5 tips every new hotel marketer needs to know

After spending over 15 years working in hotel marketing with some of the biggest global hotel groups—and still working full-time as a senior marketer—here’s what I’d do if I were starting all over again from scratch.

Working in hospitality is challenging enough, and it’s even tougher in marketing—especially if you’re the first person in the role or the go-to person in the marketing department. If you’ve ever started a marketing job at a hotel with no handover or clear direction, you know how overwhelming it can feel. No worries, I’ve got you covered!

1. Do an Internship

Internships are invaluable for trading time for knowledge. They let you learn the ins and outs of operations, various departments, and where marketing fits into the big picture. Be ready to jump in, assist other departments, and soak up hands-on experience.

Trust me, this is exactly how I started many years ago. My first internship was at a luxury resort in Playa del Carmen, followed by another one in the Canary Islands. These experiences helped me understand the basics of this industry and sparked my passion for hotel marketing. The rest, as they say, is history!

2. Find a Mentor

Mentors are gold mines of real-world knowledge, especially in hotel marketing, where formal training is still limited. They can guide you through the industry and share insights you won’t find in books. Ask lots of questions, and remember, as Tony Robbins says, “The quality of your questions determines the quality of your life.”

And don’t forget the reason why the Hotel Marketing Lady exists is beacuse it wasn’t there when I most needed, so I created this virtual space to help you get the tools and skills needed to make your work more enjoyable. In case you need any extra help, don’t forget to check our resources & free trainings.

3. Master Hospitality and Commercial Lingo

Being a good hotel marketer is about more than just posting pretty photos on Instagram. You need to understand the numbers and metrics that drive business goals, like ADR, OTB, and RevPAR—just to name a few.

Focus on active listening during morning briefings, and make friends with your revenue, sales, and finance teams. They’ll help you understand the metrics you need to drive revenue and work collaboratively with the entire team.

4. Work on Your Mindset

I wish I’d learned this earlier, but your mindset toward learning is crucial for your professional development. How you approach learning new skills, stepping out of your comfort zone, and adopting a curious attitude rather than feeling anxious or frustrated makes a huge difference. Always maintain a proactive approach because, even though there are many hotels around the world, this is a small industry. The mentor you have today could be your hiring manager tomorrow, so always nurture great connections and relationships.

Remember, the sky is not the limit, your mindset is. So if you want to develop a limitless mindset, here’s a productivity and mindset formula by one of my favourite authors, Jim Kwik from his book Limitless.

5. Learn About Productivity

The main rule to remember is to work smarter, not harder. As a marketer, there will be times when you’ll need to put in long hours for events or photoshoots, but it’s important to prioritize your outputs and productivity. You don’t need to work endless hours. Here are some tools I wish I had learned about earlier:

• Time blocking/batching technique
• Using the calendar to organize your workload
• Utilizing a project management tool to be on top of your key projects and see progress
• The Eisenhoward matrix or the priorities matrix

The list can go on and on. So I strongly recommend you to watch this great conversation on productivity between Jim Kwik (Brain Coach) & Steven Bartlett in his recent episode of Diary of a CEO, where they cover all the different factors you need to consider to be more productive – hint is not just about time management!

Starting a career in hotel marketing can be both exciting and challenging, but with the right approach, you can set yourself up for long-term success. By gaining hands-on experience, finding a mentor, mastering industry terminology, adopting a growth mindset, and learning how to work efficiently, you’ll be well-prepared to navigate the dynamic world of hotel marketing.

Remember, every step you take builds a foundation for your future. So, stay curious, stay connected, and embrace the journey ahead!