Up your email game this cyber season

As the cyber sale season draws near, hoteliers have a major opportunity to drive bookings and build momentum heading into the new year. Based on last year’s data and emerging trends for 2025, here are our top tips for getting the most out of your cyber season email campaigns. 

Start early and end late

Don’t wait for Black Friday to start promoting your sale! Data from last year shows that starting cyber season efforts on the Friday or Saturday before Thanksgiving and extending sale efforts up to five days after Cyber Monday yields stronger results. 

As more importance is placed on the cyber season, we’re seeing searches for sales on Cyber Monday grow year-over-year. Travel Tuesday is also showing upward growth, so make sure to take advantage of the entire cyber season. 

Pro tip: Start building anticipation in the weeks leading up to the sale with sneak peeks, countdowns, and teaser content. 

Double down on early access and last chance emails

Based on our 2024 campaign data, we found that early access emails had the highest click rates and drove the most revenue amongst our email clients that ran cyber sales. We also noted that last chance emails had the highest open rates. Include messaging like “exclusive” and “just for our subscribers” to encourage purchases on early access emails. In last-chance emails, instill a sense of urgency by using messaging like “limited time” and “this sale won’t last much longer.” 

Our recommendation: Send early access emails 3-5 days before the general sale to reward loyal subscribers and drive early momentum. 

Use smart subject lines

Subject line testing from last season revealed two key insights. First, subject lines that mixed lowercase and all caps performed best. Second, subject lines that did not include the exact offer percentage generated more purchases. Mystery and formatting both matter! 

Try subject line trigger words like:

• Priority Access STARTS NOW
• VIP Perks Expiring SOON
• An Important Update JUST FOR YOU

Optimize send times

According to recent trends, the best times to send emails are mid-week morning, particularly Tuesday through Thursday, between 9-11 AM (local time). These trends suggest users are more likely to engage after they’ve tackled Monday’s chaos, but before mid-week meetings and emails clutter their inboxes. 

Reminder: Always A/B test timing with your specific audience to learn their behaviors and get the best results. 

Use high-impact content

With more users choosing to shop exclusively online, cyber season emails compete for attention. To stand out, keep messaging short and skimmable. Too much content could risk losing attention. Use stunning images or subtle animation to encourage engagement. Include multiple clear call-to-action buttons for more opportunities for conversion. Build urgency through copy like “limited time only,” “only X days left,” or “ending soon”. 

Capitalize on peak email engagement

Between October 15th and December 16th, inbox engagement is at its peak. Opt-in rates are 230% higher than other times of the year, and open rates are 24% higher. Use this window to grow your list and send high-converting content, including offers tied to next year, which perform better than standard deals. 

Some ideas to capitalize on this time period include positioning offers as “2026 Pre-Sale,” “Plan Ahead & Save,” or “Book Now, Travel Later.” 

Include key email types

With inbox competition at an all-time high during the cyber sale season, it’s important to make the most of your email marketing efforts. These email types can benefit your cyber sale campaign flow. 

• Pre-Sale/Early Access Emails to encourage subscribers to take advantage of the sale before the general public. 
• Abandoned Cart Reminders are a great way to encourage bookings when a user was very close to converting. 
• Gift Guides with themed experiences or packages can be personalized and target specific segments. 
• Last Chance/Final Hours Emails have been shown to encourage engagement and can entice users to book their trip. 

Plan now, and win big this cyber season

The cyber season is no longer a one-day event. It’s a multi-week strategy that, when executed well, can drive significant revenue for hotels and resorts. The key? Get ahead, test everything, and make your guests feel like VIPs every step of the way.

If you’re ready to elevate your email strategy, GCommerce Solutions has the tools and insights to make this cyber season the best yet.