This is where performance marketing changes the game. Unlike a slow-burn brand building, it delivers measurable, data-driven results that drive bookings, build loyalty, and create long-term revenue streams.
Profit in hospitality isn’t just about filling rooms; it’s about getting direct bookings and keeping guests coming back.
Stat Check: Hotels that optimise their digital marketing strategies have seen direct booking rates increase from 22% to 46% in a year.
Our Take: Performance marketing isn’t just about visibility; it’s about engagement. Yes, we care that your brand looks beautiful; we really do, but we would much rather focus on getting bums in beds, if you know what I mean. This is why we encourage retargeting past guests, personalising your offers, and implementing loyalty-driven campaigns ( and this goes beyond the complimentary bottle and the nice-smelling soaps) to ensure that every booking is a stepping stone to long-term revenue, not just a one-time transaction.
OTAs are a necessary evil, but relying on them as a primary booking channel is a losing game. The commissions are high, and the loyalty isn’t yours, it belongs to the platform.
Stat Check: The average OTA commission ranges from 15% to 30%, significantly cutting into hotel revenue.
Our Take: Hospitality businesses that invest in SEO, Google Hotel Ads, and targeted digital campaigns can bypass OTAs and take control of their direct booking pipeline. The difference? More revenue, better guest relationships, and no pesky middleman siphoning off profits.
In 2025, we will still be singing the same song: driving direct bookings to your website is the key to freedom from OTA fees. Isn’t it high time your pocket took a break from unfair commissions?
Guests expect more than generic marketing blasts. Let’s face it: the cookie-cutter method isn’t cutting it anymore. The right message at the right time can mean the difference between an ignored email and a confirmed booking.
Stat Check: Personalised marketing emails see an average 29% higher open rate and a 41% higher click-through rate.
Our Take: Data-driven marketing enables hotels to segment their audience, track guest behaviour, and deliver hyper-targeted promotions. If you haven’t embraced data-driven decision-making, what are you doing? You are spraying and hoping something lands instead of letting the data tell you what your guests want.
The difference between a struggling hotel and a thriving hospitality business isn’t the number of guests checking in today; it’s the strategy that ensures they keep coming back.
One-night stand marketing: Heavy discounts, constant ad spending, and a reliance on OTAs for traffic.
Long-term relationship marketing: A data-driven, performance-based approach that builds guest loyalty, increases direct bookings, and maximises lifetime value.
So, what’s your move? Keep chasing short-term wins, or start building a sustainable, profitable hospitality business?
Guest Experience is a specialist brand of Cannect Digital, which is a results-oriented digital marketing agency. We provide creative & authentic value to our clients by offering innovative digital marketing solutions, delivered by a committed and trustworthy team.
