel or any accommodations that offer an exclusive theme package for their guest stayover. Thus, this is the golden opportunity for you to be different from the other hotel!
Let's survey together what are the Unique Themed Stays that you could offer for your guest :
- Wellness Weekend :
- Set the specific duration date on weekend with includes the yoga class from the trusted coach or sports team for this package. Add some gifts or benefits that guest will received if they choose this package such as offer 'Healthy Lifestyle Gift Set' that probably contain aesthetic water bottle, running belt and RM10 discount offer from any shop sport.
- Set the specific duration date on weekend with includes the yoga class from the trusted coach or sports team for this package. Add some gifts or benefits that guest will received if they choose this package such as offer 'Healthy Lifestyle Gift Set' that probably contain aesthetic water bottle, running belt and RM10 discount offer from any shop sport.
- Raya Lagi Stay :
- This is an example that you can do during the Hari Raya season. Sometimes there are some people will book a hotel for particular date and purpose. So, you could offer the best price for any room with including an extra side gift for each booking made by the guest like offering 'Raya Lagi Stay Set Gift' that has Raya's money (angpow), Malay Kuih Raya and totebag with Raya's edition.
- You can do the same style for the other feast (Chinese New Year, Happy Deepavali & Christmas).
- Artist Night Stay :
- There will be a time when you would like to enhance your hotel reputation by having a popular artist to do some performance at your hotel for some purposes. Hence, you can include this as one of the best and limited Unique Themed Stays for your guest.
These Unique Themed Stays idea can help you to increase your hotel bookings as it is offer a different kind of package that hotel usually do and it is also limited to see other hotel do the same thing currently. You will be one in million that has this unique thought!
8. Value-Added Experience
Implementing value-added services at your hotel can significantly enhance the guest experience and drive revenue. Known as upsell services, these offerings provide mutual benefits for both the hotel and its guests. From a hotel perspective, upselling is an effective strategy for increasing revenue by presenting guests with desirable additional services or upgrades, such as airport pickup or premium rooms with sunset views.
For guests, these enhancements contribute to a more satisfying and enjoyable stay. Providing tailored services that guests specifically request makes them feel valued and appreciated, differentiating your hotel from competitors. This personalized approach not only elevates the overall guest experience but also fosters loyalty, encouraging repeat business and positive word-of-mouth referrals. By integrating upselling into your service model, you can create memorable experiences that resonate with guests long after their stay.
Here 5 upsell service ideas for you :
-
Room Upgrades: Offering guests the option to upgrade to a higher-tier room, such as a suite or a room with a better view.
- In-Room Amenities: Selling additional in-room services, such as a fully stocked minibar, snacks, or gourmet coffee options.
- Laundry and Dry Cleaning Services: Offering expedited laundry services for guests who need quick turnaround during their stay.
- Spa Treat: Providing access to on-site spa treatments or wellness packages that include massages, facials, or other spa services.
- Airport Transfers: Offering shuttle or private car services to and from the airport for added convenience.
It is clearly shows that upsell services can help increase hotel bookings by enhancing guest experiences and increasing revenue status as it will encourage guest repetition at your hotel.
9. Exclusive Activities Offer
This is might be same with upsell service but it is actually a huge different from it!
Exclusive Activities Offer means you provide some limited activities that will fulfill guest's free time during their stayover. It will help them to at least have something best to do rather than just laying on their bed and back home without any memorable touches at your hotel.
If your property is more likely outdoor environment, you probably will have some of adventures activities in your accommodation. It could be something like:- ATV
- Kayaking
- Flying Fox
- Camping
- BBQ facilities
- Scuba Diving
We believe that those activities will attract people to have an experience at your hotel, especially when it comes to the younger community; they all tend to do such things with their group of friends during holidays and their stayaction!
10. Corporate Value Deals
Corporate Value Deals special focusing on the best deals that the hotel offer for any business person who stay at their hotel for business purposes. Sometimes, there are business group that will book a hotel for particular period date during their work trip. Hence, this is the big chance for all hotelier to do the best offer for this kind of people in order to increase your hotel's reputation.
Here are some ideas of best deals that you could offer for the business people that stayover at your hotel :
- Provide fast-track check-in and check-out :
For business travelers, time is a critical resource in their profession—and in our industry, too. As a result, they prioritize staying at hotels where all processes are streamlined and efficient. Modern conveniences like hotel self-check-in kiosks or mobile guest portals are in high demand, particularly among millennial travelers who value speed and efficiency. - Serve nourishing food choices :
Business travelers typically work long hours and have limited time to enjoy the hotel’s dining options. Instead, they often prefer quick, grab-and-go meals. This presents an excellent opportunity for you to impress them by offering healthy and nutritious menu choices.
Maintaining their health and fitness while traveling is important to them. As such, offering vegan and gluten-free options can be a great way to meet their dietary needs. Pay close attention to their dietary restrictions and preferences. - Offer easy transit solutions :
Hotel transportation is convenient for business travelers. The airport or train station pickup service is the first and most important service you can offer your business visitors. Waiting for a grab or using public transportation can irritate your company visitors.
By offering an easy, hassle-free pick-up service (and potentially a drop-off service as well), you ensure that your corporate guests feel valued and well cared for right from the moment they land. This thoughtful service creates a positive first impression and gives you a great opportunity to make your guests feel welcome and appreciated before they even step foot in the hotel.
Wrap Up
All in all, these 10 Creative Hotel Promotions Strategy are one of the alternative that we provide to help you run your hotel strategy more creatively that indirectly will catch guest's attraction when they notice the best things that you offer!