If you think hospitality begins when a guest checks in and ends when a guest checks out, then you‰’re definitely doing it wrong. Hospitality means giving guests a reason to feel a connection with your property long after they check out.

One of the best ways for hotels to connect with travelers is through email marketing, which can have a great impact on your online reputation and overall guest satisfaction.

If your list of guest emails is getting dusty, the holidays are a perfect time to brush it off and try to turn former guests into return guests. Here are some ideas for holiday emails that can help you do just that:

Happy Holidays

Sometimes a kind sentiment is all it takes to reconnect with past hotel guests. The key to a good holiday email is to make it inclusive, meaning that it is general enough to appeal to readers of all faiths and backgrounds. We recommend a simple message of warm wishes during the holiday season, without mentioning specific holidays like Christmas. Further, it‰’s best not to use colors and imagery associated with a single holiday. In the example below, we‰’ve used general winter imagery (who doesn‰’t like penguins?) and our brand colors rather than typical holiday colors.

Holiday Events

Most towns offer seasonal events for the holidays, and some hotels even offer special menus or events in the winter. If there‰’s something exciting happening at your property or nearby this holiday season, why not tell your former guests? They may decide to come back to experience the holidays with you.

New Year Deals

One of the best ways tore-engagee your customers any time of year is with a good deal! This is especially helpful during the holidays since travelers often begin planning their upcoming vacations in January, which will be here before you know it. We recommend mixing a great deal with some clever copy that will encourage your guests to return to your hotel next year.

These ideas are great for engaging former guests via email, but you can also apply them to social media posts too! That way, you can be engaging travelers on many channels at the same time.