The festive season is the most wonderful, and competitive time of year for hotels. With inboxes full and timelines flooded with Christmas offers, it takes more than glitter and good wishes to capture attention. To stand out and drive direct bookings, hotels need festive marketing that combines creativity with clear strategy. Here’s how to make your holiday campaigns sparkle and convert.
1. Start Early and Build Anticipation
The most successful festive campaigns don’t start in December. They begin in October or early November, building awareness before audiences are overwhelmed by seasonal noise. Tease your offers through early-access email campaigns or “coming soon” social posts. A countdown to your official launch date helps build excitement and signals exclusivity to your followers. Be ready to up your festive game at the end of November and once Black Friday Sales are taken down, that's when all thoughts and actions lead to the festive break.
2. Create Emotion-Led Campaigns
Christmas is all about emotion, connection, comfort, and celebration. Your visuals and language should evoke those feelings. Think “The Gift of Time Together” or “Where Christmas Memories Are Made.” Focus on experiences rather than discounts. Show roaring fires, festive dining scenes, or family moments in your imagery to help guests imagine themselves there.
3. Showcase Vouchers and Experiences
Don’t limit your campaign to room offers. Gift vouchers are an essential part of festive marketing and provide valuable revenue long after the holidays end. Bundle experiences such as dining, spa, or afternoon tea, to appeal to different audiences. Position vouchers as the perfect “last-minute” gift with instant email delivery.
4. Optimise Every Channel
Consistency is key. Your website, social media, and email marketing should all reflect the same festive branding and messaging. Create a dedicated landing page for Christmas offers and ensure it’s SEO-optimised with clear, mobile-friendly booking paths. On social media, combine promotional posts with engaging content like behind-the-scenes decorations, chef interviews, or festive playlist shares to humanise your brand.
5. Add Urgency and Measure Results
Limited-time offers work best when they truly feel limited. Use language such as “Book by 20 December” or “Only 10 suites available” to create urgency. After your campaign ends, review analytics, track traffic sources, email open rates, and conversion metrics to understand what resonated most. These insights will guide next year’s festive marketing plan.
A well-planned festive campaign can do more than fill rooms, it strengthens brand loyalty, drives repeat bookings, and keeps your hotel top of mind long after the decorations come down.
At Aró Digital Strategy, we help hotels create seasonal marketing that blends creativity, data, and design, delivering measurable results that last beyond Christmas.