[E-book] Your complete 10-step guide to 2026 marketing & budget success

As 2026 approaches, hotel digital marketing is rapidly evolving, driven by AI, economic shifts, and new consumer behaviors. Staying ahead requires strategic planning, smart budgeting, and targeting channels that maximize direct bookings. 💸

This ebook explores key trends and practical tips to help you align your digital investments with your property’s goals. Plan effectively, invest wisely, and set your hotel up for success in 2026. 🚀

Download the ebook now 👇

GCommerce named one of the top marketing agencies by Mediaboom

We’re proud to share that GCommerce has been recognized by Mediaboom as one of the best hotel marketing agencies! 

In their recent roundup, Mediaboom highlights agencies that deliver measurable results for hotels by boosting direct bookings, optimizing digital strategies, and helping properties stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

GCommerce was featured for our expertise in paid search, metasearch, social advertising, display, and web design, as well as our proprietary metasearch tool, Metadesk, which drives stronger performance for our hospitality partners.

Check out the full list and see why GCommerce continues to be a trusted partner for hotels.

View the full article on Mediaboom.

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.

Meta-morph your ads: A guide to smarter Facebook advertising for hotels

If you’re running Meta (Facebook and Instagram) ad campaigns for your hotel or resort, you know the landscape is constantly changing. From evolving ad formats to the limits of customization, it can be tough to stay ahead. 

That’s why we’ve broken down everything you need to know from our latest Meta Ads training—so you can build stronger, smarter campaigns with confidence.

Anatomy of a Facebook ad

Let’s start with the basics. Every Facebook ad is made up of:

• Primary Text: Your main message (aka the body copy).
  
• Headline: Short and punchy, appears under the image.
  
• Description (optional): Adds context or urgency.
  
• CTA Button: Tells users what to do next (Book Now, Learn More, etc.).
  
• Display Link: Shows the destination domain.
  
• Creative: A strong visual—image or video—is key.
  

Understanding how these parts work together is critical for conversions.

Know your ad types: Static, Video, Carousel & More

Meta offers a range of ad types, each with its own strengths. Here’s a quick rundown:

1. Static Ads

• Use one strong image and a clear CTA.
  
• Best for brand awareness or limited-time offers.
  

2. Image Video Ads

• Turns still images into lightweight video formats.
  
• Adds subtle motion, text, or music for more engagement.
  

3. Video Ads

• Ideal for storytelling and emotional appeal.
  
• Great for property fly-throughs, guest moments, or local attractions.
  

4. Carousel Ads

• Swipeable experience with 2–10 images/videos.
  
• Perfect for showing off room types, dining, amenities, or step-by-step narratives.
  

5. Collection Ads (Mobile Only)

• Combines a cover image/video with scrollable product cards.
  
• Great for dynamic mobile experiences, but limited customization.
  

6. Flex Ads

• Upload multiple assets and let Meta auto-optimize combinations.
  
• Delivers dynamic formats tailored to user behavior.
  

Pro tip: Always test a mix of formats to let the Meta algorithm find what works best for your audience.

The "Cans": What you can customize in Meta Ads

Meta offers surprising flexibility when it comes to ad creation. Here’s what’s within your control:

• Ad image sizes:
  
  • Square (1080x1080): Great for feeds and carousels
    
  • Vertical (1080x1920): Used for Stories and Reels
    
  • Horizontal (1200x628): For right-column or desktop placements
    
• Advantage+ Placements:
  Meta will optimize where your ad shows—Feed, Reels, Stories, or Right Column—based on performance.
  
• Other editable features:
  
  • Order of carousel cards
    
  • Promo codes
    
  • Sitelinks
    
  • Countdown timers
    
  • Event promotion
    
  • Multiple headlines and primary text for A/B testing
    
  • Brand safety measures (e.g., hiding negative comments)
    

 The "Cannots": What Meta won’t let you customize

While Meta offers flexibility, some things are off-limits:

• Story CTA Buttons: You can’t change location, color, or wording.
  
• Optimization Features: Meta may enable new features without notice. Always check your ads post-launch.
  
• Ad Descriptions: Even if you write one, Meta might override it—or skip showing it entirely.
  
• Collection Ad Placements: Facebook controls layout across placements automatically.
  
• Image Size Glitches: Sometimes Meta will resize your ad incorrectly. It’s a known issue, and easily fixable.
  

GCommerce tips for Meta Ad success

Our final takeaways for a more effective Meta strategy:

1. Test different ad types. Don’t rely on just one format—mix it up to discover what clicks.
   
2. Give Meta room to optimize. Your best-performing ads might not follow strict brand rules.
   
3. Customize Story placements. Stories need tailored visuals, not recycled square content.
   
4. Experiment with copy length. Short doesn’t always win. Test long, medium, and short-form text.
   

Ready to Meta-morph your ads?

Running Meta campaigns is both an art and a science. With the right mix of ad types, a clear creative structure, and some room for testing, you’ll be set up to drive stronger engagement and direct bookings.

Need help crafting your next high-performing Meta campaign? Contact us to discover how we help hotels and resorts maximize their return on every ad dollar.