As the leaves turn brown, the mountains are blanketed in snow, and wildlife is still in abundance, our area becomes the ideal Winter vacation location. Avid travellers are beginning to cotton on, understanding that visiting areas like ours in the Winter means they can save on accommodation, they’ll be less tourists, and they’ll have a stronger cultural experience. But, there’s still the matter of how to get those visitors to choose your hotel. Here are our tips on how to do just that.
Waking in a Winter Wonderland
Most hotels have Winter deals, but how do you truly make these offers stand out from the crowd? Have them contain everything you’d receive in the Summer, but with a Wintery twist. Use a creative name that conjures positive imagery: don’t settle for deals titled “Winter offer”, instead inject some seasonal pride with names like “Winter Wonderland Escape”. Plus, use warm, cosy imagery to showcase what your hotel has to offer in terms of cold climate comfort.
Winter Wedding Packages
Although many dream of a June wedding, people aren’t shy when it comes to tying the knot with a backdrop of snow capped mountains. When offering Winter wedding packages, just like with accommodation packages, you need to stand out. Showcase the astonishing views of the Lake District surrounding your venue, tailor catering packages to keep people warm and energised, serve hot chocolate to guests upon arrival, use decorations that create a cosy feel. Top your offer off with a positive Winter themed name and branding, showing that these moments will be forever frozen in time.
Dodge the Stodge
It’s tempting to adapt your restaurant menus to suit guest expectations. For Summer, that means fresh fruit, salad, and tapas, but in Winter it’s often expected for menus to via towards the pies, breads, and other heavy or high sugar meals. Reality is, visitors still want healthy and nutritious options. Especially health conscious travellers who come to the Lake District to tackle the elements by scrambling up mountains and through gorges.
Our suggestions for scrumptious and nutritious cold climate foods include stews, curries, and casseroles. Find a balance between health and comfort and your guests are sure to leave satisfied.
Target Businesses for Business
As daylight savings comes to a close, it’s nice to get out of the office during the work day. A change in environment has been proven to boost productivity and morale amongst employees, something many companies will be looking to do during the Winter. That’s why you should tailor meeting, conference, and accommodation deals to business travellers who are looking for a change of scenery in a low effort environment.
Art and Culture Doesn’t Die in the Winter
Despite popular misconceptions, cultural events don’t just take place in the Summer. To entice travellers towards your hotel, advertise and host cultural events in your area. As mentioned above, visitors will be looking to experience the real culture of the Lake District. Host events that are Winter exclusive, for example Halloween murder mysteries, bonfire night, or Christmas markets. Sponsor nearby ticketed events and offer discounted stays to people attending that event.
There’s so much you can do to boost your business in the Winter months. As a member, our dedicated marketing team will help advertise your offers and events across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Just tag us @RealLakes, use #reallakes, or email our team and we’ll get posting. Not a member? Visit our website to see what else we can offer your hotel or attraction: