Marketing

📷 Peak season is here, and hotels must leverage social media strategies to stand out. Create a seasonal content calendar, identifying key dates. Plan content mix: 40% experience-driven, 30% social proof, 20% promotions, and 10% fun content. Maximize user-generated content with incentives. Use trending formats and smart ad campaigns to target specific audiences. Collaborate with local influencers for authenticity. Engage actively in social media conversations to build real connections.

🏨 In 2025, a blog post critiques hotel websites for lacking compelling direct booking benefits, urging them to stop paying 15-37% in OTA commissions. Suggested benefits include guaranteed complimentary breakfast, €50 spa credit, and free airport transfer. Emphasizing the need for a visible "Why Book Direct" section, the advice includes placing it prominently on the homepage and at checkout to enhance guest trust and increase direct bookings, reducing reliance on platforms like Booking.com.

📈 Clockwork Marketing's Mark Durber, on Back of House Banter with GuestRevu's Amy Branford, highlights that SEO is economical, often yielding high ROI for hotels. Google's evolving processes mean impactful changes can be swift, and marrying aesthetics with functionality is key. Google’s Dreaming → Planning → Booking → Experiencing → Sharing model underpins optimal SEO strategy. A consistent flow of reviews can enhance visibility, aided by AI-driven summaries. Fundamental SEO essentials: fast, mobile-friendly pages, relevant keywords, and unique content.

🌎 Agoda's new initiative links with travel creators on social media to boost bookings. Participants receive unique promo codes, earning commissions per booking, plus monthly sponsored stays and activities up to £169. Rewards include Agoda swag and travel credits up to £755. Agoda features creators in campaigns to expand their reach. With over six million properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities, Agoda offers extensive booking combinations.

📈 Oct 28, 2025, Amadeus emphasizes that hotels must adopt agile, data-informed distribution strategies for demand generation. Key recommendations include: understanding audience preferences through data, balancing direct and indirect distribution channels, setting measurable KPIs, optimizing channels, and continuously adapting strategies. Independent hotels should focus on direct engagement, while larger brands should prioritize systems and data coordination. This approach ensures profitability and reach, regardless of property size or affiliation.

📸 Aman, Bvlgari Hotels, and Cheval Blanc Paris excel at crafting luxury Instagram grids through visual coherence rather than abundance. Aman utilizes negative space for peace, Bvlgari emphasizes texture and touch, while Cheval Blanc presents an architectural feel. All three maintain a controlled palette, visual rhythm, and narrative continuity. Consulting spots open in November for refining brand presence in hospitality, targeting luxury clients. #LuxuryBranding #VisualIdentity #DigitalPresence #BrandStrategy #LuxuryHospitality