A Staycationers Paradise
Now that there is a set date for the re-opening of the hotel sector, we can start to look forward again. It will, of course, be a different time now than we experienced pre COVID, but this does not and should not change the main goal of any property, which is; to drive bookings direct.
Both Ireland and the UK have such a vast amount of beauty on each island. In light of restrictions in place, personal uncertainty and rules about quarantine, a staycation is exactly what customers could be searching for this year for their summer holidays.
Here are a few tips to ensure that you are capturing your piece of the domestic holidaymaker’s pie.
- Know your target audience and market to them i.e. families, couples, lone travellers, Golden Years etc. Ensure you are linking in with your digital marketing team to make sure you are hitting the correct demographic.
- Manage your content. Make sure that the pictures of your property are all updated and do your property justice. If timing is right, have a local listing and gallery of touristic spots near your property to show people why they should stay with you. If we are still in a time where tourist spots are closed, provide your potential customers with a flurry of information about your on-site facilities and be creative!
- Entice people in with your mouth-watering food and beverage offerings. If you have special offers, make sure these are promoted. Again, ensure your picture gallery is up to date – people eat with their eyes! The same goes for your Spa facilities – package deals to give your customer the best value for money.
- Consider offering discounts or loyalty programmes for domestic travellers when booking multiple nights stays. This can both entice people away from the large OTA’s that will cost you at least 15% per booking but it can also promote loyalty with your brand and the next time said customer is planning a trip, your brand website will be their first port of call.
- And finally, keep your customers informed and up to date on what measures you are taking to ensure the safety of your staff and of your customers. This will go a long way to ease peoples worry and let them arrive in your property with relaxation and normality in mind.
