When you’re spending money on a luxury hotel, you want it to meet your expectations. That’s why modern travelers increasingly want better visuals on online booking sites to get a clearer picture of what a hotel has to offer. In response, top hotels are using 360-degree visual tours as part of their marketing efforts. Travelers can take a closer look, and they may be less likely to book through online travel agencies, which helps hotels’ revenue.
If you run a hotel, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn how hotels can use 360 tours to drive more direct bookings.
Showcase What You Offer
You want to do more than capture footage of each hotel room when you’re building a 360 tour. You want to curate a visit that helps potential guests see how they’ll interact with a space. Create a list of shots to include so you can weave together cohesive footage that tells the story of your luxury hotel.
Show the lobby first, for instance, to help guests see where they’ll check in. Move to common areas and amenities, like a pool or exercise room. Feature your top suites and showcase spectacular views from a balcony or patio. If you’re situated near a beach or city center, use your tour to demonstrate the proximity. Ultimately, you want to entice viewers to see your hotel as unique and worthy of a vacation booking.
Produce a High-Quality Tour
As with any visual marketing effort, quality matters. And you don’t have time to invest in a complicated video production. Sometimes, it’s smarter to partner with an experienced company rather than trying to tackle a guided video tour yourself. With Giraffe360, for instance, you’ll gain access to a specialized camera, floor plans, and clear video walkthrough derived from scans. In short, you’ll be able to craft a professional video tour that helps your hotel appeal to potential guests.
Additionally, make sure your 360 tour looks good on mobile devices. It should load quickly for travelers without a lot of time to wait. They should be able to swipe through images and take the virtual tour without interruptions from pop-up ads. Make it easy for potential guests to become actual guests by clicking on a booking link, too.
Encourage Booking Through Smart Placement
Where your tour is located on your site matters. Take every opportunity to put a link to the tour next to booking buttons to encourage action from viewers. Place a link on your homepage. And add links near incentives and other special offers. Be aware of structured data, as well, to give your tour more visibility. You’ll gain more traction in searches and clicks.
Invest in 360 Tours
360 tours can boost your brand and nudge travelers toward making a booking at your hotel. You’ll help guests living in different cities or countries envision themselves in your hotel. And you’ll be able to pitch your best amenities, like well-appointed suites or oceanside views. When you make the effort to produce a professional tour, you’ll be able to score more bookings internally, which can help your bottom line.