61%

Hotel occupancy rate in Metro Manila during first half of 2023

65%

Hotel occupancy was reached in 2023, nearing pre-pandemic levels

80%

New hotel rooms in Metro Manila are expected in the Bay Area and Quezon City

The Philippine hotel industry is seeing a resurgence as travel demand surges post-pandemic. According to a recent Colliers report, hotel occupancy rates in Metro Manila climbed to  61% in the first half of 2023, a jump from 55% in late 2022. This upward trend is driven by increased foreign arrivals, in-person events, and the sustained popularity of staycations among locals. The government has also been actively promoting the country as a meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) destination, further fueling the demand for hotel stays.

The average hotel occupancy climbed to approximately 65%, nearing pre-pandemic levels in 2023. With around 5,300 new hotel rooms opened in 2023 and further expansion expected in 2024 and beyond.

This 2024, Colliers anticipates a record number of new hotel room completions in Metro Manila. The research forecasts that the Bay Area and Quezon City will account for nearly 80% of the new hotel keys for this year. The Tourism Department is also hopeful that visitor arrivals will reach the goal of 7.7 million by the end of 2024, following a record of 5.45 million in 2023.

So, what exactly is SEO, and why is it so important for hotels? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, a digital marketing strategy designed to improve a website's visibility on search engines like Google. By enhancing your site's relevance to certain search queries, you can attract more organic traffic from users who are actively searching for services that you offer, such as hotel accommodations.

SEO plays a unique role in hotel marketing because it allows hotels to reach potential guests in a highly targeted and cost-effective manner. Unlike traditional marketing, which often relies on print ads or TV commercials, SEO is about being found online. It focuses on creating relevant, optimized content that aligns with what potential guests are searching for online. This makes SEO more targeted and measurable compared to conventional methods.

In a competitive hotel market like the Philippines, where major international chains and homegrown brands are vying for attention, having a strong online presence is crucial. SEO marketing for hotels helps position hotel owners in front of prospective guests exactly when they're searching for travel destinations, hotel deals, or unique experiences. Whether it's a boutique hotel in Cebu or a luxury resort in Palawan, SEO marketing for hotels helps ensure they are the top choice when travelers search for accommodations.

Learn more about how LOKAL helps businesses in Hotel SEO.

By focusing on keywords related to location, amenities, and unique offerings, hotels can capture the attention of travelers actively searching for accommodations that meet their needs.

Next, keyword optimization is key. Incorporate your target keywords naturally into your website's meta tags, page titles, headers, and content. For example, if you’re aiming to rank for the keyword “luxury hotels in Manila,” make sure to include this term in your homepage title, as well as in blog posts or service descriptions. However, avoid “keyword stuffing,” which can lead to penalties from search engines. The goal is to create informative, high-quality content that speaks directly to the needs of your audience.

Finally, don’t overlook the importance of local SEO. Many travelers search for accommodations in specific locations—such as “hotels near NAIA” or “hotels in Tagaytay with a view.”

Optimizing for local search results involves ensuring your hotel is listed in Google Business Profile, optimizing your website for location-based keywords, and encouraging customer reviews, which can significantly improve your rankings for local searches.

While on-page SEO focuses on optimizing your website, off-page SEO involves activities outside your website that help build its credibility. The most important aspect of off-page SEO is backlinking, which refers to getting other reputable websites to link to your hotel’s site. These backlinks signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and authoritative, which can boost your search rankings.

For hotels, backlinks can come from travel blogs, review sites, online directories, and even social media platforms. Developing relationships with travel influencers or getting featured in high-profile online publications can also enhance your hotel’s reputation and increase traffic to your website.

Moreover, social signals, such as likes, shares, and comments on social media posts, also contribute to your hotel’s online visibility. Engaging with potential guests on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok can amplify your brand’s reach, further supporting your SEO efforts.

The Philippine hotel sector’s growth presents exciting opportunities, but also challenges. SEO marketing for hotels offers a powerful solution to increase visibility, attract bookings, and build long-term trust with customers. As competition increases and more guests turn to online search to discover their next destination, hotels that invest in SEO will be better positioned to capture this growing demand.

By adopting a comprehensive SEO strategy that includes keyword research, on-page and off-page optimization, backlink building, the right SEO strategies can significantly enhance a hotel’s visibility, drive more traffic, and increase bookings. As the industry continues to grow, hotels must stay ahead of digital marketing trends and adapt to new SEO practices to ensure long-term success.

Now is the time for hotel owners and marketers in the Philippines to harness the full potential of SEO marketing for hotels and position themselves for success in the years to come.