Love and travel go hand in hand, and many properties take advantage of Valentine’s Day to boost bookings. In fact, as a hotel, it can be hard to stand out among other hotels touting red roses, bubbles, and chocolates.
To attract more guests, try doing something a little different. Whether promotions are limited to Valentine’s Day weekend, the week, or available throughout the month of love, here are some ideas for captivating travelers this Valentine’s Day.
Offer Irresistible Packages and Upsells
While guests expect classic add-ons like chocolate and roses, don’t be afraid to go above and beyond the usual to set apart your Valentine’s Day packages.
Think Local: Promote experiences, not just rooms. What’s special about your destination or property? Is it unbeatable skiing? Award-winning dining? Think about your unique selling proposition (USP) and incorporate it into the design and marketing of your packages.
For example, if your destination offers hot air balloon rides, consider partnering with a tour operator for a “Love is in the Air” package. Or provide tickets to a big show and include dinner for two for the ultimate date night.
Couples classes (such as painting, pottery, or surfing lessons) are fun activities that can be bundled with accommodation and held on or off site. And in-room extras like massage kits, twinkle lights, and cocktail stations make for appealing add-ons in addition to the usual Valentine’s staples.
Think Beyond Couples: Valentine’s Day can be tedious for singles, so consider offering something special for those without partners too—like a self-love spa package complete with a free drink during singles’ happy hour. Or an anti-Valentine’s Day package for groups of friends that includes tickets for a show, speed-dating event, or other fun activity.
How about a “Girls’ Night In” package with streaming access, in-room dining credit, plush robes, chocolates, sparkling wine, and popcorn?
Your imagination is the limit—just be sure to align packages and add-ons to your brand and guests.
Throw a Party
Another way to stand out is to host an event. Whether it’s a masquerade ball, old-fashioned hoedown, or high-energy dance party, people love to celebrate, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse.
Make tickets available to locals and bundle an overnight stay.
Events like these provide a great opportunity for boosting F&B revenue as well as overnight bookings and are wonderful for publicity too.
Make Special Offers Easy to Find and Book
Once you’ve planned your offers, make sure those packages and add-ons are promoted on your property’s website and available through your online booking engine.
Feature your Valentine’s Day deals on both the packages page and homepage. Consider using a popup to draw attention to your romantic specials—and make it easy for guests to reserve them using rate-specific booking links. Use imagery that highlights romantic ambience, like fireplaces, soaking tubs, and views, to help guests visualize the experience.
Whether booking a package or standard rate, give guests the chance to customize their stay by enabling them to select add-ons during the booking process. With WebRezPro, add-on offers—from in-room extras to activities—can be set up for specific room and rate types so that only relevant options are shown to guests. People are inclined to indulge on holidays like Valentine’s Day, so seize the opportunity to offer targeted upsells to increase revenue.
Set the Mood for Romance
Small sensory details have a big impact on ambiance. Transform spaces into romantic places with warm lighting, thoughtfully chosen background music, and indulgent food.
Add subtle touches to common areas and guest rooms, such as twinkle lights, flowers, and candles. Take care to choose decorations that complement your property’s style without overpowering it to enhance the vibe while preventing non-Valentine’s guests from feeling out of place.
When it comes to your soundtrack, curate a playlist that reflects your brand identity. Consider incorporating local artists to add authenticity. If live music is an option, even a solo pianist or acoustic performer instantly elevates the mood in a lobby or lounge.
Valentine’s Day is a perfect occasion to spice up your menu. Limited-time specials encourage both locals and overnight guests to treat themselves. Feature decadent, shareable dishes, and complement them with themed cocktails to complete the experience.
Share the Love
Once your Valentine’s Day plans are ready, it’s important to promote them widely. Start by showcasing your packages, offers, and experiences on your website, then extend your reach through targeted marketing.
Email campaigns are an effective way to engage past guests and loyal customers, especially when sent in advance as well as closer to the date to capture both planners and last-minute bookers.
Social media is another powerful channel for spreading awareness. Seasonal occasions like Valentine’s Day lend themselves well to engaging visuals and interactive posts that encourage guests to participate and share.
If you’re hosting a special event, take advantage of local marketing opportunities—including print advertising—to attract nearby audiences. Paid digital ads and OTA promotions further extend reach, ensuring your Valentine’s Day offers are visible wherever potential guests are looking.
By coordinating promotions across multiple channels, properties maximize exposure, drive demand, and increase bookings. This is easy when your property management system offers integrated channel management.
Valentine’s Day brings an opportunity for hotels to increase revenue and earn loyal, repeat business. By putting a little love and effort into your holiday campaign, you’ll deliver an experience that wins guests’ hearts.
