Reddit Is NOT a Strategy for Boutique or Independent Hotels
Over the last weeks, a few GMs have asked me whether their hotel should start “doing Reddit” because AI tools now pull answers from Reddit threads.
Let me say this clearly:
– Reddit is not a marketing strategy for boutique or independent hotels.
– And it won’t fix your visibility problems.
Here’s why:
1. You cannot control the narrative on Reddit. Anyone can comment. Anyone can criticize. And you cannot remove or manage anything written about your hotel.
2. Reddit hates advertising. If a new account posts anything remotely
promotional, it gets removed, downvoted, or banned. Travel subreddits are extremely strict.
3. You can’t “seed” Reddit the way some agencies suggest. Most travel communities don’t allow brand submissions at all. Moderators delete them daily.
4. AI referencing Reddit doesn’t mean your hotel needs to post on Reddit.
AI tools are not looking for promotional content, they’re looking for trusted, organic, user-generated signals. And you can’t manufacture those.
So what should boutique hotels focus on instead?
– A strong website
– A fast, mobile-first experience
– Helpful content that answers real traveler questions
– A properly optimized Google Business Profile
– Local SEO signals
– A healthy review strategy
– The BASICS of SEO done right
Because Google and AI systems reward authority, not Reddit posts.
If you want visibility, direct bookings, and consistent demand, invest in the channels you own, not platforms where you have zero control.