How To Grow Your Hotel Business In 2024

Running a hotel isn’t just about making beds and booking rooms anymore.

Nowadays guests are choosier than ever and a market crowded with options, hotels need more than charm and good housekeeping to thrive.

So, how can you keep up? Better yet, how can you grow your hotel business?

The answer? Adapt, innovate, and focus on what matters most: your guests and your online presence.

In this guide, we’ll dig into effective hotel growth strategies to help you attract more guests, build loyalty, and boost bookings.

Let’s dive in to make your hotel the spot everyone’s talking about.

1) Offer Competitive Pricing

Today’s travelers are savvy—they hunt for the best deals by comparing prices online and looking for the most value-packed stay they can find. That means your pricing strategy has to be spot-on. Studies show that keeping room rates competitive is key to boosting your revenue per available room (RevPAR).

To make sure your prices hit the mark, competitor-based pricing can be a game-changer. By tracking your compeititor’s hotels’ rates, you can adjust your own to stay attractive and profitable.

And, Makcorps Hotel Price API can help you do that—it pulls in competitor pricing data from multiple booking platforms which gives you an edge in making smart, timely pricing decisions.

2) Refining Your Online Presence

Here are the key strategies that help make your online presence more prominent.

Optimize Your Website for a Seamless Experience

Did you know that 53% of mobile users will leave a site if it takes more than three seconds to load? Your website is the first impression of your hotel for your potential guests. Make it mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. Focus on loading speed and user experience. Be sure to upload only high-quality images, a booking option, and a blog with local travel tips or event updates to engage visitors and improve SEO.

Build and Optimize Your Google My Business Profile

Nearly 46% of all Google searches are for local businesses. Google My Business is crucial for your hotel’s local search visibility. Keep this profile updated with photos, contact information, guest reviews, and even FAQs. Statistics show that businesses with optimized Google listings are 70% more likely to attract customers, so your efforts here directly impact your bookings.

Use Email Marketing to Build Long-term Relationships

Email marketing has an impressive ROI of 4,200%, and it’s still one of the most powerful tools to stay connected with guests. Send personalized promotions, share local event updates and provide exclusive discounts for past guests or newsletter subscribers. Segmenting your audience can boost open rates by 14.31% and click-through rates by 100.95%, allowing you to tailor offers that feel exclusive and relevant. (source)

Gather and Highlight Guest Reviews Across Platforms

About 92% of travelers are more likely to book a hotel after reading positive reviews. Showcase these reviews on your site, Google, TripAdvisor, and social media to build trust and increase bookings. Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you’re engaged and committed to guest satisfaction, which can improve conversion rates by 20%.

Collaborate with Local Influencers and Bloggers

Influencer marketing delivers 11 times higher ROI than traditional digital marketing strategies. Partnering with local influencers, bloggers, or travel content creators can increase your visibility. Influencers showcase authentic experiences that resonate with their followers, potentially driving new bookings. In fact, 63% of consumers trust influencer recommendations more than branded ads, making this a valuable part of your online strategy.

By optimizing these areas with data-driven strategies, your hotel will not only attract more guests but also stand out as a trusted choice in a competitive market.

3) Invest in Technology to Boost Efficiency and Productivity

Technology is game-changer for hotels looking to streamline operations and improve the guest experience. By adopting tools like contactless check-in, hotels can cut wait times and reduce congestion in lobby areas which creates a smoother and faster arrival process. Today’s guests are busier than ever, 73% of them say they prefer self-service options to reduce contact and shorten wait times during check-in, as it lets them start their stay without delays.

Beyond check-in, digital solutions can enhance guests stay with features like QR codes that instantly provide information on local attractions, hotel amenities, and on-site promotions. 

Hotels can also benefit from automation software for tasks like inventory management, energy monitoring, and staff scheduling. These tools reduce manual errors, save valuable time, and allow your team to focus more on guest engagement. Smart room technology, such as climate and lighting control, also helps hotels cut energy costs, with some properties seeing savings of up to 20%. Embracing these technologies doesn’t just improve efficiency; it makes your hotel a more attractive and modern choice for today’s tech-savvy travelers.

4) Improve Customer Service

Improving customer service is crucial for any hotel business. One effective way to enhance customer service is by using a chatbot. Chatbots can answer common questions from guests, such as booking requests and refunds. This can save time for both guests and hotel staff. Chatbots can also provide 24/7 customer support and improve guest satisfaction and loyalty. By using a chatbot, hotels can streamline their customer service process and free up staff to focus on more complex guest needs.

5) Use Mobile Messaging To Communicate With Customers

There are a number of ways you can use messaging to communicate with customers and employees. For example, you could send an automated message at the end of each day asking them how their stay was. You could also send out texts or emails when a certain event occurs (like when a guest checks out). These messages can be used as marketing tools, but they’re also useful for communicating important information such as room availability or new products/services that are coming soon.

You should also consider using mobile messaging platforms as part of your customer service strategy—the ability to send photos with receipts makes it easy for guests who want to show off their photos on social media without having them printed out first!

6) Spread The Word With Content Marketing

Content marketing is a great way to reach your target audience and build your hotel business.

Here are a few effective ways to do it:

Create Blogs: Blogging is the most popular form of content marketing, but it can also be used for SEO purposes. To drive high-quality traffic to your website, it’s essential to grasp the concept of search intent and tailor your blog content accordingly.

Take, for example, crafting a post around “Tips for Staying at a Hotel for Less.” This topic not only draws in your target audience but also provides an excellent opportunity to engage them further. Within the article, you could present readers with a special coupon code for a discount on hotel bookings. Alternatively, you can also consider integrating a pop-up that showcases your hotel’s current booking offer, this way you can capture the interest of potential guests right when they’re most engaged.

If you have an established blog or website that already has followers, then blogging will help bring in new clients who are looking for information about the industry as well as tips on how they can use hotels as part of their vacation plan. To make it possible, your blog needs to be SEO optimized, consider investing in an all-rounder SEO tool and hiring an in-house SEO team or an SEO company to do it for you.

In addition to that, you should also consider starting a podcast or video series if this is something you’d like to do in addition to traditional blogging so that people have another way of getting news updates from within your brand’s voice (which may be lacking sometimes).

Social Media Posts: Sharing posts from other company’s social media pages on Twitter or Facebook with links back toward yours could work well too! This method works especially well if there’s some kind of promotion going on where people are encouraged (by companies) not just because they want free stuff but because they think it might actually benefit them somehow.

7. Strategic Partnerships and Local Collaborations

To increase your hotel’s visibility and bookings. Start by building strategic partnerships with local businesses. By collaborating with nearby restaurants, tour companies, and other service providers, you can create experiences that add more value for your guests. Think exclusive discounts at popular dining spots, guided tours of must-see locations, or deals with local spas. Not only does this make your hotel more attractive, but it also positions you as a go-to for unique experiences that guests can’t get just anywhere.

Beyond benefits for your guests, partnerships with local vendors can work wonders for your hotel’s reputation. Being seen as an active supporter of local businesses builds goodwill and a stronger community presence. Hosting or sponsoring local events is another great way to show support. For example, your hotel could partner with a local artist gallery for a community art night and offer guests an exclusive invitation. These efforts attract new guests and make guests your brand advocates.

By engaging with the community and creating memorable guest experiences through partnerships, you’re helping your hotel stand out as a genuine, welcoming choice that supports the local vibe and flavor—something today’s travelers truly appreciate.

8. Promote Sustainability and Green Practices

Eco-conscious travelers are on the rise, and sustainability isn’t just a trend but also a priority. In fact, 81% of travelers surveyed in 2021 said they planned to choose a sustainable hotel for their next trip. So, how can you tap into this growing demand for greener stays?

Start with visible green initiatives. Install energy-efficient lighting and reduce plastic waste by offering refillable water stations and eco-friendly bathroom products. These changes don’t just lower costs; they make a real impact that guests can see and appreciate.

Going further, think about incorporating locally sourced ingredients in your dining options, which supports local farms and cuts down on transportation emissions.Many guests today are willing to pay more for a sustainable experience, with 43% of travelers surveyed saying they’d pay extra for eco-certified accommodations.

Show off your commitment with certifications, like LEED or Green Key, which can build trust and set you apart. You could even offer packages that include bike rentals, access to green spaces, or discounts for guests who choose low-impact room cleaning options.

Conclusion

Growing a hotel business is all about crafting an experience that resonates with today’s travelers. From refining your online presence and using competitive pricing strategies to adopting sustainable practices and building partnerships with local businesses, each step strengthens your hotel’s position in a crowded market.

Remember, a solid strategy is a blend of embracing technology that enhances guest experiences and builds connections that keep guests coming back. Keep adapting to meet guest’s evolving needs and your hotel will not only attract new guests but also build a loyal community of return visitors.