The UK travel market has changed quite a bit recently, with more people looking for a clear look at where they will be staying before they book. In 2026, using video for your hotel is one of the best ways to get guests interested and increase your takings. Most people today, whether they are booking a weekend break in the Cotswolds or a large conference in Birmingham, want to see more than just a few still photos. They want to see what the place actually feels like. To keep up, hotel marketing needs to focus on being honest and showing the real story of the property.
Having a solid video plan is not just about making things look pretty; it is about being useful. When someone is looking for a place to stay, they use video to make sure they are making the right choice. A good video acts as a bridge between a website and the actual building. By showing what makes your hotel special, you can stand out in a very busy market. This article looks at how hotels across the UK can get more bookings by making and sharing the right kind of video content.
The C.O.R.E. Way to Make Great Content
To help teams get started without getting overwhelmed, we use the C.O.R.E. framework. This makes sure every video helps the business and stays useful for current trends. The framework has four parts: Connection, Operations, Reality, and Engagement.
Connection: Videos should help people feel a link to your hotel by showing the friendly faces on your team. Operations: Showing how things work behind the scenes helps professional organisers trust you. Reality: Being honest is vital; your videos must show what a guest will actually find without using too many fancy filters. Engagement: Every video needs to tell the viewer what to do next, like clicking a link to book a room or ask for a quote.
1. 360-Degree Property Tours
One of the best ways to show off your hotel is to give people a full view of the space. While photos can sometimes hide things, a 360-degree tour is honest about room sizes and what the common areas look like. These videos should make the viewer feel like they are actually walking through your lobby in London or your suites in Edinburgh. For those planning team away days, these tours make it easy to see if a space will work for their group.
To get more bookings, show the parts of the hotel people use most, like the gym, the spa, or the main restaurant. When people can see the quality of the place for themselves, they are much more likely to book. These videos are a great way for modern travellers to explore a hotel in their own time.
2. Behind-the-Scenes in the Kitchen
Food is a massive part of any stay. Making videos that show off your chefs can be a real draw. Focus on where you get your local ingredients—like Cornish sea salt or beef from a local Scottish butcher—and how the kitchen looks when it is busy. The best campaigns often feature the head chef talking about the new seasonal menu.
A good tip for these videos is to make sure the sound is right. The sound of a steak cooking or a drink being poured makes the video much more interesting. You want to show that you care about every meal you serve, so guests know they will eat well during their stay.
3. Time-Lapses of Event Setups
Most venue videos show the room when it is finished, but showing the work that goes into it can be even better for event planners. A quick time-lapse of a room in a Manchester hotel being changed from a morning meeting layout to a fancy dinner show shows how hard your team works. To help with your planning, you can find ideas for planning meaningful events that work well on camera.
These videos should show off what your venue can do, from the lighting to how the furniture can be moved around. Seeing the effort that goes into a corporate event gives planners confidence that you can handle their needs. This kind of content is very helpful for winning big group bookings.
4. Staff Stories
People like to buy from people, and showing your staff is a brilliant way to make your brand feel more human. Focus on the stories of people who have worked at the hotel for a long time or those who always go the extra mile. By showing the people at the front desk or the housekeeping team, your hotel feels like a community rather than just a business. To help your team stand out, you can read more articles on the Naboo blog about building a strong brand culture.
When making these videos, keep them simple and honest. Don't use a script full of management speak; just let your staff talk about why they enjoy their jobs. This helps your reputation and can even help you find new staff by showing that your hotel is a good place to work.
5. Local Guides and Hidden Secrets
A hotel is only as good as its location. To get more people to book, you should show that you know the local area better than anyone else. Create short videos about local spots like a quiet café in Leeds, a great walking path in the Lake District, or a small shop in Bristol. These videos should give advice that guests won't find in a normal guidebook.
Helping guests plan their whole trip, not just their stay, builds trust. When you provide useful tips about the neighbourhood, people see you as an expert. This is a great way to attract people looking for a proper local experience.
6. Real Guest Reviews
What other people say about you is very powerful. Putting together short videos of happy guests is much more believable than a standard advert. These should be unscripted and talk about specific things, like how comfy the beds are or how helpful the staff were. Real people sharing their real thoughts is very convincing for anyone thinking about booking.
Try to show different types of guests. You might have a business traveller talking about the fast Wi-Fi and quiet spaces, while a family talks about how much the kids enjoyed the pool. This makes sure your message reaches the right people.
7. Interactive Amenity Videos
People want to know exactly what they are paying for. Videos where people can click to see more about certain features are becoming very popular in 2026. For example, a video of a rooftop bar in Birmingham could have buttons to see the menu or the view at sunset. These need to be fast and work well on phones so they are easy to use.
This is very useful for event planners who need to check if a venue is right for a meeting quickly. By giving clear information in an easy format, you can answer questions before they are even asked, which helps people decide to book faster.
8. Sustainability and Local Impact
Being green is very important to people today. The best hotel videos in 2026 show what a property is actually doing to help the environment. This could be showing your composting area, how you have stopped using single-use plastics, or how you work with local charities. Showing the work you are doing is much better than just saying you have a policy.
Company leaders often look for these things when picking where to take their teams for a break. By filming your green efforts, you appeal to guests who share those values. It proves that your hotel cares about more than just making money.
9. Wellness and Calm
More people are looking for stays that help them relax. Short videos of a morning yoga session in the hotel garden or a quiet moment in the spa can be very effective. This appeals to guests who want to look after their health while they are away. Use soft lighting and quiet music to make these videos feel peaceful.
You can even send these to guests before they arrive to help them get excited about their stay. It reminds them that your hotel is a place where they can truly switch off and relax.
10. Dog-Friendly Highlights
Many people in the UK hate leaving their pets behind, so showing off your pet-friendly features is a great idea. Show the doggy welcome packs, the outdoor areas where they can run, and the parts of the dining room where pets are allowed. Capture the fun of bringing a dog along to make pet owners feel welcome.
When pet owners see that their dogs will be treated like guests, they are much more likely to pick your hotel. It is a simple way to stand out in a competitive market.
11. A Day in the Life for Business Travellers
Work trips can be stressful, so show how your hotel makes things easier. A "day in the life" video could follow a guest from their first coffee of the day to a late-night session in the business lounge. Focus on how fast and reliable everything is. People travelling for work value efficiency above everything else.
Highlight things like quick check-in, plenty of plug sockets, and good room service. This addresses the things business travellers worry about and makes your hotel the obvious choice for their next trip to the city.
12. Exclusive Suite Unboxings
Everyone likes a bit of mystery. A video that "unboxes" a secret or very posh suite can get a lot of attention. Show the things that aren't in the standard rooms, like a private balcony, a record player, or a fancy mini-bar. This helps build a sense of luxury for the whole brand.
Even if most people don't book the most expensive room, seeing it makes them think more highly of the whole hotel. It is a brilliant way to get people talking about your property on social media.
13. Live Chats with the Concierge
Live videos are great for talking directly to potential guests. A weekly live session where your concierge answers questions about the city or the hotel is very helpful. Keep it casual and friendly. It is also a good way for event planners to ask technical questions about your meeting rooms.
Being able to get an answer from an expert right away is very valuable. it makes booking feel easier and shows that your staff are there to help. This kind of real-time chat is a big trend for 2026.
14. Seasonal Decor and Atmosphere
UK hotels change their look throughout the year, and video is the best way to show this. Whether it is the Christmas trees in London or the flowers in a country house garden in the spring, show people what the hotel looks like right now. This encourages people to come back at different times of the year.
Highlighting seasonal events like Easter brunches or summer garden parties creates a bit of a rush. When people see something that is only happening for a short time, they are more likely to book a stay.
15. Working with Influencers
Working with the right people online can help you reach a new crowd. These videos should feel like a normal part of their content, not a stiff advert. The best partnerships show the influencer having a real stay, from the view they wake up to, to the breakfast they eat.
Make sure the person you work with has followers who would actually want to stay at your hotel. A good partnership provides proof that your hotel is a great place to visit and introduces you to people who trust that person's advice.
Common Mistakes in Hotel Videos
Even with a good plan, some mistakes can hold you back. One common error is only showing the building and forgetting to show people. Your hotel needs to look alive, so show guests and staff interacting. Empty rooms can often look a bit cold and lonely.
Another issue is bad sound. While the picture is important, noisy backgrounds or quiet voices can ruin a video. Also, many hotels forget to tell people what to do at the end. Every video should have a clear next step, like visiting your website or following you on social media.
Measuring How Well Your Videos Work
To see if your videos are working in 2026, you need to look at more than just the number of views. Check how long people are watching for. If people stop watching after a few seconds, the start of your video might not be interesting enough.
It is also important to track bookings. By using special links in your video descriptions, you can see exactly how many people booked a room after watching. For event planners, you might count how many people asked for a quote after seeing a virtual tour. Checking these numbers regularly helps you see what is working and where to spend your budget.
A Real Example: Booking a Team Away Day
Imagine a tech company in Leeds looking for a place for a three-day team retreat. The organiser is busy and wants a venue that has both great desks and a nice vibe. They find a hotel that has lots of useful videos on its site. First, they watch a time-lapse of a meeting room being set up, which shows the hotel can handle their tech.
Next, they see a video of the hotel’s evening fire pit and bar area, which looks perfect for relaxing after work. Finally, a short video review from another company manager convinces them that the hotel understands what business groups need. Because the hotel showed all these different sides, the organiser feels happy to book, leading to a great event for the whole team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should we update our hotel videos?
You should aim to update your main videos at least once a year or if you have any work done on the building. Seasonal videos should be updated more often to show what is happening right now. Keeping things fresh stops your hotel from looking out of date to new guests.
How long should a hotel video be?
It depends on where you are sharing it. For Instagram or TikTok, 15 to 30 seconds is best. For a tour of the hotel on your website, two or three minutes is fine. The main thing is to make sure every second is interesting and doesn't waste the viewer's time.
Do I need fancy cameras to start?
While expensive cameras are nice, many UK hotels start with a good smartphone and decent lighting. The most important things are a steady hand, clear sound, and an honest story. As you get more bookings, you can then think about hiring professionals for bigger projects.
How can video help win more event business?
Video is a must-have for planners who can't visit every venue in person. By showing time-lapses of setups and walks through the rooms, you show that you can handle their event. This honesty builds trust and helps them see their event happening in your space.
What are the most important numbers to track?
Look at watch time, how many people click through to your booking page, and the total number of enquiries. Comments and shares also show if people like what they see. By looking at these, you can work out which videos are actually making money for the hotel.