In recent years, Instagram has emerged as one of the most powerful marketing tools for businesses. With its massive user base and highly engaging content, it has become an essential part of the digital marketing strategy of many hotels around the world. Instagram Reels, a new feature launched in 2020, has further revolutionized the way hotels can reach out to potential customers and boost their bookings. In this article, we will explore how hotels can use Instagram Reels to enhance their online presence and drive more bookings. We will also analyze some relevant case studies to support our points.

 

Instagram Reels – What is it?

Before diving into the specifics, let’s first understand what Instagram Reels is all about. Instagram Reels is a new feature on the social media platform that allows users to create short, snappy videos, usually 15 to 30 seconds long, and share them with their followers. Reels can be created using a range of creative tools, including music, filters, and special effects, and can be shared on the Instagram feed, story, or explore page.

 

How can hotels use Instagram Reels to boost bookings?

Show off your hotel’s unique features

Instagram Reels is an excellent platform to showcase your hotel’s unique features and offerings in a creative and engaging way. For example, you can create a Reel that highlights your hotel’s stunning pool area or shows off your luxurious spa facilities. These Reels can help to give potential customers a glimpse of what they can expect when they book a stay at your hotel, ultimately persuading them to choose your hotel over others.

A great example of this is the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico. The hotel has used Instagram Reels to showcase its stunning beachfront location, luxurious guest rooms, and world-class dining options. Their Reels have received thousands of views and have helped the hotel to attract new customers.

 

Share behind-the-scenes glimpses

One of the unique features of Instagram Reels is that they can provide a behind-the-scenes look at your hotel’s operations. This can be an excellent way to build trust with potential customers by showing them the hard work and dedication that goes into providing a top-notch guest experience. For example, you can create a Reel that shows your housekeeping team preparing a room for a new guest or your kitchen staff preparing a delicious meal.

The Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica has used Instagram Reels to give followers a behind-the-scenes look at their resort. They have created Reels that showcase their beautiful grounds, the hard work that goes into preparing a room for a new guest, and the delicious meals prepared by their chefs. These Reels have helped to build trust with potential customers and have contributed to the hotel’s overall success.

 

Use influencers to promote your hotel

Influencer marketing has become an increasingly popular way for hotels to promote their brand and attract new customers. Instagram Reels can be a powerful tool to leverage the influence of popular social media personalities to promote your hotel. For example, you can partner with an influencer to create a Reel that showcases your hotel’s offerings and promotes your brand to their followers.

The Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills has used influencer marketing to great effect on Instagram Reels. They partnered with popular social media influencer Sarah Jessica Parker to create a Reel that showcases the hotel’s luxurious amenities and world-class dining options. The Reel received thousands of views and helped the hotel to attract new customers.

 

Promote events and activities

Hotels often host a variety of events and activities, such as weddings, corporate events, and outdoor adventures. Instagram Reels can be a powerful tool to promote these events and activities and attract new customers. For example, you can create a Reel that showcases your hotel’s stunning event spaces, highlights the unique features of your property, and promotes upcoming events and activities.

The Four Seasons Resort in Maui has used Instagram Reels to promote their outdoor adventures and activities. They created a Reel that showcases the resort’s stunning natural surroundings, including its pristine beaches, lush tropical gardens, and the oceanfront pool. They also promoted their outdoor activities, including surfing lessons, snorkeling, and whale watching tours. The Reel received thousands of views and helped the hotel to attract new customers looking for outdoor adventure.

 

Engage with followers and encourage user-generated content

Instagram Reels can also be an excellent platform to engage with your followers and encourage user-generated content. For example, you can create a Reel that encourages guests to share their experiences at your hotel and tag your hotel’s Instagram page. This can help to generate buzz and promote your hotel to a wider audience.

The Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay has used Instagram Reels to encourage user-generated content and engage with their followers. They created a Reel that showcases the hotel’s stunning coastal location and encouraged guests to share their own photos and videos of their stay using the hashtag #RCMemories. The Reel received thousands of views and helped to generate a buzz around the hotel on social media.

 

Case Studies

Let’s take a closer look at some case studies of hotels that have used Instagram Reels to boost their bookings and online presence.

 

The Ritz-Carlton, New York

The Ritz-Carlton in New York has used Instagram Reels to showcase its luxurious accommodations and amenities. They created a Reel that showcases their beautiful guest rooms, stunning views of the city, and their world-class spa facilities. The Reel received thousands of views and helped the hotel to attract new customers looking for a luxurious stay in the heart of New York City.

 

The Beverly Hills Hotel

The Beverly Hills Hotel has used Instagram Reels to showcase its iconic Hollywood history and luxurious amenities. They created a Reel that showcases the hotel’s stunning grounds, highlights its celebrity clientele, and promotes its world-class dining options. The Reel received thousands of views and helped the hotel to attract new customers looking for a taste of Hollywood glamour.

 

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico has used Instagram Reels to showcase its stunning beachfront location, luxurious accommodations, and world-class dining options. They created a Reel that showcases the hotel’s stunning pool area, highlights their beautiful guest rooms, and promotes their signature restaurant. The Reel received thousands of views and helped the hotel to attract new customers looking for a luxurious beachfront getaway.

 

Conclusion

Instagram Reels has become a powerful tool for hotels to boost their online presence and attract new customers. By showcasing their unique features, sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses, partnering with influencers, promoting events and activities, and engaging with followers, hotels can leverage the power of Instagram Reels to drive more bookings and grow their brand. As we have seen from the case studies, hotels that use Instagram Reels effectively can gain a significant competitive advantage in the crowded hospitality industry.