Key hotel digital marketing updates to stay ahead of the curve October 2024

As the final quarter of 2024 approaches, the digital marketing landscape continues to change rapidly. Major platforms like Google, Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn and Pinterest are rolling out innovative features that are reshaping how brands connect with their audiences. These updates provide exciting opportunities for businesses, especially those in the travel and hospitality industries, to enhance their marketing efforts, attract new customers and increase engagement.

In this blog, we explore the latest digital marketing trends from October 2024 onwards and provide actionable insights on how hoteliers can leverage these innovations to stay ahead of the competition.

Google Ads: Add image extensions to video ads

Hoteliers can take advantage of Google Ads image extensions in their YouTube campaigns to make their video ads more dynamic and visually appealing. By adding images, hotels can showcase other features such as room interiors, amenities, or special offers to grab attention faster. This combination of visuals and video provides more information up front, increasing the chances of clicks and bookings. It’s especially effective for mobile users, as visual impact plays an important role in driving action.
Meta: Direct communication with Click-to-Messenger

Meta’s Click-to-Messenger format allows hoteliers to create ads on Facebook and Instagram that lead users directly to live conversations through Messenger. This feature is great for answering questions about reservations, facilities, or special offers. Hoteliers can use it to build stronger relationships, provide personalized service, and even handle inquiries related to group bookings or event bookings. This direct interaction increases customer trust and speeds up the decision-making process, thereby increasing the likelihood of conversion.
TikTok: Create interactive marketing campaigns

With TikTok’s expanded interactive ad formats, hoteliers can create fun, engaging campaigns that invite users to participate in branded challenges, interactive polls or story-driven content. For example, a hotel could host a brand challenge to encourage users to share their travel experiences at the hotel. Not only does this increase engagement, it also allows hotels to reach a younger, more digitally savvy audience. Additionally, interactive content can create memorable connections, foster brand loyalty and increase the potential for viral success.
LinkedIn: Personalizing connections with business customers

LinkedIn’s dynamic personalized sponsorship messages allow hoteliers to create tailored outreach campaigns for corporate customers and target them based on their name, job title or company. This is especially useful for B2B marketing, where personalized messaging can significantly increase response rates to business meetings, corporate retreats, or company-wide travel offers. By catering to each customer’s specific needs, hoteliers can increase engagement and secure lucrative group bookings or long-term corporate contracts.
Pinterest: Partnering with influencers to deliver authentic content

Pinterest’s Creative Ads and Paid Partners allow hoteliers to work with creators to create visually stunning and authentic content to promote their properties. By partnering with trusted influencers, hotels can harness the power of organic storytelling to make ads feel less promotional and more relevant. For example, an influencer might share their stay at a luxury resort to showcase what makes the property unique in an authentic way. This increases credibility and helps attract a more engaged audience.

October 2024 brings exciting updates to major platforms that hoteliers can leverage to increase engagement, enhance personalization and create more meaningful connections with their audiences. From Google’s imagery in YouTube ads to TikTok’s interactive ad formats, these innovations give hoteliers new tools to attract attention and drive bookings. By adopting these trends, hotels can stay competitive, improve customer experience, and achieve better results with digital marketing strategies in the ever-changing travel environment.