Engaging Social Media Campaigns for the Holiday Season

As the holiday season approaches, social media becomes a powerful tool for hotels to capture attention and boost bookings. With travelers increasingly seeking unique and festive experiences, hotels can use creative social media campaigns to connect with audiences, showcase holiday offerings, and stand out in a crowded market. Here’s how to create engaging social media campaigns that drive results during the holidays.

Create Holiday-Themed Giveaways

One of the most effective ways to increase engagement is through a holiday-themed giveaway. People love the excitement of contests, especially if they involve holiday stays, dining experiences, or local event tickets. Running a giveaway encourages people to engage with your content by liking, sharing, and tagging friends. Ideas for Holiday Giveaways:

• "12 Days of Giveaways": Feature a new prize each day, from complimentary stays to spa vouchers.
• “Holiday Escape” Contest: Offer a stay package for the New Year, including holiday decorations, a cozy fireplace, and seasonal treats.
• Partnership Giveaways: Partner with local businesses to create a gift package that includes local artisan gifts or vouchers for nearby holiday activities.

Why It Works: Giveaways create excitement, increase reach through sharing, and attract new followers who may convert into guests.  

Holiday Video Campaigns: Behind-the-Scenes at the Hotel

Video content is highly engaging, and guests enjoy seeing what goes on behind the scenes at a hotel during the holidays. Showcase your staff preparing holiday decorations, baking seasonal treats, or decorating rooms to give guests a glimpse into the festive atmosphere. Ideas for Behind-the-Scenes Videos:

• Room Decor Tours: Show how your team transforms rooms with holiday touches, from festive bedding to twinkling lights.
• Kitchen Sneak Peek: Showcase your chef preparing seasonal dishes or holiday cocktails.
• Staff Holiday Traditions: Create short videos of team members sharing their favorite holiday memories, making guests feel connected to your property.

Why It Works: Behind-the-scenes videos build transparency and a personal connection with followers, encouraging them to choose your hotel for their holiday stay.  

Interactive Polls and Surveys

Engaging with followers directly through polls and surveys makes guests feel involved and gives you insight into their preferences. You could ask guests about their favorite holiday traditions, ideal seasonal amenities, or what they’d like to see in a holiday package. Ideas for Polls and Surveys:

• “Choose Our Holiday Package Add-Ons”: Let followers vote on amenities they'd like to see, like complimentary hot cocoa or holiday-themed welcome gifts.
• “Holiday Favorites” Polls: Create polls on topics like favorite seasonal dishes, preferred holiday activities, or ideal winter staycation elements.
• Feedback Surveys: Ask followers for feedback on previous holiday promotions or their experience at your hotel during the season.

Why It Works: Interactive polls make guests feel valued and involved while providing you with insights that can help tailor your offerings.

Highlight Local Holiday Events and Attractions

Use social media to showcase nearby holiday events or attractions, positioning your hotel as the perfect base for holiday adventures. Highlight Christmas markets, light shows, or local New Year’s Eve celebrations. Ideas for Promoting Local Events:

• “Local Holiday Happenings” Series: Create a series of posts featuring nearby holiday attractions and how guests can easily access them from your hotel.
• Holiday Guide Video: Develop a video guide covering holiday hotspots and how to make the most of them.
• Event Countdown: Countdown to major events, such as the lighting of a holiday tree, and invite guests to stay with you to be close to the action.

Why It Works: Promoting local events positions your hotel as a convenient and festive destination, enticing guests looking for a holiday experience.  

Encourage User-Generated Content with a Festive Hashtag

User-generated content (UGC) boosts engagement by inviting guests to share their holiday experiences at your hotel. Create a unique holiday hashtag and encourage guests to tag your hotel in their posts to build a sense of community and spread the word. UGC Ideas:

• Holiday Decoration Contest: Encourage guests to share their room decorations or holiday-themed outfits using a dedicated hashtag.
• Photo Contest with Prizes: Run a holiday photo contest, offering prizes for the best holiday snapshots at your hotel.
• Virtual Tree Lighting: If you have a large holiday tree in the lobby, invite guests to share their favorite decorations or photos of the tree using your holiday hashtag.

Why It Works: UGC helps build community and brand loyalty, while also providing you with free, authentic content that highlights your property.  

Create Festive Countdown Campaigns

Countdowns create a sense of urgency and encourage followers to book quickly. Whether it’s counting down to Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or the end of a seasonal promotion, countdown campaigns boost engagement by fostering excitement. Ideas for Countdown Campaigns:

• “Countdown to Christmas” Offers: Offer a new promotion each day leading up to Christmas, such as discounted room rates or holiday package upgrades.
• New Year Countdown: Share special New Year’s packages or deals that are only available for a limited time.
• 12 Days of Christmas Countdown: Each day, feature a unique amenity or activity your hotel offers, building anticipation for holiday stays.

Why It Works: Countdown campaigns create urgency and can drive last-minute bookings by highlighting exclusive deals.  

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Interesting Fact: The Power of Holiday Engagement

Did you know that holiday campaigns on social media tend to receive 50% higher engagement than non-seasonal content? According to Forbes, leveraging the holiday spirit can significantly amplify reach, with users more likely to interact with content that resonates with the season’s joy and excitement. Furthermore, social media campaigns with holiday themes drive 60% higher booking inquiries during the holiday season—a statistic that highlights the potential impact of festive content.  

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FAQs

Q1: Why are holiday social media campaigns important for hotels?

‍The holiday season brings heightened social media activity and travel planning. A creative campaign helps your hotel capture attention, boost engagement, and increase direct bookings.

Q2: What types of holiday giveaways work best?

‍Giveaways tied to experiences—like stays, dining packages, or partnerships with local attractions—tend to perform best because they generate excitement and shareable content.

Q3: How can behind-the-scenes videos help my hotel?

‍They build transparency and humanize your brand. Viewers love seeing real people and festive preparations, which foster emotional connections and trust.

Q4: What’s the benefit of using polls or surveys on social media?

‍Polls make followers feel involved, offering valuable feedback while increasing engagement and helping tailor promotions to your audience’s preferences.

Q5: How does user-generated content (UGC) impact bookings?

‍UGC acts as authentic social proof. When guests share positive experiences under your branded hashtag, it expands reach and inspires others to book with confidence.

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Conclusion

Holiday-themed social media campaigns are essential tools for hoteliers looking to increase engagement, boost bookings, and make their property stand out. By leveraging interactive elements, exclusive promotions, and festive themes, hotels can connect with potential guests and create a memorable holiday experience.

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