Make More Money by Marketing to Locals
Mary Bowling | 6 February 2006 |
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When we think of marketing lodging properties, we usually think of attracting out-of-towners. However, making your hotel, inn, or bed and breakfast the first one that locals think of can bring in extra profits. Why?
Quite often, all that’s needed for a mini-vacation is a night or two away from a hectic household. The occasion may be an anniversary, a birthday, a short babymoon, a romantic evening, or simply a stress-busting tactic. Sometimes people just need a quick get-away.
Small disasters can strike - the furnace breaks down, the water pipes freeze, the house floods. What’s a person to do? Go to a hotel!
Events that bring family and friends to town - weddings, graduations, bar mitzvahs, sports championships, awards and similar occasions - often fill the house to overflowing, and out of town guests usually rely on their host for lodging recommendations.
Space, privacy and allergies are just a few of the reasons why visitors may choose not stay in their host’s homes. Once again, the local’s recommendation will make a big impact on lodging selection.
Local knowledge carries a great deal of weight among visitors. In tourist towns, shopkeepers, bus drivers, ski instructors and the like are asked daily about the best places to eat and sleep.
Responsible drinking sometimes means staying at a hotel rather than driving home.
When marketing your lodging property, don’t forget the locals! While their impact on your business may seem insignificant, the business they can generate can really add up. This is especially true if you are willing to offer them a discount or some other incentive to stay with you and, in turn, recommend your property to others.
Mary Bowling - Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.
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