Tips and tricks for hotels and hospitality marketers using social media to drive traffic and build relationships with their guests.

1. Social Media & Hospitality
Prepared for HP Hotels

2. Introductions

3. Why Social Media?

4. Social Media Shaping Travel Decisions
• Availability of information via different channels
of social media has changed hospitality marketing.
• Real-time decisions are being made using social
media more than any other consumer category –
and it’s growing.
• As a hotel, how can you use social media to drive
traffic, engage with customers and find new
prospects?

5. People are talking about travel
• Review sites are the main hub of those
conversations: Orbitz, Expedia, TripAdvisor,
Priceline, Yelp, Travelocity.
• Different conversations are happening in
different places
• Blogs – Personal travel experiences
• Forums – Seeking specific answers
• Social Networks – Connections and referrals
• Twitter – Property discounts and dialogue

6. 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Use Social Media
1. It takes effort.
2. It can be hard to digest.
4. You will not become “Internet Famous.”
3. It’s a distraction.
5. Because it’s trendy.

7. 5 Reasons You Should Use Social Media
1. Your customers already are.
2. So are your prospects . . .
4. It’s the world’s largest focus group.
3. And your competition.
5. Because it’s free.

8. Survival

9. Don’t burst in screaming

10. You are a person

11. Bring Something

12. Listen more than you talk

13. Don’t drink too much

14. Don’t focus on the popular guy (or girl)

15. Make meaningful connections

16. Have fun

17. Virtual Visits

18. Why Virtual Visits? In a world where . . .
=

19. What’s more believable? This . . . .

20. . . . Or this?

21. . . . Or authentic customer reviews?

22. Talking Tools

23. What is Twitter?
• Twitter is a free social networking and micro-
blogging service that allows users to post and
read other users’ updates (Tweets).
• Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140
characters or less that are displayed on the
user’s profile page and delivered to other users
who are following them.
• Tweets can be sent via the Twitter website or
any number of devices and third-party
applications.

24. Why should I care about Twitter?
• Engagement
• Education
• Real-time Access
• Branding

25. Tweetdeck

26. Facebook (for your hotel)
• Opportunities for engagement
• Fan photos
• Fan videos
• Contests
• Opportunities for exposure
• Interviews with staff
• Photos from events
• Unique content, like places to visit nearby
• Be a Page, not a Person (or a Group)

27. Post regularly, but add value each time

28. Your staff are people, too

29. Showcase your personality

30. Share the excitement

31. Engage your fans

32. Support your community

33. Link to fun (but relevant) places

34. In Summary
• Yes, social media influences actual travelers
making actual decisions
• You should be active on Facebook and Twitter,
connecting to customers and prospects . . .
along with your staff
• Listen . . . before you talk
• Proper tools and training can help you
maximize resources and social engagement

35. Contact Us
Jeff Goldscher
Executive Vice President, Marketing & Creative
Aquarius SE
(240) 547-3492 (o)
(240) 475-8174 (m)
@jgoldscher
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jgoldscher
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