What's Your New Year's Wish<span class="text-blue-500">?</span>

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Share your New Year's forecast with us!

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<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_275.png" alt="episode 275" class="wp-image-14560" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_275.png 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_275-300x300.png 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_275-150x150.png 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_275-768x768.png 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_275-620x620.png 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 275 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. I’m your host Pete DiMaio… and I’m Mackenzie Livernois and together (along with the team off camera) we’re the Boomsquad.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a reminder, every episode is also streamed live on YouTube and LinkedIn. If you’re watching us live, hello! If you’re listening, check out our episodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing">https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing</a></li>



<li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing">https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing</a></li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we’re going to be covering that most likely you don’t know about, GEO. Short for Generative Engine Optimization. We’ve talked about GEO being the death of SEO in the past, and what’s clear is SEO will never be “dead” but it will evolve, and evolve quickly, as technology and users change. So, knowing that 33% of US travelers use GenAI in some form for planning, how can today’s hotelier ensure they remain relevant in search… the answer is GEO.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newsaroos: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>European Hotel Group Challenging </strong><a href="http://booking.com"><strong>Booking.com</strong></a><strong>’s Parity Clause:</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/07/thousands-of-hotels-in-europe-to-sue-booking-com-over-abusive-practices">https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/aug/07/thousands-of-hotels-in-europe-to-sue-booking-com-over-abusive-practices</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">More than 10,000 hotels across Europe have joined forces in a class-action lawsuit against Booking.com. The claim? That Booking has been abusing its market power with restrictive ‘best price’ clauses that force hotels to match or beat the OTA’s rates on every other channel — including their own websites. Hoteliers say this practice is crushing their ability to compete, keep rates healthy, and drive direct bookings.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="532" height="490" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image.png" alt="" class="wp-image-14561" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image.png 532w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-300x276.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px" /></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1n5utaa/increased_direct_bookings_32_by_fixing_our_tech/">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1n5utaa/increased_direct_bookings_32_by_fixing_our_tech/</a> </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: What Is GEO? And Why Should A Hotelier Care? </h2>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What is GEO? If you don’t know, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. GEO is basically the next evolution of SEO. With search engines starting to lose market share to AI tools, the focus for your optimization efforts also need to evolve. We have a full article at <a href="https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/generative-engine-optimization-for-hotels">travelboommarketing.com/blog/generative-engine-optimization-for-hotels</a> where you can learn more, and today we are going to be dispelling some myths and sharing some specific ways you can ensure your optimization efforts are getting put to good use.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Part 1: What is GEO?</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Alright, let’s settle the score—SEO vs GEO. You’ve probably heard us talk about GEO on this show, but what exactly <em>is</em> it, and how is it different from traditional SEO?</li>



<li>SEO (Search Engine Optimization) has always been about one thing: helping your site show up when someone searches for something like <em>&#8216;hotels near me&#8217;</em> or <em>&#8216;best beach resorts in Myrtle Beach&#8217;</em>. It’s technical. It’s foundational. It’s all about rankings.</li>



<li>But now? We’re officially in the AI era—and with it comes GEO: Generative Experience Optimization.</li>



<li>GEO is the strategy that helps your brand <em>show up inside AI-powered search tools and generative engines</em>, like Google’s SGE (Search Generative Experience), Bing Copilot, or even LLM platforms like ChatGPT browsing plugins.</li>



<li>GEO vs SEO — not about ranking, but about being cited and trusted in AI-generated answers.</li>



<li>Quick examples from ChatGPT or SGE searches (“best family-friendly resort in Myrtle Beach, sc”).</li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="707" height="773" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-14562" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-1.png 707w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/image-1-274x300.png 274w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 707px) 100vw, 707px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Part 2: Why GEO Matters for Hoteliers</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>On average, every OTA booking costs a hotel 16% commission. GEO allows you to be found before a potential guest ever gets to the traditional search results.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Article quote: “With GEO, your content can show up directly in AI-generated responses, giving you first-touch visibility.”</li>



<li>Based on an August 11th TravelPulse survey:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>33% of U.S. travelers use GenAI in the travel process, compared to 22% in the UK, 19% in France, and 15% in Germany&nbsp;</li>



<li>Specifically, 19% of U.S. travelers have used GenAI to plan at least one trip, with similar figures in the UK (19%), France (30%), and Germany (16%)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Another survey by CloudAztra cites 35% of travelers in 2024 have used some form of AI when planning or booking a trip; this rises to over 50% among Millennials and Gen Z.</li>



<li>Years ago, on episode #87 of this show, we talked about how voice search would do exactly what we are seeing AI do right now.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Part 3: How GEO Works</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Traditional SEO is about climbing to the top of a long list of blue links, but generative search has changed the game. AI engines don’t give travelers 10 choices—they often give them one or two trusted answers. This isn’t just about ranking — it’s about becoming the default answer.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Machine-readable, structured content:</strong> making sure your website is technically clean and easy for engines to interpret. The right markup, structured data, and navigation is critical.</li>



<li><strong>Trust signals: </strong>AI engines weigh credibility heavily. Verified reviews, detailed FAQs, first-party data like room descriptions, and policies all of these show that your property is a reliable, authoritative source.</li>



<li><strong>Semantic markup: </strong>Schema and other structured data tools make your content more than just text on a page. They translate your amenities, rates, location, and reviews into a format that engines can parse and present with confidence.</li>



<li><strong>Real traveler questions:</strong> Gen AI engines are looking for the specific answer to specific questions, therefore you want to be as direct and conversational as possible in your content.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>More than just your site: </strong>AI Engines look at your overall footprint on the web, not just yoru site. All your listings play a role. In fact your booking engine is proving to be a major source of data. The nature of your engine, with real-time rates, bulleted room descriptions, and property information make it a very authoritative source, that must be optimized.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Part 4: Practical GEO Strategies</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Now that we know what GEO is, why it matters, and roughly how it works; let’s talk about some strategies you can use today to optimize your hotel:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Like always, content is king and GEO success depends on answering both branded (“Hilton Myrtle Beach”) and unbranded/event-driven queries (“family hotels near Charleston marathon route”). Event-driven searches are time sensitive, very high-intent, and ideal locations for AI overviews.&nbsp;</li>



<li>Test AI engines with prompts about your destination + hotel type to learn where opportunities exist.&nbsp; Most importantly, document your searches and results so you can gauge performance over time.</li>



<li>Create/update FAQs on your website that directly answer common questions in LLMs. FAQs are highly indexable by AI. Bonus points for making your FAQs very conversational and often updated.</li>



<li>Ensure your schema markup is correct for rooms, amenities, and reviews. While schema alone won’t make you a GEO Hero, when paired with these other recommendations, you’ll become an authoritative source.</li>



<li>AI, LLM, Generative Engines, whatever you call them, don’t “see” your website; they use a mix of traditional indexing, third-party datasets, citations, and more. Technical optimization is important, but so is being a member of the broader “community.”</li>



<li>Becoming a content hub and knowledge leader is a must; create a strong content calendar based on your search data. First-party insights, such as unique articles, reviews, guides, and more, make you valuable to not just AI, but your hotel guests as well…. Which is the ultimate goal!</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Wrap Up</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So here’s the bottom line: AI isn’t the future, it’s already here. Travelers are using it right now, and if your hotel isn’t showing up in those answers, you don’t exist. The good news is, GEO levels the playing field. When you focus on answering real traveler questions and making it easy for engines to trust you, you drive more direct bookings, build long-term authority, and lower your acquisition costs. Start small — test prompts, update your FAQs, and become the local expert your guests are already searching for. At the end of the day, GEO isn’t about chasing algorithms, it’s about serving travelers better — and when you do that, you win the search and you win the booking.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And don’t forget — GEO doesn’t replace your other marketing, it enhances it. The best results come when it’s working alongside your SEO, PPC, influencer marketing, and email strategies. Tie it all together, and you’re not just showing up in AI answers, you’re creating a complete guest journey that leads straight to direct bookings.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If your hotel’s website isn’t answering real traveler questions in plain English, you’re not just missing out on SEO — you’re invisible to Google’s new AI results.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As we talked about today, generative search is obviously changing the game. Instead of searching ‘Myrtle Beach oceanfront hotel,’ travelers now ask, <em>‘What are the best kid-friendly oceanfront hotels in Myrtle Beach with free breakfast and free parking?’</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">That’s the kind of natural language question AI platforms are pulling into their featured answers. So if your site doesn’t clearly answer those kinds of questions? You’re not showing up.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Start by building out FAQs on your top pages, use conversational headers, and create content that actually <em>helps</em> people make a decision. Write like you’re talking to a guest at the front desk.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A great starting place is to use tools like ChatGPT to simulate the questions your ideal guest might ask. Then go answer them on your site.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Generative AI doesn’t crawl — it curates. So if your content isn’t human and helpful, it won’t make the cut.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 275 – What Hoteliers Need to Know About GEO: Generative Engine Optimization

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_274.png" alt="Episode 274" class="wp-image-14529" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_274.png 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_274-300x300.png 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_274-150x150.png 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_274-768x768.png 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_274-620x620.png 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 274 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. Today we also have a special guest. Mr. Nick Escobar with our sister agency Joybyte.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a reminder, every episode is also streamed live on YouTube and LinkedIn. If you’re watching us live, hello! If you’re listening, check out our episodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing">https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing</a></li>



<li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing">https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing</a></li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hoteliers have largely figured the core marketing channels to maximize from PPC and metasearch, to OTAs, email, and SEO. Obviously the website is the foundation of online bookings.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">However, hoteliers typically have avoided what is quickly becoming a top source for both brand and direct bookings… influencer marketing. Why? Well, as one of our clients (John) puts it, “Influencers don’t deliver. They talk a big game but no results.”&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today, we’re going to dissect why John feels this way and with Nick’s help, we’ll explore:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>How influencer marketing actually works for independent hotels</li>



<li>Why most campaigns flop</li>



<li>And three things you can do <strong>today</strong> to turn influencer marketing into a <strong>direct booking machine</strong></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newsaroos: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Big Troubles In Sin City?</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-happens-vegas-apparently-nobody-wants-anymore-jenn-barbee-qgzuc">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-happens-vegas-apparently-nobody-wants-anymore-jenn-barbee-qgzuc</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-hotels-grapple-with-steep-occupancy-decline">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Las-Vegas-hotels-grapple-with-steep-occupancy-decline</a></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Occupancy down 14.9%, Visitors down 11.3%: June 2025 v/s 2024</li>



<li>July looking rough as well, though several big concerts have helped drive RevPAR</li>



<li>Avg ticket to the Sphere is $309, Resort fees of $50+/night, $20+/night parking.</li>



<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lasvegaslocally/">https://www.instagram.com/lasvegaslocally/</a> shared content where a bottle of water at Aria was $26</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the simplest terms, it comes down to money: between flights, resort fees and service charges, travel to Vegas can add up quickly. Convention traffic, a huge moneymaker for the city, has declined, and international visitors are also down, particularly from Canada and Mexico. (LiveNOW from FOX)</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd7CdguUrBiJK-yBqpUikNnMolVUdtj80nyRoQJPOryojAv8D_TJjmyZ_nxgIqST8GNdWnFgm56m9XR4cFl2tulcURDyUnPdqe7KHW1smwkZPsYn0qh-SV1RJweJHxf5zI6VFH_?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1mf135c/just_checked_into_a_resort_in_north_myrtle_beach/">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1mf135c/just_checked_into_a_resort_in_north_myrtle_beach/</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: The Influencer Playbook: 3 Simple Wins for Independent Hoteliers</h2>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">To kick off the main topic, we’re going to have a little Q&amp;A session with Nick and get a better understanding of influencer marketing for hotels.&nbsp; First and foremost, I’d like to get your thoughts on a question we get all the time.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">What is Influencer Marketing?</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>What does influencer marketing actually mean for hotels today? Does it really matter? It seems to be awesome for products and and how has it evolved over the past 5 years?</li>



<li>Lots of our clients are skeptical of the power of influencers. They get tons of random requests for free nights to “post to Instagram,” but rarely does this pay off. Are hoteliers doing it wrong?</li>



<li>How can independent or boutique hotels — with limited budgets — actually generate direct revenue through influencer partnerships?</li>



<li>On the flip side, how should larger hotel groups approach influencer marketing differently to get measurable ROI?</li>
</ol>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">Picking the Right Influencer</p>



<ol start="5" class="wp-block-list">
<li>With so many influencers out there — literally anyone with a phone — how can hoteliers separate the legit partners from the noise?</li>



<li>What red flags should a hotel watch for when approached by an influencer?</li>



<li>Are there specific social platforms that are more effective for hotel influencer marketing in 2025? (Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, etc.)</li>



<li>What are some common mistakes you see hotels make when running influencer campaigns — and how can they avoid them?&nbsp;</li>



<li>How do I protect myself from fake influencers or scams?</li>



<li>So sounds like it all comes down to having an actual marketing agreement. What should be included in a clear-cut influencer agreement before any content is created or comp is offered?</li>
</ol>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">3 Simple Wins You Can Do TODAY:</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks for the discussion Nick, we’ve all learned a lot today. However one thing we always want to do is leave our listeners with specific, actionable, things they can do now.&nbsp; So here’s the final question. <strong>What are three things every hotelier can do right now to help kick off their influencer marketing program?</strong></p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Create a short influencer brief &#8211; One-pager: who you are, who you want to work with, what you’re offering.</li>



<li>Understand why you want to work with influencers &#8211; we all want conversions and heads and beds, but think more strategically on how you can activate influencers &#8211; content for ads, email database growth, there are a lot of ways influencers can be a huge marketing partner.</li>



<li>Send 5 DMs today &#8211; Find 5 creators who’ve posted about hotels like yours. Start the convo &#8211; not the pitch. Make them authentically excited to work with you and give them an experience and, more importantly, an opportunity to show why your hotel space is worth the visit.</li>
</ol>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 274 – The Influencer Playbook: 3 Simple Wins for Independent Hoteliers

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_273.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14499" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_273.jpg 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_273-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_273-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_273-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_273-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 273 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. I’m your host Pete DiMaio, and I’m Mackenzie Livernois and together (along with the team off camera) we’re the Boomsquad.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We’ve said it on this show for years. No one is coming to stay at your property; they are coming to experience your area. Your property is just a necessity for the guest. (with the exception of a very few resorts). Therefore, your job as a hotelier is to be the conduit to the experience your guest is seeking. This is where experiential marketing comes in and that’s the topic today on episode 273.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a reminder, every episode is also streamed live on YouTube and LinkedIn. If you’re watching us live, hello! If you’re listening, check out our episodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing">https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing</a></li>



<li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing">https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing</a></li>



<li>Catch the show notes and more at <a href="http://travelboommarketing.com/podcast">travelboommarketing.com/podcast</a></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newsaroos: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Headline: Illinois Bans Small Plastic Bottles in Hotels</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.the-sun.com/money/14558850/illinois-hotel-law-plastic-ban/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">https://www.the-sun.com/money/14558850/illinois-hotel-law-plastic-ban/?utm_source=chatgpt.com</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Starting July 1, 2025, Illinois will enforce a new law, Senate Bill 2960, banning the use of small plastic bottles (under six ounces) for complimentary shower supplies in hotels with over 50 rooms, as part of the state&#8217;s efforts to reduce plastic waste. By 2026, all hotels, regardless of size, must comply with this regulation. The move aims to reduce the hundreds of thousands of single-use plastic items used monthly by large hotels, most of which end up in landfills. Major hotel chains like Marriott have already adopted sustainable practices by replacing small bottles with larger, refillable pump bottles, significantly reducing plastic waste. Illinois is not alone in this initiative—California began a similar ban in 2023, while New York and Washington will implement comparable regulations in 2026 and 2027, respectively. These measures collectively reflect a nationwide shift towards sustainability and reduced dependency on harmful single-use plastics.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1lc1qi4/whats_an_appropriate_timeline_for_a_hotel_manager/">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1lc1qi4/whats_an_appropriate_timeline_for_a_hotel_manager/</a> </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfkKkzVAhvZlYpZq4WR3n9K-3e7i77nnRnRwz_vY-6SCY6y2OgfiACVyu8i9ux3sJCrikk7F0t8voc4IgbN2mgISMSz0mlZCgZ614DDVdjro9LnsEvri8lIznUikd-o0HdkWKSQQA?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Crafting Memorable Guest Experiences Through Experiential Marketing</h2>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Experiential marketing is gaining traction as hotels seek to create memorable and shareable experiences for guests. From hosting social hours to collaborating with luxury fashion brands for immersive events, hotels are finding innovative ways to engage guests beyond traditional amenities. In this episode we delve into successful case studies and provide actionable strategies for hotels to implement experiential marketing initiatives that resonate with their target audience.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Experiential Marketing Fast Facts:</h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>73% of Gen Z and Millennials prioritize experiences over products,</strong> according to an Eventbrite report, and they are spending their money on memories, not material things.</li>



<li><strong>85% of consumer purchases are driven by experiential marketing,</strong> based on an EventTrack 2023 research report</li>



<li><strong>Social media engagement increases by 71% through immersive experiences</strong> according to a study by Splash and the Harvard Business Review</li>



<li><strong>80% of travelers are willing to pay more for unique experiences</strong> per a Booking.com sustainable travel report.</li>



<li><strong>98% of consumers create digital or social content during experiences</strong> according ot Statista. </li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It is clear that experiential marketing drives stays; however, very few hoteliers actually do a good job of connecting guests to the experiences they are seeking. This is a major opportunity for our industry, even for those who think they’re doing it well.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We’ve created a seven-point checklist for you to help make the transition from selling to connecting.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Your role is to enhance the guest’s experience authentically, not to exploit it as a marketing gimmick.</strong></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Experiential Marketing Hotel Guide</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Authenticity</strong><strong><br></strong>You’re not just a place to stay, you are part of the experience. Position yourself as the true local expert.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>First and foremost, you are not pretending to be the experiential expert for your area; you <strong>ARE</strong> the expert. Live it, breathe it, share it.</li>



<li>Take the time to deeply understand your destination: history, culture, cuisine, people, and nature.</li>



<li>Train your staff to be ambassadors of the area—not just for on-property service but also local insight.</li>



<li>Be passionate about your area and sharing your area with guests</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Curate Local Content</strong><strong><br></strong>Educating and inspiring guests before, during, and after their stay starts with great content.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Build evergreen content around themes like local history, cuisine, hidden gems, famous personalities, and annual events.</li>



<li>Understand why guests come to your destination (e.g., hiking, food, beaches, history) and develop content clusters around each.</li>



<li>Use multiple formats: blogs, videos, photo essays, guides, and downloadable itineraries.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Become the Local Concierge</strong><strong><br></strong>Move beyond the pamphlet rack and become the go-to source for unforgettable local experiences.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Create a rich &#8220;Area Guide&#8221; section on your website, integrating the content from above throughout, not just hidden in a blog.</li>



<li>Don’t add an event calendar unless you’re ready to update it, partner with a reliable source, or omit it.</li>



<li>Build partnerships with local experience providers: guided hikes, kayak rentals, ghost tours, yoga studios, wineries, etc.</li>



<li>Offer themed pre-built itineraries (e.g., Foodie Weekend, Family Explorer, Romantic Escape) to make travel planning easy.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Curate Your Hotel’s Story Through Design &amp; Detail</strong><strong><br></strong>Your property has a story. Make sure guests can feel it from the moment they arrive.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>How does your hotel fit into the fabric of the destination? Celebrate that through design and messaging.</li>



<li>Highlight your building’s history. Was it once a train station, post office, or someone’s home? Have a new building, what was there before?</li>



<li>Incorporate local art, photography, and furnishings that reflect the area’s character.</li>



<li>Include plaques, in-room materials, or QR codes that tell the story behind the décor.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Create Unique On-Property Experiences</strong><strong><br></strong>Give guests a reason to stay longer, connect deeper, and share their stay.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Avoid generic offerings, focus on what resonates with your audience and is authentically local.</li>



<li>Ideas include: live music from local artists, rotating food trucks, foraging walks, beach yoga, bonfire storytelling, or cocktail classes with regional spirits.</li>



<li>Tie experiences to feelings, wellness, wonder, nostalgia, joy, not just activities.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Get Hyper Engaged</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Engage socially on the channels that make sense (Facebook, IG, Reddit, TikTok, etc)</li>



<li>Let your social media be a resource for people coming to your property; this is not a sales pitch</li>



<li>Find potential leads by exploring nearby social channels</li>



<li>Use your guests’ UGC for better engagement and storytelling</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Connect the Booking to the Stay, and beyond</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Send pre-arrival emails with personalized suggestions and optional itinerary add-ons.</li>



<li>Offer in-stay communication via SMS or app to keep experiences top-of-mind.</li>



<li>The guest journey doesn’t end at checkout, it evolves into a relationship.</li>



<li>At checkout, surprise guests with a small local gift (like coffee beans, hand-poured candles, or artisanal postcards) to help them remember their trip, and your brand.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So if you’re running a boutique or independent hotel, experiential marketing isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s your biggest competitive advantage. You’re not just selling rooms—you’re selling memories, stories, and connection</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">And the best part is, most of these ideas don’t require big budgets—just intention, creativity, and a real love for your location.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">People buy benefits, not features. This is a common saying in sales and holds in hospitality as well. Premier Inn’s “Good Night Guarantee” doesn’t go into the boring details of thread count or mattress type, they highlight what the guest actually cares about, a great night’s sleep.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Focus on storytelling to create an emotional connection with your audience that connects the benefits the guest desires with the features you offer. Highlight the unique experiences and memories your property can offer to create a sense of aspiration and belonging that goes beyond price or amenities. Remember, people don’t just book rooms—they book feelings, moments, and experiences.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Audit your hotel’s messaging through the lens of delivering experiences and watch your bookings soar.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 273 – Experiential Marketing: Crafting Memorable Guest Experiences

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_272.png" alt="" class="wp-image-14463" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_272.png 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_272-300x300.png 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_272-150x150.png 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_272-768x768.png 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/TravelBoom_Podcast_Cover_Square_272-620x620.png 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 272 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. I’m your host Pete DiMaio, and I’m Mackenzie Livernois, and we’re the Boomsquad.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we’re going to peel back the layers of mystery around Metasearch and how your hotel can finally achieve success and clarity.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As a reminder, every episode is also streamed live on YouTube and LinkedIn. If you’re watching us live, hello! If you’re listening, check out our episodes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing">https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing</a> </li>



<li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing">https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing</a> </li>



<li>Catch the show notes and more at <a href="http://travelboommarketing.com/podcast">travelboommarketing.com/podcast</a> </li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newsaroos: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Marriott’s MOXY Brand Continues to Expand:</strong><br><a href="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2025/05/29/playful-moxy-hotel-opening-uptown-summer-marriott">https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2025/05/29/playful-moxy-hotel-opening-uptown-summer-marriott</a></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I just love this quote from their director of sales: </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>&#8220;We think this is gonna be a great place for people to pregame with quick little small bites (and) cocktails (before they head) out the door to …”</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Independents can take note of the fun environment and how they can learn from the direction of the industry giants like Marriott. But these microbrands make competing against the big guys even harder.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdKrPuEpAzg1kxLDsiu0QbuB1AA6aZLBZucIpvCBz1hJIOUxHQoeG-79npRBqo-MEYZ1aBP6WP543gyghXskLAK6J6qUaciO3Thm_1u9xfTyEmvxmAJ4Z0yiuFt-NqF6oxeVhcOuw?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Making Metasearch Succeed For Your Hotel</h2>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">First of all, you should already be heavily invested in metasearch. Typically, we find hotels that are either at somewhat of a loss on how to get started, or we find hoteliers who need a hand in running the campaign well.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to Expect From a Well-Run Metasearch Campaign</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Quick Overview</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Metasearch = showing your hotel rates across platforms like Google, TripAdvisor, Trivago, etc.</li>



<li>Goal: Capture bottom-funnel travelers comparing prices, and win the booking direct.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What success looks like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Increased direct bookings</li>



<li>Lower acquisition cost vs. OTAs</li>



<li>More qualified, ready-to-book traffic</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">What’s new in the last 6–9 months:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Smarter auto-bidding (AI-driven optimizations from Google and others)</li>



<li>Free Google booking links gaining traction</li>



<li>Attribution + conversion tracking getting more accurate</li>



<li>Cost-per-acquisition (CPA) which are based on a 10-15% commission have been phased out of the North American market.</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Two Paths to Metasearch Success</h2>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">Option 1: Third-Party Integrators (e.g., DerbySoft, WIHP, Koddi, etc)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These platforms connect your rates and availability to multiple metasearch engines and offer tools to manage bidding, tracking, and reporting.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Pros
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>All-in-one access: </strong>Seamlessly connect to Google, TripAdvisor, Trivago, Kayak, and more.</li>



<li><strong>Smart automation</strong> + optimization tools: Includes AI-based bidding, real-time feed syncing, dynamic pricing strategies.</li>



<li><strong>Agency-friendly control: </strong>When paired with a team like TravelBoom, these platforms give you the keys while automating the busywork.</li>



<li><strong>Detailed reporting &amp; attribution: </strong>Understand performance across all channels from one dashboard.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Cons:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Platform costs: </strong>You&#8217;re paying a tech fee in addition to your ad spend.</li>



<li><strong>AI bidding transparency:</strong> Some platforms don’t give you granular visibility into bidding logic—though this is often worth it for the performance lift.</li>



<li><strong>Slower onboarding:</strong> Integration, feed setup, and partner approvals can take weeks—not ideal for hotels looking to launch quickly.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">Option 2: Direct with Google Hotel Ads (GHA)</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Pros:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Full control </strong>over strategy and spend within your current Google Ads account</li>



<li><strong>No platform fees:</strong> What you spend on ads goes entirely toward media—great for lean budgets.</li>



<li><strong>Faster launch potential:</strong> If your booking engine supports GHA feeds, you can often launch quicker than with a full-scale third-party setup.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Cons:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Google-only reach:</strong> You’re not showing up on TripAdvisor, Trivago, Kayak, or others unless you add those separately.</li>



<li><strong>Higher technical involvement: </strong>You (or your vendor) need to manage feed setup, bidding, and troubleshooting.</li>



<li><strong>No advanced automation: </strong>Compared to platforms like DerbySoft, you may lack bid algorithms, multi-channel dashboards, or predictive optimizations.</li>



<li><strong>Ongoing campaign management required: </strong>Someone’s gotta babysit the bids, budgets, and conversion tracking—this isn’t set-it-and-forget-it.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Getting Started with Google Hotel Ads (GHA)</strong></p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Confirm booking engine compatibility: Ensure your system (like SynXis, Cloudbeds, or TravelClick) can generate a valid GHA feed.</li>



<li>Set up a Google Hotel Center account.</li>



<li>Connect your feed: Rates, availability, taxes, room types—all structured in Google’s required format.</li>



<li>Link your Hotel Center to Google Ads: You’ll manage bidding and tracking from there.</li>



<li>Launch a test campaign with conservative bids and monitor ROAS.</li>



<li>Optimize landing pages and conversion flow—don’t let that high-intent traffic bounce!</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Pro tip: Start with free booking links and scale into paid when performance justifies it.</em></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Four Things Most Hotels Aren’t Doing With Metasearch (But Should Be)</h2>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">1. Fixing Rate Parity First</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“If you’re losing the rate game, you’re losing the metasearch war—full stop.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Metasearch is driven by rate-first decisions. If your direct rate is higher than the OTAs, travelers will click on the cheaper listing—and you’ll be funding that click.</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Regularly check your Meet/Beat/Loss report via your integrator. GHA has a limited “participation” report if you are managing directly in Google</li>



<li>Work with Revenue Management to:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ensure rate parity, or ideally, a direct booking advantage.</li>



<li>Use incentives like flexible cancellation, room upgrades, or freebies.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Implement loyalty/member-exclusive rates to stand out without violating parity agreements.</li>
</ul>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">2. Using Dynamic Bid Multipliers Based on Date, Device, and Market</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Flat bidding is like driving with cruise control in a race—you’re not going to win.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Advanced campaigns fine-tune bids based on real variables:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>By stay date: Push harder during high-demand periods.</li>



<li>By device: Mobile users = high-intent, last-minute bookers.</li>



<li>By geography: Increase bids in proven source markets.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is how you maximize ROAS and avoid wasted ad spend.</p>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">3. Integrating First-Party Data for Smarter Targeting</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Your CRM is a goldmine—start mining.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hotels often overlook their most valuable asset: guest data. Use it to:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Retarget metasearch clickers who didn’t convert.</li>



<li>Suppress current guests or recent bookers to avoid wasted spend.</li>



<li>Push loyalty rates and tailored offers for returning visitors or logged-in users.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This is how big brands drive personalized performance—and small hotels can do the same.</p>



<p class="is-style-h3 wp-block-paragraph">4. Optimizing the Landing Page Experience</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Don’t send a ready-to-book guest to your homepage. That’s like hiding the checkout aisle.”</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">You’ve paid for the click—now close the sale:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Direct guests to a booking page pre-filled with dates and room info.</li>



<li>Ensure fast load times, especially on mobile.</li>



<li>Eliminate distractions: Make it easy to finish the booking, not explore the rest of the site.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Your landing page is where metasearch ROI is won or lost.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion:</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Most hotels treat metasearch like a checkbox. The top performers treat it like a competitive sport. Focus on:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Rate parity</li>



<li>Smart bidding</li>



<li>CRM-powered targeting</li>



<li>Conversion-optimized landing pages</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Master these, and your metasearch campaigns won’t just “run”—they’ll perform.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Alright hoteliers, here’s your 60 Seconds to Success—and today, we’re talking about the one thing you can do this week to boost your metasearch performance without spending a dime.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Check your hotel’s rate parity across OTAs and your direct site.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Open Google, search your hotel, and look at the price grid. If Booking.com is beating your direct rate—even by $1—you’re losing that booking. You’re also paying for a click that ends up converting for the OTA. Not cool.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, here’s the play:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Run your Meet/Beat/Loss report in your GHA dashboard or via your feed provider.</li>



<li>Flag any violations and bring them to your Revenue Management team.</li>



<li>If you can’t beat the OTAs on price, beat them on value—with perks like flexible cancellation, upgrades, or freebies exclusive to direct bookers.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Don’t let OTAs win on your own turf. Metasearch works, but only if you make direct the best option!</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 272 – Making Metasearch Succeed For Your Hotel

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-271.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14314" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-271.jpg 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-271-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-271-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-271-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Podcast-271-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 271 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. I’m your host Pete DiMaio, and I’m Mackenzie Livernois, and we&#8217;re the boomsquad.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we’re going to lend a hand to all those struggling boutique hotel owners who are trying so hard to market their properties in a competitive and ever-changing market.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Know what else is cool? This is the 1st episode of our new format where we’ll be live streaming to both YouTube and LinkedIn!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing">https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing</a>&nbsp;</li>



<li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing">https://www.linkedin.com/company/travelboommarketing</a></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Newsaroos: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Marriott Launches First Autograph Collection Safari Camp in Serengeti: </strong><strong><br></strong><a href="https://moderncampground.com/africa/marriott-to-launch-first-autograph-collection-safari-camp-in-serengeti-by-late-2025/">https://moderncampground.com/africa/marriott-to-launch-first-autograph-collection-safari-camp-in-serengeti-by-late-2025/</a>&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TravelBoom Insights:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>RV parks and campgrounds have seen consistent growth of 4.3% per year over the past year, with a market size of 10.7 billion.</li>



<li>In the past three years that number has accelerated to 9.3%</li>



<li>Luxury/Amenity Rich Parks: fastest growing segment</li>



<li>Glamping/Hybrid camping models are sought after</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1jtlf3e/booked_an_adults_only_hotel_only_to_be_defrauded/">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1jtlf3e/booked_an_adults_only_hotel_only_to_be_defrauded/</a> </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfqtnjLUHLbCM8hB3VCl3w_RuYzPXGzOy3WXnoocwxIzRAD0bu8kkJ5wzzKUy8WQjJYoeEb7CeH9GbErg5HgAfF-qKs0TE9TL0KG-pzKwkxaazcYB3OOpnYBKx2_Zxdc9x6eteINw?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: 3 Biggest Challenges For Boutique Hotels &amp; How to Solve Them</h2>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. Limited Resources (Time, Budget, Staff)</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Challenge:</strong> Boutique hotel operators often wear multiple hats—marketing, operations, guest services. With lean teams and tight budgets, strategic marketing gets deprioritized, leading to missed opportunities in CRO, email automation, or metasearch management.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Why It Hurts:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>With fewer marketing touchpoints, boutique hotels struggle to attract and convert direct bookings.</li>



<li>Time constraints = reactive, not proactive marketing = reliance on OTAs.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How to Solve It:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Outsource Wisely</strong>: Partner with agencies like TravelBoom that act as an extension of your team, providing agile, data-fueled campaign execution.</li>



<li><strong>Prioritize High-ROI Tactics</strong>: Focus on email automation, review management, and CRO—these drive direct bookings with minimal overhead.</li>



<li><strong>Leverage Smart Automation</strong>: Implement a CRM that integrates with your PMS to trigger upsells, abandoned cart nudges, and personalized offers.<br></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. Occupancy Fluctuations</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Challenge:</strong> Boutique hotels often see wide swings in occupancy due to seasonality, economic shifts, or event reliance. Many average just 62% occupancy annually—well below the 80% target needed for optimal profitability.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Why It Hurts:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Unpredictable revenue makes budgeting, staffing, and reinvestment difficult.</li>



<li>Low occupancy periods deepen OTA reliance and reduce RevPAR and ProPAR.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How to Solve It:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Create Off-Season Demand</strong>: Develop niche packages—wellness retreats, culinary experiences, and other unique events—to entice off-peak travelers.</li>



<li><strong>Use Behavioral Retargeting</strong>: Re-engage site visitors with personalized offers that fill gaps in your booking calendar.</li>



<li><strong>Tap Remote Workers &amp; Locals</strong>: Offer mid-week specials, extended stay rates, or “work-from-hotel” packages to stabilize demand.<br></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. A Crowded, Competitive Marketing Landscape</h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Challenge:</strong> Travelers have hundreds of options at their fingertips. Competing against branded chains and OTA-saturated listings makes it hard for boutiques to stand out—especially online.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Why It Hurts:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Without differentiation, boutique hotels lose out on price-driven searches.</li>



<li>The noise can drown out your brand’s personality and unique experience.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How to Solve It:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Focus on Storytelling</strong>: Use influencer partnerships and UGC to tell authentic stories. Remember: 28% of bookings are influenced by creators.</li>



<li><strong>Hyper-Local Content</strong>: Promote your connection to the destination—highlight local artisans, events, food culture. 46% of travelers seek local experiences.</li>



<li><strong>Optimize Your Digital Funnel</strong>: From SEO to metasearch, ensure your brand voice carries through.<br></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success: </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Audit your website, online listings, and printed materials to confirm accuracy. The Reddit story&nbsp; we covered today is a perfect example where a guest checked into a 21+ property expecting a weekend away from the kids, only to be greeted by kids doing cannonballs. Not only are you misleading your guests, you’re also opening yourself up to a huge PR nightmare if a guest feels particularly slighted.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So what do you do, or the person who knows your property the best?&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Make sure you have your policies and amenity set handy</li>



<li>Reivew your site</li>



<li>Review TripAdivisor, the OTAs, Yelp, Google, Bing, and other listings</li>



<li>Review your printed materials</li>



<li>Review your marketing guides for your social team, front desk, and anyone who speaks to a guest.</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ensure the experience you’re describing in your market channels reflects what a guest will enjoy.&nbsp; Not only is it a best practice, but it also makes you a better innkeeper.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 271 – The 3 Biggest Challenges For Boutique Hotels & How to Solve Them

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Podcast-270.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-14134" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Podcast-270.jpg 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Podcast-270-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Podcast-270-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Podcast-270-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Podcast-270-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 270 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. I’m your host Pete DiMaio, and with me today, I have Mackenzie Livernois, and Jeremy Razook. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">If you feel like you’re getting left behind by the AI revolution and you know you “should” know more, but don’t know where to start, well, this is the episode for you. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Hotel Marketing Podcast is now also on YouTube where you can join the cast, comment, and more. So remember to click that subscribe button and hit the bell so you’ll be notified of new episodes! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing">https://www.youtube.com/@travelboommarketing</a> <br></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1jieweu/luxury_hotel_with_no_hot_water/asasd">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1jieweu/luxury_hotel_with_no_hot_water/asasd</a></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdj4xVG6rIBCuYETdy7AtiYOQtDhB6Tny7JCrSUR4VCaurPz-2JzJE8973Zj3zUeOSBZZso5qfWZrkQVTo3KgxXXrOrHBbG85kNnXdIF6Ef2haexhtL-d2Otx0n-YJCX3VOGHmmgg?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: OpenAI’s ChatGPT 4.5 Aims To Revolutionize Hotel Marketing</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we are going to be looking at OpenAI’s ChatGPT specifically. CoPilot, Gemini, Claude, Meta, and other types of AI exist, but to keep this episode from being hours upon hours long, we’re looking at just ChatGPT.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Let’s do a quick catch-up on where OpenAI is with the evolution of GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer).</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>GPT 1 &#8211; June 2018</li>



<li>GPT 2 &#8211; February 2019</li>



<li>GPT 3 &#8211; June 2020</li>



<li>GPT 4 &#8211; March 2023 (when things start getting real interesting with live web data)</li>



<li>GPT 4o &#8211; May 2024</li>



<li>GPT 4.5 &#8211; February 27, 2025</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>The big problems OpenAI has faced include:</strong></h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Scaling Reason</li>



<li>Hallucinations</li>



<li>Lack of transparency&nbsp;</li>



<li>Lack of abstract reasoning</li>



<li>Cognitive biases</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>What’s new with GPT 4.5 (Orion)</strong></h3>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Much more natural conversations</li>



<li>Wildly expanded based on data</li>



<li>Reduced hallucination rate</li>



<li>Advanced multimodal capabilities</li>



<li>More models for more specific uses</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How Hoteliers Can Make ChatGPT Work Harder</strong></h3>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Best Practices</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>1 long chat is better than several short ones</li>



<li>Spend time on creating a great prompt</li>



<li>You have to educate your GPT</li>



<li>Spend $20!</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Understand The Different GPTs and Projects</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Different GPTs for different reasons (4o, 4.5, o1 and more)</li>



<li>Custom GPTs:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>When you need a specialized conversational agent capable of handling domain-specific questions, automating personalized tasks, or integrating external tools and data sources.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Projects
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>When your goal is to collaborate on documents, manage content creation, organize complex tasks, or support ongoing projects that require structured context and iteration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Deep Research Is Amazing</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Take advantage of the research capabilities and use a prompt that will set you up for success.&nbsp;</li>



<li>As an example:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>For this chat, you are a hotel digital marketing expert with 20 years of experience with a special focus on both independent hotels as well as leisure travel. Please create a research report detailing the past 7 years of how the search results page has changed and how that impacts the ability for hotels to drive direct bookings. Pay special attention to the growth of metasearch as well as how OTAs are potentially eroding the book direct rate by altering their commission rate, thus causing an issue of lack of rate parity. Please use bullets as much as possible for clarity as well as cite sources.<br>Timeframe<br>Geographc Focus<br>Level of Detail<br>Specific Sources</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Data Analysis</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>A paid subscription is critical here</li>



<li>Format spreadsheets appropriately</li>



<li>Ask for tables and graphics</li>



<li>You can even create slide decks</li>



<li>Uncover insights across multiple reports</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Beyond ChatGPT:</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Image Generation with Dall.e</li>



<li>Video generation with Sora</li>



<li>Using multiple platforms to check and optimize</li>



<li>Fun with Notebook.lm</li>
</ul>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion:</h4>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Things are changing and evolving faster than ever</li>



<li>Pay the $20</li>



<li>Dedicate time to learning GPT</li>



<li>Utilize best practices</li>



<li>Take advantage of deep research</li>



<li>Turbocharge your analytics</li>



<li>Expand beyond GPT</li>



<li>As Tim Peter says, “AI won’t take your job, but smart people using AI will”</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>(Each cast member has just one minute to share a tip or trick to make your hotel marketing more effective)</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It’s not enough to create content just to stay active online. To really move the needle, your content should be genuinely valuable to your guests. So before writing a blog or social media post, ask yourself: <em>Would this help someone plan their trip or get more excited about staying here?</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Focus on topics like:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Trip planning guides</li>



<li>Seasonal travel tips</li>



<li>Local itineraries or hidden gems</li>
</ul>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This kind of content builds trust, boosts time on site, and improves SEO (Google rewards helpful content, and so do your guests in chances of direct bookings). If it answers a real question or solves a traveler’s problem, you’re on the right track.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 270 – ChatGPT’s New Features Revolutionize Hotel Marketing

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Podcast269.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13906" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Podcast269.jpg 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Podcast269-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Podcast269-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Podcast269-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Podcast269-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 269 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. Today we’re revealing the big takeaways from our new 2025 Leisure Travel Trends Study.  As you may know every year we survey hundreds of leisure travelers throughout the US to better understand how independent hoteliers can connect and convert today’s discerning guests.  Get your copy today at <a href="https://www.travelboommarketing.com/research/2025-leisure-travel-trends-study">TravelBoomMarketing.com/2025Study</a> and follow along with us!<br></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXegMTGT4oUW8JG0nhFPBMGL6yAgQS6N1eRLzAFVb25hoohsz8kVy20TJP9M3eknmQnlSqQPOXGNfd-1goXnyJjBoTIkFUg3iMoB4fZAuFMjNRDgAxL1KNqAH5PMPxNCARTyyJc6Ug?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1ign2af/hookingcom_is_the_worst_booking_platform/">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1ign2af/hookingcom_is_the_worst_booking_platform/</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Key Takeaways From The 2025 Leisure Travel Trends Study By TravelBoom</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we are taking experts from the latest Leisure Travel Trends Study at http://travelboommarketing.com/2025Study </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">TravelBoom surveyed 500 travelers across the US, a nice cross-section of ages, races, incomes to uncover how hoteliers can better target and convert today&#8217;s decerning traveler.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Overall we identified 9 key findings that we discuss in detail in the study:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Price Sensitivity &#8211; how do rising prices impact decisions…</li>



<li>Personalization</li>



<li>Wellness travel</li>



<li>The importance of Local/Unique experiences</li>



<li>Online reviews</li>



<li>the role of technology</li>



<li>generational differences</li>



<li>Sustainability</li>



<li>The Role of Music in Travel</li>
</ol>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 269 – Key Findings From The 2025 Leisure Travel Study

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Podcast-268.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13760" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Podcast-268.jpg 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Podcast-268-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Podcast-268-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Podcast-268-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Podcast-268-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 268 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. This may be the 268th edition, but it is the very 1st one of the new year!<br><br></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Podcast Comments</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Sharing what fellow listeners have to say.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">I wanted to say hello and say I enjoy listening to your pod here in Australia. It has helped me in many ways in the last few years. Please keep it going. I recently moved from a PMS where I was managing an embedded payment product back to digital and distribution. Listening in again to you guys helped me get back in the groove </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Thanks again! &#8211; Duncan</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfd3gjYWuBywbDTHg06r3Sr19nOxUOP6umPCbIpNG1sHSpVoio8V0nGm5hdogaaMkiS0E2Lkn23fuQhyrYGRuJRlvchTprRyCegdntktjojaAxxJXvn938oKeqs_35-k2_fwmxp9w?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/askhotels/comments/1hw6ip0/rooms_with_no_window/">https://www.reddit.com/r/askhotels/comments/1hw6ip0/rooms_with_no_window/</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Search Marketing Predictions for 2025</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we are taking experts from a recent article on TravelBoomMarketing.com at <a href="https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy">https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">A Brief Recap of Top Search Marketing Trends + Milestones for 2024</h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>AI-Driven Search Dominance</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Google’s <strong>Search Generative Experience (SGE)</strong> rolled out widely, changing how search results are displayed. Generative AI provides detailed, conversational answers at the top of search pages, impacting click-through rates (CTR).</li>



<li><strong>SEO</strong> strategies have shifted to optimize for AI summaries, focusing on structured data and <strong>natural language content</strong>.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Content Focus: Quality Over Quantity</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Google’s <strong>Helpful Content Update</strong> further penalized thin or AI-spammy content, pushing brands to prioritize user intent, engaging storytelling, and <strong>E-E-A-T</strong> (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust).</li>



<li>Video and multimedia content increasingly dominated search visibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Zero-Click Searches &amp; Answer Optimization</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The rise of zero-click searches due to featured snippets, knowledge panels, and AI answers forced marketers to <strong>focus on brand visibility</strong> rather than clicks alone.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Strong Shift to First-Party Data </strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>With cookies continuing to phase out, brands began prioritizing <strong>first-party data</strong> to better understand user behavior and personalize experiences.</li>



<li>The loss of third-party cookies and stricter data privacy regulations forced marketers to adopt <strong>first-party data</strong> strategies.</li>



<li>Google pushed the <strong>Privacy Sandbox</strong> initiative, and brands relied more on tools like <strong>Enhanced Conversions</strong> and server-side tracking.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>SEO for Multi-Platform Discoverability</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Content optimization expanded beyond Google. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube were prioritized for organic discovery as Gen Z leaned into these for search queries.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Localized SEO Growth</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Local pack updates and the emphasis on <strong>Google Business Profiles</strong> became even more critical, with new AI tools enhancing local search personalization.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">SEO Trends in 2025, According to AI </h3>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Generative AI Becomes the Default for Search</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>AI-powered search engines like Google SGE and Bing Chat continue to shape search behavior. Optimization strategies will center around <strong>AI-generated summaries</strong> and enhancing visibility within AI-generated responses.</li>



<li>Marketers will focus on <strong>content structuring,</strong> schema markup, brand visibility (social media, review sites, influencer marketing), and efficient indexing (Google, Bing, etc.) to ensure their content/brand is featured in AI responses.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Voice Search and Conversational Queries Dominate</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>As voice-activated devices and smart assistants become ubiquitous, optimizing for <strong>conversational queries</strong> will be essential.</li>



<li>Structured data and natural language processing (NLP)-friendly content will become more critical than ever.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Visual Search Optimization</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Platforms like Google Lens, Pinterest, and Bing’s visual search tools will see widespread adoption. Websites will need to optimize images with <strong>alt tags, captions, and metadata</strong> for search visibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Video &amp; Interactive Content Gains More Weight</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Google and other search engines will prioritize <strong>short-form videos</strong> (like TikTok and YouTube Shorts) and <strong>interactive media</strong> to match evolving user preferences.</li>



<li>Embedding videos and optimizing for video search (with captions, keywords, transcriptions, and schema markup) will be crucial. </li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Local Search Evolves</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Local SEO will become increasingly AI-driven, offering hyper-personalized local results based on <strong>context, reviews, and user behavior.</strong></li>



<li>Itineraries in AI search will become new pathways to hotel visibility.</li>



<li>Businesses will be required to maintain a strong, uniform local search presence.</li>



<li>New features in Google Business Profiles, like interactive AI chat for businesses, will become key engagement tools.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Experience Metrics Take Over</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Google Core Web Vitals</strong> will evolve to include <strong>AI-driven experience metrics,</strong> measuring not just speed but also interactivity, design intuitiveness, and personalized UX.</li>



<li>Behavior analytics software like Microsoft Clarity will become increasingly important for providing key insights into UX experiences.</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong>Focus on Sustainability as a Ranking Factor</strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Google may prioritize content and businesses that demonstrate sustainability efforts, aligning with global trends toward climate responsibility.</li>



<li>As consumers demand more ethical practices, advertisers will incorporate <strong>sustainability, diversity, and inclusivity</strong> themes into ad messaging for stronger connections with audiences.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 268 – AI’s Search Marketing Predictions for 2025

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Podcast267.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13282" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Podcast267.jpg 1000w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Podcast267-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Podcast267-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Podcast267-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Podcast267-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 267 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. The Boomsquad just returned from the 2024 Hospitality Show in San Antonio, TX with some big news, and breaking trends.<br></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom Newsaroos</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Today&#8217;s news shaping tomorrow&#8217;s hotel marketing trends.</em></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>November Core Update: </strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/google-november-2024-core-update-rolling-out-38396.html">Google November 2024 core update</a> started rolling out on Monday, November 11. </li>
</ul>
</li>



<li><strong><a href="https://www.hotelnewsresource.com/article134203.html">Apple’s Latest iOS Update and What it Means for Email Marketing</a> </strong>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The travel sector experienced a notable surge in AI Overviews (AIO) presence, increasing by 700% from September to October</li>



<li>This surge suggests a growing interest in travel content, likely driven by users planning holiday trips</li>



<li>Travel brands should focus on creating content around seasonal travel, local events, and specific activities to capture AIO visibility</li>



<li>The trend towards more localized and activity-specific travel queries presents an opportunity for travel brands to create content that aligns with users&#8217; refined search intent5. Optimizing for queries related to local events, neighborhood attractions, and seasonal activities can improve relevance as AIOs focus on detailed, location-specific travel information.<br></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdEXjKeXvdeM5kwuWhK3cOjNMNFFCKnqlXAyq42IUraPeo6abVBABre_4fYBa0VCMWSMcrOYhzyXJtS-W_u8SB4xYLwg7Z8VwP2BTCQm7WjlbT_n_Qb7Es5kUZ6odtS1fldcgwE?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheFrontDesk/comments/1h24ajs/influencers/">https://www.reddit.com/r/TalesFromTheFrontDe`sk/comments/1h24ajs/influencers/</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Key Takeaways From the 2024 Hospitality Show</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we are taking experts from a recent article on TravelBoomMarketing.com at <a href="https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy">https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. SoARR (OTA Revenue Recovery)<br></strong><a href="https://www.soarrservices.com/">https://www.soarrservices.com/</a> </h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>What They Do:</strong> Each year, OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com, and Agoda make millions from unclaimed funds on prepaid bookings. Cancellations and early check-outs can cause this, and it&#8217;s easy for hotels to miss.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">SoARR helps hotels <strong>catch these missed payments</strong> by reviewing every OTA reservation four times a year, ensuring you get every dollar you&#8217;re owed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How SoARR Can Help Hotels:</strong>&nbsp;</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Risk-Free Pricing Model</strong>: No setup fees; Commission-based pricing</li>



<li><strong>Effortlessly Boost Revenue</strong>: SoARR claims that $15,276 is the average amount recovered within the 1st year of OTA audits.</li>



<li><strong>100% Accuracy: </strong>Everything from disputing refunds on non-refundable reservations, re-activating virtual credit cards and double-checking the math of EACH reservation, is handled internally by hand.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2. ResortPass <br></strong><a href="https://www.resortpass.com/">https://www.resortpass.com/</a> </h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>What They Do:</strong> ResortPass offers day-use access to luxury hotel amenities, enabling non-staying guests to access pools, spas, private beaches, fitness centers, and other hotel facilities. This creates a new revenue stream for hotels by attracting locals and travelers who may not be staying overnight but want access to premium services.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Resortpass partners with more than 1,800+ leading hotels and resorts including Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, Westin, and Fairmont. They’ve connected over 5 million locals and visitors to resort amenities since their founding in 2016.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How ResortPass Can Help Hotels:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Additional Revenue Stream:</strong> Hotels can generate extra income by allowing locals and tourists to enjoy their amenities, even without booking an overnight stay.</li>



<li><strong>USP through Unique Experiences:</strong> Hotels can offer exclusive day passes for experiences such as spa days, pool access, or fitness amenities, creating a unique offering for guests.</li>



<li><strong>Increased Foot Traffic:</strong> ResortPass can bring new visitors into the property, potentially converting them into future overnight guests or promoting F&amp;B and retail sales.</li>



<li><strong>Enhanced Brand Exposure:</strong> Partnering with ResortPass increases visibility, especially with local markets who may not have considered staying at the hotel initially.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. Relay Robotics <br></strong><a href="https://relayrobotics.com/">https://relayrobotics.com/</a> </h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>What They Do:</strong> Relay Robotics develops autonomous delivery robots designed to enhance operational efficiency and improve guest experience. These robots autonomously deliver amenities, food, and other items to guest rooms or common areas, reducing labor costs and improving service speed.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How Relay Robotics Can Help Hotels:</strong></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Operational Efficiency:</strong> Robots can handle routine deliveries (e.g., towels, amenities, room service), freeing up staff to focus on more complex guest requests.</li>



<li><strong>Improved Guest Experience:</strong> Guests enjoy quicker delivery times and a futuristic touch that enhances the overall guest experience.</li>



<li><strong>Labor Cost Savings:</strong> By automating deliveries, hotels can reduce labor costs while maintaining high-quality service, particularly useful in high-demand periods.</li>



<li><strong>Tech-Savvy USP:</strong> Using cutting-edge technology like robots can help hotels differentiate themselves as innovative and forward-thinking, appealing to tech-savvy travelers.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Bonus: Fill it Forward <br></strong><a href="https://fillitforward.com/">https://fillitforward.com/</a> </h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>What They Do:</strong> Fill it Forward is a sustainability-driven company that offers reusable, branded cups, bottles, and other containers. Guests can fill their containers at various refill stations within hotels, promoting eco-friendly habits and reducing single-use plastic waste. Their platform also tracks and rewards guests for their participation in sustainability efforts.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>How Fill it Forward Can Help Hotels:</strong></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Unique Guest Experience:</strong> Integrating sustainability into the guest experience—through rewards programs or branded reusable products—creates a memorable, socially responsible USP.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Sustainability Branding:</strong> By adopting Fill it Forward&#8217;s eco-friendly products and initiatives, hotels can position themselves as environmentally responsible, a growing value for guests.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Attract Eco-Conscious Travelers:</strong> Sustainability is a key deciding factor for many travelers. Offering refillable containers and promoting sustainability efforts can appeal to the eco-conscious market.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Reduce Operational Costs:</strong> By reducing the use of single-use plastics (e.g., water bottles, cups), hotels can save money on disposables and waste management.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 267 – The Hospitality Show Wrap Up

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TB-266.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12959" style="width:255px;height:auto"/></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 266 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. Today we have a big show where we’ll be covering the top trends to watch in 2025.<br></p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom Newsaroos</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Today&#8217;s news shaping tomorrow&#8217;s hotel marketing trends.</em></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Google Expands Travel Feeds in Search: </strong><br><a href="https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-expands-travel-feeds-in-search-ads/530571/">https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-expands-travel-feeds-in-search-ads/530571/</a></li>



<li><strong>Google Expands Pmax Assets:</strong><br><a href="https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-page-specific-assets-performance-max-447690">https://searchengineland.com/google-ads-page-specific-assets-performance-max-447690</a></li>



<li><strong>SEMRush Acquires Search Engine Land: </strong><br><a href="https://searchengineland.com/semrush-acquires-search-engine-land-447555">https://searchengineland.com/semrush-acquires-search-engine-land-447555</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXevKZvqAlCGzMwZQf4bjUbvByPKTirZCpdxBCYCZ-rPO9NcwbzdP5xMGTXppcWzeCAWsPjpmZDwx85EIYndzTQBwoTKQYWJ_NIbWUs2CCmtrZIgL1xoiUFzEcmilBza_IU2jzB1drL3zTJCJBKQyvj8FkRv?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1fuzzll/what_to_do_booked_5_star_property_because_of_its">reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1fuzzll/what_to_do_booked_5_star_property_because_of_its</a> </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Four Trends To Launch Your Marketing Foward in 2025</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today we are taking experts from a recent article on TravelBoomMarketing.com at <a href="https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy">https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/12-hotel-marketing-trends-to-watch-in-2025-elevate-your-strategy</a>.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4 ways to implement AI tools in your hotel marketing:&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">First and foremost, before you go out and buy new tools, make sure you’re utilizing existing tools with AI Capabilities &#8211; Many existing platforms, like Adobe Photoshop and Google Workspace, have AI features. Explore these tools and invest strategically in those that can optimize operations, enabling them to compete in the evolving market.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Once you have reviewed what you actually already have some AI tools every hotelier should consider:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>Integrate chatbots:</strong> these are not as confusing or complex as many hoteliers think.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>Targeted Advertising:</strong> ensure your marketing team (internal or agency) is working as smart as they possibly can and using the right tools to maximize ROAS.</li>



<li><strong>Sentiment Analysis:</strong> We spent some time reviewing how you can uncover insights into how your property is perceived in a recent webinar, which you can watch for free.</li>



<li><strong>Stay up to Date:</strong> Today’s breaking technologies will be commonplace tomorrow. Be sure to maintain a plan to research and test new platforms.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Wrapping up, it is important to maintain human oversight. AI should augment, not replace, human talent. Using AI for routine tasks allows more focus on refining creative direction. Human creativity remains essential, even as AI technology evolves.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3 ways to use influencer marketing:&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Take the time in 2024 to think about and plan your influencer marketing strategies for next year. Most hoteliers have not yet adopted an influencer strategy and this opens the door to huge first-mover advantages.</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Develop your influencer plan in advance of outreach and clearly define what your expectations are for any given compensation level. This is a business relationship and must have clearly defined deliverables.</li>



<li>Create an influencer kit, like a press kit, to help orient the influencer to your property.</li>



<li>Be selective in choosing your influencers. These people are going to be representing your brand and it is your responsibility to ensure you are partnering with ones that will elevate your brand throughout their ENTIRE social sphere (not just the post they create for you).</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Influencer marketing can be an affordable way to reach otherwise unreachable guests. Budget for comp stays, swag, and potential payments in your 2025 budget. Just like everything else, analytics are key and your influencer program must have measurable KPIs and returns.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4 ways to use hotel loyalty programs to drive repeat business:&nbsp;</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">65% of leisure travelers are influenced by loyalty programs, <a href="https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/loyalty-programs-for-hotels">https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/loyalty-programs-for-hotels</a>, and it will behoove you to research and invest heavily in a program for your property in 2025.</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Remember that for independent hoteliers instant gratification and perks are the most compelling aspect of a loyalty program.</li>



<li>The guaranteed best deal is the 2nd most important element of a program. Your rate strategy for rack rates, OTAs, and sales should all be factored in to ensure your member rate is the best available.</li>



<li>Personalization is one of the most powerful tools that loyalty programs make available to your property. Lean in to communicating with your members in the most personal ways possible.</li>



<li>Providing proper staff training is also key. Guests, particularly those on a loyalty program, want to be recognized, and giving guests the VIP treatment will lead to higher repeat visits as well as good old fashioned word of mouth advertising.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2 ways to connect with guests through storytelling:</strong></h3>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Tell stories that resonate with potential visitors by sharing UGC. Guests can relate more to real messages and envision themselves in your destination with user-generated content.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Plus, if you can do a good job soliciting and leveraging this content, they’re basically doing the work for you.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hotel marketers can proactively encourage guests to share their experiences on any platform. You can ask directly on your socials, or leverage tools like Flip.to or Crowdriff to incentivize sharing with rewards and contests.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Once you’ve collected this valuable content, make sure you’re putting it to good use. Sharing real guest experiences builds trust with your audience and connects a maybe to a definite.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A few ways you can do this is to add recent testimonials to your website or repurpose UGC on your own socials. Another option might be to embed Instagram feeds directly into your website to showcase recent stays.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Either way you’re reducing the amount of time it takes you or your staff to create content, you’re strengthening your connection with your guests and you’re enticing potential visitors to book a stay. Win win win.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success: Mobile-Friendly Website Optimization</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>60 Seconds to Success shares a tip or trick to make a hotel’s marketing or operations more effective. Can the cast beat the clock and share a tip before the buzzer?</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Today&#8217;s tip for hoteliers is to focus on creating a website that goes beyond desktop optimization. It’s helpful for hoteliers to think of their website as their “digital lobby”, which means first impressions are extremely important. Having a user-friendly responsive design ensures that visitors can easily navigate, read content, and view images, regardless of their device. This improves overall satisfaction and encourages longer visits, ultimately leading to a higher-converting site. Our research shows that on average, over 80% of website traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t set up for success for the primary device that visitors are using, you could be missing out on a large number of potential guests. There are a number of other benefits to having an effective mobile website too, such as increased engagement across social media channels through easily clickable call to actions and better performance in SEO as major search engines like Google prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their ranking processes.&nbsp;<br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 266 – Hotel Marketing Trends to Watch in 2025

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TB-Podcast-165.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-12931" style="width:255px;height:auto"/></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to episode 265 of The Hotel Marketing Podcast by TravelBoom. We’re now in the last quarter of 2024 and before we know it we’ll be putting our 2025 plans in place. So, before you kick off 2025, let’s talk about the biggest blunders you can avoid as a hotel marketer. </p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom Newsaroos</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>Today&#8217;s news shaping tomorrow&#8217;s hotel marketing trends.</em></p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><strong>WordPress v/s WP Engine Drama: </strong><br><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/29/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/">https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/29/wordpress-vs-wp-engine-drama-explained/</a></li>



<li><strong>TikTok launches search ads in the US: </strong><br><a href="https://searchengineland.com/tiktok-search-ads-campaign-launch-us-446927">https://searchengineland.com/tiktok-search-ads-campaign-launch-us-446927</a></li>
</ul>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">TravelBoom’s Room for Improvement: Fixing Hotel Failures</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>TravelBoom’s Room For Improvement uncovers the tough questions guests and hoteliers face every day and shares insights into how staff can connect and improve guest relations.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcw0XtmGwMwE8kyXFou400i3qzkcZ3lJ9b1BPbZ9KzbHol9bUAtAB5WtwtImPSOpOLCoLQXYWzzlTXupMDzr4sOGAkwLy6X511vfcjC7V5pgmTgkf1wRK993M_ZAHlHSQXG5yeoYfAfxgkIFKJ7xK6DkVcF?key=1hk1P--q5kMw_B9HnewtGg" alt=""/></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1flkfdd/what_would_you_do/">https://www.reddit.com/r/hotels/comments/1flkfdd/what_would_you_do/</a></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: Hotel Marketer&#8217;s Biggest Blunders</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">With so many moving parts and potential pitfalls, it&#8217;s easy for hotel digital marketers to make mistakes that could cost bookings and revenue. In this episode, we’ll expose the most common mistakes that can sabotage your digital campaigns and leave your hotel in the dust, and we&#8217;re going to rank the biggest blunders hotel digital marketers make.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Group #1 for Biggest Blunder:</strong></p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Neglecting SEO</li>



<li>Ignoring Mobile Optimization</li>



<li>Underutilizing Email Marketing</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Group #2 for Biggest Blunder:</strong></p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Lack of Targeted Campaigns</li>



<li>Inconsistent Brand Messaging</li>



<li>Not Investing in Content Marketing</li>
</ol>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Group #3 for Biggest Blunder:</strong></p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Ignoring Online Reviews and Reputation Management</li>



<li>Not Tracking and Analyzing Results</li>



<li>Poor Website Design and User Experience</li>
</ol>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">60 Seconds to Success: AI Review Summaries</h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>60 Seconds to Success shares a tip or trick to make a hotel’s marketing or operations more effective. Can the cast beat the clock and share a tip before the buzzer?</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Earlier this year, TripAdvisor introduced AI-powered Review Summaries, offering concise overviews of recent traveler reviews based on key quality attributes, such as cleanliness, value, and location. The initiative leverages AI to<strong> amplify the voice of travelers</strong> while maintaining authenticity.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While AI can greatly enhance hotel marketers&#8217; efficiency, it&#8217;s important to recognize and discuss its potential drawbacks. These review summaries may highlight areas of concern, but they also present opportunities for improvement.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hoteliers should <strong>lean</strong> into these overviews by regularly reviewing both the overall and attribute-specific summaries to gain insights into guest experiences. Use the negative feedback as a chance to improve. Remember these summaries are strictly driven by quotes from reviews, which ensures that they remain impartial and truly reflective of guest experiences.&nbsp;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Additionally, continue to encourage positive reviews by making it easy for guests to leave feedback across platforms. Incentivize review submissions and consider using SMS messaging, which can be a less saturated and cost-effective way to gather feedback quickly.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


Hotel Marketing Podcast: Episode 265 – Ranking The Biggest Blunders Hotel Digital Marketers Make

<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="alignright size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="1024" src="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-1024x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-13227" style="width:255px;height:auto" srcset="https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https://admin.travelboommarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/TB-264-scaled-1-620x620.jpg 620w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
</div>


<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Good day fellow hoteliers and welcome to a very big episode 264 of the Hotel Marketing Podcast where we’re going to be having an amazing conversation with the one and only Bart Berkey. Bart brings decades of hotel management experience, award winning author, host of “Most People Don’t… But you Do” podcast and TEDx Speaker.<br></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Connect with Bart Berkey:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.bartaberkey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>bartaberkey.com </strong></a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.bartaberkey.com/podcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Most People Don&#8217;t&#8230; Podcast</strong></a></li>
</ul>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Main Topic: What great hoteliers do but most people don&#8217;t. </h2>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>The information and strategies hoteliers need to succeed in today&#8217;s competitive market.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Special Edition Podcast 264: What Great Hoteliers Do... But Most People Don&#039;t With Bart Berkey" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mPEqjrhkrRk?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div></figure>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Submit your questions and topic ideas on Twitter to <a href="http://www.twitter.com/_travelboom" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@_travelboom</a> or info@travelboommarketing.com.</p>


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