The Hospitality Marketing Agency in Saudi Arabia That Fills Your Rooms and Tables with Direct Bookings
We help hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, restaurants and cafés across the Kingdom grow direct bookings, lift average daily rate, and cut OTA commissions, with one integrated system that combines hotel SEO, AI search visibility, Snapchat, TikTok and Google Ads, and online reputation management.
Key Takeaways: What Does a Hospitality Marketing Agency in Saudi Arabia Do?
- Hospitality marketing is digital marketing built specifically for hotels and F&B businesses. Its goal is to grow occupancy, revenue per available room (RevPAR) and direct bookings instead of relying entirely on online travel agencies.
- Steps Grow brings hotel SEO, AI search optimization, Google, Snapchat, TikTok and Meta advertising, booking-ready website design and review management under one team.
- We serve hotels, resorts, serviced apartments, restaurants, cafés, event venues and Hajj & Umrah hospitality in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, AlUla, the Eastern Province, Abha and Taif.
- We measure success with real hospitality KPIs: occupancy, ADR, direct booking share, cost per booking and return on ad spend.
Why Saudi Hospitality Brands Need Specialist Marketing Now
Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector is going through the fastest growth phase in its history. Vision 2030 has raised the national tourism target to 150 million visits a year, giga-projects such as the Red Sea, AlUla, Diriyah, Qiddiya and NEOM are reshaping the map, Riyadh will host Expo 2030, the Kingdom will host the FIFA World Cup 2034, and the Umrah ecosystem keeps expanding through the Nusuk platform and the tourist eVisa.
More demand also means tougher competition. Thousands of new hotel rooms and global brands with large marketing budgets enter the market every year. A property without a strong digital presence stays dependent on OTAs and their commissions, or is forced into price cuts to compete.
That is where a hospitality marketing agency in Saudi Arabia that understands Saudi, GCC and international guest behavior makes the difference, turning people who search on Google, Snapchat or TikTok into guests who book directly on your website.
OTA Dependency Is Eating a Large Share of Your Profit
Online travel agencies such as Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia typically charge between 15% and 25% of every booking, and they own your guest data. OTAs are valuable for reach; the problem starts when they become your only source of bookings.
✕ A property without specialist digital marketing
- Most bookings come through intermediaries at high commission
- The official website is invisible on Google and in AI answers
- Social accounts with no plan and no booking tracking
- Unanswered negative reviews that shape guest decisions
- Rate cutting in low season instead of creating demand
✓ A property working with Steps Grow
- A healthy balance between direct bookings and OTAs
- Visibility in search, Maps and AI search engines
- Seasonal ads tied to actual bookings and revenue
- A strong online reputation that supports higher rates
- A guest database that rebooks via WhatsApp and email
Full-Service Hospitality Marketing from Steps Grow
Each service targets a specific stage of the guest journey: dreaming, comparing, booking, staying, reviewing, and coming back.
Hotel & Resort SEO
We build pages around real booking intent, such as “hotel near the Haram” or “family resort in Jeddah”, backed by full technical SEO, Hotel and LodgingBusiness structured data, and local SEO for every city you operate in.
AI Search Visibility (GEO)
We prepare your property to be mentioned in ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and Perplexity answers through clear, quotable content, well-defined entities and trusted mentions across the web.
Google Maps & Hotel Ads
We optimize your Google Business Profile to win the local pack and connect your direct rates to metasearch platforms such as Google Hotels, Trivago and Tripadvisor, so guests see your official price next to the OTAs.
Snapchat, TikTok & Instagram Ads
Snapchat and TikTok are among the most influential platforms in Saudi Arabia. We run vertical-first campaigns targeted by city, season and interest, with tracking all the way to the completed booking.
Google Ads for Hotels & Restaurants
Search campaigns that capture people looking for a room or a table right now, Performance Max and remarketing for visitors who did not book, and brand protection against OTAs bidding on your name.
Hotel Websites with Direct Booking
Fast, bilingual, mobile-first websites connected to a booking engine and local payment gateways, with room and offer pages built to convert, because every second of delay sends a guest back to the OTAs.
Content Production & Photography
Reels, stories and video tours of rooms, facilities and dishes, plus creator and guest-generated content that sells the experience, not just the room, in a style that resonates with Saudi and GCC audiences.
Reputation & OTA Listing Management
Professional replies to reviews on Google and booking platforms, a system to grow positive reviews, and optimized Booking.com and Agoda listings that rank higher without undermining your direct channel.
WhatsApp, Email & Loyalty
We turn every guest into a repeat guest with smart WhatsApp flows, seasonal email campaigns and exclusive offers for past guests, because returning guests book direct at a far lower acquisition cost.
Explore our SEO services, paid ads management, social media management and web design.
A Different Marketing Strategy for Every Hospitality Business
A business traveler at a Riyadh hotel is nothing like a guest at a Red Sea resort or a café visitor in Jeddah. Pick your property type to see how we build your plan.
Hotel Marketing in Saudi Arabia
We focus on keywords tied to location and trip purpose, such as hotels near business districts, exhibition centers, airports and landmarks. We build pages for each room category and guest segment, from business travelers and families to delegations, and run campaigns that follow the city’s conference and events calendar.
- Landing pages per city, district and nearby landmark
- Direct rates connected to Google Hotel Ads
- Corporate and long-stay offers
- Remarketing for abandoned bookings
Resort & Luxury Destination Marketing
Resort guests buy an experience and a dream. We build a strong visual story through video, aerial footage and travel creators, target high-income audiences in the Kingdom and the GCC, and launch seasonal packages for weekends, Eid holidays and honeymoons.
- Cinematic video and exclusive experiences
- Partnerships with travel creators
- Honeymoon and family packages
- GCC and international targeting
Serviced Apartment Marketing
Licensed serviced apartments and guesthouses compete heavily on price. We give them a clear advantage built on space, privacy and long stays, target families, extended stays and relocating employees, and strengthen their visibility on Maps and booking platforms.
- Strong local SEO per district
- Weekly and monthly stay offers
- Better photos and OTA listings
- Family campaigns during school holidays
Restaurant & Café Marketing in Saudi Arabia
In Saudi Arabia, restaurants and cafés are usually discovered on TikTok, Snapchat and Google Maps. We create mouth-watering food content, work with local creators strategically, and win “restaurant near me” searches, with dedicated Ramadan iftar and suhoor campaigns.
- Google Maps profile and review management
- High-quality vertical food content
- Creator visits with measurable return
- Ramadan and Eid campaigns
Event Venue & Business Travel Marketing
MICE travel is growing fast as Riyadh becomes a hub for international events. We target event organizers, HR managers and wedding planners with LinkedIn and Google campaigns and professional landing pages that capture quote requests.
- Venue pages with clear specs and capacities
- LinkedIn campaigns for corporates
- Virtual venue tours
- Lead follow-up through a CRM
Makkah & Madinah Hotel Marketing
Guests in Makkah and Madinah look for proximity to the Haram, service and trust. We produce multilingual content for domestic and international pilgrims, target key source markets, and keep every message compliant with the regulations governing Umrah and Hajj seasons.
- Arabic, English and source-market languages
- Clear walking distance to the Haram
- Ramadan and last-ten-nights packages
- Partnerships with licensed Umrah agents
OTA Commission Calculator: How Much Do You Pay Intermediaries Every Year?
Adjust the sliders to match your property and get an instant estimate of what you pay booking platforms, and how much you could keep by shifting part of those bookings to your direct channel.
Your Estimated Results
* Illustrative estimates based only on your inputs, not a promise of specific results. Actual savings depend on direct marketing costs and market conditions.
Get a Plan to Win Back These CommissionsSaudi Hospitality Marketing Calendar, Month by Month
Timing is everything in hospitality. Pick a month to see the demand pattern and the best campaign to launch. Hijri seasons such as Ramadan and Hajj move about 11 days earlier each year; dates shown are approximate for 2027.
January: Peak Winter & Desert Experiences High demand
Winter season continues in Riyadh, AlUla and Hail, with desert camps, experiences and entertainment events drawing strong interest from international visitors.
February: Founding Day & the Start of Ramadan 2027 High demand
Founding Day on 22 February is an opportunity for national offers, and Ramadan is expected to begin around the second week of February 2027, lifting demand for Makkah and Madinah hotels and iftar and suhoor dining.
March: The Last Ten Nights & Eid al-Fitr Peak demand
Occupancy peaks in Makkah during the last ten nights of Ramadan, followed by the Eid al-Fitr holiday with strong domestic tourism, family bookings and short stays in coastal and mountain cities.
April: Business Travel & Mild Weather Moderate demand
After Eid, business activity and exhibitions return while the weather stays mild in many regions, an ideal period to build demand instead of cutting rates.
May: Hajj & Eid al-Adha 2027 Peak demand
Hajj and Eid al-Adha are expected around mid-May 2027, with peak demand in Makkah and Madinah and strong domestic travel during the Eid holiday.
June: Summer Begins & School Holidays High demand
Summer holidays begin and demand shifts to Abha, Taif, Al Baha and coastal cities, in direct competition with outbound travel.
July: Peak Summer Destinations & Events High demand
Peak demand in mountain resorts and Red Sea coastal destinations, with summer events across several cities.
August: End of Summer & Back to School Moderate demand
The last summer trips before school, followed by a relative slowdown, while Umrah activity gradually picks up again after the Hajj season.
September: Saudi National Day Moderate demand
National Day on 23 September brings national-themed offers and a short holiday that lifts domestic tourism, while business travel returns strongly.
October: Winter Seasons & Major Conferences Begin High demand
Riyadh Season usually kicks off, AlUla’s season begins, and the capital’s calendar fills with international conferences and exhibitions as the weather cools.
November: Events & Sports Tourism High demand
Peak season for events, exhibitions and sports tourism, with rising demand for luxury destinations on the Red Sea and in AlUla.
December: Year-End Holidays High demand
Year-end holidays for international tourists and residents, with winter experiences and New Year celebrations at entertainment destinations.
City-Specific Hospitality Marketing Across Saudi Arabia
Every city attracts a different guest with a different reason to travel. Hover over a city to see its marketing priorities.
Riyadh
Business · MICE · Riyadh SeasonThe capital and hub of business travel, major events and Diriyah.
Priority: Campaigns tied to exhibitions and conferences, corporate offers, and “hotel near” SEO for landmarks and business districts.
Jeddah
Coast · Families · Pilgrim gatewayThe Red Sea’s bride, historic Al-Balad and the main gateway for pilgrims.
Priority: Waterfront and dining content, family packages, and targeting pilgrims before and after Umrah.
Makkah
Umrah · Hajj · Seasonal staysThe Kingdom’s highest seasonal demand, where proximity to the Haram drives the decision.
Priority: Multilingual content, clear distance to the Haram, and early Ramadan campaigns.
Madinah
Visitation · Families · Calm staysGuests seeking tranquility, proximity to the Prophet’s Mosque and refined service.
Priority: Makkah–Madinah combined trips, reviews and Google Maps visibility.
AlUla
Heritage · Luxury · InternationalAn open-air museum and world-class heritage destination with a busy winter season.
Priority: Cinematic visual content, English-language international targeting and exclusive experience packages.
The Red Sea
Resorts · Honeymoons · DivingAn emerging luxury destination with world-class resorts, islands and coral reefs.
Priority: High-income targeting, luxury travel creator partnerships and occasion packages.
Abha & Asir
Mountains · Nature · SummerThe top summer destination, with mild weather and green mountain scenery.
Priority: Early summer family campaigns targeting hotter cities across the Kingdom and the GCC.
Eastern Province
Business · Energy · GCC visitorsDammam and Khobar: a business and energy hub and a weekend destination for Bahrain and GCC visitors.
Priority: GCC weekend offers, corporate rates and waterfront dining.
Taif
Roses · Summer · FamiliesThe city of roses and a summer retreat close to Makkah and Jeddah.
Priority: Summer and rose-season packages, targeting Jeddah and Makkah residents for weekends.
How We Build Your Hospitality Marketing Plan
A clear six-stage methodology that starts with data and ends with monthly reports tied to revenue.
Full Digital Presence Audit
We analyze your website, speed, Google rankings, Maps profile, OTA listings, reviews, social accounts and direct competitors.
Guest Insight & Demand Mapping
We define guest segments, source markets and travel motives, then build a keyword map and a seasonal calendar specific to your city.
Digital Foundations
We set up booking tracking and analytics and improve your website, booking engine and room pages, because advertising to a weak website wastes budget.
Content & SEO Launch
We publish destination and service pages and visual content, and build the trusted signals that lift your visibility in search and AI engines.
Seasonal Ad Campaigns
We run Google, Snapchat, TikTok and Meta campaigns around the seasonal calendar, testing messages and offers continuously to lower cost per booking.
Measurement & Transparent Reporting
A clear monthly report linking every riyal of ad spend to bookings and revenue, with practical recommendations for the month ahead.
General Marketing Agency vs. Specialist Hospitality Marketing Agency
| Criteria | General agency | Steps Grow (hospitality) |
|---|---|---|
| Success metrics | Likes and followers | Occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, direct bookings |
| Seasonality | One plan all year | Hijri, Gregorian and city event calendars |
| Booking platforms | Not handled | Smart balance between OTAs and direct |
| SEO | Generic keywords | Local booking intent and hotel schema |
| AI search | Not included | Optimization for AI answers |
| Languages & markets | Usually one language | Arabic, English, GCC and global markets |
| Reporting | Reach and impressions | Monthly report tied to revenue |
The Hospitality Marketing KPIs We Track
We skip vanity metrics and measure what actually moves your revenue.
Occupancy rate
Occupied rooms as a share of available rooms.
Average daily rate
Average revenue per room sold.
Revenue per available room
The key metric combining occupancy and rate.
Direct booking share
Bookings from your website and own channels.
Cost per booking
Marketing spend required to win one booking.
Return on ad spend
Revenue earned for every riyal of advertising.
Average review score
Your rating on Google and booking platforms.
Returning guest rate
Guest loyalty and repeat direct bookings.
Why Choose Steps Grow as Your Hospitality Marketing Agency in Saudi Arabia?
GCC Market Experience
A team working with clients in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Egypt, who understand the nuances of GCC guest behavior.
One Team for Every Channel
SEO, advertising, content and web design under one roof, so results never get lost between multiple vendors.
Professional Arabic & English Content
Marketing Arabic that speaks to Saudi guests and polished English for international travelers and residents.
Ready for AI-Powered Search
Structured, clear content that AI engines can understand and cite when travelers ask for the best options.
Transparent, Revenue-Linked Reporting
A clear monthly report showing where the budget went and what it achieved, in plain management language.
Flexible Plans for Any Size
From a single restaurant to a hotel group, we design a plan that fits your budget, goals and growth stage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hospitality Marketing in Saudi Arabia
What is hospitality marketing and how is it different from general digital marketing?
Hospitality marketing is digital marketing specialized for hotels, resorts and F&B businesses. It focuses on occupancy, average daily rate and direct bookings, and deals with elements general marketing ignores, such as OTAs, booking engines, metasearch platforms, Hijri seasons and review management.
How much does hospitality marketing cost in Saudi Arabia?
Cost depends on property size, the channels required, ad budget, city and level of competition. After a free audit, we propose clear packages that separate management fees from media budget, so every riyal is measurable.
How can I increase direct bookings and rely less on Booking.com and Agoda?
Through four pillars: a fast website with an easy booking engine and a competitive direct rate, strong visibility on Google, Maps and metasearch, remarketing to website visitors, and a past-guest program via WhatsApp and email. The goal is not to drop OTAs but to reach a balance that grows net profit.
Which advertising platforms work best for hotels and restaurants in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on the property and audience. Snapchat and TikTok are very strong for discovering restaurants, cafés and family destinations, Google Ads is the strongest for capturing people searching for a room right now, Instagram suits luxury resorts, and LinkedIn works for business travel and venues.
How long does hotel SEO take to show results?
Technical and local improvements usually start showing impact within the first few months, while strong rankings for competitive keywords typically take three to six months or more depending on competition. That is why we combine SEO with paid ads for quick bookings and sustainable growth at the same time.
Do you also market restaurants and cafés?
Yes. Our restaurant and café marketing covers Google Maps profile and review management, food content production, local creator collaborations, Snapchat and TikTok campaigns, and seasonal campaigns for Ramadan and Eid.
Do you work with serviced apartments and licensed tourism accommodation?
Yes. We work with serviced apartments, guesthouses and licensed tourism accommodation, building strategies that highlight space, privacy and long stays while improving their visibility on Maps and booking platforms.
How do you handle negative reviews?
We set a professional, fast response policy that addresses the guest’s issue courteously and shows future guests that the property cares, pass recurring feedback to management to improve the experience, and run a structured plan to encourage satisfied guests to leave reviews.
Do you produce content in both Arabic and English?
Yes. We produce marketing content in Modern Standard Arabic and English, because guests in the Kingdom include citizens, residents, GCC visitors, international tourists and pilgrims from many countries.
How do I measure the return of working with you?
We set up tracking from day one to measure bookings and revenue from every channel, and send a monthly report covering cost per booking, return on ad spend, direct booking share and average rating, with an improvement plan for the next month.
Ready to Turn Searchers into Guests Who Book Direct?
Get a free audit of your property’s digital presence and an initial hospitality marketing plan built for your city and season, from the Steps Grow team.
- Website, speed and Google ranking review
- Google Maps profile and review audit
- OTA dependency assessment
- Benchmark against your top three competitors
- A 90-day plan with clear priorities