The hotelier industry is fiercely competitive, with many rivals targeting the same customers. In such vying field, hotels must distinguish themselves from their competitors. Branding is one of the most effective ways to do so, even in 2023. Setting up a brand for your hotel will help you strengthen your identity and attract more customers in the upcoming seasons.
How can you create a good marketing strategy and build a brand that will benefit your hotel? This 2023 guide will help you do that and more! Establish your hotel’s brand for increased traffic and revenue with these 5 tips.
1. Make a first impression with a memorable logo
In a competitive field such as the hotelier industry, making a good and solid first impression is essential for your business. To achieve that, you need to pay special attention to the first visual components of your brand, such as your name, logo, colours, and website. After all, many guests search multiple hotels online before choosing the one that suits them the best.
So, build your brand’s identity by having a name that sticks out and provides meaning to the customers. Ensure your logo and website and adequate for the type of business you do and the impression you want to leave.
2. Attract guests with aesthetically pleasing colours
In the hotelier industry, aesthetics are vital. You may have the best price-quality ratio, but if your hotel doesn’t look nice or decent, chances are you won’t attract customers! So, build a brand by focusing on the vibe you want to have in your facilities. How can you do that?
If you want to create a funky hotel, using colours such as purple, yellow, and green will be the way to go. On the other hand, if your goal is to foster a feeling of luxury, black, gold, and white are the best colour combinations. Keep that in mind when creating a logo and website as well. Coordinating the colours will help you keep your premises branded and your customers reminded of your name!
3. Rely on emotions and storytelling
The top reason why people stay in hotels is travelling. Therefore, for guests, your hotel should be an association of great experiences and memorable times! So, who says you can’t use such testimonials and honest reviews to build your brand? Rely on emotions and storytelling to increase the value of your brand. How can you do that?
It’s human nature to feel attracted to things that make them feel special and excited, such as their vacations. Incorporate the importance of your guests into your vision and mission and use them when advertising your hotel. Create an emotional connection with guests by telling magnificent stories about your facilities.
4. Increase the bottom line with branded gift shop
One of the main reasons why hotels turn to branding and marketing is profit. However, to increase the bottom line and traffic in your hotel, you need to build a solid brand. It’s a loop that can be broken with good actions, such as including branded gift shops in your facilities. How can they help?
When guests are staying at your hotel, they want to make memories. Giftshops usually sell branded magnets, badges, postcards, and similar items they can purchase for memories’ sake! Take it a step further by selling custom clothing as well. T-shirts and other apparel can complete their wardrobes and make their hearts twinkle with memories and happiness.
5. Foster customer and employee retention and loyalty
In the end, a fantastic way to build a brand is by fostering relationships with your guests and employees. While creating a pleasant atmosphere, satisfied guests and employees can be your best brand ambassadors. Word-of-mouth marketing is a leading means of advertising your business since it comes from sincere recommendations. But how can you increase retention and loyalty?
Ensure each person in your facility feels cared for and heard. That is one of the key steps of branding in the hospitality industry. Even though you will encounter difficult people here or there, it’s up to you to make their stay or job the most pleasant possible!
Final thoughts
As you can see, creating a brand in the hotelier industry is a journey that requires time, energy, thought, and money invested. However, if done properly, it’s a process that gives back! So, use this guide to help you brand your hotel and stand out in the crowd.
