HeBS Digital On Hotel SMS Marketing

With more than 7 trillion text messages sent around the world in 2011, it is no secret that mobile users are hyper-engaged and hyper-connected via mobile messaging. Why is it then that marketers continue to overlook this opportunity to build a relationship with customers?  In a recent Hipcricket survey of mobile users, 57 percent of respondents said they would be interested in opting in to a brand’s SMS loyalty program. Yet, 80 percent of survey respondents said they have not been marketed to via SMS by their favorite brands. Even more compelling, 90% of survey respondents who had participated in an SMS loyalty club felt they had gained value from being a part of the program.  Why the hesitation to include SMS into the marketing mix? Many hoteliers simply don’t know where to start, and are rightfully cautious to reach consumers through this nascent channel.

Despite hoteliers’ apprehension to engage in this channel, many hoteliers understand the potential SMS offers to effectively reach consumers. In HeBS Digital’s 5^th Annual Benchmark Survey on Hotel Digital Marketing Budget Planning, 25% of hoteliers indicated that SMS marketing was an initiative they planned to leverage in 2011.