Build Your First ‘Stay + Play’ Offer in One Afternoon
One local partnership can boost bookings, visibility, and community trust.
You don’t need a marketing budget.
You need the courage to start a conversation.
Big growth rarely starts online. It starts with a handshake, a smile, or a cup of coffee between neighbors. Somewhere on your Main Street, the partner who can help you fill next month’s calendar is already brewing lattes, pouring wine, or running a tiny shop your guests already love.
Last week, a small innkeeper teamed up with the bakery next door. Two DMs later, guests were lining up for pastries, and she had her first fully booked weekend in October.
That’s what this week’s workflow is about.
No committees. No contracts.
Just caffeine, curiosity, and one local collaboration that turns ordinary days into stories guests remember.
Because when small operators collaborate, communities come alive — and that’s hospitality worth fighting for.
Your next marketing meeting might happen over a latte. ☕
Step 1 – Find Your Partner
Time: 10 minutes
Time: 10 minutes
Ask yourself: Who already delights your guests?
Grab a piece of paper and list three nearby businesses:
The café where guests grab their morning coffee
The shop they always ask directions to
The tour guide who knows the best sunset spot
The spa that saved last month’s anniversary weekend
Pick one. Just one.
Then reach out today — send a DM, drop by after checkout, or say:
“Hey, my guests love what you do. Want to try something together?”
No pitch deck. No overthinking. Just two neighbors choosing to win together.
AI Assist – Find Your Perfect Local Partner
Copy this into your AI tool and fill the brackets.
You are a hospitality marketing strategist and local tourism advisor. Your goal is to help a small lodging operator find a realistic, mutually beneficial “Stay + Play” collaboration that can launch within one week.
Based on a property located in [city/town, country], describe 10 nearby businesses or attractions that align with a [hotel / inn / vacation rental / glamping site] catering to [guest type: couples, outdoor travelers, digital nomads, wellness seekers].
For each, provide:
• Partner Type / Example Business Name
• One-Sentence “Stay + Play” Offer
• Why It Works for Guests (one short line on experience or community connection)Include a mix of dining, activities, local artisans, and cultural experiences. Rank your top 3 by guest excitement and ease of execution. Keep ideas local, low-cost, and simple to run without legal contracts.
Step 2 – Create the Offer
Time: 15 minutes
Time: 15 minutes
Keep it simple, fun, and easy to honor:
Show your room key for 10% off at the local café
Book two nights, get a free tasting at the vineyard down the lane
Mention our inn for a surprise dessert
Stay with us, get priority seating on Friday nights
The best offers feel like insider tips, not marketing tactics.
If it’s hard to deliver, it’s too complicated.
“Collaboration doesn’t need a committee. It needs coffee and curiosity.”
Make sure both sides can deliver without drama. A good offer should make your guests smile, and your town proud.
Step 3 – Write the Announcement with AI
Time: 15 minutes
Let AI give you a head start.
Prompt:
Write a friendly social post announcing a partnership between [your property name] and [local business name], offering [your specific offer]. Keep it warm, short, and community-focused. Limit to 150 words.
Read it out loud. Does it sound like you or like a robot wearing your name tag? Tweak until it feels right.
Post it to: Instagram or Facebook. Google Business “Update.” Your next guest email. A card at check-in.
Before you close your laptop, drop it into your scheduler or reminder app. Publish while the coffee is still warm.
Bonus email prompt:
Summarize a collaboration between [property] and [local business] in two sentences for a guest welcome email. Friendly, personal tone.
Step 4 – Promote Together
Time: 10 minutes
Time: 10 minutes
Make some noise together. Tag each other. Share stories. Add a QR code at your front desk or their counter. If they have a chalkboard, write the offer. If you post a reel, ask them to reshare.
Cross-promotion is two businesses saying “we like each other,” out loud.
Set a reminder to repost next Thursday. Consistency compounds faster than any algorithm.
“You don’t build a brand once. You build it every time you show up.” — Joshua Latimer
Step 5 – Track + Celebrate
Time: 10 minutes
You do not need analytics software. You need awareness.
Over the next 30 days, jot down:
Guest mentions of the partner
Redemptions or questions about the offer
New followers or tags
Positive feedback (screenshot it)
Check weekly. Five minutes is enough.
Then celebrate it publicly. Tag your partner. Post a quick “this worked” update.
When one business wins, the whole street gets stronger. That is how small operators build a local economy that beats the algorithm.