Between seasonal travel, milestone celebrations and the growing demand for personalized experiences, hotel gift cards are no longer just a holiday perk. For properties looking to diversify income streams and create long-term loyalty, investing in a modern hotel gift card management strategy is a smart move.
NB: This is an article from Hospitality Solutions
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From luxury resorts to boutique inns, gift cards offer an easy entry point into your brand. The key? Making them visible, appealing and effortless to use. Here’s how to make it happen.
Promote gift cards across multiple channels
The best gift card solutions don’t work in isolation, they thrive when woven into your larger marketing and guest engagement strategy. Start by making sure gift cards are featured prominently on your website and booking engine. A homepage banner or pop-up can go a long way toward capturing attention from direct bookers.
Next, tap into email marketing. Include gift card messaging in post-stay emails (using verbiage like “Give someone else the stay you just had!”) and seasonal campaigns.
Social media is also a high-impact channel for showcasing experience vouchers and gift cards. Use Instagram Stories, pin them to your highlights or create a behind-the-scenes video of the benefits of gift cards.
Don’t forget your frontline team. Train staff to sell gift cards at check-in or checkout, especially during holidays or major events.
Leverage seasonal campaigns
Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, summer travel season or a local event, tying gift cards to seasonal moments can drive urgency and relevance. During high-volume periods, consider offering limited-time promotions, such as a $20 bonus card with every $100 purchase.
These time-sensitive campaigns are especially effective when amplified across your gift card solutions, email, and social media channels. And because gift cards often go unredeemed or are redeemed later, they’re an ideal way to boost immediate cash flow while keeping your brand top-of-mind.
Create experienced-based vouchers
A monetary amount is nice, but a curated experience feels personal. One of the biggest shifts in hotel gift card management is the move toward experience-based vouchers. Think: a weekend wellness retreat, a couple’s round of golf, or a “locals-only” staycation package.
