19 Successful Social Media Marketing Ideas for Travel Destinations

1. Offer an incentive for guests to check in on FourSquare. Free 24 hour Wi-Fi access, perhaps?

2. Everyone loves contests and photos, so have a photo contest. Winner gets a free room upgrade?

3. Make it beneficial for guests to check in using Facebook Places. How about discounted Wi-Fi access?

4. Host a TweetUp or #tWINEup. Maybe a great opportunity to partner with the hotel bar or with a neighborhood restaurant?

5. Run a sweepstakes. A great way to grow your online following & build your mailing list… what’s the coolest giveaway package you can imagine?

6. Utilize your mailing list. Wouldn’t your customers want access to exclusive offers so they can come back?

7. Collaborate with local establishments. Doesn’t the saying go, “The more, the merrier?”

8. Ask customers to leave a comment on Twitter or Facebook with their experience. Why not choose a lucky winner or two each month?

9. Post a photo and play “Guess the Property” if you have more than one location. Maybe this will turn out to be a great conversation piece?

10. Give people a glimpse behind the scenes. How about a picture of a housekeeper making the bed or a smile from the front desk?

11. Create a “Things to do” list for your area to post on your website and as a concierge resource. Are your social media links at the bottom?

12. Cross-promote with other local establishments via social media. Don’t you want their customers visiting you too?

13. Create “The Suite Suite Life” envy blog posts to showcase what an upgrade would get ‘em in your hotel. Don’t you think they deserve an inside look?

14. Promote local events. Have you ever heard of promotional karma?

15. Partake in themes days like “Travel Tuesday” or “Wine Wednesday.” Don’t you love coming up with witty, retweetable quotes?

16. Utilize sites like Groupon or Living Social (Escapes). What’s not to love about direct marketing?

17. List your hotel & vacation specials with online discount sites. Are you thinking TravelZoo too?

18. Make sure your social media links are on every piece of marketing that leaves your office. Simple, isn’t it?

19. Celebrate Guest Appreciation Day. What kind of perks can you offer?