Hotel Marketing Strategies That Actually Drive Bookings

The days of relying solely on OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) and seasonal demand to fill rooms are long gone. In 2025, hotel marketing is all about experience-driven content, multi-channel strategy, and brand storytelling that makes travelers click “Book Now” before they even check the rates.

At Billy Boy Studio, we’ve worked with some of NYC’s most dynamic hotel properties—like Virgin Hotels NYC and their on-site destinations Everdene, The Riff Raff Club, and The Pool Club—to create hotel marketing campaigns that do more than look good. They drive bookings, build hype, and turn guests into evangelists.

So, what actually works when it comes to hotel marketing in today’s attention economy?

Let’s dive into the strategies that move the needle.

1. Start With Your Story

Every great hotel has a story—and it’s not just about the décor or location.

Ask yourself:

• What’s the vibe of your property?

• Who is it for?

• What do you want guests to feel when they stay there?

From boutique luxury to urban lifestyle to party-central rooftop getaways, your brand story should be crystal clear across every touchpoint. That story informs your design, your voice, your photography, and your guest experience.

At Billy Boy Studio, we help hotels build and refine that narrative visually—so by the time someone hits your website or social feed, they already know what to expect and want in.

2. Invest in Content That Captures More Than the Room

Beautiful photos of clean beds and nice bathrooms are standard. That’s table stakes.

To really convert in 2025, your content has to go deeper. Think about:

• Lifestyle photography with people enjoying the space

• Video tours that show energy and flow

• Social clips that highlight behind-the-scenes moments, staff, or food

• Event content if you host nightlife, brunches, weddings, or pop-ups

When we worked with Everdene, Virgin’s dining and entertainment space, we focused on video that combined the motion of cocktails being poured, the buzz of live music, and the diverse crowd soaking it all in. It wasn’t just hospitality content—it was aspirational living.

That’s what books the room. Not the pillow count.

3. Own Your Direct Booking Channel

Third-party platforms like Booking.com or Expedia are helpful—but they eat into your margins. If you want to drive direct bookings, your website has to do the heavy lifting.

We advise every hotel client to treat their site like a digital concierge:

• Clean, mobile-first design

• Sharp photography and optimized load times

• Integrated booking engine above the fold

• Social proof (reviews, press features, user-generated content)

• Special offers that only exist for direct bookers

Pair that with smart retargeting ads (we can help there), and suddenly your website becomes your most profitable front desk.

4. Don’t Just Post—Curate Your Social Identity

Most hotels post sporadically: a room here, a dish there, an event announcement once a month. But the properties that perform consistently well online are those that treat social media as a branded publication.

We recommend:

• Content pillars (e.g., rooms, food/drink, events, local gems, guest moments)

• Weekly content calendars

• Branded templates for stories and announcements

• Hashtag and geo strategies that align with travel and tourism

• Reels that blend cinematic views with raw, behind-the-scenes footage

When we took over The Pool Club’s social strategy, we leaned into a content plan that felt seasonal, spontaneous, and on-trend—while still professionally produced. The result? Follower growth, stronger engagement, and more RSVPs to on-site events.

5. Activate Your Space With Events and Experiences

A hotel is no longer just a place to sleep—it’s a lifestyle hub. Hosting events that align with your brand gives you built-in marketing opportunities and keeps your property relevant beyond the guest room.

Think:

• Rooftop DJ sets

• Cocktail masterclasses

• Wellness weekends

• Seasonal brunch series

• Holiday pop-ups

We’ve worked with hotels to create full event marketing playbooks—from branded visual assets to promotional videos, influencer invites, and content capture on-site. Events not only fill the room—they fill the feed.

Pro tip: If it looks amazing on camera, it’s probably worth doing.

6. Build Partnerships and Cross-Promotions

No hotel exists in a vacuum. Partnering with nearby businesses, artists, restaurants, and creators is a great way to amplify your reach and gain exposure with new audiences.

Some examples we’ve helped coordinate:

• A local florist sponsoring lobby installations

• Chef collabs with pop-up tasting menus

• Art shows and gallery nights

• Fitness classes on hotel rooftops or in suites

When these partnerships are captured through branded content and shared socially, everyone wins—and you reinforce your hotel’s image as a hub for something more.

7. Run Targeted Ad Campaigns (With Creative That Performs)

Once your visuals and site are dialed in, it’s time to get them in front of the right people. But your ads are only as strong as the creative inside them.

We build paid ad content for our hotel clients that includes:

• Scroll-stopping Reels

• Cinematic stills with copy overlays

• Offer-based graphics for discounts or seasonal perks

• Lead magnets for email list growth (e.g., “Get our NYC insider’s guide + 10% off”)

Pair those with well-targeted Meta and Google campaigns, and you’ll start seeing a clearer ROI than from passive listings alone.

8. Keep the Guest Journey Going After Checkout

One of the most overlooked hotel marketing strategies? Post-stay engagement.

A guest who had a great time at your property is already warmed up—so why stop at a thank-you email?

Ideas we love:

• Send them a video memory of their stay (automated from on-site content)

• Invite them to a return guest club or offer a discount for next time

• Encourage them to leave a review with a branded incentive

• Highlight their photos in your UGC campaigns

Every guest is a potential ambassador if you treat their memory like a marketing opportunity.

The Takeaway: Great Hotel Marketing Is About Energy, Not Just Aesthetics

People don’t just want a room—they want an experience. If your visuals, brand, and strategy align to communicate that clearly, they’ll book with confidence and tell others to do the same.

At Billy Boy Studio, we combine hospitality expertise with full-service creative—so your hotel doesn’t just show up online. It stands out.

📩 Ready to turn heads and fill rooms? Let’s chat. Visit www.billyboystudio.com or DM us on Instagram @BillyBoyStudio.