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Have you ever heard "email marketing is dead."
"No one reads emails anymore."
"It’s all about Instagram, TikTok, and whatever comes next."
But let me ask you this:
Do you have an email address linked to your:
- Instagram account?
- Facebook?
- YouTube?
- Amazon?
- Netflix?
Yeah. You do.
So does your guest.
Email isn’t dead - it’s central.
So why do hoteliers think email marketing is dead?
Here is a list of pretty compelling reasons why many think this.
- Overload of bad emails.
If your inbox is full of junk, it’s easy to assume everyone ignores email - and they do, they ignore bad email.
- Social media seems louder.
Email still provides a 3,600% ROI, despite its trendy and flashy alternatives.
- Old myths won’t die.
Like “email lands in spam” or “young people don’t use it.”
- Poor results.
Generic blasts don’t perform, but the channel isn’t broken.
- It's not sexy or innovative.
But it’s one of the only marketing channels you own.
It's why I am here to say....
Email isn’t dead.
Hoteliers need to know how to make it work.
And when done right?
It’s your most cost-effective tool for engaging with and rebooking guests.
These Mistakes are Quietly Killing Your Email Performance
If your emails aren’t getting opened or clicked, here’s why:
❌ Using a name in the subject line = personalization
That tactic has flatlined. It’s not special anymore.
❌ Subject lines that start with “Join,” “Register,” “Find out”
That sounds like work. And your guests don’t want work in their inbox, so you'll be ignored.
❌ Avoiding the word “FREE” or emojis because of “spam” fear
Myth. Today’s filters care more about engagement than any single word.
❌ Blaming Gmail’s Promotions tab
Thinking that your hotel email lands in the promotions tab of Gmail, which it may.
Fact: More than 50% of Gmail users check their Promotions tab every day (Validity).
And Apple’s “All Mail” layout makes emails even easier to spot.
There is an abundance of outdated email marketing advice out there.
Shocking, right?
With so much in the inbox competing for attention, you've got to stand out.
Before you rebuild your email template,
or switch CRM providers, try these hot tips.
Tiny Fixes. Big Results.
You don’t need to send more.
You need to send smarter.
Start with these small, high-impact changes:
- Subject Line Tactics:
Use [brackets], NUMBERS, CAPS. The first few characters must grab attention.
Short, bold, and benefit-focused.
- Talk to Specific People:
Use segmentation to speak directly to them:
“For Hoteliers Only” / “Hey Ski Moms” / “Lake Lovers, Look Here”
- Stop Only Sending Promotions:
Mix in inspiration or education.
Think: “5 Hidden Trails Near Lake Louise that Locals Only Know ”
or “How to Pack Like a Pro for your San Diego Family Vacation.”
- Write CTAs in the First Person:
“Yes, I Want 25% Off” - “Show Me What’s Included”
Click-throughs go up. Every time.
- Send Time Matters:
Avoid top of the hour. Everyone else sends at 8:00 - instead, try 8:17 am.
- MY FAVOURITE TIP: Before You Hit Send—Do This:
Drop your email and subject line into ChatGPT and use this prompt:
Prompt:
Review the following email marketing message. Provide actionable feedback, like a teardown, on how to improve it. Consider persuasive power, CTA effectiveness, clarity, and engagement. Provide 6 specific critiques and suggestions for the email message and the subject line.
subject line: [paste subject line here]
email message: [paste email message here]
Now, scroll up and look at the subject line of this email.
What tips did I follow?
I hope you put these tips to the test and see your conversions and revenue rise!
You don’t need a new system.
You need a few smarter habits.
Because tiny changes in your emails =
✅ higher open rates
✅ better click-throughs
✅ more revenue—without chasing new guests every time.
👉 Was this email helpful? If so, join me tomorrow in the Revenue Strategy Room.
I'm sharing the Free (and underutilized) hotel marketing tools and how to actually use them (for hoteliers only).
Excited to see you action-takers tomorrow!
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