8 Christmas Marketing Ideas for Hotels

Are you eager to spread some holiday cheer and ramp up sales for your hotel, lodge or B&B this Christmas season? Look no further. Netflix will no doubt notify you of upcoming Christmas shows to binge . And with so many promotions from hoteliers and other businesses, it can be tough to grab potential guests’ attention. But fear not; we’ve got you covered with fantastic Christmas marketing ideas that will make your property shine. Implementing these tips will easily attract potential customers and boost your sales. Get ready to sleigh this holiday season with our top-notch marketing strategies for hotels and all accommodation businesses.

How Do You Plan Your Christmas Marketing Campaign?

Launching a successful holiday marketing campaign requires a well-defined marketing strategy. With a solid plan, keeping track of seasonal promotions and measuring their effectiveness becomes easier. Therefore, before embarking on any promotional activities, take a moment to identify your goals and the best way to achieve them. The most effective approach is to use the SMART criteria, which stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

If you want to boost your sales during the holiday season, setting a SMART goal is important. For instance, you can set a specific and measurable goal to increase overall gross profits from November 2023 to January 2024, compared to the same period in 2022. This new goal replaces the vague and unclear objective of just saying, “we want to make more sales”, with a more precise and well-defined target.

• Specific: Increase overall gross profits
• Measurable: Comparison with the previous year
• Achievable: Increasing gross profits during the holiday season is easier
• Relevant: The holiday season is the best time to sell products
• Time-based: Three-month period

Tis the season to unwrap the magic of Christmas marketing. Here are eight festive marketing ideas for Christmas to sprinkle joy and merriment into your strategy.

Eight Marketing Ideas for Christmas

1: Spread the season’s greetings on social media

The holiday season is the perfect time to share the joy of the festivities with your social media audience. By sharing festive content, you’re increasing engagement and reach and attracting new followers to your hotel; this results in a positive online reputation for your hotel. Spread the holiday cheer by posting pictures of your hotel’s decorations, from the lobby to the rooms and beyond. Share snapshots of your staff preparing the decorations or dressed in festive Christmas outfits. Remember to showcase your Christmas menu, too. 

To truly embrace the festive spirit, update your social media cover photos with images of Christmas trees, wreaths, or other iconic symbols of the season. Taking it one step further, why not send personalized Christmas greetings directly to your customers’ inboxes? This will spread joy and warmth and evoke fond memories of the holiday season. Finally, make their holiday season even brighter by including exclusive offers in your greetings. 

Discover how your hotel can leverage social media to increase engagement and bookings.

<Free Guide: 20+ Instagram Post Ideas for Hotels>

2: Make your website ‘sleigh’ with Christmas joy

Why settle for a basic website when you can elevate your guests’ experience with a touch of holiday cheer? And when it comes to elevating your guests’ experiences, no one does it better than RoomRaccoon and our Christmas content marketing ideas. 

Believe it or not, investing in some playful and festive elements can be the secret to standing out to Christmas enthusiasts. 

Imagine incorporating animated snowflakes, wreaths, and even beloved creatures like reindeer or snowmen; these small touches can help you create that warm and merry atmosphere for travelers during the holiday season. Trust us, it’s the little things that count — so don’t underestimate the power of these delightful embellishments to make your website shine. We are, after all, in the business of empowering hoteliers with our new and improved hotel website builder that’s easy to build and customize for all seasons and occasions. 

3: Show the holiday cheer with Christmas giveaways

This season, delight your guests by offering them amazing discounts to make them feel extra special. With so many hotels vying for attention, it’s important to stay ahead of the game by keeping tabs on what your competitors are up to — including those popular online travel agencies. However, make sure that your offers don’t cut into your profits. 

To make your guests feel pampered, consider offering deals on upgrades, dining and drinks, free attraction passes, and rejuvenating spa treatments. For ideas on how and what to upsell, check out this handy read on tried-and-tested upselling techniques. Remember, competitive rates can be a game-changer when it comes to winning over guests and revenue management. So spread the joy and make your property the go-to spot this holiday season.

4: Craft a Christmas email series

During the festive season, keeping in touch with your guests without being too pushy is important. That’s why sending out well-planned emails in December can be a great way to achieve this. Did you know that email marketing can provide a good return on investment, with 75% of companies agreeing to this impressive ROI, according to Hubspot? This means a well-executed email campaign can be a lucrative channel for your business this Christmas.

Organizing a treasure hunt could add festive fun to your website. Each day, a small picture of a snowman could be hidden in a different location on your website, and guests would need to find all of them to win a prize. Each daily email would provide a clue about the location of the snowman, creating regular touchpoints without any hard selling.

5: Deck the halls with festive decor

Making a great first impression is essential, and one way to do so is by decorating your hotel lobby during Christmas. A winter wonderland theme with white trees, twinkling lights, and a cozy fireplace creates the perfect ambiance for hotels in the northern hemisphere. In contrast, pine decorations with a fresh scent are perfect for summer destinations in the southern hemisphere. Adding decorations to common areas, such as fairy lights, tinsel, or garlands, can create a festive atmosphere during the Christmas season. 

However, it’s crucial to maintain elegance and avoid going overboard. Balancing professionalism and celebration is key, as too many decorations can look tacky or untidy. Consistency is the key to impressing your guests, so choose a theme for your Christmas hotel decorations and stick with it. Whether you choose a winter wonderland with whites and gold or classic green and reds, ensure consistency. 

6: Dish up a jolly hotel menu

One of the most exciting parts about the holiday season is undoubtedly the delicious Christmas food. It’s the perfect opportunity to offer guests extra hospitality by indulging in festive treats. To ensure that your guests have a truly memorable stay, it’s important to serve local favorites, especially if they are from within the country. Understanding the guest journey is crucial so that you can provide the experience your guests require.

You can also include traditional Christmas dishes like ham, turkey, cookies, and cake. You don’t have to offer everything, but having a few options ensures your guests are well-fed and content. These delectable dishes will leave your guests with happy hearts, and all hoteliers know a happy guest is a returning guest. 

7: Spin it with a wheel of fortune

As we approach this magical time of the year, your hotel has the chance to create an unforgettable experience for one lucky guest. One exciting method to achieve this is hosting an interactive and visually captivating competition to draw positive attention to your brand, especially when promoted through your social media platforms.

A raffle is an excellent way to organize this competition. Guests can easily fill out a form on your hotel’s website and receive an email with a unique numbered ticket for the opportunity to win exclusive prizes. Alternatively, you can incorporate a wheel of fortune where guests can spin and see what they’ve won. This will create a lively and enjoyable atmosphere for your guests and increase your hotel’s presence and brand awareness, ultimately resulting in a sincere appreciation for the unique and memorable experience your hotel provides.

8: Countdown to Christmas with an advent calendar

One of our Christmas marketing campaign ideas would be sending your subscribers an advent calendar — a special calendar that counts down to Christmas with daily inspirational messages and maybe a boxed treat or two for the people who engage and share your content on your social media platforms. Wondering what kind of packages you can gift? Here are six hotel package ideas for your guests. 

It’s no secret that both kids and adults eagerly look forward to receiving a pleasant surprise during the holiday season, but did you know that an advent calendar can also be a fantastic way to promote your brand and can engage your customers daily, build their interest and loyalty while spreading cheer and happiness. So why not give it a try and see the magic unfold?

Let’s Wrap It Up With a Festive Bow

We hope our Christmas content marketing ideas have inspired you to prepare for a fantastic holiday season with a winning marketing plan that appeals to the emotions of your potential guests. Incorporating unique elements into the festivities will leave a lasting impression and create a positive image of your property. Although offering discounts and deals can be helpful, it is essential to maintain a consistent holiday theme across your website and social media profiles. Above all, exceed your guests’ expectations when they arrive. With an effective Christmas marketing strategy and RoomRaccoon’s booking software, you can boost bookings and build a loyal customer base that will keep returning for more. 

With these tips, your hotel will exude warmth, comfort, and festive cheer, making your guests’ stay memorable. Ho Ho Ho, Santa’s in town!