Marketing Products for Tourism

Hoteliers and tourist attraction managers must show potential guests that their attraction offers something the competitors don't.

Marketing to the hotel and tourism industry has one major goal --- getting word out to potential guests about what products and activities the hotel or attraction offers. With an industry encompassing everything from camping grounds to luxury hotel offerings to caves and theme parks, smaller offerings need to ensure their information is reaching the population in a way that draws visitors to them. Certain types of products make advertising and marketing the attractions and amenities more efficient.

Brochures

Brochures are bright glossy advertisements in pamphlet form. These are tangible pieces of advertising that hold important contact information and location information. They have text that describes what's special about the business and they have photographs that show a variety of people enjoying the offerings. Brochures are often displayed on racks that hold other area attractions' brochures. These racks are a good way for similar attractions to get the word out to potential guests who have certain interests.

Packages

Package offerings are one way for hotels, attractions and resorts to attract potential guests. Visitors to resort areas want the convenience of having activities planned for them and the discount pricing often offered. Often these packages involve family activities that are within easy driving distance of the main resort. Caves, theme parks, movie theaters, water activities, discount dining --- all are package activities that can be included with hotel accommodations. Often, potential guests will ask about what packages the hotel offers. Tourist attractions can also benefit from these packages.

Advertisements

Advertisements in travel magazines or regional and national newspapers have the potential to reach large numbers of potential visitors to the tourist attraction or resort. These ads are usually bright and colorful and offer photographs of people enjoying the resort. These papers often offer discounts to hotel guests or attraction visitors who book their rooms or tickets using certain codes that are printed in the advertisements.

Novelties

Direct marketing tools that increase potential guests' exposure to the resort or attraction include printed items such as t-shirts, pens, flying disks, magnets, toys and candy. These products are relatively inexpensive and usually have the resort's logo and contact information. They are often handed out directly by marketing associates at events such as fairs, bazaars and festivals. They are given out as promotional materials frequently and serve as a way to ensure a logo is seen at various times, even when a potential guest is not planning a trip. The theory is that when the guest does plan a trip, he will remember the logo on the pen or toy and be more likely to book at that resort.

Email Blasts

Email blast marketing campaigns allow hotels or attractions to reach every guest and potential guest who entered email addresses in the company website or contest entries. These blasts contain newsletter type information as well as information about certain specials. They may also offer package information or interesting human interest stories that relate to the attraction specifically. Coupons and discounts are often included.

References

• Lodging Hospitality: How Do I Market My Hotel?
• Gary Austin Advertising:Tips for Getting Hotel Promotional Products
• Hospitality.net: Developing an Email Marketing Strategy in Hospitality; Jason Price and Max Starkov