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Hey 👋
You’ve just opened Hotel Nuggets, a not-boring newsletter for hoteliers.
Today’s edition:
- 👀 An artist who drives hotel bookings
- 🟢 Whatsapp Business button
- ✍️ Catch reviews while the emotion is fresh
- 🎬 Your Reels like mini movies
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#1 An artist who drives hotel bookings
Reset Hotel in Joshua Tree 🌵 just nailed what every hotel dreams of: creating something that’s beautiful, useful, and drives bookings.
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They commissioned an artist, Ben Uyeda, to build a 20-foot circular lounge that looks like it belongs on another planet.
Guests can sit, chill, and stargaze under those famous Joshua Tree skies.
The results?
- 1.3 million views on the artist’s Instagram reel
- Massive PR buzz with mentions in magazines and design blogs.
- UGC goldmine – guests can’t resist taking photos on it
- Functional design – well, it’s an outdoor lounge
This is a great example of turning an Instagram moment into a real business win. Create organic marketing content that can work for many years without any additional investment.
This artist also created a rock chair and a fire pit. But only the circular lounge went viral.
If you have outdoor space, think: what could become your « Moonpad » (that’s how they called it)? Something guests use, love, and share.
It doesn’t need to be something complicated – have a look at the Dog stick library.
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#2 Whatsapp Business button
Ever noticed how more hotels are adding a WhatsApp for Business button on their websites and Instagram bios?
At first, it looks like a workaround for those without a booking engine. But there’s something smarter happening.
WhatsApp isn’t replacing the booking engine… it’s replacing email friction.
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Think of it this way:
- 🎯 « Booking engine guests » on your website already know their dates, room type, and budget. They just want to pay and confirm.
- 🎣 « WhatsApp guests » are still clarifying things and fishing for information. They might ask about room views, pillow brands, or if you can arrange a private chef.
For luxury properties, these messages often come from personal assistants or travel agents managing the stay for someone else.
They prefer WhatsApp because it’s fast, personal, and informal (but still professional enough for details).
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#3 Catch reviews while the emotion is fresh
A few weeks ago, I wrote about those NFC “tap stands” you see in my local gelateria in Amsterdam.
Last week, I saw this idea taken to the next level:
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At Tredaniele, a new restaurant in Trentinara (South Italy), everything was spot on: the food, the wine, the service.
But what impressed me most came after dinner. When the waiter brought the bill, an NFC card was placed right on top.
He smiled and said, “We’re still new… if you liked it here, please consider leaving us a review.”
One tap, straight to Google Maps.
It was perfect timing. Guests are happiest right after a great experience. It’s the emotional peak. And that’s when reviews happen naturally.
In most places, these NFC (btw I always write « UFC » first 😁) cards look super cheap, and maybe you don’t want to associate them with your upscale business. But it’s all about how you present them.
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#3.5 How to sell your hotel without anyone knowing?
Not every owner wants the world to know their hotel is up for sale.
Maybe you don’t want your employees panicking, your competitors celebrating, or your neighbors gossiping.
Instead of blasting your listing publicly, or use an agent with a tiny network, there is a 3rd option:
Share your hotel for sale confidentially with vetted buyers at Buy That Hotel.
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#4 Your Reels like mini movies
If your hotel’s social videos look like ads, people will scroll right past them. But if they feel like short films, they’ll stop, watch, and share.
I recently shared in this newsletter a viral reel from Little Ruby’s Café, which has gathered over 5 million views.
Then I saw a few accounts with a similar style and discovered an Australian agency behind all of them.
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Some patterns:
- Titles that give context and story
- Beautiful typography
- Old-school music that sets a nostalgic tone
- Shot composition that feels intentional, not random
Each clip feels handcrafted, not templated.
So next time you film your lobby, restaurant, or rooftop, don’t think “promo.”
Think opening scene.
🎥 This Google Drive folder they shared on the website is pure gold!
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May I ask you for a favor? I have been preparing this content for almost 2 years and really enjoy it.
If you enjoy reading Hotel Nuggets, could you please forward this email to your colleagues or friends in the hospitality industry? It would mean a lot 🙏
Thank you,
Peter from Hotel Nuggets
How did you find this edition?
👍 YES – I liked it
😑 MEH – Average
👎 NO – Almost no value
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