Social media marketing for hotels is a non-negotiable in a digital marketing strategy. A strong social media presence helps improve brand awareness, inspire brand loyalty, and encourage guests to book their next stay.
But we know that keeping a fresh feed of ideas for social can be a challenge. That’s why Forge Apollo’s hotel social media marketing team in Philadelphia has six ideas for post types you can use to fill your feed.
6 Hotel Social Media Post Ideas
1. Show the Guest’s POV
What better way to inspire your guests to book a trip than to show them what they could experience at your property?
Create a video or still post highlighting a specific aspect of your property experience to bring the concept of a stay to life.
In this post we created for ICONA Avalon, we highlight what it’s like to have a cozy stay at the property during winter.
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This post from Zoetry Resorts lets the viewer in on the zen experience of a mind, body, and soul retreat at the property.
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2. Share the Scenery
Chances are that there is at least one beautiful view at your property. Show it off on social! Users love picturesque scenery popping up in their feeds. Plus, it’ll take previous guests back to their time on the property.
For example, Secrets Resorts shared the stunning views around their Tulum resort and beach club.
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In this post we created for ICONA Diamond Beach, we shared a dreamy beach view.
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3. Highlight Amenities
Amenities are essential to guests considering a stay, so highlight them! A simple photo of a great amenity or a room tour is the perfect highlight for your feed.
For example, Sunscape Resorts shares its poolside snack area in this post.
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In this post, Zoetry Resorts highlights a suite.
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4. Share Specials and Events
While you shouldn’t overwhelm your feed with overtly promotional content, sharing specials and events does help guests find deals they can take advantage of.
For example, in this post, Hyatt shares a promotion to get Bonus Points in their loyalty program.
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In this post we created for ICONA Avalon, they share a Sample the Summer package deal.
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5. Share User-Generated Content
Your guests are your best marketers! Whether it’s posting photos they’ve shared with you or sharing posts they’ve tagged you in on their feed, sharing user-generated content brings authenticity to your brand.
For example, Secrets Resorts regularly posts photos like this one that guests took during their stay and shared with them.
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If you can host or partner with influencers, that can pull user-generated content to a new level. In this post, Embassy Suites and Hilton share a reel made by one user of her and her family’s experience at the resort.
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6. Run a Creative Campaign or Series
You don’t always have to show off the property itself in your posts. Try brainstorming a creative campaign or series that connects with your brand identity and messaging to switch things up.
For example, we produced a series of reels for Secrets Resorts as part of their Be More Connected campaign. Each Reel talks to a different couple about their connection and was posted over a series of weeks.
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The Role of Social Media Marketing for Hotels
In case your brand isn’t sold on the importance of social, there are a number of powerful benefits to note.
- Increase Direct Bookings – Drive more bookings by posting aspirational content and sharing booking links directly in posts and bios.
- Enhanced Brand Awareness – Showcase your brand to a wide audience online.
- Improved Guest Engagement – Foster a sense of community by engaging with guests in real-time online.
- Marketing Insights and Feedback – Social media platforms are valuable sources of guest feedback and market insights when monitoring mentions, reviews, and comments.
- Cost-Effective Marketing – Compared to traditional advertising, social media is relatively low-cost.
- Showcasing the Hotel Experience – Visual mediums allow you to showcase experience in a way other channels can’t.
- Building Loyalty and Repeat Business – Keep past and potential guests engaged with content to facilitate brand affinity.
Which Social Media Platforms Should Hotels Use?
Although we only shared examples from Instagram here, it’s important for brands to have a presence on the platforms their target audiences use. Because visual marketing has such a large impact on brands, the more visual platforms are more beneficial. This includes but is not limited to the following.
- TikTok
Our 5 Top Tips for Capturing Hotel Social Media Content
1. Strategically Plan Your Shoots
Plan high-production content shoots to capture content you can use across your marketing assets. In our work with the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, ICONA Resorts, and several other hotels, we may start with one primary campaign or medium in mind. But we plan our shoots to maximize ROI and capture a full content library ready for social, websites, and other assets.
2. Schedule Periodic Shoots
High-quality content goes a long way, but most hotels can’t have a high-production staff on-site constantly. We got around this with our client ICONA Resorts by breaking up our shooting schedule. We did a couple of major productions in the first year to get evergreen content from each season. Then, we did smaller productions on an ongoing basis to grab more content to fill the gaps or for more specific campaigns.
3. On-Site and Off-Site Collaboration
Make sure that your on-site team and any off-site corporate marketing teams or agencies are working together. We’ve found it most effective to strike a balance between period, high-production shoots, and working with a team member on-site to grab last-minute assets.
4. Ask for User-Generated-Content (UGC)
You’d be surprised what you can get by simply asking. Ask your guests to share photos from their stay with a hashtag, by tagging your, or creating somewhere for them to submit it. For more information, check out our guide on how to get and use UGC.
5. Organize Your Content
You can repurpose content from one shoot into hundreds of posts if it’s organized. Use a content portal to organize your assets with relevant tags, so you can easily search for the formats and subject matter you need. We’ve used this tactic with multiple resort clients to maximize the ROI of their content, since they can easily use it over and over.
Stay in the Safe Zone
When it comes to Reels and Stories on the Meta platforms of Facebook and Instagram, there are “safe zones” you need to keep in mind to prevent your content from being cut off by buttons or captions. Download our free Meta Safe Zone templates to ensure your audience can see the important parts of your post.
Safe Zone Template Content Offer
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Social Media Marketing for Hotels
Seeking new inspiration for hotel social media post ideas is natural. At Forge Apollo, our social media and content creation teams are constantly brainstorming new ways to reach the audiences in your feed. Social media is only part of a marketing strategy, though. For more tips to flesh out your strategy, check out our hotel marketing strategy tips or contact us today for assistance with content production or social media strategy.
