The hospitality industry never stands still. Here's where we share deeper insights that help you stay ahead – practical advice, industry trends, and marketing wisdom from more than three decades in hospitality marketing.
If you’re a hotelier or hotel marketer, you’re feeling it. Travel demand shifts. Rising competition. Tighter margins. You’re expected to grow occupancy, protect hotel revenue, and hit targets while OTA commissions quietly chip away at your profitability in the background. OTAs (Online Travel Agents) are powerful distribution channels. They drive visibility in online travel search and bring in demand. But when they dominate your distribution mix, they also limit your control and reduce your margins. The opportunity in 2026 isn’t to remove OTAs. It’s to rebalance them. Keep OTAs for reach. Build your direct booking strategy for profit.
May is a funny month in hotel marketing. Summer feels close enough to touch, but there is still time to shape the season ahead. For many hoteliers, the calendar may already look healthy in places. A few strong weekends. Some wedding guests. A bank holiday lift. But then there are the gaps. Midweek rooms, late June, early July, or that awkward Sunday night. The good news? You do not need to start again. You need a focused push.
Here is a simple May marketing checklist to help you fill more summer dates, drive more direct bookings and give guests a reason to choose you now.
At this time of year, many hotels would normally be turning their attention to longer breaks, and turning on minimum stay restrictions. But one night stays are not to be overlooked this spring and summer.
It's not a shiny new trend. It is really about making your hotel feel more connected, more memorable and more rooted in the place guests are choosing to visit. Done well, it can help you attract the right visitors, strengthen your brand and give people a better reason to book direct.
In celebration of B Corp Month, and to catch up with our local B Corp community, we joined other B Corps and businesses at THE PIG at Combe for cocktails and pizza this month.
At Clockwork, being part of Travel by B Corp matters because it turns shared values into shared action. Travel by B Corp brings together a growing collective of certified B Corps from across the travel sector, all working towards a future where travel benefits people, places and the planet, not just profit.
March is B Corp month. A time to celebrate what it means to be part of a community of businesses using business as a force for good. For us at Clockwork Marketing, this year’s strapline, “B” for a brighter future, says a lot about who we are and how we work. It reflects our belief that growing a business should not come at the expense of people, place or planet. It should create something better for the long term.
Spring has a funny way of showing up with a burst of optimism. The sun appears. The nights get lighter. And suddenly you’re looking at that overstuffed cupboard thinking, Right. Today’s the day.
Your guest database is the digital version of that cupboard.
Spring and summer can feel like a gift in hospitality. Longer days, lighter moods, fuller diaries. They can also feel like a test. Guests expect fresh ideas, quick replies, inspiring content and “something new” every time they look at your website or social feeds. Meanwhile, you’re juggling rotas, reviews, refurb lists and rising costs.
A month into 2026, it's the perfect moment to take stock of the year so far - to see how guests are behaving, understand emerging trends, and plan strategically for the months ahead. Early booking and guest data already reveal useful clues about what’s catching travelers’ attention and how they’re making decisions. By reviewing your own numbers, feedback, and online engagement, you can turn these insights into smart marketing, pricing, and operational strategies that boost occupancy, revenue, and guest satisfaction.