The best thing you can do to make that job easier? Illustrate your hotel’s unique experience by putting the right hotel photographs front and center on your Website.

Today’s hotel marketers aren’t selling rooms or meeting space. Instead, your biggest task is selling dream travel and meeting experiences.

The best thing you can do to make that job easier? Illustrate your hotel’s unique experience by putting the right hotel photographs front and center on your Website.

According to Leonardo, a digital marketing agency for hotels and resorts, 86 percent of hotel visitors will look at more than 10 images in your online gallery. This shows that hotel guests and meeting planners crave images when shopping and researching for travel experiences.

However, not all of your hotel’s images are equal.

In their study, Leonardo revealed that one image in particular is most sought after by people visiting your website, and it’s most likely not the main image you use to market your property.

Here’s Leonardo’s list of Top 10 images that hotel guests look at on your website:

Guest Rooms

Restaurant

Recreation

Lobby

Map

Business Center

Pool

Amenities

Exterior

Bar/Lounge

Surprised that images of your rooms are viewed much more than your hotel exterior and amenities? I know I was.

Are you currently using your outdoor pool or your stylish lounge as your signature hero shot on your homepage? You’re not alone, many hotels and resorts are. Use this list to reconsider the order in which you present your hotel’s images in your gallery. And, put your guest rooms front and center when marketing hotels online.

Also, follow these hotel photography tips to best convey your unique travel experience:

Meet photographer ahead of time for a walk-thru

Make sure they know the features and values of each room you want photographed, and let them know what you’d like included in the shot. Don’t assume your photographer will know what’s important to your guests.

Ask for a few shots from a bird’s eye view

This photography trick captures a larger space and allows the show to include room features that you wouldn’t be able to have in the same frame otherwise.

Avoid using models

This ensures that your photographs will be timeless. We all know those hotels still using photos with dated hairstyles and fashion, making those hotels feel ‘old’ and ‘outdated’ themselves. Stay relevant and modern by keeping your shots void of people. If you want to create activity, have your photography blur movements of bustle – a type of shot that you see in a lot of restaurant photography.

Use your guests’ photos

Crowdsourcing is real and it’s here to stay. Reach out to your email subscribers and social media followers to submit some of their favorite hotel photographs of their stay and announce you may include some in your hotel’s online guest gallery. This is also a great way to engage your brand advocates and ensures that they’ll tell everyone to go to your Website.