Thursday, 8 November 2012

Try Text Marketing for your Hotel

Text Marketing and the Hotel industry truly go hand-in-hand. Text messaging isn’t a new technology, however we are seeing it applied in new ways constantly. This is what gives the form of communication its staying power. People love to text, they do it all the time. Text messaging is used amongst all generations, and it is a highly personal way of connecting. More people choose text messaging over email or even dialing a phone call. Text messages are instant, convenient and effective. Most people open and read a text message within five minutes of receiving it, and they can even do this in a location where accepting a phone call may not be appropriate.

Businesses are starting to take notice of the popularity of text messaging, therefore applying it to their marketing efforts makes perfect sense. A hotel can use text marketing in multiple ways – it can be used to communicate with guests during their stay, as well as keeping in touch with them upon their departure, encouraging them to visit again. People travel for many reasons, sometimes for business, family vacations, honeymoons or getaways. Regardless of their reason for choosing to stay at your hotel, it is your utmost top priority to make sure their stay is as comfortable and pleasurable as possible.

To begin with, the hotel can use text marketing to streamline the check-in and check-out process. Upon check-in, the hotel can ask the guest to text-in, for example: “Text PARADISE to 96000 for updates from Paradise Cove during your stay.” Upon texting-in, the guest can receive notification about when their room is ready, and be linked to a map on the room’s location instantly via text. From here, the hotel can narrow the guest’s preferences in order to ensure that the text messages they receive are relevant. A family may want to receive text messages about where the nearest ice-cream parlor is, or perhaps they may appreciate a coupon to play mini-golf nearby. A businessman may prefer messages about a happy hour location, or in-room dining options. The hotel can use text marketing to let their guests know about happenings inside the resort as well, specials or discounts to the hotel restaurant or spa. Maybe there is live entertainment to let guests know about, or a poolside movie night.

Upon check-out, the hotel will obviously note that the guest is no longer staying with them, therefore local happenings updates are no longer necessary, however – the hotel can let the guest know about future hotel promotions such as last minute room rate discounts or special deals for returning guests. Text Marketing is such an easy way for a Hotel to ensure their guests have a memorable stay, while keeping in touch with them for their future stays.

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