Beyond room rates: Instagrammable moments that drive real revenue

Let’s be honest…Competition is rising, budgets are tightening and guests can be more selective than ever before. But, here is the good news. Boosting revenue doesn’t always mean raising rates! Sometimes, it can be about creating moments so memorable for your guests, they can’t help but share them!

The future of hotel revenue lives in experiences… The kind that connects communities, inspires sharing, and elevates the brand. With the right blend of creativity, operational alignment, and technology, hotels can turn every small moment into lasting impact.

You don’t need a massive budget because your property itself is full of untapped opportunities like:

• Lobby pop-ups featuring local artisans, musicians, or small brands

• F&B creativity like tasting flights, seasonal menus, or that special cocktail

• Courtyard art installations or local collabs that give your guests something to post about

As industry expert Wendy Norris put it, “Guests are drawn to experiences that feel authentic to the property and the community. When you tie in local culture, you’re not just offering a service, you’re telling a story.” 

So what about the influencer creators that help marketing promote these services? Sarah Stahl from STR Marketing said on a recent episode of our Industry Chat that, “You can work around a limited marketing budget and high competition with a small team and a big vision. Working with local creators allows hotels to stand out and also drives demand of other creators wanting to work with your property.”

Sarah’s data backs it up. In one of her recent LinkedIn post that quantifies influencer marketing as a tangible source of revenue for hoteliers, she explains that: 

• 83% of travelers say influencer content inspires their trip planning

• Travel brands that partner with influencers see 18x more reach & 4.2x more engagement

• ROI averages $7.65 for every $1 spent; some hotels saw 30% more direct bookings

Create Instagrammable moments like the above mentioned courtyard concerts, signature cocktails, or pop-up art installations to enhance the guest experience and drive organic marketing. Not sure how to find a creator? Our industry has platforms like Evolusen to help.

However, the challenge isn’t always lack of creativity or creators to share the content, but lack of execution. Promoting and delivering on these creative ideas and guest offerings require collaboration between marketing and operations.

 “Marketing can generate excitement, but if operations can’t deliver the experience, it falls flat. Both teams need to work in sync to make it memorable.” says Wendy Norris.

Marketing sparks the buzz; operations ensure flawless delivery. Only together can hotels turn creative ideas into actual revenue. Ideas are easy. Execution is hard. Affixify connects hotels with vetted technology and consultants to bring all of this to life:

• Guest engagement tools like Ascent 360

• Operational tech that deliver on the experience

“A powerful tech tool is needed to keep operations running smoothly.” — Sarah Stahl

With Affixify, hotels can focus on delighting guests while we help find the right solutions to make every idea possible. The future of hotel revenue isn’t in higher rates but it’s in experiences that inspire content, connect communities, and elevate the brand. Guest experiences speak for themselves.