Video-First Strategies For Hotels in 2026

Written By Claire Gibson

In 2026 social media will see a shift with content moving beyond polished imagery and passive inspiration. The hotels winning attention, and ultimately sales, are those using short-form video, authentic storytelling, and seamless booking pathways to meet guests where they already are.

 

Here are top 5 tips for perfecting your video content for 2026, and how PIXI can help you share your story.

1. Put Real Guest Experiences Front and Centre

In 2026, authenticity isn’t a trend, it's imperative. Instagram and TikTok reward content that feels real, not rehearsed. That’s why UGC often outperforms brand-led content across saves, shares, and watch time.

 

Hotels should:

  • Encourage guests to tag and share their stay

  • Share UGC that shows genuine moments, not just highlights

  • Treat guest content as social proof, not filler content

A phone-shot sunset clip, a room reveal filmed by a guest, or a “day in the life” Reel often builds more trust than a high-production campaign.

 

PIXI's take: If it feels too polished, it probably won’t perform.

 

2. Master Short-Form Video (and Design It for Search)

Instagram and TikTok aren’t just for discovery anymore, they’re search tools. Both are now pulling in search reports into their Dashboards, as well as Google Search Console which reports on search performance of social channels.

 

Hotels need to optimise video content with:

  • Clear captions using natural keywords

  • Location-specific hashtags

  • Descriptive titles and on-screen text

 

Short-form video should be dynamic, vertical, and immediately engaging - but also searchable.

 

PIXI's take: If your video can’t be found, it can’t convert.

 

3. Show the Human Side (Behind the Scenes Wins)

Guests are not just booking hotels, they are buying into your brand, your story, and most importantly, your people.

 

  • Behind-the-scenes moments with the people that make the hotel - your chefs, concierge, guest relations team

  • Short virtual walk-throughs of suites or experiences

  • Daily rhythms that show what staying actually feels like

These videos build emotional connection and brand trust; especially when filmed simply and consistently.

 

PIXI's take: Speak with your audience, not at them.

 

4. Create Video With Conversion in Mind

Attention is valuable - but action is essential. Wherever there's an opportunity to use video, hotels should be. Whether this is on booking engines, within the sales process, or of course, to share seamlessly with Travel Designers for client proposals using PIXI.

 

Platforms like TikTok Travel Ads now allow hotels to connect inspiration directly to conversion — shortening the path from discovery to booking.

 

PIXI's take: Video is your most valuable means of storytelling.

 

5. Measure What Matters

By 2026, vanity metrics alone aren’t enough. Hotels should focus on:

  • Saves - one of the strongest metrics of engagement, but also help to predict potential travel intent for a destination or property.

  • Content that leads to actual conversions - using PIXI's Insights Dashboards to take the guesswork out of what Travel Designers are actually engaging with.

Final Thought

In 2026, hotel social media success is no longer about posting frequently, it’s about posting with purpose. Short-form video, real guest moments, local storytelling, and seamless integration within the sales process are what turn content into a commercial asset.

Discover how PIXI turns video, amongst other content, from a liability into your most powerful sales tool by booking a demo today.

Claire Gibson
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