It’s becoming increasingly more common for people to first open up Instagram to look for a brand, destination, or other content before heading to a search engine to find this information and with changing consumer behaviors, it’s more important than ever for hotel brands to have an Instagram and be producing content that people are looking for.

According to Instagram, 80% of users say they follow at least one business on the app, with 60% hearing about a product and service through the platform. As of March 2017, over 120 million Instagram users visited a website, got directions, called a business, emailed or direct messaged a business.

Now, more than ever, hotel brands have the opportunity to reach potential guests through the platform and increase their awareness and following. Below are some ideas you can steal to elevate your Instagram presence and get the likes rolling in.

1. Showcase the best of your destination.

Give your followers inside tips and suggest hidden gems found only in your destination. With different cities providing unique experiences for everyone, hotels can utilize Instagram to guide potential guests’ trips.

Tilden Hotel in San Francisco has a feed full of beautiful imagery from the city as well as suggestions for delicious brunch spots and amazing happy hour locations. They opt to share content created by guests as well, which brings even more people to their Instagram page.

2. Appeal to the foodie in everyone.

No Instagram feed is complete without a few good food pictures. Hotels typically have ample opportunities for great food shots with their restaurant and lounge offerings. Even hotels without on-site dining have the option to source content from nearby hotspots in order to attract Instagram users to their feed.

The Maven Hotel in Denver uses snaps from their favorite spots to show off the diverse food offerings the city has to offer. With food being a big part of the travel experience, it’s a great way to attract foodies to stay at your hotel.

3. Kill ‘em with cuteness.

Who can resist an adorable snap of a puppy or baby sea turtle? Catch the eye of everyone on Instagram with a fail-proof animal picture. Pet-friendly hotels can capitalize on this by letting everyone who lands on their page know that dogs are welcome. Even hotels without pet rooms can share snaps of any wildlife that might be nearby and attract the attention of animal lovers.

The Four Seasons is known for their luxury accommodations, but they also love sharing adorable animal shots on their Instagram feed. With properties all over the world, they share the cutest critters in each destination.

4. Up your aesthetic with flat lay shots.

One of the trendiest shots of recent has been the flat layout, shot from above. These images usually do not include people, just objects. This layout is an interesting way to showcase items, food, and more.

St. Regis Hotels uses this layout to show a relaxing bubble bath from above, a decadent array of chocolates, and a delicious breakfast in bed. Showcase your best features from a new angle to give your Instagram some flair.

5. Take followers behind-the-scenes.

With a strong focus on culinary experiences, The Resort at Pedregal takes their Instagram followers into the kitchen with videos of culinary classes and their chefs doing what they do best. This gives followers an inside scoop on what happens behind the scenes and can help better connect users to the brand. They also share videos before and after events, which can lead to an increase in buzz and catch the attention of those scrolling through their Instagram feed.

Now, it’s time to take the above ideas and map out an Instagram strategy with your in-house marketing team or digital marketing agency partner. Brainstorming and creating content calendars is a great place to start. With the right strategy and a little creativity, you’ll see the likes start rolling in.

ABOUT HEBS DIGITAL:
Founded in 2001, the firm is headquartered in New York City and has global offices in Las Vegas, Tallinn, Munich, and Asia-Pacific. Through its Smart Guest Acquisition Suite, including the smartCMS®, Smart Personalization Engine, Smart Data Marketing, and full-service digital consulting and marketing solutions, HEBS Digital helps hoteliers drastically boost direct bookings, lower distribution costs, and increase the lifetime value of guests. Its diverse client portfolio consists of top-tier luxury and boutique hotel chains, independent hotels, resorts and casinos, franchised properties and hotel management companies, convention centers, spas, restaurants, DMO and tourist offices.

Part of NextGuest Technologies, HEBS Digital and Serenata CRM, the most comprehensive Hotel CRM Suite today, are the creators of the hospitality industry’s first Fully-Integrated Guest Engagement & Acquisition Platform.

Contact HEBS Digital’s consultants at 1 (800) 649-5076 (North America), +64 (0) 9 889 8489 (Asia Pacific) or success@hebsdigital.com / www.hebsdigital.com