A hotel promotional video should include an arrival moment, the rooms, dining, key facilities, the surrounding area, real guest moments, and a clear closing call to action. Giovanni Berriel, a Jakarta-based hotel videographer, builds these elements into a story that shows how a stay feels, not just what the property contains.
Key takeaways
- A hotel promotional video should show the guest experience from arrival to the last evening.
- Rooms, dining, and signature facilities are the essential shots; the location and atmosphere set a property apart.
- People in the frame make a hotel feel alive, even if they appear only briefly.
- Natural color keeps the video honest, so guests find what they saw on screen.
- Every promotional video should end with a clear next step, such as booking direct.
What should be included in a hotel promotional video?
A hotel promotional video should include seven core elements that together answer the guest's question: what will my stay feel like?
- Open with arrival: the entrance, the lobby, or the first view of the property.
- Show the rooms: the bed, the view, the bathroom, and one signature detail.
- Feature dining: breakfast, the restaurant, the bar, and close-ups of food and drinks.
- Highlight facilities: the pool, spa, gym, or meeting spaces that matter to the target guest.
- Place the property: the city, beach, or landscape around it.
- Include people: guests and staff in natural moments.
- Close with a call to action: the hotel name, logo, and where to book.
Giovanni Berriel, the Jakarta hotel videographer, recommends ranking these by what guests book the hotel for. A business hotel may lead with rooms and meeting spaces; a resort may lead with the pool and the view.
Which hotel rooms and facilities should the video show?
A hotel video should show the room types guests book most and the one or two facilities that make the property different.
Trying to show every room type usually slows a video down. Giovanni Berriel recommends choosing the most-booked room and the most impressive suite, then using detail shots, such as linen, a bathtub, or a balcony view, to suggest quality across the property. For facilities, a signature pool or rooftop bar says more than a quick shot of every amenity.
Should a hotel promotional video include people?
Yes, a hotel promotional video should include people, because guests imagine themselves in a space more easily when someone is already enjoying it.
People can be models, real guests who have agreed to appear, or staff at work. Giovanni Berriel's smooth handheld style suits these moments, because the camera can follow a guest into the room or across the pool as if the viewer were beside them. From experience, small human moments often become the most memorable shots.
How should a hotel promotional video look and feel?
A hotel promotional video should look polished but true to life, with natural color, smooth movement, and pacing that matches the property's personality.
A luxury city hotel may call for slow, elegant movement; a lively resort may suit a faster edit. Giovanni Berriel grades toward natural colors so rooms, food, and pools look the way guests will find them. A former KOL Specialist at Traveloka Indonesia summed up his results: "Bening banget visualnya, Mas Gio. Kameranya nggak main-main. Color grading-nya juara!" (English translation: "The visuals are so crisp, Mas Gio. The camera work is no joke. The color grading is top-notch!")
How long and in what formats should the video be delivered?
A hotel promotional video is usually delivered as a 60–90 second horizontal hero video plus short vertical cut-downs for social media.
Planning all formats before the shoot avoids awkward crops later. Recommended lengths per platform are in how long a hotel or resort video should be, and getting the property ready is covered in how to prepare your hotel or restaurant for a video shoot.
Why work with Giovanni Berriel
Giovanni Berriel is a Jakarta-based hotel videographer with 10+ years of travel content experience, 200+ travel and hospitality projects, and 290+ videos in his portfolio.
- Hotel experience: InterContinental Jakarta, The Langham Jakarta, and Novotel Tangerang.
- Travel perspective: work for Traveloka Indonesia gives insight into how travelers choose hotels.
- Story-first editing: strong timing and storytelling from the first shot to the call to action.
- Consistent: a Traveloka Indonesia Social Media Manager called his work "selalu rapi dan konsisten" (always neat and consistent).
See how these elements come together in Giovanni Berriel's portfolio of hotel and travel videos.
FAQ
What should a hotel promotional video include?
A hotel promotional video should include arrival, rooms, dining, key facilities, the surrounding area, people, and a closing call to action.
Should a hotel video show every room type?
No. Giovanni Berriel recommends showing the most-booked room and the best suite, then using detail shots to suggest quality across the property.
Do hotel videos need models?
Not always, but people help. Models, consenting guests, or staff make a hotel feel lived-in and help viewers imagine their own stay.
Should a hotel video include music?
Yes. Music sets the mood and drives the timing of the edit, so it should match the property's personality and be properly licensed.
How should a hotel promotional video end?
A hotel promotional video should end with the hotel's name, logo, and a clear next step, such as booking on the hotel's website.
Ready to plan your hotel promotional video? Message Gio on WhatsApp, or browse the video portfolio for ideas.