A new report from Mobile Marketing Watch shows the benefits that text message marketing can bring to casinos.

"Whether it's spreading the word about last-minute deals or discounts on rooms, hotels of all kinds are going mobile," wrote the marketing website.

Mobile Marketing Watch offered examples of how three Las Vegas resort casinos used text message marketing to bring in more customers.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino utilizes loyalty programs to guests who frequent their establishment, as well as they others in the popular restaurant chain, and uses SMS to promote the program by offerings discounts on merchandise and hotel stays. Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino embraced its gaming features by offering mobile subscribers rewards and deals including free stays and money to play with in their casino. The final example the website offered was The Mirage, which uses SMS to offer coupons in real time to the guests currently staying in their hotel and uses a customer history database to better target their promotions.

Not every hotel needs to be the size of these Las Vegas giants in order to run an effective SMS marketing campaign. Here are three things any hotel can do to promote their brand with SMS:

  • Contests. Use the two-way nature of text messaging to run a contest. Offer prize like a free or discounted stay or discounts to local establishments.
  • Last minute. In a slow drought or just had a few cancelations? Use text messaging to help fill those rooms. Offer deep discounts on the vacant rooms to entice people to go on a last minute getaway.
  • Confirmations. Reservation confirmations and reminders are a great way to build you subscriber list. It's a simple, informative service that most guests will opt-in for out of sheer convince. Offer a slight discount or coupon to sweeten the pot.

If your company is looking to build a text message marketing campaign, Swift SMS Gateway has the tools to help organizations launch a strong and effective SMS strategy.