5 Exceptional Hospitality Marketing Posts: Hospitality Marketing Link Digest

Last week, I rounded-up the 8 key posts hotel marketers must read this week. Given how much you all seemed to enjoy it (and the success of my regular link digest series), I’ve decided to add a recurring hospitality marketing link digest series to the blog as well. Check out the links below and let me know what you think of the series going forward. Enjoy:

1. Hotel News Now had a great look at how to get to No. 1 on TripAdvisor. Given the importance reputation management represents to most hotels (I’ve called it the single most effective way to improve your brand’s digital marketing), it’s well-worth the read. You might also want to check out this look at the state of hotel reputation management and these 3 reputation management secrets every hotel marketer should know, too.
2. NASDAQ.com (an unusual hotel marketing source, I know), offers 5 things Expedia’s management wants you to know. Good insights. I’ve recently taken a look at what Expedia’s leaders can teach you about digital strategy that’s also worth reviewing.
3. Travolution has a post about email tips that will catch you more bookings. If you’re not using email marketing for your property, you might want to review this evidence that shows Millennials will use email, as well as a recent podcast explaining why email marketing still works.
4. Tnooz looks at American pulling its fares off Orbitz again, citing high costs and low ancillary sales. Before you assume you should do the same with your OTA “partners,” consider this look at why hotels may want to think twice about an Orbitz boycott from TravelPulse, and these 5 ways to protect yourself from rising intermediary costs. Hint: Pulling your inventory from all your OTA channels isn’t usually a great way to do that.
5. Finally, echoing a theme I’ve noted for years, Hotel Marketing points to data from Chadwick Martin Bailey that shows most leisure travelers make their final decision on a hotel by visiting its website. Yet another reason why you want to make sure your hotel website continues to work well for your guests.

Interested in learning even more about the future of hospitality e-commerce and marketing via the social, local, mobile web? Register to receive a special report I’ve produced in conjunction with hotel marketing firm Vizergy, “Digital Hotel Marketing in a Multiscreen World.” Developed specifically at hotel and resort marketers, the lessons can help your business adapt to the changing guest environment. You can get your free copy of the report here.

You may also want to review the tips in my recent presentation Digital Marketing Directions: Three Trends Shaping 2014 Hospitality Internet Marketing. I’ve presented this talk to a number of hospitality and travel-related organizations and you might find it valuable for your business, too:

Finally, you might also enjoy some of our past coverage of the social, local, mobile web and what it means for your business, including:

• Holy Crap! Mobile’s Even Bigger Than You Thought
• How to Use Emotion and Storytelling in Digital Marketing
• 4 Lessons You Need to Know from Google’s Affluent Traveler Report
• What’s the State of Hotel Reputation Management?
• 10 Essential Lessons Learned From HSMAI’s Digital Marketing Strategy Conference
• What in the World are Priceline and TripAdvisor Up To?
• It’s Time You Take Mobile Seriously. Here’s Why
• What Expedia’s Leaders Can Teach You About Digital Strategy
• The 4 Rules of Social Marketing for Hotel Marketers