Marketing for Hotel Wedding Venues – A Guide

The wedding industry has its unique ups and downs, the recent example being the COVID-19 pandemic. The wedding ceremonies dwindled in early 2020, and the wedding season was a total washout. But in 2022, life returned to normal, and the wedding season picked up steam from the very start. There was a massive boom in the wedding industry, and couples who had put off their celebrations began looking for a suitable venue. They were busy booking vendors, reserving rooms, etc.

This blog post is a guide for the hotel businesses that want to make the most of the wedding boom. They should understand that their wedding venues are fantastic places for doing business. And ignoring this opportunity can cost them tons of revenue. Your business can grow through wedding venue bookings, but you should apply the right strategy around marketing for wedding venues. To get a boost in business, you need to promote your wedding venue. Regardless of whether you are a newbie or a seasoned player, you should discover new ways to grow your venues potential.

Read on for some insight and ideas to increase your ROI from your hotels wedding venue.

Impact of Wedding Boom on Hotel Businesses

According to the Wedding Report, 2.68 million weddings were celebrated last year, breaking all records of the last many decades. This had a rub-off effect on the related businesses, including hotels.

Lets refer to a few statistics by the Wedding Report to understand the wedding booms impact on the hotel industry:

In 2022 the wedding Request for Proposal(s) soared by 55% compared to the last few years of the pandemic. This trend has continued with an estimated 2.24 million wedding ceremonies hosted in 2023. This trend motivated a few hotel owners to add more services to their portfolio. However, many others were skeptical about converting a part of their property into a wedding venue.

Some limitations that they thought held them back were not having enough guest rooms in their property and a lack of open space for events. On the contrary, hotels are diverse places and are designed in different shapes and sizes. Thats why they make fantastic wedding venues.

Aspects That Make Hotels Fantastic Wedding Venues

There are about 130,000 hotels in the U.S. This means there is a hotel to fulfill the needs of every couple. The engaged couple can choose an affordable venue if they want to save costs. Or opt for a venue where a full-scale, luxury wedding can be hosted. The choice is abundant, from mountaintop lodges to small-town branded hotels to lavish five-star resorts. The experiences and services offered differ from venue to venue.

Whether its a secret wedding with a few guests or a well-attended affair, theres a venue to cater to the specific needs of any engaged couple(s). Moreover, there is a wide range of wedding services offered, such as

• Rooms for guests coming from out of town

• Suites for a pre-wedding gathering

• Event space for the various ceremonies, including reception

• Communal space for the guests to assemble

• Food and beverage services

• Entertainment activities for the attendees, such as a grill, pool, fitness center, or outdoor lawn games

• Attractively decorated interior

• Airport pickupsand drops

• On-site support staff for each event

• High-quality customer service
  

Ideas to Market Your Hotel as a Wedding Venue

• When it comes to marketing for wedding venues, a smart idea is creating mobile-friendly marketing materials, including photos and videos. Cvents Wedding Spot is today a famous venue-only sourcing platform for promoting your special services. You can list your hotel on the platform to attract thousands of engaged couples and planners looking for a perfect place to host a wedding.

• Another smart idea is to create an attractive website to showcase event layouts, amenities, guest room features, and hotel services. Like spa, valet, and shuttle services, etc.

• In case your hotel can only offer rooms for overnight guests and shuttle service to nearby venues. Make the most of what you have to offer. Create a marketing campaign around wedding venues near your hotel and a special package for wedding blocks. Think about novel ways you can make the stay of wedding guests more convenient, including special amenities, in your hotel offerings.

• The fourth idea is building up a strong network of wedding vendors and service professionals. There are multiple benefits that a network provides, such as boosting event success and an increase in the potential for cross-promotional opportunities. Plus, a boost in word of mouth, including recommendations by satisfied customers. Not to mention, drive direct referrals from the network partners.

The Nutshell

In a nutshell, there are many other valuable ideas you can implement as part ofmarketing for wedding venues, like hosting a wedding expo. A bridal show may be organized to showcase property as a hotel plus a wedding venue and promote your wedding services. These ideas can help you become the go-to wedding venue in your area.