Pinterest for the hospitality industry
‘Pin’ and ‘Interest’, also known as Pinterest. The social online bulletin board where users can share their images has become a lot more popular in the Netherlands the past year. Currently 1.1 million Dutch use Pinterest, compared with 530,000 users a year ago. Pinterest has extended the functions, so there are more opportunities for the users.
Pinterest is an interesting form of social media for the hospitality industry due to the image content and the visual appeal. Especially because the platform has expanded a number of functions: for the hospitality industry an opportunity. A hotel or restaurant can create its own bulletin board divided into several categories. Eye-catching images of the hotel or dishes are directly linked to the web of the enterprise. You can also publish additional information, like the details of the hotel or the dish served. The entrepreneur can put the information with their Pin, but it could also be imported via the website where the image is pinned. As a restaurant you can share a recipe of the menu or ask guests to inspire you with recipes for a new menu. A piece of history of a hotel can be published with a nostalgic image and so on. For example the Okura hotel in Amsterdam has a bulletin board of the Yamazato Restaurant with visual appealing images of the food and the interior.
With the new tool ‘Places Pin’ users can add addresses and maps when they Pin an image. These are displayed on an interactive map. By clicking on ‘more information’ you will be directed to the Foursquare page or the hotel / restaurant website. For example, a hotel can create a location board with the sights of a town. Through the interactive map you can show the user where your hotel is located relative to the museums, restaurants, nightlife etc. Hotel Indigo Brooklyn has a location board with the location of the hotel and the surrounding attractions. So far there are few hotels that use the ‘Place Pin’, even though it is an interesting way to inform guests before their stay.
It is also important that the entrepreneur not only publish Pins, but also re-pins (redirect images), like other users and response. The images will also be published on the bulletin board of other users. Like the Four Seasons, who bring the journey of guests to life with the Pin.Pack.Go board. Guests can make their own Pin.Pack.Go board and specify the Four Seasons hotel you will be visiting during your holiday. The Four Seasons hotel will pin recommendations like tourist attractions, restaurants and shops. The Four Seasons thus plans your ideal travel from start to finish via Pinterest. This is an interesting and innovative way to inform your guests before their stay, a different kind of concierge. And it increases the anticipation for your guests…
Place a ‘Pin it’ button on the website so users are encouraged to Pin your hotel or restaurant on Pinterest. Be active and Pin daily images of your site.
Spread the word! ^Laura
Website: Spronsen.com
