Operating a hotel is very different from any other type of business. However, there are many factors that remain the same for the hotel to be successful. One of these factors is the need to create an effective hotel marketing plan and implement it. This can be done through television and radio advertising, print ads in various publications, and the Internet.
Unless you operate a hotel chain that spans the country, TV and radio ads are not likely to be a first line of marketing. Print ads in different publications, including state-sponsored tourist guides, can be much more effective in letting people know about your hotel.
In today’s world of computers, the Internet will likely be the mainstay of any hotel marketing plan. This can be done by having a website that lists the accommodation on offer and some of the services that are available and the local area. Additionally, the e-commerce capability so that travelers can make reservations and pay for them directly on the site is a feature that many business travelers look for when searching for a hotel online.
Of course, having a website is not the be all and end of internet marketing. It is important to get visitors to the site. This can be achieved by using some marketing strategies. One of the best is the publication and distribution of articles on hospitality or tourism. These articles should focus on keywords that are relevant to the hotel and contain a link to the hotel’s website in the resource box at the end of the article.
Press releases about events taking place at the hotel are another good marketing strategy. These are actually news articles that circulate to all outlets, so publication is free as long as the text complies with the publishing site’s guidelines.
Email can be useful as long as it is limited to people who have agreed to be on a hotel mailing list. Sending to anyone else can be considered spam and cause a lot of legal trouble.
One of the most useful marketing methods for any business today is the use of social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. These sites provide a forum where businesses can make announcements and post advertising messages as long as they abide by the site’s rules regarding content.
As with any other business, a hotel must have a marketing plan and use it for the business to survive. A good hotel marketing plan can include radio and television advertising, print ads in various travel publications, and internet marketing methods. Of all these, print and internet ads will likely be the most effective in raising awareness of the hotel and what it offers to guests. The Internet also offers a wide range of marketing strategies that can be used to drive traffic to the hotel website.