Check-in, Post, Repeat: The new hotel marketing funnel

You’ve tried the glossy ads.
Perfectly lit lobby shots. Immaculate bed corners. That slow pan of champagne flutes clinking in your rooftop bar.

They looked amazing. They felt premium. They cost a small fortune.

But… bookings didn’t spike. Engagement didn’t soar. And your “awareness” campaign? Hard to tell if anyone actually remembers it.

Here’s the truth: the traditional hotel marketing funnel — awareness → consideration → booking — is being re-written. And the new version? It starts with influencers, not corporate campaigns.

From Polished to personal

Today’s travellers aren’t looking for polished perfection. They want real stories from real people:

• What it actually feels like to check in on a Friday night.

• The view from Room 305 at golden hour.

•  The first bite of that breakfast pastry (flaky, buttery, steam still rising).

An influencer can show that in 10 seconds and make thousands of followers feel like they’re right there.

It’s a different kind of influence — less “Here’s our offer” and more “Here’s my experience, and you need to try it.”

Why influencer marketing beats glossy ads (When done right)