How Do I Target the Right Guests for My Hotel?

In hospitality marketing, more traffic doesn’t always mean more revenue. One of the most common mistakes hotels make is trying to appeal to everyone, only to end up resonating with no one. A generic message attracts generic results, often leading to poor-fit bookings, lukewarm reviews, and wasted advertising dollars.

If you want better reviews, stronger loyalty, and more profitable bookings, the answer is precision.

Targeting the right guests means making the right people feel like your hotel was built for them, whether it’s a digital nomad, a corporate traveler, a couple seeking a romantic escape, or a parent looking for convenience and space.

Here’s what’s included:

1. Understanding the DNA of Your Ideal Guests
2. Crafting a Website That Speaks to Each Guest
3. Own the Right Space on OTAs and Search
4. Market With Precision, Not Volume
5. The Golden Rule of Hotel Guest Targeting
6. FAQ: Hotel Guest Targeting
7. Target the Right Guests and Book with Confidence

Understanding the DNA of Your Ideal Guests

Before you can refine your content or offers, you need to study who is actually booking. Leading hotels define 2–3 core guest personas based on:

• Booking frequency and seasonality
• Travel purpose (business, leisure, family)
• Direct vs. OTA behavior
• Review content and post-stay surveys

Tools like Revinate and STR reports help hotels analyze past performance and segment their audiences with accuracy.

• Business Travelers dominate weekdays and value fast check-in, strong Wi-Fi, and early breakfast options.
• Couples seek experience-rich weekends, private spaces, and curated local dining.
• Families need space, safety, on-site dining, and clear info about adjoining rooms or activities.

When you know who you’re talking to, your hotel can stop marketing reactively and start converting intentionally.

Run a hotel marketing audit to uncover who your guests really are.

Crafting a Website That Speaks to Each Guest

Your website is not just a booking tool; it’s your best salesperson. And it needs to speak multiple “languages,” depending on who is visiting.

For Business Guests:

• Showcase ergonomic workspaces, proximity to conference centers, and loyalty perks
• Highlight business reviews and weekday availability
• Streamline the booking path for speed

For Families:

• Feature high-res images of pools, playgrounds, and dining
• Clarify room capacity, connecting options, and breakfast policies
• Include reviews that mention kid-friendly service

For Couples:

• Use content and photography that sell atmosphere
• Promote spa packages, room service, and local romantic experiences
• Create a section or landing page dedicated to “Couples Getaways”

See examples of effective design in our luxury hotel website design guide.

Own the Right Space on OTAs and Search

Most guests won’t discover your site directly; they’ll find you through platforms like Google Hotels, Booking.com, or Expedia. But here’s the catch: AI filters, not humans, decide what gets shown first.

To reach the right travelers:

• Tag rooms with intent-driven labels like “Executive Suite,” “Family Room with Kitchenette,” or “Romantic King Suite”
• Use descriptive keywords like “spa retreat,” “pet-friendly,” or “business hotel near airport”
• Ensure photos match the guest persona you’re targeting and show people using the space

If a guest searches for “Orlando hotel with kid activities and shuttle to Disney” and your listing lacks that exact phrasing, you will not appear.

Learn more about how AI search engines impact hotel visibility.

Market With Precision, Not Volume

Sending one newsletter to every guest isn’t just outdated it’s ineffective. Segmented marketing gets better engagement and stronger returns.

• Use email automation to send targeted messages to repeat guests or local audiences
• Create ad campaigns in Meta Ads Manager or Google Hotel Ads tailored to couples, families, or business travelers
• Personalize offers by segment: midweek rates for business, weekend packages for couples, bundle discounts for families

See how our hospitality advertising services help you launch segmented campaigns that perform.

The Golden Rule of Hotel Guest Targeting

Targeting isn’t about louder marketing, it’s about smarter positioning.

When your site, ads, offers, and content are aligned with your most valuable guests, you attract fewer low-value stays and more of the bookings you actually want.

It’s not just about filling rooms. It’s about filling the right rooms with the right people.

FAQ: Hotel Guest Targeting

Target the Right Guests and Book with Confidence

When your hotel speaks directly to the people most likely to book and to enjoy their stay, you drive stronger results, better reviews, and long-term loyalty.

If you’re wondering, ‘How do I target the right guests?’ As a proven hotel marketing agency, Mediaboom helps properties like yours attract high-value guests through smart segmentation, data-driven design, and precision marketing.

• Explore digital marketing services for hotels
• Learn how to map your full hospitality marketing funnel
• Review our content marketing for hotels

Contact Mediaboom today to start targeting the right guests and stop missing the ones who matter.
Reach out here