Introduction
Marketing and revenue growth are at the heart of any successful hospitality business — but in a digital-first world, traditional marketing tactics are no longer enough.
Hotels face the growing challenge of competing with online travel agencies (OTAs), which dominate search visibility but take a significant cut of each booking. To reclaim control and improve profitability, hotels must adopt smarter marketing strategies that connect directly with guests. That’s where hotel apps come in.
Mobile apps have become an essential part of modern hotel marketing. From exclusive in-app promotions to personalised messages and push notifications, hotel apps offer a powerful platform to engage guests, increase direct bookings, and drive long-term revenue growth.
In this article, we’ll explore how marketing and promotions through hotel apps can transform your sales strategy — and how Appricotsoft can help your hotel implement these solutions. Using app analytics, hotels can get to know what their guests want, identify areas for operational improvement and predict trends that shape future strategies. In this post we’ll see how data-driven insights from hotel app analytics can improve operations and the guest experience and how Appricotsoft can help your hotel to unlock the full power of analytics.
The Case for Direct Bookings
Third-party booking platforms like Expedia and Booking.com are convenient for travelers, but they come at a cost. Hotels typically pay 15-25% in commission fees per reservation. That’s revenue lost — every single time. Driving direct bookings through your hotel’s own channels — including your website and mobile app — not only saves on commissions but also helps you:
• Establish direct relationships with guests
• Collect valuable data for personalization
• Encourage loyalty and repeat stays
• Increase control over pricing and availability
An app with well-designed marketing and promotional features can be the most effective tool in shifting the balance away from OTAs and toward your own brand.
- Optimize Guest Experience
Data insights can reveal patterns in guest behavior, such as preferred room types, most booked services or most requested amenities. With this information hotels can tailor their offerings to match guest expectations and create a more personalized experience. - Improve Operational Efficiency
Analytics can help hotels to identify operational bottlenecks, such as check-in process or housekeeping delays. By fixing these issues hotels can streamline operations and reduce costs while improving service delivery. - Drive Revenue Growth
App data can show opportunities for upselling and cross-selling. For example, if analytics show that a significant number of guests book spa services, hotels can promote spa packages or discounts directly through the app to drive more revenue. - Make Better Decisions
Data removes the guesswork from decision making. From adjusting pricing strategies to planning marketing campaigns, analytics enable hotels to make decisions based on facts not assumptions.
How Hotel Apps Drive Direct Bookings and Boost Revenue
1. Exclusive In-App Promotions
Offering app-exclusive discounts, loyalty perks, or early access to special offers is a powerful incentive for guests to download and use your app. Guests love feeling like insiders, and personalized app promotions give them a reason to book directly rather than through a third-party platform. Examples:
• 10% off for bookings made via the app
• Free upgrade or late checkout for app users
• Flash sales pushed via app notifications
2. Personalised Push Notifications
Push notifications allow you to reach your guests in real-time with relevant, timely messages. Whether it’s a last-minute weekend deal, a reminder about a returning guest offer, or a nudge to complete a booking, push notifications are a highly effective tool for driving conversions. Using data-driven insights from hotel app analytics, you can segment and target users based on behavior, preferences, and booking history. That means more relevant marketing and better conversion rates.
3. Seamless Booking Experience
The easier it is to make a reservation, the more likely guests will complete the process. A hotel booking system embedded into your app offers:
• Real-time availability and pricing
• Simple calendar selection
• Payment integration
• Loyalty point application
The smoother and faster the process, the less likely guests will abandon it in favor of another platform.
4. In-App Upselling and Cross-Selling
Maximizing revenue doesn’t stop after the initial reservation. Integrated hotel upsell software within your app can present timely, contextual offers to increase spend per guest:
• Room upgrades during booking confirmation
• Add-ons like spa treatments, airport transfers, or dining packages
• Targeted promotions before or during the stay
By offering these options at the right moment through the app, you increase the chances of a sale while improving the guest experience.
5. Integration with Loyalty Program Software
Your hotel’s loyalty program is one of the best tools for driving repeat bookings. When fully integrated into your hotel app, guests can:
• Track and redeem points
• Access member-only offers
• Book reward stays directly
Loyalty features not only reward returning guests but also increase retention and long-term revenue.
Case Study: Hilton Honors App
Hilton is a leading example of how a hotel brand can use mobile app features to drive direct bookings and increase revenue. Through the Hilton Honors app, guests can:
- Access exclusive member rates and personalized promotions
- Book directly with ease through a seamless, mobile-first interface
- Receive push notifications about limited-time offers and rewards
- Use loyalty points for bookings and upgrades
- Enjoy features like mobile check-in, digital room keys, and contactless service
Hilton’s mobile-first strategy has helped the brand grow app engagement and boost direct bookings by focusing on personalized value and a frictionless experience. For more on Hilton’s mobile experience, visit: https://www.hilton.com/en/p/hilton-honors-mobile-app/
Marketing Benefits for Hotels
Implementing marketing and promotions through your hotel app offers several key advantages:
• Reduce reliance on OTAs and increase direct booking margin
• Promote specific offers, packages, or property features
• Target specific guest segments with personalised promotions
• Measure performance with app analytics and A/B testing
• Improve guest engagement and brand loyalty
These tools, when combined with features like hotel reservation software, hotel upsell software, and loyalty program software, form a comprehensive digital strategy to boost revenue.
How Appricotsoft Can Help Your Hotel Drive Direct Bookings
At Appricotsoft, we specialise in app development that drives results. We design and build custom mobile and web applications tailored to your brand’s goals — especially when it comes to direct bookings and revenue growth.
We can help you:
• Develop app-exclusive promotions and booking flows
• Integrate hotel booking software, upsell tools, and loyalty programs
• Set up personalised push notifications and messaging
• Leverage app analytics to optimise marketing performance
Whether you need a completely new app or want to add promotional features to your existing platform, Appricotsoft will deliver a solution that increases conversions and supports your bottom line.
Ready to reduce commission fees and increase direct revenue?
Contact Appricotsoft today to learn how we can help your hotel grow with app-based marketing and promotions.
Conclusion
Hotel apps are more than a convenience — they’re a strategic marketing tool. By using your app to engage guests with personalised promotions, drive direct bookings, and upsell services, you can significantly improve both revenue and guest satisfaction. To learn how hotels use data to enhance performance, check out our last article: Data-Driven Insights: Using App Analytics to Improve Hotel Operations and Guest Satisfaction.