Why Virtual 360-Degree Tours Are Becoming Popular For Hotels
Despite being a relatively new trend, virtual tours have taken popularity in a variety of businesses, including real estate and luxury hotels. With visitors and clients increasingly depending on the internet to investigate holiday sites and event sites, it’s no wonder that creative and expertly-crafted hotel virtual tours have been accepted as a high-impact marketing tool for increasing bookings and market share.
A hotel virtual tour is a bit of a misnomer in that it does not usually necessitate the use of a VR headset or other specialized gear to observe (although you can create it with that in mind). Instead, sophisticated cameras and programs are used to generate a 360-degree, interactive photo or video environment for clients to experience on their smartphone, computer, or tablet.
It lets users navigate through your hotel grounds at their speed, inspecting rooms, and facilities, and admiring the vistas – just like they would in person. It’s great for premium hotel marketing since it displays your offerings in 8k, crystal clear detail.
Because the product is so aesthetically appealing and focused on creating that wish-you-were-here experience, hotel marketing methods are especially well-suited to virtual tours. Here are a few advantages of hotel virtual tours, as well as some outstanding descriptions that provide inspiration and suggestions on how to execute hotel virtual tours and you will realize why has it become so popular.
Boost Web Traffic and Bookings:
According to reports, hotels that have virtual tours on their websites find guests stay 5-10 times longer on their website, receive 50% more clicks, and receive 87% more views. Perhaps most crucially, 75% of prospective consumers think virtual tours influence their decisions. In reality, West Hotels by Hilton’s virtual tour campaign resulted in over 250,000 views and a 7% increase in bookings.
Assist the Customer Journey:
Research is important in the hotel client purchase process, with 81% of individuals checking reviews and testimonials before making a booking and 79% viewing at least 6-12 reviews before making a decision. Hotel virtual tours allow guests to discover what it’s like to stay at your hotel – a rich, detail-oriented experience that demonstrates why your luxury hotel is the ideal choice for their holiday or event. The virtual tour for Atlantis Dubai does an excellent job of demonstrating how every visitor receives 5-star treatment. Similarly, this simple, beautiful interpretation of the Valamar Dubrovnik President Hotel allows you to explore the hotel’s offerings compellingly and thoroughly.
Increase the Reach of Your Hotel Marketing Strategy:
These interactive tours may be shared on your website and social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube), divided into portions for various audiences or frozen as interactive photographs. As a result, they are a great way to improve your SEO, attract new audiences, and communicate with your consumers. This Maldives virtual tour does an excellent job of highlighting a specific activity offered to tourists, reaching audiences that may not be contemplating the Maldives but are drawn in by a love of scuba diving, beautiful marine surroundings, and the luxury of island life.
Encourages Customer and Guest Engagement:
Virtual tours are also an excellent method to reach out to a larger audience and show them exactly what your hotel has to offer in the most in-person way possible without requiring a real visit, which is especially crucial during the COVID-19 epidemic. People are adjusting their travel habits in search of an escape and a secure, opulent refuge.
Professional photography is always wonderful, but virtual tours elevate the experience by allowing viewers to interact with your hotel and facilities, develop excitement and anticipation, and perform comprehensive research on your offering – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Example like how The virtual tour of the Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa does this spectacularly, with a customized introduction from the management instantly establishing a friendly and engaging experience for visitors.
Hotel virtual tours are cost-effective and adaptable marketing tools that produce vital, bottom-line outcomes in the world of luxury and independent hotel marketing, which is more competitive than ever. If your hotel marketing tactics are aimed at increasing reservations, engaging a larger audience, and creating high-quality digital traffic while promoting a unique brand and offers, virtual tours are the appropriate tool for the job.