Top 8 Smart Marketing Strategies for Motels in 2025

The hospitality industry and its marketing strategies continue to change at a rapid pace, and 2025 will prove to be a revolutionary year, especially for motels.

To stay competitive, motels will need to adopt smart marketing strategies that enhance the traveler’s experience and meet evolving traveler needs.

Although big hotel chains usually win the competition for marketing channels, motels are used by many road trippers, families, and solo travelers looking for good pricing.

To keep themselves as an option in an increasingly digital world, motels now need a new set of bespoke and smart marketing strategies.

In this blog, we will define what a motel is, and then get into 8 new marketing strategies built for motel success in 2025.

What is a Motel?

The word “Motel” comes from a combination of “motor” and “hotel”. 

In the early 20th century, motels were established primarily for travelers combining long distances with driving. 

A motel (motor hotel) is commonly used by motorists and road travelers. Motels are mostly located near highways or large roads, and are characterized by the following features :

• Affordable pricing
• Basic but key amenities
• Parking is conveniently right outside each room
• Short-term stays (1-2 days)

While word of mouth and signboards used to work well for motels, travelers are now searching, comparing, and booking online. Motels need to upgrade their marketing playbook.

Let’s go over 8 smart marketing strategies to make motels succeed in 2025:

1. Increase Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

If your motel doesn’t show up in Google search results, it’s likely not visible to the majority of potential travelers.

That’s why using SEO Optimization is so important.

As it makes sure your motel website appears higher in search results when someone types in relevant phrases like “motels near me” or “motel in [your city]”.

How to improve SEO and increase your marketing strategies: 

• Use localized keywords (for example, maybe “budget motel in Dehradun”)
• Add alt text to the images and have a speed-optimized site 
• Good SEO helps travelers find your motel easily
• Register your website with Google Search Console

2. Provide Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) Schemes

Budget travelers might prefer to hold onto their money instead of spending it all right away. 

Buy Now Pay Later schemes are a great option for budget travelers.

Providing BNPL options like Razorpay Later, Paytm Postpaid, and others will only help bookings since you’ll provide additional flexibility.

Benefits: 

• Appeals to Gen Z and millennial travelers
• Creates trust and increases conversions
• Great for extended length or off-peak season stays

BNPL helps eliminate financial friction, especially considering the current economic situation.

3. Optimize your website for mobile

Since more than 70% of travelers now use their smartphones to browse and book, it’s crucial for motels to make sure their websites are optimized for mobile devices.

A smooth mobile experience will directly enhance the traveler’s experience and make booking easier than ever.

If your motel’s website is not mobile-friendly, it is likely you’re losing out on bookings.

Your website should have: 

• Responsive design is compatible with any screen size or resolution.
• Fast loading pages.
• Click-to-call, Google Maps links.
• User-friendly booking form optimized for thumbs.

You might look at using Wix, WordPress, or Squarespace, which usually have mobile templates built in.

4. Encourage and Track Generic Reviews

Reviews matter a lot. Rather than concentrating only on positive reviews.

I would instead encourage authentic, well-thought-out reviews that capture general aspects of the experience, such as “clean”, “comfortable”, “location”, and “service”.

Ideas:

• Ask after checkout using email or SMS.
• Use sites such as TripAdvisor, Google, and Booking.com
• Show reviews on your site.

Generic reviews help the trust and visibility for SEO, even if they are not 5-star.

5. Partner with Other Local Businesses

If you partner with a local coffee shop, adventure company, or attraction, you help to improve your motel’s offer.

You could provide your guests with discount coupons for local eateries or package deals that include a free stay and a local tour.

Examples of collaborations:

• “Stay & Snack” with a nearby bakery
• Travelers get an improved guest experience
• It provides an opportunity to include your motel in the complete local travel plan
• It’s also a win-win for everyone

You are supporting your local economy and giving travelers a more wonderful experience.

6. Design Custom Packages and Seasonal Promotions

Customized packages will appeal to particular traveler types like families, couples, or solo backpackers. 

Custom packages designed for budget travelers looking for great value.

Examples:

• Monsoon Madness: 2 nights + free dinner
• Festive Promotion: Book 4 nights and get 1 night free with free dinner
• Weekend Combo: Stay + local trek guide

Share and advertise these packages on your website, Online Travel Agency (or OTA) listings, and social media platforms. Offering packages creates value and a sense of urgency.

7. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

When people search for places to stay on Google (like “motel near me”).

Google shows a small profile on the side with your motel’s name, photos, contact info, location, and reviews.

That profile is called your Google Business Profile.

One of the best, free ways to gain more visibility–especially for local searches.

Ensure that your profile has:

• Current phone number and address
• Website and booking link
• Photos of your rooms and amenities, as recent as possible
• Active responses to guest reviews are done in a timely manner

Encourage happy customers to leave a review after checkout to improve trust and enhance SEO rankings.

8. Launch Geo-Targeted Mobile Ads

With almost all guests booking a motel stay while they are on the go, location-based advertising can make all the difference.

How it works:

• Show advertisements to users who are close to your motel or driving down highways for their next stop
• Using a form of Google Ads or Facebook Ads, have a location filter
• Limit advertising to your benefits: free parking, affordable rates, and instantly bookable

Geo-targeted ads will put your motel in front of moving travelers at the exact moment they are looking for a place to stay.

Conclusion

Motels will always be an essential aspect of the travel industry; however, if they plan to compete and remain relevant as a motel stakeholder in the year 2025.

They will need to diversify the way they enhance the traveler’s experience. 

Here are a few suggestions: 

• Flexible forms of payment, including buy now pay later (BNPL) 
• Partner with local businesses and use smart online marketing
• Foster purposeful and meaningful guest engagement through reviews and packages
• Enhance locals and traveler’s experience through strong SEO and mobile optimization 

As a motel, you can find ways to compete against larger competitors and attract more travelers both digitally and locally!

Be visible, be bookable, be ready for 2025.

Get In Touch

Looking to improve how your hotel runs? QloApps is here to help!

Let’s work together to make your daily tasks easier and keep your guests happy. 

With QloApps’ Property Management System and Channel Manager, you can manage your hotel smoothly and increase your earnings. Reach out to us today!