6 Reasons Why You Need a Hotel Blog

by | Feb 22, 2025 | Website

Straw hat on a hammock near a pool in an upscale hotel.

Is it a good idea to have a blog? Do you need a hotel blog?

Whether you’re operating a historic B&B that’s been running for centuries or you’re just getting started with a three-room inn, the answer is the same. Yes! You absolutely need a hotel blog no matter where you are in the hotel game. 

In today’s travel landscape, most guests are looking for experiences. Gone are the days when people were satisfied with generic rooms and sub-par service.

If you’re in the boutique hotel industry, you’re probably already familiar with this. When you have a blog, you’re able to influence your guest’s experience before they check in and long after they return home. 

But I get it: Managing a blog requires a lot of effort, planning and energy. Maybe you have a small marketing team and aren’t sure if the investment is worth it — or perhaps you are stressed because you have no clue how to get started. 

If you’re still on the fence about whether you need a hotel blog, here are six reasons why you should start building one today.

6 Reasons Why Your Hotel Needs a Blog writing in front of a luxurious hotel spa pool.

 1. Get discovered by new guests.  

All businesses need to grow. In order to grow, you’ve got to expand your client base. One of the easiest ways to do that is by getting your brand and message in front of as many people as possible. 

According to OptinMonster’s updated report, 77% of internet users read blogs. With billions of people surfing the internet each day, that’s a massive number of vacationers who could be reading your content, learning about your business and booking more stays with you. 

If you’re currently using paid marketing to fill in your guestbook, there’s good news for you here, too. Blogging is significantly cheaper to sustain than paid marketing. 

If you already have a website for your hotel, you’ve already paid for a place to host your blog. 

If you’re strapped for cash or love DIY, you can create your own content plan and start churning out content on your own. Or, if you prefer to work with a professional hotel copywriter + blogger who can create and execute a sustainable plan for your business, I can help. 

2. Keep the connection going after checkout.

Unless you work for a mega hospitality chain like Disney or Hilton, it can seem impossible to build a brand that guests keep returning to. 

However, this is absolutely possible with a blog, even if you operate a micro inn or hotel. 

One of the best benefits of maintaining a hotel blog is having the opportunity to create authentic connections with your audience. When you have a blog, you’re essentially creating a space where you can provide your guests with value — even after they’ve checked out. 

Depending on your marketing goals, you can blog about major attractions in the city where you’re located, general travel tips or something else entirely. The point here, though, is that you blog about something that matters to your audience. 

If you operate a historic inn in Savannah, for example, there’s a good chance your ideal client is passionate about history. By writing blog posts that highlight other historical travel opportunities in your local area or beyond, you’re creating content that will resonate with your dream guest whether they’re in your establishment or not. 

This, in turn, will help keep you in the top of their mind no matter where they go. 

3. Show what makes you, you! 

Remember how guests travel for experiences? 

Boutique hotels and historic inns are great at providing one-of-a-kind experiences because there’s so much charm and personality in these properties already! One place where you can really display your hotel’s quirkiness is on your hospitality blog. 

Is your B&B listed on the National Register of Historic Places? That’s a blog post. 

Maybe you make your own breakfast jam onsite? Another blog post. 

Or perhaps you partner with a local business to provide carriage rides for your guests? You get the idea. 

There’s something incredibly special about your hotel already, and a blog is the perfect place to showcase these qualities. 

If you operate in a historic city like St. Augustine or Boston, you have a lot of competition in your industry. In these situations, it’s especially important that you have a blog. 

That way, you can highlight your distinctive brand and make sure you’re attracting the right guests for your business no matter what other options are around. 

4. Send traffic to something you own — and can monetize. 

According to the National Library of Medicine, hotels in the United States have lost more than $46 billion since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The industry is just now starting to bounce back, but the sudden loss of business undisputedly impacted the hospitality industry. 

Your business was probably affected, too. 

While there’s no way to safeguard from another round of shutdowns, it is possible to add another layer of financial security to your business model. 

If you operate a blog that provides readers with value, it’s entirely possible to earn money from your website. 

There are so many ways to make money online. You can do affiliate marketing, sell digital courses or run ads on your site. While some of these methods might be more suitable for your business than others, the point is there are options out there. 

The more income streams you have, the easier it is to weather through market crashes, low seasons and other factors that are beyond your control. 

In order to get started, though, you need to be driving traffic to your site. And remember — the most effective way to send traffic to your website is to have a hotel blog. 

5. Build partnerships with local business owners. 

Whether you’re a solo innkeeper or you’re managing a micro hotel with a tiny staff, growing a business can be lonely. If you’ve been in the industry for any length of time, it also can be hard to find fresh experiences you can offer your guests. 

Fortunately, there are probably other local business owners who feel the same way. These are the types of people you should seek to connect with — and your blog can help. 

By nature, business relationships are built on an equitable transfer of goods. You provide value to someone, and they provide value to you in return. 

When you have a blog, you can highlight other experiences and services in your area that your guests would enjoy. In exchange for the exposure, it’s possible that the local business you’re collaborating with will offer your guests discounted or free experiences. That way, they get new business, and your clients get added value. 

When done right, it’s a win-win that can benefit both businesses for years to come.

Getting started with local partnerships is easier than you might think. To begin, make  a list of the businesses in your area you already love. 

What’s stopping you from reaching out to the owner and asking if you can write about their product or service on your site? They’ll probably be grateful for the free publicity, which is a great foundation for building a positive business relationship. 

6. Establish your reputation as the go-to destination.  

Travelers today are overwhelmed with choices. Even the most memorable places can easily be forgotten, and it’s my job as a hotel copywriter to make sure that doesn’t happen. 

When I create a content marketing strategy for boutique hotels and historic inns, my goal is to make sure guests perceive you as the best place to stay in your city. 

One of the ways I accomplish this is by establishing you as the go-to destination for vacationers. 

For this strategy to work on your blog, you first need to know what sets you apart from the competition. 

Are you an eco-friendly micro inn that runs on solar energy? 

Are you a converted boarding house that has original woodwork in your guestrooms? 

Find out what sets you apart from the other boutique hotels in your area, and highlight your unique selling point (USP). 

While the hotel industry is saturated with options for even the most particular traveler, no other inn is offering exactly what yours does. 

It might sound like a cliche, but it’s true. 

Once you find what makes your establishment unique, it’s easier to craft blog content that highlights who you are and what you do. 

How to Start a Blog 

Now that you’re convinced having a blog is a good way to invest your business’ time and resources, you might be wondering how to start one. 

Fortunately, starting a blog is simple, even if you have no experience running one. 

If you have a hotel website, you’ve already got a place to host your blog. All you need to do is create a page where you can host your articles and start writing posts. 

If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some hotels that have a blog on their inn website: 

Even though starting a blog is easy, it’s important that you do it correctly. Taking a moment to plan before you begin your blogging journey will help ensure you aren’t wasting time when you get started. The more upfront prep work you do, the greater your chances will be of receiving a return on investment (ROI) quicker. 

There are a lot of superb resources online that can help you get started with a blog. Some of my favorites include: 

What is SEO in blogging? 

When you’re learning how to operate your blog, you’ll likely come across the term “SEO.” This stands for Search Engine Optimization. Most blogs feature an SEO component to some degree because that relates to where your article shows up on the Google search results pages (SERPs). 

If your main goal for starting a blog is to expand your audience reach and overall impact, you’ll want to pay attention to SEO as soon as you begin. Otherwise, you might find yourself publishing post after post without seeing any real growth in your audience pool. 

There are many great posts on the internet that cover how to get started with SEO. Here are a few to help you begin: 

When you’re just getting started with SEO, the process can seem confusing. It might even take you a lot of time to conduct research before you get the hang of it. But don’t worry — it all gets easier the more you do it. 

How to Create a Content Plan for a Blog

Now that you’ve done some SEO research and know the types of keywords you want to target, it’s time to come up with a content plan. A content plan (which you can also hear called a “content calendar”) refers to what type of content you’re going to publish, where you’re going to publish it and when it’ll go live. 

Just like with SEO research, crafting a thoughtful content plan takes time. However, it’ll save you a lot of headaches later on because you’ll always know exactly what your next move is with the blog. 

If you’re new to the world of content planning, here are some resources to help you get started: 

Creating a content plan is critical for the long-term growth and sustainability of your blog. However, I know from personal experience that priorities, metrics and goals can change. So, while filling in your content calendar is important, it’s not written in stone. 

Even after you come up with your content plan, hold onto it loosely. That way, you’ll be more equipped to pivot and adjust when unforeseen obstacles or opportunities come up that’ll make you deviate from your well-laid plan. 

Should I outsource my blog? 

From crafting an air-tight SEO strategy to knitting together a content plan and actually writing your articles, there’s a lot of work that goes into maintaining a hotel blog. Depending on what else you’ve got on your plate, this might be overwhelming.

If managing a blog is filling you with waves of anxiety instead of hope for your business’ growth, you probably need to outsource. 

If you’re excited about hosting a blog on your B&B page but don’t have the time to maintain it, outsourcing is probably your best bet. 

And I’d love to help you. 

From setting up your content calendar to conducting SEO research, I have the skills you need to have a blog that adds value to your guests’ experiences. 

I have years of experience writing web content for travel brands like Royal Caribbean, Fodor’s, Business Insider and more.

I’d love to help you scale your boutique B&B. Check out the services I offer here.