Black Friday is almost upon us and it’s not too late to maximise your sales! One of the most anticipated shopping events of the year, offering a unique opportunity to boost direct sales, attract new guests, and encourage loyal customers to return. 

Here’s our 11 proven tips to help you prepare effectively for the 29th of November:

Create Attractive Offers
Review the packages available on your website and ensure guests have a range of choices, even for future dates. Providing offers for spring stays or early summer bookings is a fantastic idea!

• Enhance the second step of booking by offering add-ons (e.g., dinner, massage)

• Consider offering vouchers for future stays with extended validity
  
  

Plan a Discount Strategy
Set specific discount values (e.g., 10% off all bookings, 20% off selected dates).

• Introduce progressive discounts (the longer the stay, the greater the discount)
  
  

Prepare High-Quality Visuals and Photos
Update your hotel’s photo gallery to reflect the autumn/winter atmosphere.

• Create eye-catching promotional graphics featuring Black Friday deals
  
  

Think Through Your Communication Pathway
Inform guests early about upcoming promotions via newsletters, social media, and your website.

• Create a sense of anticipation by gradually revealing details of the offer.

• Offer loyal guests exclusive access to special offers (e.g., offers with a code).

• Use Marketing Automation tools to reach out to your guests with a compelling email, including a countdown timer.
  
  

Get Creative with Your Promotions
Organise a social media contest with a prize, such as a stay, or introduce an interactive element like “discover your discount” with a simple social media game.

• Offer a limited-time deal, available only for the first X bookings.

• Set up a countdown timer for the promotion to create a sense of urgency.
  
  

Use Mobile Discounts for Mobile Bookings
Enable Mobile Discounts in your Booking Engine to offer special deals to guests booking via mobile devices. Many people search for deals on their smartphones during Black Friday, which could significantly increase your bookings.

Ensure Booking Flexibility
Offer the option to change reservation dates for free.

• In your offers, propose partial prepayment instead of 100%.

• Clearly communicate cancellation and refund policies.
  
  

Utilise Restriction Settings in the Profitroom Suite
Select specific rooms and dates available exclusively on your website, taking advantage of the “Direct Only” restriction.

Consider Extending the Promotion
Make the most of having your guests’ attention and extend your Black Friday promotions to “Cyber Monday” or even the whole week!

Implement a Loyalty Program with Profitroom Loyalty
Use Black Friday as an opportunity to introduce the Profitroom Loyalty program. Offer additional benefits for bookings made by guests. For more details about the loyalty program, contact us.

Analyse Reports
Track the effectiveness of each strategy in real-time.

• Be prepared to adapt your tactics if needed – Suite reports can assist.

Black Friday is not only an opportunity to boost short-term sales but also a fantastic chance to attract guests who will return to your hotel in the future. 

Use our proven tips and take advantage of Profitroom’s tools to maximise your profits and build long-lasting relationships with your guests. 

With a well-prepared Black Friday strategy, you can stand out from the competition and increase direct bookings – good luck!