How to Attract More International Guests to Your Hotel

On the JJ Barnes Blog, if you’re running a hotel, learn how to attract more international guests and grow your business.

Attracting more international guests to your hotel does more than just provide a dose of global flair. It can also be a highly effective way to bolster your revenue.

International guests stay for longer and spend more money, both of which are great for your bottom line. They’re also less likely to cancel than domestic guests, resulting in a higher occupancy rate.

So yes, attracting international guests can offer a wide range of benefits. The question now becomes: how do you get them? In this post, we’ll run through a few tried and tested strategies for making your hotel more appealing to long-haul travellers. 

Know Who You’re Targeting

As with most types of businesses, having a solid understanding of who you’re trying to attract is key for putting together packages that are in line with their needs and expectations. Unlike most businesses, you’ll be trying to understand what international guests want. 

It’s best to focus on one particular demographic and then speak to an expert who understands their hospitality requirements. How do you figure out which demographic of traveller to focus on? Take a look at which tourists are visiting your specific region. 

Market Internationally

Travellers can’t book a stay at your hotel if they don’t know you exist. While you’ll likely already be engaging in some marketing tactics, it’s important to keep in mind that your current strategies are likely to be ineffective in reaching international audiences. To target those audiences, you’ll need to meet them where they are, not where you are. Working with an international SEO agency can ensure that your website gets put in front of your target demographic, no matter where in the world they happen to be. Ultimately, an increase in the number of international travellers who can find your website is the key to getting more international reservations.

Highlight Your Local Knowledge

Travellers are looking for more than a bed when they make a trip. They’re looking for experiences. On your website, it’s recommended to not only showcase all that’s great about your hotel, but also showcase your local area — and your expertise. That’ll give your guests confidence that they’ll be stepping into a hotel that offers the kind of cultural experience they look for when they leave their home country. It’s not about playing up to stereotypes (you don’t need to serve ‘afternoon tea’), but rather making an effort to provide a dose of culture. 

Lean Into International Preferences

Finally, you can attract more international travellers by catering to what they look for when choosing a hotel. For example, it’s more likely that an international guest will prioritise free Wi-Fi over a domestic guest. They’ll also want to be closer to any local attractions, or perhaps they’ll prioritize being in a safe neighbourhood. If you’re not sure what kind of preferences your international visitors want, then make a habit of asking your guests what they liked or didn’t like. From there, you’ll know what areas need improving or need to be promoted more.  

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