Great content doesn’t just inspire travel — it drives bookings, builds loyalty, and makes your hotel stand out. Whether you’re a boutique hotel, luxury resort, or short-term rental brand, content marketing is one of the most effective ways to connect with your audience and grow your business.
Video and user-generated content (UGC) are especially powerful. They help potential guests see real experiences, build trust, and imagine themselves enjoying your property.
Below, you’ll find 7 expert-backed, actionable strategies to elevate your content marketing and create meaningful engagement with travelers at every stage of their journey.
1. Harness the Power of Video Content for Hotels
Why Video Content Dominates Hotel Marketing
Video content consistently outperforms other formats in the hospitality space. Research shows that travelers are 4x more likely to watch a video about a property than read about it, and video content increases time on site and conversion rates.
Why? Because video builds emotional connection. From panoramic room tours to personal guest stories, it helps guests visualize the experience and feel confident about booking.
How to Use Guest Video Testimonials (and UGC) Effectively
Real stories matter. While polished ads have their place, nothing beats authentic video testimonials from actual guests. They showcase genuine reactions, build trust, and feel far more relatable than stock footage.
To collect these with ease, try video testimonial software like Vidlo — a simple, app-free platform where guests can record content via a link or QR code in just a few clicks.
Tools to Make Video Content Easy: Try Vidlo
Vidlo helps hotels and hospitality brands launch UGC campaigns in minutes. Whether it’s feedback after a stay or excited reactions from an event, you can collect and share branded videos that convert.
Check out real examples on our Hotel UGC page.
Pro Tips for Capturing Great Guest Videos (with Vidlo):
✅ Consent is built-in: With Vidlo, guest consent is automatically collected before they record — no extra paperwork or follow-up needed.
🎥 Brand it your way: Customize each video with branded overlays or visual effects to match your hotel’s look and feel.
💬 Keep prompts short & specific: The best videos come from clear, focused questions. With Vidlo, you can tailor the prompt so guests know exactly what to say — and say it confidently.
Where to Share Your Hotel Videos
Website: Add to homepage, booking pages, and FAQ sections
Social Media: Share on Instagram Reels, TikTok, Facebook Stories
Email Campaigns: Include in newsletters and post-stay follow-ups
Digital Ads: Use real testimonials in retargeting campaigns
2. Curate a High-Quality Hotel Blog
Topic Ideas That Attract and Convert
Blog content can attract travelers organically, position your hotel as a local expert, and support your SEO efforts. Popular topics include:
Local restaurant and activity guides
Upcoming events or seasonal happenings
Guest experience features and travel itineraries
SEO Best Practices for Hospitality Content
Make sure your blog helps your hotel get discovered online:
Target keywords like “Miami beach hotel itinerary” or “eco-friendly stays in Colorado”
Link to booking pages and video galleries
Optimize images with alt text and compress for fast loading
3. Leverage Social Media UGC for Hospitality Brands
Encourage Guests to Share Their Stories
Create a simple system that encourages UGC:
Set up branded hashtags (e.g. #StayAtSunset)
Promote photo/video contests
Provide in-room signage or digital prompts at check-in
Showcasing Staff Expertise and Hotel Experience
Your people are part of your brand story. Share content like:
Behind-the-scenes moments
“Meet the team” videos
Staff tips on local experiences
This humanizes your brand and adds authenticity to your feed.
4. Create Downloadable City & Experience Guides
What to Include in Hospitality Content Offers
Offer value by packaging your local expertise into downloadable PDFs or digital guides. Include:
Insider restaurant recommendations
Local activities tailored to guest types
Travel logistics, maps, or cultural tips
Promoting Guides via Video Teasers
Turn your guides into lead magnets by creating teaser videos:
Quick walkthroughs of what’s inside
Clips of experiences featured in the guide
CTAs encouraging downloads before a stay
- Clips of what past visitors had to say
5. Use Email Marketing to Share Personalized Content
Segmenting Audiences for Better Results
Don’t send the same content to every guest. Segment by:
First-time visitors vs. loyal customers
Special occasion travelers (honeymoons, birthdays)
Corporate or group bookings
Tailor messaging, recommendations, and offers based on segment behavior.
Embedding Video Content and UGC in Newsletters
Emails with video see higher engagement and click-through rates. Embed:
Guest testimonial clips
Recaps from recent events
Staff spotlights or welcome messages
6. Build Trust with Expert Interviews & Staff Spotlights
Featuring Hotel Chefs, Managers, or Local Partners
Use interviews to tell compelling stories that build authority. Ideas include:
Chef Q&As or recipe walkthroughs
Manager tips on getting the most from a stay
Features on local artists, vendors, or guides
Format these as short videos or blog articles to repurpose across channels.
7. Share Case Studies & Guest Success Stories
Demonstrate Real Hospitality Results
Nothing builds trust like a real story. Potential guests want proof — not promises — and case studies or guest success stories offer just that. These stories highlight the emotional and tangible value your hotel delivers and serve as powerful decision-making content for future travelers.
Types of stories to showcase:
✨ Before/After scenarios: Share how you helped a couple upgrade from a standard stay to a memorable anniversary weekend with surprise perks and personalized service.
💼 Event transformation stories: Highlight how your venue hosted a corporate retreat that led to increased team satisfaction and productivity.
👨👩👧👦 Family memories made: Show how a multi-generational family getaway turned into a cherished tradition after staying at your resort.
💍 Surprise proposals or weddings: Emotional milestones are highly shareable and relatable, especially with video testimonials attached.
EEAT: Use Data, Testimonials, and Media to Prove Value
To build Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust, make sure each story includes:
Experience: Showcase what your guests actually lived through. Use direct quotes, guest-submitted photos, or video clips.
Expertise: Explain how your staff, services, or offers played a role in creating the outcome (e.g., “Our concierge team crafted a custom itinerary for the couple’s honeymoon.”).
Authoritativeness: Tie in third-party validation, like TripAdvisor reviews, awards, or UGC content shared online.
Trust: Include clear data when possible — like post-stay satisfaction scores, repeat bookings, or conversion improvements from campaigns that featured the guest story.
💡 Pro Tip: Turn your guest stories into multi-use content. Create a blog post, pair it with a Vidlo video testimonial, and share a clip on social media or in a targeted email campaign. The story gets more mileage and greater impact.
Final Thoughts
Content marketing is one of the most effective tools hotels have to drive trust, traffic, and bookings. By combining blogs, social media, emails, and especially video and UGC, you can create a full-funnel strategy that works.
Ready to bring your guest stories to life? Try Vidlo’s video testimonial software to easily collect authentic, high-converting videos from your happy customers.
