The hospitality industry always has to evolve with its marketing efforts since its customer base changes periodically. Generation Z travelers have many different needs than Baby Boomers. So your hospitality marketing strategy that may have worked in recent years likely needs to be fine-tuned for this new generation of travelers. We’ve discussed some of the different ways this can happen so your business doesn’t get left behind.

Button Up Your Website

If you don’t have a good website, you can’t expect to get much business from a Gen Z traveler. They will examine your website from top to bottom, and will only spend a few seconds deciding whether you’re a candidate or not. Be clear and concise with your content without using a lot of words. You could even include a few images to break up blocks of text, and short videos are great for grabbing attention. You won’t be guaranteed to earn their business with a polished website, but you will be guaranteed to lose their potential business by not having a polished site.

Be Consistent With Your Online Presence

Your hospitality marketing efforts need to be consistent across multiple online platforms. These can include social media marketing, posting on travel blog sites, and more. The Gen Z audience wants to connect with brands and they will notice when your brand shows up in multiple places. When that happens, they typically seek out more information via social media and other resources. As long as you are consistent with your content writing and marketing, you can have confidence knowing the brand they see is the brand you want them to see.

Prioritize Online Reviews

Not many more things are more important to a Gen Z traveler than online reviews. Once they discover your website and brand, their next step is usually to visit hospitality review sites, Yelp, and others. This generation trusts online reviews before they trust advertising and marketing, in most situations. Ask your existing customers to write reviews for you on your preferred online platform so you can collect as many as possible. Be prepared for negative reviews as well, and handle them appropriately as they come in.

Highlight The Technological Features

Your hospitality marketing strategy must be focused on technology to attract a Gen Z traveler. They have had technology glued to their fingers ever since they were born, so you can’t expect them to enjoy time away without it. Whether they want to work on vacation or bring their gaming system, strong WiFi is a must. They will also be impressed by the use of smart keys to enter their room, smart lighting, and other similar types of smart technology. Older generations won’t appreciate these features as much, but you can bet they will stand out to the Gen Z traveler.

Build Your Brand By Utilizing Social Media Properly

Sometimes just being active is the best social media marketing strategy you can have. The more you interact with followers, the more your audience will notice and interact as well. People tend to visit social media to learn about the values brands stand for, rather than the specials they are offering. Keep your advertising to a minimum on social media and focus more on letting people know what your brand is all about.

Tell Stories With Your Content

The content writing you publish across all platforms should be consistent and attractive to your audience. Hospitality marketing is very visual with words simply filling in what potential customers should be feeling. Don’t be afraid to make emotional connections with your audience by telling stories about your experiences or experiences your customers had. This is a great way to incorporate video marketing as long as you keep the stories brief. 

Be Flexible With Amenities

Gen Z travelers want the power and flexibility to choose different amenities. This can include anything from flexible check-in and check-out times to various meal options, personalized features, and more. The more your hotel caters to a customer’s needs, the more likely they are to stay there longer. This will boost your reputation and your revenue simultaneously.

Offer Personalized And Customized Experiences

Building trust with a Gen Z traveler often comes down to providing personalized and customized experiences. Provide recommendations for them to visit during their stay that are diverse. Since you might not know exactly what their interests are, they will be impressed when you provide various options to consider all backgrounds. You can turn this hospitality marketing strategy into a win-win situation also by partnering with local restaurants to refer them to, in exchange for them providing a referral to your hotel.

With the hospitality industry constantly changing, it can seem like a major challenge to stay on top of the trends. You’ve got plenty of other things on your plate to worry about, so let our team at iwebcontent handle the digital marketing side of your business. We have experts in content writing, website development, social media marketing, and more to help you create a well-rounded business. We are ready to step in no matter what stage you’re at in your business, so contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our services.