The key to securing hotel bookings during Covid-19.

2020-05-29T03:43:04+00:0029 May 2020|Marketing|

When it comes to tourism, challenge after challenge travel has always rebounded, but this is the biggest hurdle all of us have faced. Drastic changes have forced us to renew, revitalize, and recharge. With my clients, I see struggles of thinking outside the box and the frustration of having to put data aside to reinvent. The key to securing hotel bookings during Covid-19 is to use psychological marketing and pricing.

Certain situations are out of our control, but once countries start to open and airlines resume operations, we will have a clearer picture of what to expect and travel behaviors. Getting guests back to hotels will be a slow process, and we can expect three groups of potential clients:

Group 1: Those that can’t wait to venture and will travel as soon as they are able.
Group 2: Those that want to research group 1’s experience and will look for reviews and evaluate accordingly.
Group 3: Those that don’t want to take the risk and will wait longer before traveling.

The focus should be on all three groups, but group 1 is who we need to be targeting. When talking to these guests, we need to keep certain things in mind. Covid-19 for the tourism industry is a crisis but not one driven economically. People are currently not traveling because they can’t. We need to make sure not to undercut our rates but rather apply flexibility and security.

That being said Forbes reported three bitter truths about Coronavirus Job Losses

The economy will be our second hurdle, and that’s why pricing strategies have to be driven by guests segmentation and we need to secure advance bookings. The key to securing hotel bookings is to know who your client is and what their needs are now and what they will be post Covid-19.

Hotels need to start thinking about three key points:

  • How to increase the average length of stay, with enhanced amenities and offerings focusing on clients’ needs.
  • Targeting direct markets. Guests will first come from nearby and within the country and eventually from cities with direct flights. Properties need to focus on these guests’ needs and make sure they are visible. More than ever, SEM will be critical, as well as digital marketing and social media.
  • Creating a seamless experience making guests feel safe but at the same time relaxed and in a positive state of wellbeing.

More than ever, marketers will need to strategize and keep communications open with sales, revenue, and management. We all need to work together not only within each hotel property, but communities and the industry as a whole.  The more information we all share, the healthier we will all be in the tourism industry. We are in it together, keeping tourism alive.  Renew, Revitalize, Recharge.

Related Posts

The key to securing hotel bookings during Covid-19.

2020-05-29T03:43:05+00:0029 May 2020|Marketing|

When it comes to tourism, challenge after challenge travel has always rebounded, but this is the biggest hurdle all of us have faced. Drastic changes have forced us to renew, revitalize, and recharge. With my clients, I see struggles of thinking outside the box and the frustration of having to put data aside to reinvent. The key to securing hotel bookings during Covid-19 is to use psychological marketing and pricing.

Certain situations are out of our control, but once countries start to open and airlines resume operations, we will have a clearer picture of what to expect and travel behaviors. Getting guests back to hotels will be a slow process, and we can expect three groups of potential clients:

Group 1: Those that can’t wait to venture and will travel as soon as they are able.
Group 2: Those that want to research group 1’s experience and will look for reviews and evaluate accordingly.
Group 3: Those that don’t want to take the risk and will wait longer before traveling.

The focus should be on all three groups, but group 1 is who we need to be targeting. When talking to these guests, we need to keep certain things in mind. Covid-19 for the tourism industry is a crisis but not one driven economically. People are currently not traveling because they can’t. We need to make sure not to undercut our rates but rather apply flexibility and security.

That being said Forbes reported three bitter truths about Coronavirus Job Losses

The economy will be our second hurdle, and that’s why pricing strategies have to be driven by guests segmentation and we need to secure advance bookings. The key to securing hotel bookings is to know who your client is and what their needs are now and what they will be post Covid-19.

Hotels need to start thinking about three key points:

  • How to increase the average length of stay, with enhanced amenities and offerings focusing on clients’ needs.
  • Targeting direct markets. Guests will first come from nearby and within the country and eventually from cities with direct flights. Properties need to focus on these guests’ needs and make sure they are visible. More than ever, SEM will be critical, as well as digital marketing and social media.
  • Creating a seamless experience making guests feel safe but at the same time relaxed and in a positive state of wellbeing.

More than ever, marketers will need to strategize and keep communications open with sales, revenue, and management. We all need to work together not only within each hotel property, but communities and the industry as a whole.  The more information we all share, the healthier we will all be in the tourism industry. We are in it together, keeping tourism alive.  Renew, Revitalize, Recharge.

Related Posts