The Importance of Deals and Coupons as a Marketing Strategy for Hotels

Aug 27, 12 | 12:06 am

By Jason Harter

If you are in the marketing department of a hotel, you have the responsibility of bringing in new guests. To do this successfully you must advertise in a much more imaginative manner than anyone else is in your industry. The traditional methods of attracting the attention of perspective guests may not always be the best route in this modern technological age. You want the general public to want to go out of their way to stay at your hotel. The vital importance of deals and coupons to attract guests cannot be overstated. There are six ways to accomplish this:

1. Attract children

Although adults are the ones footing the bill, children's happiness plays a factor in adult decision making. Hotel accommodations should cater to children. You can also offer half price stays for children.

2. Attract shoppers

After a long day of conventions and meetings, guests want to relax at a local clothing store. I would suggest a free shuttle to a nearby mall. Malls will also appreciate the marketing help and may cut some sort of mutual deal.

3. Accepting family pets

Many hotels are worried about the damage to furniture and carpets when it comes to family pets, but in some cases the benefit can outweigh the cost. Pets are members of the family. Tell the public you welcome both human and non-human members of the family. Not only are pets members of the family, but often times families will be Watch your guest reservations mount up. Especially if you offer the same half price for "Spot".

4. Amusement park deals

If you are within an hour's drive of any kind of amusement park, shuttle the guests for free. Make sure the guests receive discount tickets. They WILL return next year.

5. Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

The ideal carrot to dangle in front of perspective guests is coupons. Coupons to pizza places, movies, sporting events, etc. You name an establishment near to your hotel and customers will appreciate a coupon there.

6. The next stay

The time to start attracting guests to come back is before they check out. This could be anything from discounts on the next stay, positive desk attendants receiving feedback from customers on how their stay was, and a customer relationship management system to follow up with past customers later on to remind them of your hotel.

Attracting children, shoppers and family pets is a sensitive, safe and legal way to attract business. The old fashioned way of attracting guests with televisions in the rooms and clean beds does not cut it anymore. Imagination and innovation are the tools you need to attract the public. Don't be like everybody else. Don't be like anybody else. Be original. Be extra-ordinary. Sameness accomplishes nothing except empty rooms.

Don't be afraid to experiment, and play it by ear. When a guest has a problem, move Heaven and Earth to solve it. And, of course, pay for the cab fare to the airport. You will be pleasantly surprised how many return guests you will have, when you go the extra mile for all your present and perspective guests. It means profits! And that is the name of the game.

Author Jason Harter loves traveling and blogging. He is a contributing writer for travelinsurance.org.