Marketing strategies must constantly evolve with the times and that means hotels must have an online presence. A hotel’s web-site should be professional, easy to navigate and current with venue details and incentives. Behind the scenes, ensure that the web-site comes up in search engines with specific keywords. Other technology boosts to business can be gained through email and text messages. Guests can register on your site and receive email confirmations of reservations as well as promotions and events at the hotel.

With the advent of smart phones, many customers check for travel deals online directly through their phone and creating an iphone application or android application will allow them to access special rates. Traditional advertising such as phone books or entertainment listings should refer potential clients to your web-site for more information and also include an email address and phone number. Another good way to promote a hotel is to use pay per click advertising where you put an ad on a web-site, a popular travel blog for example, and only pay for each instance where traffic is driven to your site.

Holding events at the hotel will also bring in new potential customers. A group may rent a conference or ballroom and patrons will surely check out the whole facility. If the event is large enough, they may need rooms for out of town guests and an incentive can be offered for people to do so. Promoting discounts like these in the pre-event materials will help spread the word. Other incentives can be offered to guests who stay more than one night in a row.

Consumers who receive quality service at a discount will be more likely to return and tell their friends. Word of mouth is some of the best advertising out there because it is free! Generate ideas that will make the hotel stand above the rest and guests will want to share their experience with others. Travel reviews, columns and blogs are being written daily so get to know local and regional journalists who are published in newspapers and magazines. Check with the local tourism bureau to inquire about a listing with them and if they make hotel referrals. Using all available resources will enhance your hotel’s visibility.