Instagram Marketing Tips For Hotels And Resorts

Nowadays, social media platforms play a huge role in marketing. All successful businesses promote their brands via Instagram. Since Instagram has over 2 billion active users, it is crucial for any hotel or resort owner to use the platform as a way to make their brand famous. Many customers are searching for hotels on social media. Because of that, it is important to have a well-managed social media profile. The content should attract potential customers. everything should be eye-catching and informative. Hotels and resorts should use many of Instagram’s features, such as stories, reels, posts, polls, etc. They should entertain followers and persuade them to visit. This article should help you by giving step-by-step instructions on how to promote your business on Instagram.  

Why do hotels and resorts need an Instagram presence?

People use Instagram to find where to stay for relaxing and pleasing trips. They search through the profiles of different hotels and resorts and compare them to each other. Profiles with the most beautiful posts, cheerful videos, and thorough information pull the clients towards them. Because of that, for a hotel owner, it is crucial to understand social media platforms and know how to use them effectively. 

1. Visual appeal

Instagram is a visually aesthetical platform. Social media managers try to create content that pleases the eyes of followers. In the hospitality industry, the visual side of things is very important. People tend to like hotels that are neat, beautiful, and tasteful. It is important to show the interior of the different parts of the hotel. The content should include photos of the rooms’ interiors, photos of the dining room, and food. Also, the videos of nature around the resort might captivate clients and pull their attention. 

2. Influencer collaboration

Nowadays, influencer marketing and collaborations with them have become one of the best ways to promote one’s product. Influencers have their own loyal audience. Followers are persuaded by the influencers’ tastes, recommendations, and lifestyles. If Instagram bloggers promote your business through their content, you will be known among a completely new audience. Therefore, this way, their followers will become your clients. 

3. Connect with potential customers

Hotel businesses also need social media profiles in order to communicate with their potential clients. Through social media platforms, you can reach lots of people on a daily basis. It is the easiest way to interact with people from anywhere and reach them with your content. Especially in the hospitality business, it is vital to attract people from all over the world.  In order to make loyal customers, it is vital to develop direct connections. By direct connections, I mean responding to their comments or answering their questions in direct messages. 

How to start an Instagram account for hotels and resorts?

1. Create a profile

First of all, you need to download the Instagram app and sign up. The next step is to think of a username for your profile. The name of your hotel should be recognizable. Then you need to update a photo, preferably the one of your hotel’s logo. One more important thing is the bio. You need to showcase the resort’s motto and values within a few words. Also, you need to put a link to your hotel’s website in the bio. Therefore, it will be easy for potential customers to book a stay.  We have a guide ready for you if you are still confused about how to set up your Instagram account. 

2. Content strategy

After setting up your profile, you need to make a plan for your content in advance to create your content strategy. You need to schedule posts, reels, or influencer collaborations for the future. Social media isn’t about posting something once a week. It is about regular activity and interaction with the followers. You need to create an Instagram content calendar and create an organized plan for a successful account. Moreover, your content shouldn’t be random. You have to think of a common aesthetic for all types of content. 

3. Use Instagram features

Instagram provides us with different important Instagram features such as reels, posts, stories, Q&A sessions, polls, etc. It is a great way to interact with your followers on a daily basis. It isn’t just about photos, it is important to communicate with your potential customers and know what they think. 

4. Instagram automation

Managing an Instagram account is sometimes a boring and mundane job. Because of that, it is crucial to optimize your profile. It can respond to direct messages while you rest or do more important work. Automation tools save time and make social media manager’s job more efficient. It can run your profile according to your follower’s preferences. Because of that, gaining followers will be a faster process. 

What kind of Instagram should hotels and resorts have?

1. Highlighting the nature

Uploading photos of beautiful nature can attract customers. Many people choose a place to stay because of the calm and pleasing nature around it. High-quality photos or reels can captivate your followers and get their attention. 

2. Hashtags and captions

The visual side of things is important. But, also the way you communicate with your followers through captions and hashtags is vital. You need to hire a copywriter for decent captions and hashtags for your posts and reels. You need to choose keywords carefully in order to persuade customers. Instagram hashtags can increase your engagement. Whereas captions are uploaded as a description of the post. It can be information about hotel fees, different facilities, and experiences you provide for your clients. 

3. Local attractions

People don’t go on trips just to stay at the hotel the whole time. As a hotel owner, you need to also promote local attractions and sightseeing to attract customers. People choose their destinations according to the places they want to visit. Therefore, it is important to advertise your location to your followers. 

4. Guest experiences

People tend to be more persuaded if you share the personal experiences of other guests with them. Post pictures of guests enjoying their time at your hotel. Also, encourage them to share their posts with certain hashtags that will add to your hotels’ customer reviews on Instagram. 

How to gain followers on Instagram as a hotel and resort business?

1. Interact with your audience

It is important to communicate with your followers. You need to be attentive and friendly. Respond to their direct messages and comments. As I said, you need to use Instagram’s different features. Interactive features such as polls. Polls are a great way to know your customer’s preferences and wants. Moreover, you can organize contests with rewards. For example, you can create photo contests where your followers upload photos from different trips. They all need to be under the same hashtags, and the one with the most likes will win. 

2. Influencer collaboration

As I already mentioned, collaborating with influencers can greatly promote your business.  Especially if you are a newly established hotel or resort. you can offer barter to influencers. It is when you gift influencers products of your brand, and in return, they advertise it to their followers. In this case, as a hotel owner, you can offer influencers a free 2-day stay at the hotel. Your brand will gain a reputation among a whole new audience. 

3. Collaborate with local businesses

As a new business, you can try coss-promoting with other local businesses. For example, you can advertise a small cafe located near your hotel. By attracting your followers towards it, you also promote your place for a stay. This way, you can broaden your audience and reach more people. 

Brands with the most successful Instagram pages in the hotel and resort industry:

1. Cavo Tagoo, Mykonos
2. Le Metropolitan, paris
3. The Blue Lagoon Resort, Iceland
4. Ushuaïa Beach Hotel, Ibiza
5. The Ritz, London

Is it mandatory to have Instagram for hotels and resorts?

In the 21st century, it is mandatory for any kind of business to have an Instagram profile. In the time of technology, it is important to keep up with the new technology, and have social media marketing for your business or else it will be hard to succeed. Nowadays marketing has found its special place on social media platforms. Advertising has never been easier and more effective. I hope all the reasons above can persuade you to believe in the importance of Instagram.

How soon can you establish a strong Instagram presence for hotels and resorts?

It takes months or even a few years to build a strong Instagram profile with many followers. Gaining regular and loyal followers isn’t an easy job. If you are limited in time, then you need to spend more money and resources on managing social media accounts. Otherwise, establishing a strong Instagram might take time, but believe me, it will be worth it. 

Conclusion 

To conclude all of the above, I would say that Instagram is vital in the hotel and resort industry. It makes marketing for small or big businesses easy and comfortable. It is also very effective since social media greatly influences people’s decisions. Managing an account with picturesque photos and joyful reels will pull people’s attention toward your brand. Instagram users often make decisions due to different hotels’ accounts and choose the best for their stay. It is important to reach people from around the world and turn them into your loyal and regular clients.