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4 Effective Strategies for Promoting Staycations

promoting staycations

 

As travel slowly starts to pick back up across the United States, one trend has emerged loud and clear: staycations. With COVID-19 leaving many still uneasy about traveling, families and couples are opting for the less-risky, yet still fun, mini vacation in their home state or city. What’s this mean for hotels? Your main source of revenue over the next couple of months (maybe even a year) may very well be coming from locals and nearby roadtrippers.

Audit Your Local SEO Performance

When done right, search engine optimization (SEO) can be one of the most useful tools for driving local traffic to your hotel. Take a quick audit of your existing SEO by looking at these four things:

  • Google My Business: make sure your listing is up-to-date and accurate; if you don’t have a listing, we can help
  • Name, Address, Phone Number: check that your NAP is consistent anywhere it’s mentioned – your website social media, etc.
  • Structured Citations: make sure your property has a listing on reference sites like Yelp
  • Reviews: encourage guests, in-person and online, to leave reviews after their stay; more reviews means more recognition

Want us to audit your SEO health for you? Contact our Director of Business Development, Jake, for a quote.

Take Advantage of Social Media

Social media marketing is a relatively inexpensive promotional outlet – perfect for properties working with slashed budgets. Reach staycation-ers in the area by running strategic ads targeted to those living within a specific radius of your hotel. Boost your timeline posts to specially curated local audiences. Push special discount codes (skip further down for staycation packages) through social or even promote daily restaurant deals. With social media, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to see a decent return.

Promote Meeting Space as a WFH Alternative

Over the last few months, millions of Americans have been uprooted from their traditional offices and likely re-planted at their dining room tables. Capture the attention of locals still working from home by offering a quiet, productive alternative workspace – your hotel. Emphasize amenities like in-room desks, fast Wi-Fi and ample conference space to seal the deal. Your rooms and meeting space could also be the perfect place to host home-schooling a few days a week.

Design Special Staycation Packages

Many hotels, maybe even your property, are turning towards custom staycation packages and special discounts to locals. At Inn at East Beach, you’ll see the California Resident Offer front and center on the Offers page of their site, a room rate discount, free parking and WiFi. Other brands like Mandarin Oriental have totally folded staycation packages into their re-opening strategies. Once you’ve curated the perfect staycation package, reach out and we’ll help you promote it. Think: digital advertising, strategic social media posts and even the tried-and-true direct mail campaign. Whatever your budget allows, we’ll work with you to get the most out of your staycation strategy.

These are just a few ways to target staycation-ers this year. Ready to start planning your marketing strategy? Give us a call or shoot us an email to set up a *virtual* coffee date with our Director of Business Development, Jake VanDerkar.

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How to Communicate Safety and Cleanliness to Potential Guests (Without Spending A Lot of Money)

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In this new world we’re living in, the “build a hotel and they will come” plan unfortunately no longer works (did it ever really, though?). If your property has reopened or plans to reopen soon, it’s time to promote two amenities all guests expect to see – cleanliness and safety. Skim below for a few communication and promotion strategies.

Jam-Packed Events Are a Thing of the Past

Now isn’t the time to boast about a venue that can hold massive gatherings – crowded indoor spaces are the last thing businesses and potential guests want to hear during pandemic. Instead, emphasize your open-air outdoor event space (if you have it) and flexible seating arrangements that allow for optimal social distancing. Pay attention to the distance between chairs in photos and consider adjusting your old capacity chart numbers, especially on digital marketing materials, to reflect new distancing guidelines. Another pro tip: maintain positive relationships with your guests (they could be repeat visitors) by offering relaxed cancellation policies.

Keep Things Contactless

The more ways you can reduce or completely eliminate contact between guests and hotel staff, the better. Motion sensor sanitizing stations throughout your lobby make it easy for guests to keep clean without handling bottles or nozzles. Contactless check-in, an option that’s available at over 4,700 Hilton properties right now, allow guests to use their phones to book and enter their rooms (no more long front desk line).

Clean Touchpoints, Then Mark Them

Regularly cleaning commonly touched surfaces throughout your hotel and guest rooms is a no-brainer, but make sure it’s obvious to your guests. Place small table tents on counters, hang signs on doors and cover remotes with messages that indicate the space has been freshly cleaned prior to guests’ arrival. Small notes like these give guests peace of mind while staying at your hotel. If you’re in need of signage like this, send us an email. Regularly cleaned touchpoints can also be communicated to guests before they even arrive, with messages on your website or callouts added to your floor plans.

Overshare Details

In a COVID world, TMI is a good thing. Let potential guests know that you care about their health and wellbeing by sharing, then sharing again, your new cleaning policies and procedures. There’s hand sanitizer stations in the lobby? Take photos and post them on Instagram. Chairs are spaced six feet apart in all meeting spaces? Indicate that in your meeting planner guides. Surfaces are cleaned every hour? Design signs and post them on-property for all to see. Brands that are open about their adjusted procedures are the ones that will survive, and hopefully thrive, in this pandemic. Let us help you share your new procedures.

While most things have been uncertain during this pandemic, one thing isn’t: marketing is still necessary. Keep your potential guests in mind as you develop new messaging and materials that position your property as both safe and clean. Have questions about anything mentioned above? Reach out to our Director of Business Development, Jake VanDerkar.

 

6 Hotel Comforts You Can Have Right At Home

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Even if your trips and travels have been cancelled this summer, you can still enjoy the best parts of a hotel stay right in the comfort of your own home! Think: plush pillows, welcoming smells reminiscent of a swanky lobby and cozy robes ready to become your new WFH attire (we won’t judge). Here are six hotel amenities that can be ordered straight to your door.

Ritz Carlton Signature Scents

Believe it or not, many hotels have their own signature blend of scents circulating throughout their lobbies, rooms and spas. Why? Out of all senses, smell is the only one that creates an immediate emotional reaction. And brands like Ritz Carlton have capitalized on this special marketing tool by not only spraying it on property, but also manufacturing and selling it to all wistful hotel-goers. Purchase the Ritz Carlton scent as a perfume, room spray, candle, you-name-it.

Edition Bath and Body Set

Infused with their signature black tea scent, the exclusive Edition Hotel shampoo, shower gel, hand soap and lotion allow you to start and end your days in luxury. Check out the entire Edition Bath and Body Set.

Luxury Collection Spa Day

Treat yourself to a spa day or two in the comfort of your own bathroom with Luxury Collection’s lotions, face washes, plush towels, robes and slippers. It’s the next best thing to the real deal – trust us.

St. Regis Sleep Sets

St. Regis may have found a way to make sleeping with the dogs, kids and snoring husband a *little* more pleasant. Enter: St. Regis Bed. Visit their website to shop the St. Regis signature bed and bedding set used in their hotels.

Renaissance Décor

Ever wonder where Renaissance Hotels get their trendy looking stools? Well now you can get them delivered straight to your kitchen counter.

Marriott Pillows

Nothing quite matches the feel of resting your head on a freshly fluffed hotel pillow after a long day of traveling. And thanks to Marriott, you can recreate the sensation in your own bedroom. Shop Marriott pillows here.

What’s Happening In The Hospitality Industry?

What's Happening In The Hospitality Industry?

 

What’s happening at work, a state over, on the other side of town? What’s happening in the hospitality industry, with travel, or the global economy? What’s happening in my next Zoom, with my neighbors, or my houseplants? We can’t answer these questions for you, well with the exception of the houseplants – they’re growing! As will many other things that are now taking on a new shape and growing amid uncertainty.

How Are Hotels Adjusting To New SOPs?

Hoteliers are racing to clean up their practices and sharing them with the public. Major brands, associations and destinations have announced new standard operating procedures that will change industry norms, behaviors and standards. Check out these hoteliers leading the charge. Global Hotel Cleaning Standards>>

Are Hotels Promoting Leisure Travel?

Hoteliers are getting creative with their service offerings. Cherry Valley Hotel, located outside of Columbus, Ohio, is currently running a “Productive Office Day” promotion. This would allow those struggling to get office work done at home or those that need a change of scenery a place to go. Cherry Valley Hotel >>

Will I Enjoy a Mandarin Oriental Cocktail or Ritz-Carlton Entrée Again?

We believe “yes!” In the meantime Virtuoso compiled a few recipes, so we can all cook and cocktail our way around the world from home. Try favorites like Italian Meatball and Sauce, a freshing Gazpacho with Tomato-Cucumber Relish or Ginger Cake for something new. View Recipes >>

What’s It Look Like This Week for a Luxury Hotel GM?

Luxury Travel Advisor shares photos and snippets of life at seven properties according to their General Managers on-site. While using downtime to implement new processes and sustainability programs it’s awfully quiet. GM Check In >>

 

Slowing Down This Giving Tuesday

Slowing Down This Giving Tuesday

 

Today is Tuesday March 31, 2020, a #GivingTuesday–the simple open-handed concept embraced by many (thanks for the reminder, Simple Greek). It’s admittedly something that we, in weeks’ past have found ourselves too preoccupied, too nonchalant, too indifferent to participate in consistently. In this, and in countless other ways, this Tuesday will be different. The ways in which the Coronavirus pandemic sweeping our nation will drive us to be different, think different, rest different, give different and love different, both in the moment and in the years to come, are yet to be seen. In slowing down enough to notice both the tulips blooming next door and the neighbor who resides within, we are awakened to a new and different way. For this we are thankful.

In this slowing down, we pray for those struggling with the virus, for their family members and for those taking care of our sick, bravely going to work each day to battle the unforeseen enemy among us. We pray for our dear friends in hospitality, affected by shut down or staying open to serve those who need a bed to rest. We pray for our government leaders, business leaders, household leaders and those who now wear the hat of homeschooler, caretaker, dog walker, meal provider. We pray for those alone and those managing large households. Those afraid and those with courage. Those who are weary and those emboldened to act. Those taking all precautions and those indifferent.

We pray for you who are reading this morning, our friends, our clients, our business partners, that your day is different today. Different simply in how you might learn to love better than you did last week. We pray that we, this #GivingTuesday and in the days to come, learn to love our neighbors well.

Hospitality Stays True

During times of sacrifice and uncertainty, there are those that stand strong and true to who they are. Last week, the Four Seasons Hotel New York announced that it will provide free lodging to doctors, nurses and other medical personnel currently working to fight COVID-19 in New York City. In this single example, and certainly in many, many selfless others across the country, we see those in hospitality being truly hospitable. We appreciate you and pray for those who’ll call you “home” in the days to come. Read more >>

Free Daily Workouts

For those now homebound, wearing pajamas and snacking all day might sound fabulous, let’s be real – it’s not healthy. A consistent home workout routine is good for body, mind and spirit. Our friends at Body Temple Fitness Studio are helping us stay fit with their free, daily online high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. Check their Facebook or Instagram pages at 10 a.m. to follow along live with a trainer, or visit their YouTube channel at any time to watch an archived video. Be sure to bring a water along!

At Home Art Lessons

This week’s at home art lesson by our favorite elementary art teacher, Mrs. LaMarca, was too good not to share. Mrs. L. encourages her students (siblings, parents and grandparents) to look through the lens of creativity at the day ahead. For budding artists of all ages, our favorite lesson, Different is Good, discusses surrealist works of art inspired by Salvador Dali. Grab a family member (or a mirror) and a washable marker and give yourself the gift of inspiration and creativity. Take an art break >>

#See10Donate10

The fight to conquer addiction is a daily battle. One that is requiring more grit, stamina and support now more than ever. Consider a donation to Broadway Recovery Services, a nonprofit in Youngstown, Ohio that provides safe and sober homes for those in recovery. Their #See10Donate10 challenge is simple (1) donate $10 through PayPal or Venmo (2) screenshot/post your completed transaction (3) challenge others to do the same. Help a neighbor in recovery >>