Christmas and New Year’s Eve are right around the corner and it can be one of the busiest times of the year if you’re a hotelier looking to make the most out of the end-of-year peak period.
It doesn’t have to be stressful, however - with a carefully laid out plan and marketing strategy, you can stay on top of routine while maximising guest bookings in a way that doesn’t need to be overwhelming.
For 2020, here’s a complete checklist to make sure your hotel drives the most bookings this holiday season.
Get into the Christmas Spirit
It’s the season for joy, festivity and generosity, so make sure your hotel is in the spirit of Christmas this year with exclusive offers and promotions that will entice customers new and old.
Think about discounted weekend rates, room freebies or perhaps a deal with a local partnership brand as a way of showing your hotel is sharing in the seasonal merriment.
And, of course, don’t forget the Christmas decorations - a lobby Christmas tree is a subtle yet indispensable feature that will make your guests feel at home from the moment they arrive.
Send Out an e-Newsletter
A virtual newsletter is a fantastic way to let customers know what you’re offering this Christmas and New Year’s Eve. This can be a clear-cut summary of your seasonal rates or a promotional flyer-style image for an exciting new offer.
Make sure your newsletter is eye-catching, displaying what your hotel has to offer with a professional design that reflects the holiday season. Reach the biggest audience possible by sending out your newsletter to your email database and displaying it across all social media pages.
Inform of Any Changes to Reception Hours
Your reception hours may be likely to change during the festive period, and it’s best to avoid any confusion or inconvenience by keeping your reception hours up to date on your website and across your social media platforms.
If your reception hours are subject to a sudden unforeseen change, inform customers and guests with a friendly heads-up, including this information in a social media post, blog or email - it's a small gesture that will go a long way.
Update Hotel Allotments and Rates
The peak holiday season is an important period for managing and negotiating allotments, so it’s well worth considering your commitments and rates in advance to maximise occupancy and returns over Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
Examine and update your rates to agree with current seasonal demand, finalise any allotment negotiations and make sure contract release dates provide you with adequate time for any last-minute holiday bookings, which you can speedily promote via email.
Prioritise Marketing and Customer Engagement
It’s the busiest time of the year and as a result your marketing strategy needs to be efficient and as effective as possible to take advantage of the peak seasonal demand while outshining your competitors.
Have you redesigned your website for Christmas? What Christmas and NYE events are happening locally and have you promoted these via your social media and blog? And do you have an automated greeting ready to send out to your customer base on Christmas Day?
These are just a few things that will increase online demand, drive bookings and build customer engagement. And if you don’t have a solid year-round digital marketing strategy for your hotel, make sure to get in touch with us at eTourism.
How are you preparing for Christmas and New Year’s Eve in 2020? Let us know in the comments below!
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