February is the month of romance and Valentine’s Day is a holiday celebrated by all. St. Valentine was martyred in Rome for converting people to Christianity as well as secretly marrying Christian couples back in the third century. He was martyred on February 14th and thus Valentine’s Day was born. While the history and origin might not be widely agreed upon, it is a holiday recognized for love and devotion. Many have adopted the entire month of February as the “month of love,” and it is a popular time for couples to book romantic getaways. Keep reading to see how you can increase your bookings from these couples in love.
Top 5 Ways to Capitalize on Valentine’s Day
There are a number of ways bed and breakfasts, hotels, resorts, vacation rentals, wedding venues, and inns can capitalize on Valentine’s Day and all of February. Below is our list of the top five strategies to implement for a more successful and fruitful February.
1. Promote Giving the Gift of an Experience
Couples are always looking for great Valentine’s Day gift ideas; this is where you come in. There’s nothing more memorable than a getaway experience like a stay at a romantic boutique hotel or inn. It’s the perfect way to make a loved one feel special. Top it off with a romantic dinner for two, a couple’s massage, or a pre-planned excursion to create the ultimate getaway. Show your guests the wonderful experience they can have through all of your marketing channels, including your website, email blasts, and in social media posts. Then just sit back and watch your February bookings soar.
2. Feature Weddings & Elopements in February
Valentine’s Day is the second most popular day of the year to get engaged. While the glow of engagement is fresh with brides-to-be, heavily promoting weddings and elopements at your property is a key marketing strategy for February. Showcase gorgeous weddings at your property through blog posts on your website, and in social media; especially in photo-heavy ones like Instagram and Pinterest. You should also consider a unique Facebook Ad Campaign to target newly engaged couples. Check out our helpful tips on marketing your wedding venue.
3. Craft a Compelling Gift Certificate Page
Make it an easy choice for people to commit their money to your inn. Having a well-crafted gift certificate page which explains all of the reasons to choose your property is very important. You have an opportunity to pre-sell rooms as Valentine’s gifts, for special occasions, or just because. Be sure you explain that your gift certificates will never expire, don’t have any restrictions, and explain possible delivery options through clearly written details and instructions. Once again, show them the experience they can share when staying at your inn and exploring your town in a creative way, like with a quick video tour.
4. Develop Romance Packages
People want things to be easy! Take away the difficulty in planning a romantic getaway by offering unique and specialized romance packages. Below are a few successful romance package ideas that can be used in February and/or altered for more personal celebrations throughout the year like birthdays and anniversaries – the possibilities are endless! Make sure these packages are bookable through your online booking engine making up-selling a breeze.
5. Be Strategic With Your Yield Management
If you are starting to fill up on Valentine’s Day or on the weekends in February, make sure to increase your rates appropriately. An effective yield management strategy integrated in February will help your bottom line at the end of the year. White Stone marketing can help you come up with ideal price points for situations like this, so you don’t leave money on the table.
Turn Red into Green This February
If boutique hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, wedding venues, and vacation rentals implement the strategies above and reach the right target market, then you’ll be seeing lots of “green” this February! If you need help with your bed and breakfast marketing contact us today.