All’s Fair in Love and Marketing

Cupid’s not the only person working hard to prepare for Valentine’s day. Hoteliers are always busy in early February. Somebody’s got to provide the setting for all those romantic getaways right? Here are some ideas and examples of Valentine’s Day themed marketing initiatives that will make sure your property is seen as a premiere romantic destination!

It Takes Two to Tango

This Valentine’s Day, create a social media competition that not only promotes your hotel but also gets your guests involved. Whether it’s a video, picture or story, create simple guidelines and a catchy hashtag that allow people to submit and share easily. Not only will a Valentine’s competition get people talking about your hotel, but the winner can receive something in return, like a free dinner for two.

A few years ago, the Cavendish Hotel in London started a campaign that went viral during February called “ValentineVine”. The campaign asked people to create and submit Valentine’s Day themed vines with the most romantic entry winning a weekend stay for two. The DoubleTree Bethesda had also gotten in on the social media frenzy with their hashtag campaign #ShowYourLove. Participants were asked to share how they met their significant other for a chance to win a date night at the hotel.

Match Made in Heaven

This year, try something unique by partnering with another company! Take advantage of Valentine’s Day by offering unique promotions that benefit both the hotel and the partnered company. La Quinta Inn & Suites created a Valentine’s Day special that allowed guests to earn hotel reward points if they followed the promo link and ordered flowers from Teleflora, a local flower shop. Campaigns like these can be promoted on the hotel’s social platforms and the partnered company’s platforms, creating extra coverage you wouldn’t normally have.

Promotion Packages

While most hotels market exclusive Valentine’s Day packages, make yours stand out. Rather than listing the benefits of each package in black and white text, include captivating photos of comfortable rooms, rose petals, etc. that make guests want to stay at your hotel. While the pictures are important for guests viewing your site, don’t forget about using keywords in package titles and descriptions that will improve SEO with Valentine’s Day searches.

The Grand Hotel Minneapolis has a package cleverly nicknamed “Lounging in Love” that includes champagne and in-room dining, while the Hotel Palomar has a more exotically named package called “Drunk in Love” complete with custom cocktails.

All Inclusive Stay

One thing to keep in mind when creating marketing content for February, is that your target includes a wide variety of people. Marriot hotels embraced this concept when launching their huge #LoveTravels campaign, with the phrase “be you, with us” in support of the LGBT community. Sagamore, the Art Hotel in South Beach made sure to include all guests a few years ago when offering their anti-Valentine’s Day package called “Stupid Cupid.” The package included thorny red roses, a bottle of vodka and a three-month subscription to a renowned dating site.

Don’t wait too long, implement some of these lovely marketing strategies before Valentine’s Day arrives!