Marketing & Sales Coordinator

Stories that inspire: our favorite guest moments from May

Every guest story is an opportunity for a hotel to unveil something new. Stories reach & inspire—they’re truly memorable, sometimes magical, and a lot of times, a bit of fun.

In a way, we’ve fallen in love with guest stories, and every day see firsthand the impact they’re making for hotels. That’s why we’re sharing them with you! Check out a handful of our recent favorites below:

Crystal Lodge — Whistler, British Columbia

“A little birdy told me that the hike to Joffree Lake wouldn’t be that difficult in the snow! However, definitely worth the picture perfect view.. what an amazing day waking up in the village & going for a day hike to this unbelievable lake.” — Alexis N.

Explore Whistler

Alexis, a recent guest of Crystal Lodge, shared her favorite travel memory to a warm audience of adventure-loving friends. Crystal Lodge is now at the center of a single story that has reached over 860 friends and relatives the perfect demographic for their resort.

Lahaina Shores Beach Resort — Lahaina, Hawaii

“I stayed at Lahaina Shores last year and took a drive up the coast where I stumbled upon this labyrinth at the end of Dragon Tooth trail at Makaluapuna point. I wanted to get a shot of the sunset behind the maze when dozens of people suddenly showed up. Apparently, Deepak Chopra had a spiritual retreat up at the Ritz-Carlton, and mentioned the maze to the audience. There went my secluded location, but the moment ended up being even better with so much Aloha and appreciation shared by everyone.” — Andrew W.

Discover Lahaina

Lahaina Shores is inspiring future travelers to choose their brand when guests share the best parts of their trip. This captivating experience brought to you by Andrew is doing just that.

The Osthoff Resort — Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

“We took our entire family to breakfast with Saint Nick. It just so happened that we received the most beautiful snowfall the night before. As a typical mom, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get these kids outside in the snow for a picture. It was a real life snow globe. Such a magical day, with memories we will cherish forever.” — Amy E.

Show some love

Amy shared this magical memory of a real-life snow globe that her family will cherish for a lifetime. Amy and her fellow guests are helping to tell a richer story for Osthoff Resort. They’re also amplifying their brand, collectively helping introduce Osthoff to 18,000 new travelers since launching in March.

Westgate Park City Resort & Spa — Park City, Utah

“Captured at 6:30am I love this shot of the hotel!” — Jean L.

Take in the view

Jean’s highlight from her recent stay at Westgate Park City Resort is not just a dream-worthy moment. Together, she and fellow guests have helped the resort tap into thousands of authentic introductions in less than three months—the best way possible to get in front of new travelers.

Crown Reef Beach Resort & Water Park — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

“First time on the beach! His face says it all 🙂 making memories.” — Michelle O.

Visit Myrtle Beach

Crown Reef Beach Resort & Waterpark is receiving seriously good, personal introductions from guests like Michelle. No stock image comes close to telling such an inspiring story for the resort. (Did we also mention that Michelle’s story alone has reached an audience of over 1,000 friends and relatives?)

Jamaica Inn — Ochos Rios, Jamaica

“A view of Jamaica Inn’s boat during a perfect morning walk on the private beach”! – Elissa L.

Enjoy the view

We recently shared how Caribbean hotels are shining on the platform—it’s no secret why thanks to guests like Elissa to Jamaica Inn. She shared the view from her morning walk, driving over 361 travelers back to a personal experience on Jamaica Inn’s site.

Hotel El Ganzo — Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico

“I loved the rooftop pool views straight to the ocean and adore the artistic flair splashed throughout the entire hotel reminding you of the past creatives who stayed at El Ganzo. From writers, artists, and musicians that come to enjoy this special artist in Residence program, this hotel is hip and unique. I love how quiet it feels.” — Melissa C.

Soak it in

Melissa’s highlight from her stay at El Ganzo is traveling. It gives her friends & family a glimpse into the Hotel El Ganzo experience—and it’s stories like these that attract new audiences and capture the attention of new travelers worldwide.

Avista Resort — North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

“This is my niece who just turned 3. And we’ve talked for months with her about going to the for beach for “vacashe” and she was so excited to get there. Once she saw the big sand box she was in love and it was all we could do to get her to leave! Since being home she has asked several times when she can go back to the hotel and the big sand box! Loved the hotel even though it was over taken by college students, and all the staff we encountered was very helpful (specifically Dennis in the checking parking garage). Thanks for some great memories and we hope to see you again!” — Brittany L.

Relive special moments

Need we say more? There’s no better way to learn about Avista Resort than guests like Ashley sharing moments like these.

Adrift Hotel — Long Beach, Washington

“Labor Day weekend we stayed at the adrift. This was one evening out on the beach, enjoying the sunset with our pup!” — Curtis B.

Admire more

We often get asked, “How do I inspire more travelers?” We could spell it out, but it’s easy to see when you look at Adrift Hotel. Curtis and Adrift’s guests are sharing moments like this each and every day—authentic stories shared to new travelers by someone they know, love and trust.

Curtis alone helped Adrift earn over 70 warm leads. What’ a warm lead you may ask? We’ll tell you!

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort — St Thomas, US Virgin Islands

“I had the 4 chairs picture (empty chairs) as my background on my computer for an entire year waiting for the 4 of us to sit in them. Our 30th anniversary and our friends 10th anniversary. BEST days of our lives spending it at Bolongo Bay & Iggies. LOVE the view and people, breathtaking. Thanks for the memories and allowing us to fill those chairs.” — Renee E.

Relax a bit

We know, we just can’t get enough of the Caribbean!

Bolongo Bay Resort is making memories. Renee’s special story of her anniversary trip is just one. She shared it with over 650 friends and family—76 of whom showed real interest in coming back.

Hotel Wailea — Kihei, Hawaii

“This was our first day in paradise after flying from Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate our honeymoon!” — Sarah M.

Unwind

Your advocates are powerful—they’ll introduce people around the globe to your destinations and hotels.

Sarah is one of those advocates for Hotel Wailea. She and her fellow guests are not only giving Hotel Wailea incredibly targeted reach to travelers a degree away, it’s at the fraction of the cost of traditional marketing. Her story alone has already traveled to 2,000+ friends and family and counting.

Check back next month for even more. See any stories that stand out? Let us know!

Adventure back to April’s stories

Stories that inspire: our favorite guest moments from April

Every guest story is an opportunity for a hotel to unveil something new. Stories reach & inspire—they’re truly memorable, sometimes magical, and a lot of times, a bit of fun.

Lahaina Shores — Lahaina, Hawaii

“Since I moved back to Hawaii in 2005 after 35 years away, my parents and I stayed at Lahaina Shores every Thanksgiving week until 2012 when Dad passed away.

On Christmas day. Dad, being an alumnus and retired Director of Non-Traditional Studies at Chaminade University, was always invited to bring his family to the annual Maui Invitational Basketball tournament.

We always enjoyed our time in Maui and our stay at Lahaina Shores always began with the desk person(s) remembering us from the previous year and greeting us with sincere aloha.

I think the thing we loved the most about Lahaina Shores was its distance from the hustle and bustle of Front Street downtown Lahaina and the great relaxation experienced after a long day of basketball. Mom and I really miss those days and will always have Maui in our hearts.” — Leslie L.

Explore Maui

Lahaina Shores is at the center of a bittersweet memory for guest Leslie. It’s special stories like these that attract new audiences and capture the attention of new travelers worldwide.

Hacienda del Sol — Tucson, Arizona

“Snack time.” — Jeffrey C.

Admire more

An incredible moment caught by Jeffrey, a recent guest of Hacienda del Sol. In just one month, he’s warmly introduced the hotel to 424 future travelers, driving 213 unique site visitors and generating 33 warm leads.

Cherry Tree Inn — Traverse City, Michigan

“My husband and I have been coming to Traverse City for years, but last summer it was our first family vacation as three. Staying at the Cherry Tree Inn was so much fun and my little guy loved your pool! We would love to come back this summer!” — Ashley D.

Show some love

Cherry Tree Inn is enhancing their marketing with rich, authentic stories thanks to guests like Ashley.

Oglebay Resort — Wheeling, West Virginia

“The goat was going after my niece’s sucker. To distract the goat, I told my niece and the goat to smile for the picture and they both did!” — Kelly S.

Visit Oglebay

This moment of bliss shared by Kelly, taps into the experience at Oglebay Resort. Kelly’s story alone has captured the hearts and minds of 1,338 friends and family and driven 52 unique visitors.

Half Moon Inn — San Diego, California

“Humphreys never let’s us down. Their staff is accommodating and upbeat and their service is always on point. I enjoy myself as much as the kids every time we stay there.” — Ben Y.

Ride along

The impeccable service at Humphreys Half Moon Inn makes all the difference for repeat guest, Ben. Not only did Ben help Half Moon Inn tell a richer narrative, but he’s already shared his story with 1,176 friends and relatives, leading to 127 unique site visitors.

Kaanapali Alii — Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii

“Standing on top of the rock and looking down, heart beating fast, and having to will yourself to jump off…but it’s worth it!” — Kassidy F.

Jump in

Kassidy’s story from a recent trip to Kaanapali Alii gives future travelers a glimpse into the adventure to be had in Maui.

Condo-World — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

“These girls love their daily icees on the beach!” — Lori P.

Enjoy the sun

Nothing beats icees at the beach on a hot day. Lori, recent guest of Condo World shared this candid moment with 1,085 friends and relatives, generating 55 warm leads and 869 unique site visits for the resort.

The Lodge at Woodloch — Hawley, Pennsylvania

“Going to Woodloch was a wonderful way to reset from all of the stress of day to day life. The most amazing part of my stay was seeing a black bear cub on our hike! Absolutely incredible!” — Karen D.

Explore more

Karen shared this incredible moment from a trip to Lodge at Woodloch. She and her fellow guests are helping The Lodge at Woodloch get introduced to travelers a degree away at the fraction of the cost of traditional marketing. Karen’s story alone has generated over 47 warm leads in just one month.

Santa Barbara Beach & Golf Resort — Newport, Curaçao

“Says enough.” — Jennice W.

Relax a bit

Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort is warmly introducing their hotel to a global, targeted audience before their competitors even have a chance. They’re turning warm introductions into future reservations, each and every day.

Topnotch Resort & Spa — Stowe, Vermont

“Oh man, it’s hard to say just one great thing about our stay at Topnotch. I’d have to say the staff are remarkably friendly! We’ll be back next year.” — Jared H.

Make memories

Topnotch Resort is boosting revenue and amplifying their brand with inspiring travel stories shared by their guests. Together Jared and fellow guests have introduced the resort to more than 32,000 new travelers in under 3 months.

Landmark Resort — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

“MacKenzie enjoying life to the fullest at Landmark Resort! MacKenzie is our sweet little granddaughter who is visually impaired! As you can tell by the picture she is having the time of her life sitting in the waves on a beach chair and feeling the soft squishy mud her mommy is putting on her lap! Her face says it all! Pure happiness at Myrtle Beach and the Landmark Resort!” — Judy B.

Soak it in

Landmark Resort is receiving amazing, personal introductions from guests like Judy. No stock image comes close to telling such a rich narrative for the resort. Judy’s touching story has generated over 100 warm leads.

Check back next month for even more. See any stories that stand out? Let us know!

Adventure back to March’s stories

Stories that inspire: our favorite guest moments from March

Every guest story is an opportunity for a hotel to unveil something new. Stories reach & inspire—they’re truly memorable, sometimes magical, and a lot of times, a bit of fun.

Westgate River Ranch Resort — River Ranch, Florida

“Beautiful sunrise horseback riding. The early bird gets the quietest and most stunning views of the property!” — Stephanie N.

Relax a bit

A stunning sunrise while horseback riding makes for a beautiful moment captured by Stephanie, a recent guest of Westgate River Ranch Resort. Together, Stephanie and fellow guests have helped the resort tap into over 32,000 authentic introductions in less than one month.

The Osthoff Resort — Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin

“We often celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Osthoff. We were celebrating with a group on the lobby balcony when a guest sat at the piano and began playing ‘Piano Man’ in the bar area below. We all started singing and soon 50+ strangers had gathered and were toasting and singing in unison. It still gives me the chills.” — Tammy V.

Show some love

The Osthoff Resort is at the center of a memory that will be cherished for years to come. It’s special moments like these that resonate with future travelers.

Shephard’s Beach Resort — Clearwater, Florida

“Sweet sunset!” — Missy B.

Visit Clearwater

Missy, a recent guest of Shephard’s Beach Resort, took a moment to enjoy the beautiful Gulf sunset, later sharing this special moment with 195 friends and relatives. Together, in less than three months, Missy and fellow guests have warmly introduced Shephard’s Beach Resort to an audience of over 390,000, generating an astounding 4,088 warm leads!

Red Mountain Resort — Ivins, Utah

“I am truly humbled by the beauty of zion and Red mountain resort! This photo was taken on the zion day hike offered by red mountain resort. A must do if you love adventure and nature at its finest!” — Cynthia B.

Explore more

Red Mountain Resort reaches travelers perfect for their hotel thanks to guests like Cynthia. She shared her adventure with 377 friends and relatives, driving over 1,256 unique site visits and 88 warm leads.

Lakeway Resort — Austin, Texas

“Just a little man loving the pool!” — Kristen H.

Admire more

Kristen shared this moment of pure joy with 1,556 friends and relatives. She’s already led 260 of those reached back to the hotel’s website, generating 33 warm leads.

South Seas Island Resort — Captiva, Florida

“South Seas Island Resort has always been a place of celebration for us. My mom surprised me with a trip when I graduated college. I surprised her when she had a weight loss goal of over 100 pounds.

I love this picture because my mom looks carefree and full of life! I still can’t believe she did this since can’t even swim!! Now married and a new mother it would be amazing to have another celebration and share my love for Captiva with my growing family at South Seas!” — Melissa W.

Discover more

South Seas Island Resort holds a special place in Melissa’s heart. Stories like this one are more powerful than any ad.

Orchard Hotel — San Francisco, California

“Was out for a stroll the first day I arrived, and as I walked by the piers I saw this old ship sailing and I ran up to the pier and snapped the photo. It was taken on my birthday!! What a wonderful trip!” — Shannon T.

Take in the view

The perfect timing led to a breathtaking shot captured by Shannon, a recent guest of Orchard Hotel. She shared this beautiful birthday memory with 861 friends and relatives, generating 116 warm leads.

Crystal Lodge — Whistler, Canada

“The Crystal Lodge staff was tremendous – very helpful and attentive to our needs. The location is great, and we were delighted by the size of our room. A great value overall.” — Scott M.

Explore Whistler

An awesome location and all-star staff made all the difference for Scott, a recent guest of Crystal Lodge. It’s no wonder he shared this story with 782 friends and family members, drawing 745 site visitors and 102 warm leads.

Pacific Terrace — San Diego, California

“Grandpa at the Beach.” — Eileen K.

Make memories

Pacific Terrace is enhancing their marketing with rich, authentic content thanks to Eileen and fellow guests.

Carter Estate Winery and Resort — Temecula, California

“Beautiful! So relaxing. Every room has a spectacular view!” — Janee M.

Check out the view

Carter Estate Winery is boosting revenue and telling a richer story, all while amplifying their brand with an incredible library of content.

Check back next month for even more. See any stories that stand out? Let us know!

Adventure back to February’s stories

Marketing for vacation ownership: tips to step up your lead capture

Vacation ownership has evolved over time. It started with the idea of bringing your family to a resort and creating memories together year after year. Hospitality giants like Disney, Hilton, and Marriott took note and quickly helped grow the industry.

Today, the marketplace has an abundance of options, including Airbnb, HomeAway, and VRBO. The internet paved the way for change, and in just a few clicks, travelers have hundreds of choices available to them.

For vacation ownership marketers especially, the task of finding qualified leads and converting them into happy, long-term owners remains a demanding job—one that’s more of a necessity than ever.

Start by considering your advantages and identifying your unique challenges

Ownership can be a ticket to better vacationing and offers a unique experience over traditional resorts. It’s an investment that provides an advantage to families as resorts are often perfectly located and offer spacious, high-quality accommodations and an abundance of amenities.

But even more, ownership gives way to memorable moments that last a lifetime—those your owners and members will want to share with the ones they love. As marketers, you can tap into these special moments to introduce your hotel to more of the people you want to talk to.

But how do you do that? Below are some tips to consider when looking to put these insights into action, and supercharge your lead capture with qualified travelers.

1. Get hyper-targeted: reach & engage the right audience

Travelers are connected to a like-minded audience of friends and family who share the same taste in travel and purchasing habits. For the savvy vacation ownership marketer, it’s easy to see why the friends and family of your owners, members and even renters alike are the perfect demographic for your property.

Get introduced by converting your members and owners into advocates. Research from Nielsen shows people trust the recommendations they receive from friends and family more than any other, making this incredibly targeted reach even more valuable.

Plus, keep in mind that vacation ownership buyers often have a strong emotional attachment to the experience—these are moments with friends and family that they’re eager to share! Encourage introductions, build better relationships, and get rewarded.

2. Use the right calls-to-action

In order to step up lead capture, the right calls-to-action are critical. That’s because not everyone you encounter as a marketer is ready to buy.

This is especially true for high-value purchases where people weigh their options to ensure they’re making the right decision. If the only option is to ‘buy now,’ you’re constantly missing the opportunity to nurture that potential future owner because there is no relevant action for them to take or reason to get in touch.

Start by taking into consideration where a person is in their purchasing journey. Are they a first-time vacation rental visitor, or an old pro? According to ARDA, 42% of new owners first experienced vacation ownership clubs by renting before making a purchase.

With this in mind, it’s apparent as a marketer that the call-to-action for these different travelers also needs to be different.

For the first-timer, instead of offering up a discount, try rekindling their favorite moment after the stay. You’ll begin building a relationship on an emotional level, giving them a reason to return. For the old pro, they may be primed to open the conversation for the long-term purchase.

By delivering the right ask, you’ll not only capture more qualified leads, but you’ll better understand their intent to buy, and know when and how to communicate.

3. Nurture, don’t spam

Once you’ve captured your leads, treat them how you want your inbox treated—with relevant messages that have the right content and context.

Why is this so important? Every time you email someone with content they’re not interested in, you’re eroding your relationship. And these are hard-earned leads we’re talking about!

Instead, inspire them with relevant content.

One way to do this is with storytelling. Your owners and guests capture the widest range of experiences and provide the most candid insights into your property.

Blending these stories throughout your marketing and communications is a great way to replace spam content that is irrelevant to your audience. You’ll deliver high-value content that makes sense. In doing so, you’re more likely to get more shares and tours than simply spamming email campaigns to your database of leads. (Read more on canning spam.)

Once you’ve readied your relevant content, remember timing and context are important, too. Craft messages based on where they may be in the buying journey—especially as the path to purchase is not a single step, and for vacation ownership can be far more complex.

By following these tips, you’ll not only reach the best audience for your property, you’ll save time and be rewarded along the way.

Have tips on marketing for vacation ownership that you want to share? Get in touch! We’re always looking for new ideas in the travel space that help shape hospitality.

Wedding stories worth rekindling

Weddings are some of the most memorable experiences for your guests and their friends who choose your hotel to celebrate. It’s a day to be shared with the people they love, and the beginning of a lifetime of moments worth rekindling.

Hotels often find themselves at the heart of these timeless moments. Couples turn to their hosts to deliver a memorable and thoughtful experience.

When guests share, it’s not only an opportunity to unveil your exceptional wedding experience from a perspective that only your guests provide. For hotels, you can convert these once-in-a-lifetime moments into lasting impact that goes well beyond the day of the event.

They said ‘Yes’

“Our Best Part was being able to be part of & celebrate in our daughter Dana Marie’s engagement! Her fiance’ Ryan F. proposed to her New Year’s Eve afternoon on the ground of Shawnee Inn” – Jennifer G.

Experience Shawnee Inn

Shawnee Inn is not only perfect for weddings, but engagements too! Jennifer shared the excitement of her daughter’s engagement with friends and family, making for some seriously good, personal introductions for the Inn.

“My girlfriend and I got engaged in Rocky Mountain National Park the day that we stayed at The Stanley. The Stanley upgraded our room at no charge and provided us with a complimentary bottle of champagne to help us celebrate!” – Lucas S.

Create memories

Lucas put the staff at The Stanley Hotel at the center of this special memory. Together with his fellow guests, The Stanley has reached the people who matter the most (to the tune of over one million in just the last year).

Moments of Matrimony

“When I was a little girl I fell in love with the Shawnee Inn and surrounding area. Skiing Shawnee Mountain, taking rafts down the Delaware, watching shows at the Shawnee Playhouse and roasting s’mores by a campfire were all highlights. I knew way back then that I wanted to get married on the big, beautiful veranda at Shawnee Inn. Many years later that dream became a reality. It was the most perfect day and even better than I could have imagined at 8 years old. The best part was sharing the magic of Shawnee with my family and friends” – Julie O.

Show some love

Julie’s childhood dreams of a magical wedding at the Shawnee Inn became reality. Shawnee Inn is attracting new audiences when guests relive their fondest memories. This special experience shared by Julie, is doing just that.

“Making a wish for a lifetime of moments like this.” – Brittney J.

Enjoy more

This candid photo shared by Brittney is the beginning of a lifetime of memories captured. Brittney’s story won first place in Royal Park’s latest photo contest, and Royal Park reaped the benefits as well, receiving over 2,000 warm introductions from this photo alone.

“I absolutely loved the decor in the lobby and the brick surrounding the outside walls! It was perfect for my bridal pictures before my wedding ceremony.” – Megan M.

Peek at the moment

Lafayette Hotel made for the perfect wedding venue for guest Megan. After a beautiful ceremony, Megan shared this unforgettable moment with hundreds of friends and relatives, reaching a new audience of future travelers for Lafayette Hotel.

“We love Tanque Verde Ranch” – Amanda K.

See more love

Tanque Verde Ranch has boosted their revenue while amplifying their brand with an incredible library of potent guest stories like this one shared by Amanda.

“We first went to the Adrift for a romantic getaway when we were dating, then returned to have our wedding there. It is such a beautiful and special place for us. A perfect getaway. We return often to reconnect and have a quiet weekend. We just love Long Beach and Adrift.” – Brandy T.

Getaway to Adrift

Adrift Hotel and Spa holds a special place in Brandy’s heart. It’s warm introductions like these that capture the hearts and minds of travelers and lead to future reservations.

“We had our daughter’s wedding at TVGR and we couldn’t be happier with the staff, the accommodations, and the views, they even provided a dramatic appearance of a small herd of deer just behind the ceremony, like a scene from a Disney movie! Her guests were blown away and several mentioned, that this was the best Wedding venue ever.” – Gary W.

Enjoy the view

An unforgettable wedding ceremony, breathtaking scenery, and exceptional staff left Gary and his family amazed. It’s no wonder he shared this special memory with hundreds of friends and relatives.

“Our magical wedding dreams come true at South Coast Winery Resort & Spa.” – Bernice & Jonathan

See the magic

This candid and intimate moment shared by Bernice & Jonathan captures the exquisite wedding experience that South Coast Winery Resort & Spa has to offer.

Here come the Newlyweds

“Arriving to our fountain view jacuzzi suite for the first time as husband and wife!” – Heather G.

Show some love to the Newlyweds

Newlywed Heather shared this honeymoon selfie of she and her hubby arriving to their fountain view jacuzzi suite at Margaritaville Island Hotel. She and her fellow guests are making introductions to travelers a degree away at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketing. Heather’s photo alone has driven over 600 introductions back to a personal experience on Margaritaville’s site.

Weddings are another opportunity for hotels to inspire future travelers through advocacy. When a guest shares their wedding story with family and friends, they bring their timeless memory to life.

These personable and heartwarming stories resonate to make for really warm introductions to your hotel, having massive reach and helping to convert inspired travelers into future guests of your hotel.