Most of us will post our holiday snaps on social media to show our friends and family what we’re up to while away. Checking into hotels and restaurants and posting photos are all things we do anyway – but did you know some places will give you freebies for doing so?
The logic behind it is that you are providing the company or service with good old fashioned word-of-mouth promotion, but with the advent of social media you can reach enormous audiences in short periods of time.
Hotels and restaurants are so keen to up their presence on Facebook and Instagram in particular, that new reward programs have sprung up for social-savvy travellers.
Luxury hotel chain Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants has its own points earning system for travellers to earn points for posting on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Their rewards program, called Karma Rewards, will give travellers free Wi-Fi just for signing up to the program. Then, if you share your experience on social media, they say by connecting, “you may just have some very cool Kimpton Karma sent your way”.
One of the world’s largest hotel chains, Marriott, was one of the first to try a points program for travellers to promote them on social media. They even dedicated a team to scanning Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for posts.
Restaurants sometimes also have promotions where if you check in online, you’ll get for example a free entre or drink.
If you’re wondering if your hotel or restaurant you’re visiting offers any freebies for a bit of social media love, there’s no harm in asking. Even if it’s just free Wi-Fi or a $10 drink voucher at the bar, it’s certainly better than nothing!