"Your Memories" section on The Ritz-Carlton Web site
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is encouraging social media fans to engage with the brand in the month of August by posting their favorite summer sky photo with the hashtag #RCMemories.
Photos can be uploaded to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and must include the hashtag for the brand to recognize it. The Ritz-Carlton consistently generates strong social media interaction, and as the #RCMemories hashtag becomes more well known, it is likely that its social activity will only increase.
“The Ritz-Carlton knows that our hotels are the places where guests create memories for life," said Clayton F. Ruebensaal III, vice president of marketing at Ritz-Carlton.
"Photos shared every day since launching #RCMemories prove that," he said. "The memories made with our brand are the most important incentive.
"The Ritz-Carlton has focused on building an audience of keen travel, luxury, lifestyle and brand enthusiasts with whom they engage in daily conversations across a variety of social channels. We are thrilled to have built an engaged community that want to share their experiences and memories to help inspire fellow global travelers.”
Branded hashtags
The photographs submitted may be used by Ritz-Carlton properties all over the world for advertising, promotions, publicity or a reproduction in or for a hotel. Fans are encouraged to submit photos while on a Ritz-Carlton vacation of their favorite summer skies.
Ritz-Carlton is giving consumers a central location to share brand memories that will likely spur more social media interaction.
The newly minted “Your Memories” section on the brand’s Web site aggregates social posts with the #RCMemories hashtag and invites manual uploads from consumers. As consumers see the images of other engaged Ritz-Carlton travelers, it may foster a sense of community (see story).
Ritz-Carlton Facebook post
Also, the separate section will give fans a chance to see what others are posting. Guests who are unfamiliar with the hashtag or the brand’s social media presence may see the section while planning a vacation and join the community with an image.
The hashtag will help guests and fans create a social conversation with the brand and other guests. The possibility of one day seeing their own photo on an advertising campaign may intrigue some, but the lack of recognition or prize may discourage others.