Why is Hotel and Resort Photography so Important?
Learn why professional hotel photography is a necessary investment for your hotel.
If you like to improve and want your hotel to stand out. You want to leave your competition behind and become the number one hotel in your area.
You don’t have to be a highly trained professional marketer to get to know the importance of hotel photography.
In attracting new visitors, your hotel images play an essential role in your marketing strategy. Nowadays people tend the pay most attention to images than anything else.
According to a research dome by per Hospitality Net, after price, photography is the most important factor for travelers and prospects, after the price. Hotel photos play a role of 60% in decision making, whether or not a client will book a specific hotel.
Does your photo repertoire encourage clients to book straight away, or does it leave them a alternative-guessing?
Think as your customer. Imagine you have chosen the city you want to visit, you have checked your budget and know how to get there. By now you are pretty close, but the hotel is missing. Which hotel are you going to book? As you have your budget set, and start searching online, you will end up booking a hotel that fits your mood, is within your price range and has high-quality photos of the rooms and property.
Professional photos make the difference and are the first impression of your hotel – make it count. The images of your hotel give people the first impression and provide visual information about that atmosphere and what to expect.
When it comes to online presence – photography is a center tool for marketing. The visual representation of your hotel on your website or OTA listing is priceless, and makes the difference between a to book or not to book.
We like to advise hotel owners to highlight the following areas using photography:
The Guest Rooms
At least your rooms should be inviting and clean, for sure non of your guests wants to book a room that is anything less. But this is just a start you have to show off also selling features of your rooms, that can be a balcony, desk or seating area. There is nothing better than a good night’s sleep, show plush pillows and nice bed linens. The little details matter, may you have up to date shower heads and faucets. That are photos that can be included to properly showcase each room.
Restaurants and Dining Areas
If your hotel offers full service and has a on-site restaurant, that will be important for your guests as they will appreciate to have their meals on-site and don’t have to look and search for a restaurant in the area. If your chef may offer local specialties, this can be highlighted also.
Amenities
That can include indoor- or outdoor pools, gyms, parking, whirlpools , hot tubs, spas, saunas, childcare service, newspapers, all this needs to be photographed, further this can include whatever amenities you are offering to your guests.
Meeting and Event Facilities
May you have conference rooms, business center or a meeting hall, or you have offers for wedding groups then customers want to see clear photos on what you have to offer.
Reception and Hotel Lobby
Your hotel lobby is the heart of your hotel and one of the most important rooms in your hotel (with the exception of the guest rooms of course) and mostly has more than one function. This is the place to make every hotel guest feel special. Here you can show reception, waiting area, information hub, etc…
Recreation
If your hotel has a tennis court, is may offering bicycles, canoeing, badminton, Squash, etc. this needs to be included. As most guests will come from abroad, it’s important to show them what local attractions, sights, events and activities are nearby.
To show diversity you can show seasonal offerings to attract to attract a broader range of guests. Attract travelers with a lovely beach front or outdoor swimming pool in summer and a warmly decorated lobby in winter.
Add seasonal images
To show diversity you can showcase seasonal offerings to attract a broader range of guests. Attract travellers with a lovely beach front or outdoor swimming pool in summer and a warmly decorated lobby in winter.
Great Hotel photos drive Online Bookings
We already learned that in the guest’s decision-making process quality hotel photos play a solid 60% role. If potential customers like your hotel photos they are much more likely to book your hotel.
Various studies have shown that people booking online rely mainly on 3 simple factors when searching for a hotel: price, reviews and images.
Does your website have high quality photos of your hotel? Do your website visitors have difficulties to find out what you have on offer?
You will need great photos for a great OTA (Online Travel Agent) listing.
Online hotel booking is still growing, but if your photos are not as good as from your competitors, potential guests won’t book with you over others. Are you may already loosing money?
Conclusion
Photography plays a very important role in conversions.
Every hotel owner — whether it is a hotel managed by mom-and-pop or a large resort—should continuously update their image assets beyond the common standard photos so that their hotel catches the audience attention in a very short time.
With new online booking portals like Airbnb, HomeAway, FlipKey, etc . popping up, it will not getting easier to gain more bookings for your hotel.
Professional hotel photography is very important and plays an enormous role in hotel marketing and branding.
Your marketing and branding starts with stunning images they are the key and core for your success.
Photos drive your online bookings. Now, get support and hire a professional photographer to capture your hotel and get the right images to show your guests why your hotel is the one to choose.
READ MORE:
Hospitality Photography is a good Investment
Restaurant Photography can increase Sales
10 Hotel Trends for 2019 to Look for
20 Things you should know about Millennials
Future Global Hotel Trends
Hospitality in the Digital Age, what do Guests Expect
Hotel Photography for better Search Engine Ranking
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