Happy Cinco de Mayo! A holiday celebrating the Mexican army’s unexpected defeat of French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862, the day is sometimes confused with Mexico’s Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th. As with any other holiday, Cinco de Mayo provides ample marketing opportunities for a wide variety of businesses, the hotel industry included. Let’s look at a few rock star hotel marketing ideas to utilize on Cinco de Mayo:
Edit Your Content for Mobile
Don’t just promote Cinco de Mayo deals in traditional channels. Be sure to edit newsletter, website, blog, and other hotel content for mobile users as well. Remove all fluff, and keep in mind that those reading content on mobile devices tend to have much shorter attention spans. Think bolded headlines and bullet points for best results in mobile marketing.Use Strong Calls-to-Action
Avoid weak calls to action regarding Cinco de Mayo promotional content. Avoid bland calls such as “Book Now” or the dreaded “Click here.” Instead, go for wording sure to pique consumer interest in your support of the holiday, such as “Schedule your site tour on Cinco de Mayo and Receive 10% off,” or “Start your hotel adventure on Cinco de Mayo and get a free cocktail on us!”Identify Your Hotel’s Biggest Fans
Determine your hotel’s biggest fans and leverage the heck out of them. Fans include those who leave fabulous TripAdvisor and Yelp reviews, consumers who always like and comment on your social media posts, write great testimonials, etc. Treat such customers like VIPs--give them access to special deals and promotions during the holiday first, extending holiday room rates, providing additional amenities, and so on. Ensure it’s easy for your biggest fans to share even more love for your hotel during the festivities.Book Directly
Make booking directly through your website more appealing than using an OTA. Rates for OTAs are usually quite attractive, but remember that rate parity only applies to the exact room offer the OTA displays. Do a little outmaneuvering by offering a larger value for the same room using the same rate on this special day. Ideas include complimentary parking, free breakfast vouchers, dining discounts, and anything else that makes booking with you the obvious choice on Cinco de Mayo.Share Content That Answers the Right Questions
Remember, your audience’s top priority is “What’s in it for me?” Answer this question via hotel blog posts, email newsletters, and social media posts centered around the holiday’s themes. The ideal combination for all messages and content is that of hotel news and practical destination tips during this particular event. For example, when sending an email about a Cinco de Mayo package, include content such as “Top Five Mexican Restaurants in the City” or “Best Spots For Margaritas.”
Take advantage of these tips and you’ll be as golden as Mezcal tequila during this fun holiday.