Hotel Marketing Strategies

When it comes to hotel marketing strategies for smaller hotels, guest houses or B&Bs I try to look for cost effective methods that will reap the benefits both in the short term and also into the future.

Small independent hotels simply don't have the limitless marketing budgets of the multinationals and so must rely on their ingenuity rather than just throwing another million or two on a 'Branding Campaign'.

Don't get me wrong - creating a great Brand is an essential part of your marketing mix. It's just that the average cash-strapped independent hotelier usually needs to see a solid return on their investment of both time and money in the short term, not some 'touchy-feely' Brand image.

So how can we drive the customers through our doors without spending a fortune? Here's a few hotel marketing strategies to consider:

• Use The Power Of Referrals
  A word of mouth referral by a trusted source can often be the most powerful marketing tool at your disposal. Why? Because friends tell it like it is without sugarcoating the facts. If a friend recommends your hotel then you can be sure that their opinion carries a lot of weight. Don't underestimate the power of an unsolicited referral...they are pure gold to your business.
• Leverage The Internet
  The Internet has revolutionized how we communicate. Where we once sat down and painstakingly crafted a letter before hunting for a stamp, now we fire off an email without a second thought. Similarly the use of Instant Messaging and VOIP means that we are more connected to our friends and family across the globe than ever before. So as hoteliers it makes sense to use these tools in our daily communications in order to drive down costs as well as presenting our human side to prospective guests.
• Social Media Marketing
  Social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter allow us to stay in touch with past guests as well as creating a close circle of possible referrers, with the only cost being some of our time.
• Tap into local interests
  Keep a local diary handy and tap into the power of local interests. For example, a pub in my town re-enacts stories from local history, attracting large crowds as well as the local press. All for the cost of a few period costumes and a few enthusiastic Amateur Dramatic actors. You really couldn't buy this kind of local publicity!

So next time you need to come up with some low cost/no cost hotel marketing strategies as part of your overall hotel marketing plan, look around and see what your local area can offer.

While you're here, grab a copy of my latest report, 'Hotel Marketing Mistakes' for FREE. All you need to do is click on the report image and then enter your first name and primary email address for instant access to your download area.

Much Success,