Today, a big part of the allure of travel is the opportunity to take lots of sexy selfies against stunning landscapes. In the age of social media, being seen traveling is just as essential as actually packing your suitcases. Consequently, we have seen an unprecedented explosion in tourist traffic across the world with people swarming to holiday destinations seen in some influencer’s viral travel photos. In fact, viral vacation trends have led to rampant tourism, leaving these destinations overwhelmed with the sudden influx of visitors, due to a lack of infrastructure. So, how can hotels & other tourism services leverage this to their advantage?
Step one is to understand the modern day traveler. Today’s travelers are plugged in, researching and booking their vacations with the help of social media trends and influencers. In fact, a whopping 70% of travelers turn to social media for inspiration before making any bookings. While this statistic refers purely to studies done in the USA, it is concurrent with overall trends in most Western countries and is indicative of the rapid rise in social media’s influence across the world.
Social Media & The Well-Informed Traveler:
Today’s traveler is a discerning individual, and rightly so. Access to information is rising at breakneck speed, faster than we can keep up with. People are constantly and consistently flooded with high quality content, which means it’s no longer impressive enough to just share a drone video on your Instagram (although those are still pretty cool). Gone are the days where you picked a group tour holiday and just tagged along for the ride. Today, travelers crave authentic experiences, and are heavily influenced by user-generated content. They don’t just want to see a sterile hotel room; they want to experience the vibe, the local flavor, and the feeling of being immersed in a destination.
Our in-house social media manager, Alysara Chaiserikiat, shared her insights saying, “As a social media manager, I believe strategic collaborations with influencers to be instrumental in amplifying the visibility of any hospitality brand. Today, the challenge is selecting the right influencer, whose followers resonate with your product & values. If it’s a good fit, their followers are guaranteed to engage widely, organically extending the reach and impact of your content”.
For hoteliers, hospitality professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs in the travel & tourism industry, social media presents a golden opportunity. Through social media, you can hone your brand’s personality and connect with your audience on an emotional level, showcase your property’s unique offerings, and ultimately drive bookings. But with a saturated digital space, how do you make your hotel stand out?
How Hospitality Companies Can Level Up Their Social Media Game:
Here are a few of our favourite tips to help any company in the travel & tourism industry to step up their digital marketing:
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Inspiration & Discovery:
Travelers want quality content! Make sure your property offers plenty of photo-ops, highlighting the best features of your property or service. Whether it’s a beautifully plated meal, a cute garden feature or just the fun vibe at the swimming pool, your guests want to take photos that make their friends jealous!
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Reviews & Recommendations:
Social media platforms serve as an online forum for peer-to-peer recommendations. Social proof plays a big role here, so reposting a guest’s positive reviews can significantly boost your credibility and build trust with potential guests. -
Building A Community:
Social media allows you to cultivate a community around your hotel. Share engaging content, host interactive polls, and respond to guest inquiries promptly. These seemingly simple actions can help foster relationships with potential guests before they even set foot in your property.
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User-Generated Content (UGC):
UGC, including photos, videos, and reviews shared by customers, serves as authentic testimonials and social proof, showcasing customer satisfaction, and fostering a sense of community among your followers.
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Visual Storytelling:
Showcase your hotel’s best features, capture the surrounding beauty of your location, and share glimpses of the unique experiences you offer. Remember, people connect with visuals more readily, so prioritize stunning content that tells a compelling story.
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Real Time Updates:
Provide real-time updates on promotions and events, sharing behind-the scenes footage and authentic testimonials to make people feel connected to the space and its people while capitalizing on FOMO!
How Hospitality Companies Can Leverage Social Media Services for Success
Social media trends are changing every second and can be difficult to keep track of. The good news? You don’t have to navigate the ever-evolving social media landscape alone. Partnering with a digital marketing agency like 444 Media equips you with the expertise and strategies needed to maximize your social media presence and drive bookings. Here’s how we can help:
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Social Media Strategy Development:
We work with you to craft a tailored social media strategy aligned with your hotel’s unique brand identity and target audience. We’ll identify the most relevant platforms for your business and develop a content calendar to ensure consistently engaging content. -
Content Creation & Curation:
Our team of creative minds will help you produce high-quality channel-specific visuals, captivating videos, and engaging copywriting specifically designed to resonate with your target audience. -
Data-Driven Strategy:
Maximize your reach and target your ideal guests with strategically placed social media ads. We leverage data-driven insights to ensure your ads reach the right people at the right time.
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Community Management:
Building a thriving online community requires dedication that can be quite time-consuming. We take the reins, fostering meaningful connections with your audience, responding to inquiries, and managing online reviews, ensuring a positive and welcoming online presence.
Social media is a powerful tool for the hospitality industry, but it requires a strategic approach. Are you ready to unlock its full potential? Get in touch with us today!
