In today’s hospitality industry, hotels are no longer just a place to rest, but have become destinations in themselves that offer unique experiences and memories. The travel industry is growing and evolving to meet the needs of today’s travelers, especially the preferences of millennials and Gen X. Hotels need to adapt their marketing strategies to cater to this experience-driven demographic. Traditional advertising is no longer sufficient, and hotels now need to focus on creating immersive and engaging experiences that connect with potential guests. 

Experiential marketing is one of the most powerful tools that the hotel industry has in its pocket. Experiential marketing helps hotels build brand recognition, nourish customer loyalty, and drive the growth of revenue. By going all in on creative and innovative campaigns, hotels can set themselves apart from the competition and establish a lasting connection with hospitality consumers. 

Experience First Marketing for Hotels: Why It Matters 

For hotels, prioritizing experience-first marketing is essential for sparking growth and establishing a loyal customer base. The hospitality industry is competitive, and guests are no longer just looking for a place to stay. They want an experience for their money. They want the type of lasting memories that will remind them that a certain hotel is where they want to stay the next time. 

When hotels focus on creating memorable experiences, whether it’s in the consumer’s planning stage, during their stay, or as they say farewell when walking out the door, they plant the seeds and nourish a sense of loyalty. This benefits hotels not only from repeat visits, but also highly-valuable word-of-mouth advertising. A strong hotel experiential marketing campaign can lead to stellar online reviews. 

The majority of today’s travelers consider online reviews to be a key motivator in making their booking decisions. Imagine the excitement when those reviews are positive and tell the story of memorable experiential marketing experiences. 

Experience first marketing also plays an important role in differentiating hotel brands from their competitors. In high tourist areas where dozens of hotel brands are competing for the same travel consumer base, it’s the ones that create unique and memorable experiences that will establish a strong brand identity that invokes trustworthiness and generates interest.

Benefits of Experiential Marketing for Hotels 

Increased Brand Awareness: Experiential marketing campaigns can generate buzz and create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) around a hotel’s brand, attracting new customers and increasing brand recognition.

Customer Loyalty: By creating memorable experiences, hotels can foster a sense of loyalty among their customers, encouraging repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth.

Revenue Growth: Experiential marketing can drive revenue growth by increasing occupancy rates, average daily rates (ADRs), and overall customer spend.

7 Ways to Use Experiential Marketing for Hotels

Experiential marketing offers a powerful way for hotels to connect with their guests, create memorable experiences, and drive business growth. Here are 7 ways to use experiential marketing for hotels:

On-Site Installations 

On-site installations are a way to create interactive experiences that showcase the hotel’s brand and personality to every guest that walks through their door. There are many different ways that hotel brands can accomplish this, and it’s an experiential marketing strategy that applies to small and boutique hotels, to larger chain brand hotels. 

For example, a hotel could install a large-scale, interactive art piece in the lobby and encourage guests to interact and share their experiences through social media. An interactive light installation in the bar or lounge area can provide a unique and memorable experience for guests, encouraging them to linger, engage, and take advantage of a great photo op. 

Destination VR Experiences 

There are so many ways for hotels to explore the opportunity of destination VR experiences for their guests. A hotel could create these experiences to be unique to their location. For example, a VR experience that allows guests to explore local landmarks, experience local culture, or try sightseeing activities before they even step foot outside of the hotel. 

Travel savvy guests who know that time is at a premium when traveling to areas where there is a lot to explore will appreciate the VR “teaser”, which can make it possible to experience more without packing the daily itinerary. These experiences can also help guests decide if a local attraction or event is something they’re interested in exploring further out in the real world. 

Pop Up Displays 

Pop up displays are fun experiential marketing events for hotels. They provide guests with a taste of the unexpected, and make their stay even more memorable. Some options for pop up displays include a pop-up bar or restaurant featuring local flavors or a special chef. Live music and art exhibitions are also ideas of pop-up displays that generate interest from hotel guests. 

Live Experiential Events 

Host live experiential events that bring the hotel’s brand to life. For example, a hotel could host a live music event, a fashion show, or a culinary experience. Take this one or two steps further and get the audience (aka hotel guests) involved. 

With the live music event, invite guests to sing along or have a contest where an audience member gets to share the stage with the musicians or get to spend some time with them backstage. 

A fashion show could have a demonstration area where guests could try on a number of accessories. Host a user-generated content contest to win a high-end item from the fashion show. 

There are practically endless ideas for hosting live events and infusing them with memorable experiences. 

User Generated Content 

Encourage guests to create and share their own content on social media. For example, a hotel could create a social media campaign that encourages guests to share their photos and videos of the hotel, or offer incentives for guests to share their experiences on social media. This can help to create a sense of engagement and community, and encourage guests to become brand ambassadors.

Property Specific Experiences 

Create experiences that are specific to the hotel’s property and location. For example, a hotel could offer a guided tour of the local area, a wine tasting experience, or a cooking class. This can help to create a sense of place and connection, and encourage guests to engage with the hotel’s brand.

Digital Concierge 

Offer guests a digital concierge service that provides them with personalized recommendations and experiences. For example, a hotel could create a mobile app that provides guests with recommendations for local restaurants, bars, and attractions, or offer a personalized concierge service that helps guests to plan their stay. This can help to create a sense of convenience and luxury, and encourage guests to engage with the hotel’s brand.

Experiences Make All the Difference in the Hotel Industry 

Experiential marketing offers an incredible opportunity for hotels to differentiate themselves, build brand loyalty, and get people talking about the best hotel in town. By understanding the benefits and relevance of experiential marketing, hotels can create innovative and engaging experiences that transform their property from just another hotel to a true vacation destination. 

Not sure how to make this happen for your hotel? A professional experiential marketing team can help. At Factory360, this is what we do and love. We’re here to work with your hotel and create an experiential marketing strategy that will make guests wish they could give you more than 5 stars. Contact us today, and let’s get started talking about where your hotel is today, and where you want to be in the future. Experiential marketing is going to make all the difference in your hotel’s success.