11 Social Media Marketing Strategies for Hotels

Social media is no longer just a place to connect with friends and family—it’s a powerful tool for businesses, including hotels. In today’s digital world, travellers use social media to find inspiration, read reviews, and book hotels. If your hotel doesn’t have a strong social media presence, you could be missing out on potential guests and revenue.

This guide will show you 11 effective social media marketing strategies to help your hotel attract more guests, increase bookings, and build a strong brand presence online.

1. Use Targeted Advertising to Reach the Right Audience

Why is this important? Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow you to run highly targeted advertisements. Instead of wasting money on general ads, you can reach specific people based on their age, location, travel interests, and spending habits.

How to do it:

• Use Facebook and Instagram Ads to target travellers based on their interests.
• Retarget visitors who have been to your website but didn’t book.
• Create offers for honeymooners, business travellers, or family holidaymakers.
• Use a strong call-to-action (CTA) like “Book Now” or “Get 20% Off Today.”

Example: Hilton Fiji’s Facebook ad targeted honeymooners with a special offer, leading to increased direct bookings.

2. Optimise Your Posting Times for Maximum Engagement

Why is this important? Posting at the right time ensures your content reaches more people when they are most active.

How to do it:

• Check Facebook and Instagram Insights to see when your followers are online.
• Experiment with different times and track engagement.
• Use scheduling tools like Hootsuite or SocialPilot to automate posts.

Best times to post:

• Morning (7-9 AM) – When people check social media before work.
• Evening (6-9 PM) – After work when they are relaxing.
• Weekends – Ideal for travel-related inspiration.

3. Run Seasonal Campaigns to Boost Bookings

Why is this important? People look for travel deals during specific times of the year. Running a seasonal campaign helps you attract more guests during peak seasons.

How to do it:

• Offer special packages for Christmas, New Year, summer holidays, and Valentine’s Day.
• Use seasonal hashtags like #WinterEscape, #ChristmasAtYourHotel.
• Promote offers 3-6 months in advance for early bookings.

Example: Marriott Hotels used Christmas-themed posts showcasing festive decorations and limited-time offers, leading to increased bookings.

4. Leverage Influencer Marketing to Gain Trust

Why is this important? People trust recommendations from real travellers more than advertisements. Working with travel influencers and bloggers can give your hotel more visibility.

How to do it:

• Partner with nano and micro-influencers (small but engaged followings).
• Offer a free stay in exchange for social media posts, reels, and reviews.
• Use influencer content as user-generated content (UGC).

Example: Hilton Resorts collaborated with top influencers to promote their 70th anniversary of Pina Colada, resulting in massive engagement.

5. Share User-Generated Content to Build Trust

Why is this important? People trust real guest experiences more than hotel advertisements. Sharing content from your guests makes your hotel look authentic and reliable.

How to do it:

• Ask guests to tag your hotel when they post pictures.
• Repost guest photos and videos on your social media.
• Run photo contests where the best guest photos get featured.

Example: Ramada by Wyndham reshared a guest’s Instagram post, which received high engagement and credibility.

6. Use Geo-Tags to Attract Local and International Guests

Why is this important? Geo-tags help your hotel appear in location-based searches, making it easier for potential guests to find you.

How to do it:

• Always tag your hotel’s location in Instagram and Facebook posts.
• Encourage guests to check in and tag your hotel.
• Optimise your Google Business Profile for local searches.

Example: Fairmont Hotels uses location-based hashtags like #FairmontMaldives to attract guests searching for Maldives holidays.

7. Promote Guest Testimonials and Reviews

Why is this important? People read online reviews before booking a hotel. Sharing positive reviews on social media builds trust and credibility.

How to do it:

• Create video testimonials from happy guests.
• Share Google and TripAdvisor reviews as social media posts.
• Respond to all reviews—both positive and negative.

Example: Hyatt Hotels regularly shares customer testimonials as Instagram carousel posts, increasing engagement.

8. Showcase Employee Stories for a Personal Touch

Why is this important? Guests love to see the human side of a hotel. Highlighting your employees creates an emotional connection with potential guests.

How to do it:

• Share behind-the-scenes videos of staff preparing for events.
• Feature an employee of the month and their story.
• Post interviews with employees about their favourite guest moments.

Example: Marriott Hotels shared a day in the life of an assistant, showcasing their passion for hospitality.

9. Share Behind-the-Scenes (BTS) Content

Why is this important? Guests love exclusive insights into how a hotel operates. BTS content makes your hotel feel more authentic and trustworthy.

How to do it:

• Show the preparation process for special events.
• Share “Before & After” room setups.
• Highlight the kitchen making special meals.

Example: Hilton Hotels’ “Behind-The-Meal” campaign showed chefs preparing gourmet meals, engaging food lovers.

10. Create Custom Hashtags to Increase Visibility

Why is this important? Hashtags help guests find your hotel easily and encourage them to share their experiences.

How to do it:

• Create a branded hashtag like #StayAtYourHotelName.
• Promote it in the hotel on keycards, welcome screens, and menus.
• Use trending travel hashtags alongside your custom ones.

Example: Hilton’s #HiltonForTheStay hashtag has over 65,000 posts from guests worldwide.

11. Stay Updated with Social Media Trends

Why is this important? Social media is constantly changing. To stay relevant, you need to follow trends and adjust your strategy.

How to do it:

• Use TikTok and Instagram Reels for viral short videos.
• Follow travel influencers and competitor hotels to see what’s trending.
• Keep an eye on algorithm changes for better reach.

Example: Brands using TikTok trends see 4x higher engagement than static content.

Final Thoughts

Social media is a powerful tool to increase hotel bookings, brand awareness, and engagement. By using these 11 strategies, you can make your hotel stand out from competitors and attract more guests.

Start applying these strategies today and watch your hotel’s online presence grow!