Raffe logo
Raffe logo

Your property is unique.
Your marketing should be, too.

Unlike one-size-fits-all agencies, the strategies we develop reflect what makes your property distinctive. You might need a website that captures your brand, campaigns to attract the right guests, or systems to reduce OTA dependency. Whatever your goal, our hospitality marketing agency team will put together a personalized plan that achieves your specific vision.

Doorman opening a glass door at the hotel entrance
Guest’s hand holding a suitcase handle in front of the reception desk

Common challenges
we see in the hospitality industry

OTA Commission Drain

Independent hotels lose the majority of their bookings to OTAs, paying substantial commissions that far exceed what they invest in marketing, which leaves no budget to nurture direct channels. 

Reducing OTA dependency by 15-20% can save hundreds of thousands annually in commission costs. At the same time, it gives you bandwidth to build an owned customer database worth exponentially more over time.

Gaps In Specialist Marketing Expertise

In-house teams are often stretched thin, or owners handle hospitality marketing themselves while managing operations. Properties need specialized expertise in SEO, paid search, AI search, conversion optimization, and revenue management. 

A strategic hospitality marketing agency can fill these expertise gaps with booking-focused execution, whether working alongside an in-house marketer or providing complete support.

Missing Direct Booking Infrastructure

Many properties have websites that underperform industry benchmarks. They’re missing metasearch advertising, email marketing automation, and remarketing, which means most website visitors leave without their interest ever being captured.

Building complete direct booking infrastructure, including optimized websites, booking engine integration, metasearch campaigns, automated email sequences, and conversion optimization, allows your property to own the guest relationship.

Seasonality & Cash Flow Instability

Occupancy fluctuates between peak and off-seasons, with some properties generating barely enough revenue during high-demand periods to sustain operations year-round. 

Dynamic pricing strategies, shoulder season campaigns, and marketing for product diversification (retreats, events, corporate bookings) executed by a hospitality digital marketing agency can stabilize revenue and improve annual occupancy by double-digit percentage points.

Revenue & profitability

Direct bookings deliver higher profit margins than OTA bookings, but many properties lack the systems to capture them. Every percentage point of OTA dependency costs thousands in annual profit. 

When revenue management and marketing work together, with pricing and distribution aligned to direct booking campaigns, RevPAR increases and profitability improves over time. That’s what you can achieve with a hotel digital marketing agency.

Inner courtyard with a small pool in Mediterranean-style architecture
Hotel room with a bed, suitcase, and large window with curtains
Bright bedroom with a green accent wall, bed, and bedside table
Long hotel hallway with accent lighting and framed artwork on the walls
Bedside table with a lamp and books next to a bed in a hotel room
Living room with a leather sofa and a city skyscraper view through a panoramic window
Inner courtyard with a small pool in Mediterranean-style architecture
Hotel room with a bed, suitcase, and large window with curtains
Bright bedroom with a green accent wall, bed, and bedside table
Long hotel hallway with accent lighting and framed artwork on the walls
Bedside table with a lamp and books next to a bed in a hotel room
Living room with a leather sofa and a city skyscraper view through a panoramic window

Our hospitality marketing agency
works with

  • Independent hotels
  • Boutique hotels
  • Heritage & historic properties
  • Wellness retreats & spa resorts
  • Glamping & outdoor hospitality
  • Lifestyle hotels
  • Destination properties & resorts
  • Multi-property portfolios

Our hotel marketing services

Female guest checking in at the hotel reception desk

Reduce OTA dependency

Modern hotel reception desk with a fireplace and a cozy waiting area

Optimize performance & pricing

  • Revenue Optimization & Dynamic Pricing
  • Website Optimization & CRO
  • Competitive Intelligence & Monitoring
Female guest with suitcases talking to a hotel staff member in the lounge area

Strengthen your brand

  • Branding & Identity
  • Website Design & Development
  • Content & Email Marketing Strategy
  • Social Media Marketing
  • Content Production (Photo/Video/Copy)

Industry benchmarks

up to
34%

Average direct booking increase for boutique hotel clients through strategic optimization

9.5-
10.5X

Return on ad spend from metasearch advertising campaigns

30-
40%

Reduction in cancellation rates when converting OTA bookings to direct

9-
20%

Higher profit margins on direct bookings compared to OTA bookings

Cozy bed with gray bedding and a decorative pillow in a warmly lit bedroom

Inside our hospitality marketing agency process

1. 20-minute discovery call

Our hospitality marketing agency team learns about your property’s vision and story, what makes you distinctive, your current marketing approach, and what you’re trying to achieve. We’ll discuss your OTA dependency, guest acquisition strategy, and revenue goals to determine if we’re the right fit.

2. Complimentary marketing audit

We analyze your website, booking funnel, competitive positioning, and channel performance to identify the most impactful opportunities for improvement. This audit gives our hotel marketing agency the insight needed to create a personalized proposal for your property.

3. 60-minute strategy presentation

We present our findings and outline a customized strategy based on your property’s goals during a 1-hour strategy session with our hospitality marketing consultant. We’ll outline the recommended strategy and discuss how we’d work together to achieve your objectives.

4. Implementation & optimization

As a digital marketing agency for hospitality businesses that both strategizes and executes, we action the plan, layer services strategically, prioritize fast ROI first, then build long-term infrastructure. We report monthly and adjust based on performance and market changes.

Let’s talk

Why we’re here

We believe the best hospitality
flows from hosts who are flourishing.

There’s a moment every traveler knows: when you step into a place that feels just right. Not just well-appointed or efficiently run, though that matters too. It’s something deeper. A sense that someone cared enough to create an experience, an environment with soul.

Those places deserve to thrive on their own terms.

If you’ve built something meaningful, the team behind our digital marketing agency for hospitality businesses would be honored to help it flourish.

Read our manifesto
Andy ZenkevichCo-founder & CEO, Epiic

Chat with
a hotel marketing
company
about your growth

Schedule a 20-minute call with our hospitality marketing agency today.
Let’s discuss your challenges, vision, and opportunities, and explore how we can help
you achieve your goals.

Let’s talk

Frequently asked questions

1. How is a hospitality marketing agency different from a general marketing agency?

A hospitality marketing agency is different from a general marketing agency in that they understand OTA dynamics, seasonality, and travel behavior. They focus on bookings, occupancy, and guest experience and use strategies built to help hotels, resorts, and travel brands increase direct bookings and revenue.

2. Why do hotels need marketing if they already use OTAs like Booking or Expedia?

Hotels that already use OTAs need marketing because relying on OTAs for bookings comes with a cost. While OTAs are powerful distribution partners, independent hotels lose more than half of bookings to them and pay 15% to 30% in commissions. On top of that, they collect no guest data that they could otherwise use for remarketing. But with a strong marketing strategy, hotels build brand loyalty, capture guest data, and improve long-term profitability.

3. How can a hospitality marketing agency increase hotel bookings and revenue?

A hospitality marketing agency can help hotels increase their bookings and revenue by improving visibility, bringing in qualified traffic, and optimizing conversion. They achieve this through SEO, paid campaigns, and website optimization, as well as direct booking strategies that reduce OTA dependency and maximize revenue per guest.

4. What marketing channels deliver the best ROI for hotels and resorts?

The marketing channels bringing the best ROI for hotels and resorts are SEO, Google Ads, metasearch, and email marketing. They target high-intent travelers and support direct bookings. When building long-term brand awareness, social media and content marketing are the way to go.

5. How long does it take to see results from hospitality marketing?

Most hospitality businesses start seeing results within 1 to 3 months, while stronger growth usually happens after 3 to 6 months of consistent marketing. Paid channels, for instance, can generate bookings within days. Email reactivation can produce results within a month. With SEO and direct booking infrastructure, expect compounded results within 3 to 6 months.

To enjoy long-term success, consider consistent optimization and a strong strategy. Alignment between marketing, pricing, and user experience should be prioritized too.

6. What KPIs should hotels track to measure marketing performance?

Hotels should track KPIs like direct booking share, cost per acquisition, RevPAR, website conversion rate, and return on ad spend if they want to measure marketing performance. Website traffic, average booking value, and repeat guest rate are also important. These metrics give a fuller picture of how the strategy is actually performing.

7. Why aren't our marketing campaigns generating repeat guests?

Your marketing campaigns aren’t bringing in repeat guests because customer retention isn’t built into the strategy. Without a strong post-stay engagement, consistent guest experience, and a system for staying in touch, every booking becomes a one-off. To convert first-time guests into returning ones, make use of email marketing, loyalty programs, and personalized offers.

8. What is the best way to market a hotel online in 2026?

In 2026, the best way to market a hotel online is having a strategy that combines SEO, paid media, AI-driven search, and a high-converting website. The properties winning today prioritize direct bookings, make decisions based on data, and offer a seamless digital experience across every guest touchpoint.

9. How can a hotel compete with large chains using digital marketing?

A hotel can compete with large chains using digital marketing through niche positioning, personalized experiences, and a strong digital presence. With SEO, local targeting, and distinctive branding, smaller properties can attract the right audience and differentiate themselves from large chains.

10. Is hiring a hospitality marketing agency worth it for hotels and resorts?

For most independent properties, yes, it is. A specialized agency provides them with strategy, execution, and measurable ROI without the cost of building an in-house team. When independent properties work with the right partner, they will outperform those trying to manage marketing internally without dedicated resources.