Tourism board partnerships help hotels tap into destination marketing resources and expand their reach to potential guests.
Building strong relationships with local and regional tourism organizations creates win-win opportunities for promotional campaigns, content sharing, and visitor referrals.
This guide shows hotels how to establish and maximize tourism board partnerships to boost visibility and bookings.
Key Benefits of Tourism Board Partnerships
- Access to visitor data and market research
- Inclusion in destination marketing campaigns
- Referrals from tourism information centers
- Co-op advertising opportunities
- Content sharing and social media cross-promotion
- Participation in familiarization (FAM) trips
Finding the Right Tourism Organizations
- Local Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)
- Regional Tourism Development Organizations
- State/Provincial Tourism Offices
- National Tourism Boards
- Specialty Tourism Associations (eco-tourism, luxury travel, etc.)
How to Establish Partnerships
Contact the partnership or membership department of tourism organizations in your area.
Review membership tiers and benefits to select the most cost-effective option.
Submit required documentation including property details, images, and amenity information.
Maximizing Partnership Benefits
- Content Collaboration: Share high-quality photos and property updates regularly
- Event Participation: Attend tourism board networking events and trade shows
- Special Offers: Create exclusive packages for tourism board promotions
- Media Hosting: Participate in press trips and influencer visits
- Training: Take advantage of educational resources and workshops
Tracking ROI and Results
Monitor referral traffic from tourism board websites using Google Analytics.
Track bookings from tourism board promotional codes and landing pages.
Calculate the value of earned media from tourism board PR efforts.
Sample Tourism Board Directory
| Organization Type | Contact Information |
|---|---|
| US Travel Association | ustravel.org 202-408-8422 |
| Brand USA | thebrandusa.com 202-536-2060 |
| Destination Marketing Association International | destinationsinternational.org 202-296-7888 |
Next Steps for Success
Research tourism boards in your region and identify partnership opportunities that align with your hotel’s goals.
Allocate resources for membership fees and partnership activities in your marketing budget.
Develop a timeline for implementing tourism board marketing initiatives throughout the year.
Optimizing Partnership Communications
- Assign a dedicated point of contact for tourism board relationships
- Schedule regular check-ins with tourism board representatives
- Set up a system for quick response to media and FAM trip requests
- Create a content calendar aligned with tourism board campaigns
Leveraging Digital Platforms
Ensure your property listing is complete and updated on tourism board websites.
Share tourism board content across your hotel’s social media channels.
Participate in destination hashtag campaigns and online promotions.
Website Integration
- Add tourism board widgets to your hotel website
- Feature destination content and local attractions
- Link to tourism board event calendars
- Display tourism board certifications and badges
Creating Joint Marketing Initiatives
- Seasonal promotional packages
- Multi-property destination itineraries
- Cultural and event-based campaigns
- Sustainable tourism initiatives
Strengthening Your Destination’s Tourism Future
Successful tourism board partnerships require ongoing engagement and active participation in destination marketing efforts.
Focus on building long-term relationships that benefit both your property and the broader tourism community.
Stay informed about tourism trends and continuously adapt your partnership strategy to maximize results.
FAQs
1. How can hotels effectively partner with tourism boards to increase visibility?
Hotels can partner with tourism boards by participating in joint marketing campaigns, offering special packages aligned with destination events, contributing to familiarization trips, and sharing resources for destination marketing materials.
2. What are the typical costs involved in tourism board partnerships?
Costs typically include membership fees (ranging from $500-$5000 annually), co-op advertising contributions, and promotional material expenses. Many tourism boards offer tiered partnership levels with varying benefits and costs.
3. How do tourism board partnerships impact hotel booking rates?
Hotels partnering with tourism boards typically see a 15-30% increase in bookings through official destination websites and referral channels, plus increased visibility during peak tourism seasons and events.
4. What metrics should hotels track when evaluating tourism board partnership success?
Key metrics include referral traffic from tourism board websites, booking conversions from partnership campaigns, ROI on co-op advertising, participation rates in destination events, and year-over-year growth in targeted market segments.
5. Can small hotels benefit from tourism board partnerships?
Yes, small hotels can benefit through inclusion in destination marketing materials, access to market research, participation in destination-wide promotions, and networking opportunities with industry partners.
6. How long does it take to establish an effective tourism board partnership?
Initial partnership setup typically takes 2-3 months, but meaningful results usually emerge within 6-12 months of active participation and collaboration.
7. What are the most valuable tourism board resources for hotel marketing?
Key resources include destination market research, professional photography and video assets, access to media familiarization trips, inclusion in press releases, and participation in trade shows and promotional events.
8. How can hotels leverage tourism board data for better marketing decisions?
Hotels can use tourism board visitor statistics, market research, seasonal trends, and demographic data to optimize pricing strategies, target marketing campaigns, and develop targeted packages and promotions.
9. What role do tourism boards play in crisis management for hotels?
Tourism boards provide crisis communication support, coordinate industry responses, share real-time updates, and help maintain destination reputation during natural disasters, health crises, or other emergencies.
10. How often should hotels communicate with tourism board partners?
Regular communication should occur monthly for operational updates, quarterly for strategic planning, and annually for partnership review and renewal discussions.
