How startups in the hospitality sector can improve their marketing strategy

Assuming everyone on your team is on the same page, there’s great potential awaiting startups in the hospitality industry. It all begins with a sound marketing strategy and keeping in line with must-have traits expected in the hotel business. Let’s look at some ways small businesses can thrive in this sector.

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 Firstly, it’s important that any startup put their money on a highly interactive, well-designed website. This is an investment in itself and is best done by a professional. It’s one thing to have a good social media team (we’ll get to that in a bit), but it’s another to have a fixed, attractive, and user-friendly online page that can be tracked regularly for performance and visits.

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Social media must nowadays be treated as a venue for improving customer service. It’s not enough that startups set up a page for the sake of online presence, but to commit a team to it. This team should monitor what people are saying about the hotel and its amenities, especially in comparison with those of direct competitors. It’s also a key platform for dealing with inquiries and bookings, as well as for posting alluring and hi-res photos of the hotel’s key features and areas.

Put the premium on customer loyalty. Loyalty trumps price any day. So instead of being too concerned with rates and extra incurred expenses, focus on quality customer service and add-ons to ensure that guests have a grand time in your hotel. Remember that they will keep coming back and eventually won’t mind the price if the service is exceptional. This also means never saying no to any customer request, as that only translates to customer disappointment. At the very least, always come up with alternatives for what clients want.

Private equity and real estate investor Tyler Tysdal is heavily involved in the Entrepreneur's Organization and is a recipient of the Denver Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award. For similar reads on the hospitality industry, check out this blog.