Irish hotels can attract both local clients and overseas visitors, but attracting the latter of these en masse requires a little more finesse. There are many reasons why people travel internationally and it’s worth noting what these are so you can draw guests to your Irish hotel. We have therefore outlined several methods to help attract guests from oversea to expand your client base exponentially.
Optimise your Irish hotel website for overseas visitors
Your website will be the first port of call for any overseas clients looking to visit your Irish hotel. Therefore, it’s vital it can be located on search engines, features high quality imagery, and is easy to navigate. To ensure you have all you need to do this, we have a comprehensive guide on how to attract clients to your website. This is in addition to making sure you feature a range of languages and currency options for payment. Clients will then feel more comfortable with their purchase, completing their booking with ease.
Provide an experience with local businesses
With Irish boarders being closed during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, many clients will be desperate to now travel in from abroad. These overseas visitors will want to experience various sights and activities exclusive to Ireland, not just your Irish hotel and facilities. Local attractions could be promoted on your website, piquing the interest of clients looking for something to do in the area. By working with local businesses, such as cable car services, areas of interest, or restaurants, you could offer special promotions for clients who book with you, helping drive business in the local community. These could be provided within a client’s booking confirmation or room information.
Cater your Irish hotel to business travellers
It won’t just be holiday-goers looking to travel overseas to your Irish hotel, but those for business events too. Whether that’s for a conference, a meeting, or to establish new opportunities, you will need to make it clear you cater to this type of client. According to SiteMinder, 75% of business travellers cite that Wi-Fi is vital in your facilities, particularly if this is secure. This can be used as a way to increase cyber security in your business.
Other important areas for business clients have been cited as healthy breakfasts and the ability to iron clothing. Promote these aspects on your website and via social media, where your followers can see before they book. This will then attract overseas visitors looking to travel for business.
Email existing overseas clients of your Irish hotel
Prior to the pandemic, over 11.3 million tourists were welcomed to Ireland, with 42% coming from Great Britain. For any previous clients who have not visited since, it is worth sending an email marketing reminder to welcome them back. For overseas clients who have opted into your marketing, make sure you send a friendly greeting and show what they could be missing out on. This will prompt existing clients to consider booking with your Irish hotel once more.
Alongside this, you could implement an effective loyalty scheme for returning clients. Through using loyalty tags, clients could build up loyalty points from repeat visits, which can then be used against later bookings for discounted prices.
Core by Premier Software® is used by spas and health clubs worldwide, including Irish hotels. Not only can it help manage the day to day running of the business, but also simplifies overseas business with the ability to cater to currencies, tax rates and encourage visitors with automated marketing. Why not join the many Irish hotels already benefiting from Core, such as The Europe Hotel and Resort? To find out how Core can help your business, book a free presentation below.
