Competition in the local accommodation sector has never been more intense. With the growing demand for unique and personalized experiences, it is essential for owners to adopt effective local accommodation management, combined with digital marketing strategies, in order to stand out in the market.
In this article, we explore five strategies that can help attract more guests and increase room and house bookings in 2025 in Portugal.
1. Invest in targeted ads
Paid ads, such as Google Ads or META campaigns (Facebook and Instagram), are powerful tools for driving qualified traffic to your local accommodation website. Use specific keywords and optimize the content of your ads to attract guests interested in the unique features of your space. Additionally, you can set up campaigns based on location, interests or even popular travel times, maximizing your return on investment.
Uma key tip: learn from your past. What nationality are your most popular tourists? And their age group? Cross-reference this and other data to target your paid advertising at countries of origin and people who are likely to be most interested in your accommodation.
2. Optimize local SEO to be found easily
A website optimized for search engines is crucial for attracting guests who are looking for accommodations in your area. Be sure to use location-related keywords such as "accommodations in downtown Porto" or "vacation home near the beach in the Algarve."
Also, register with Google My Business and encourage guests to leave positive reviews, a practice that increases their local visibility and contributes to more efficient local accommodation management.
Read also: How to attract more customers to your local accommodation
3. Use Social Networks for Emotional Connections
Social media, such as Instagram and TikTok, are ideal (and free!) tools for showcasing what’s unique about your accommodation. Share high-quality photos, videos highlighting local experiences (for example, “best francesinha restaurants 5 minutes away”) and testimonials from satisfied guests.
Remember: think like a tourist (what they want to read, what they need to know). Well-told stories create an emotional connection with potential customers and will make a difference.
Speaking of emotional connections, experience marketing is a trend that is here to stay. Find out how to promote unique experiences in article Experience Marketing: Selling More Than Stays, exploring ways to turn stays into unforgettable memories.
4. Local Partnerships Strengthen Local Accommodation Management
Establish partnerships with local businesses (for example, fado shows) can benefit all parties involved, i.e. you can offer interesting packages to your guests and earn attractive commissions.
This not only increases the perceived value of your accommodation, but also makes it a more convenient option for tourists, facilitating the management of local accommodation with additional resources.
5. Producing Attractive Visual Content
Think of the number of publications on tourist destinations, hotels and local accommodation you’ve seen in the last few hours. Too many, right?
High-quality photos and videos are essential for capturing travelers’ attention before they even book their trip. Hire a professional to create images that highlight the best aspects of your accommodation.
It’s important to keep in mind that social media isn’t just about selling, selling, selling. A strategic tip: include videos that highlight the region and the experiences that guests can have.
Producing attractive videos is also a way of following the trends of 2025. Find out more in the article Digital Marketing Trends for the Local Accommodation Sector in 2025where we explore personalization and other innovations to maximize results.
Adopting these strategies can make all the difference to the success of local accommodation management in such a competitive market.
Choose the ones that best apply to your business and start implementing them now! If you need help, contact us.
