A practical marketing checklist for hospitality businesses
Twenty-five checks across discovery, trust, booking and return visits — a quick way to find what to fix first.
Use this checklist to review your own business in under an hour. Mark each item as done, partly done or not done. The items you mark “not done” in the first two sections are usually where to start.
1. Can guests find you?
- Your Google Business Profile is claimed, verified and owned by the business.
- Categories, hours, location pin and contact details are accurate.
- Your business name is spelled consistently everywhere.
- Your website loads quickly on a phone.
- Your website clearly states what you are, where you are and who you are for.
- You appear on the platforms your guests actually use (Maps, Instagram, TikTok, booking platforms, TripAdvisor).
2. Do they trust what they see?
- Photos are recent, high quality and show what guests actually experience.
- Menus or room details include prices or clear price guidance.
- You have a steady flow of recent reviews.
- Every review — positive or negative — receives a thoughtful reply.
- Key information is available in the languages of your main markets.
- Claims (halal, organic, beachfront, award-winning) are accurate and verifiable.
3. Is it easy to act?
- There is one obvious next step on every key page: reserve, book or enquire.
- Booking or reservation takes as few steps as possible on mobile.
- Guests can reach a person quickly via their preferred channel.
- Enquiries are answered within an agreed time — including evenings and weekends where needed.
- Someone is clearly responsible for following up on enquiries.
4. Do you know what is working?
- Website analytics are installed and checked monthly.
- Key actions (calls, booking clicks, forms, messages) are tracked.
- You compare performance against the same season in previous years.
- Reports focus on guest actions, not only likes and reach.
5. Do guests come back?
- You ask guests for consent to stay in touch.
- You send occasional, useful messages — new menus, seasons, events, returning-guest offers.
- You make it easy for happy guests to leave a review.
- Staff know how to handle complaints before they become public.
What to do next
Pick the three unchecked items that are closest to the booking decision and fix those first. Small fixes near the point of decision usually matter more than big campaigns at the top.
If you would like an outside view, request a Hospitality Growth Review — we will look at your digital presence and recommend what to fix first.