Practical guide · Properties
Four ways to produce videos for your hotel
You can commission a production agency, work with a freelance videographer, use your own team or partner with a UGC creator. The right choice depends on the subject, production requirements and intended use. No option has one universal format or price.
By the Séjournée editorial team · Updated and sources checked on
Key takeaways
- Choose the film’s destination before choosing the provider.
- Compare identical scopes and full costs.
- A useful video needs to be deployable, not just attractive.
Start with the need, not the camera
An opening film, room tour and service explainer answer different questions. Record the audience, message, channel, timing and desired next action.
One main objective.
Introduce the property, address a hesitation before booking or present a new service: choose a priority for each video. You can then produce variations.
An explicit destination.
A website, booking listing and social placement may have different requirements. Include the necessary formats in the quote instead of assuming a crop will work after filming.
Compare the four production models
An agency can produce vertical video. A freelancer can work on an ongoing basis. A UGC creator can deliver carefully planned production. These categories describe organisation, not automatic technical limitations.
| Option | Consider it when… | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Production agency | The project needs concept development, several disciplines or complex coordination. | Actual team, preparation, versions, feedback, rights and quoted timing. |
| Freelance videographer | You want direct contact for production tailored to the location. | Comparable work, filming and editing capability, and follow-up availability. |
| In-house team | Available, trained staff can document day-to-day experiences. | Allocated time, equipment, approval, continuity and training cost. |
| UGC creator | You want a personal stay narrative or social-native content. | Relevant portfolio, brief, hosting, deliverables and licence. |
Request comparable quotes
Preparation and filming.
Compare concept work, scouting, locations, days, participants and access requirements. Clarify travel and weather contingencies.
Postproduction.
List edits, hooks, languages, subtitles, formats, any photos and included feedback rounds. A main film with five exports is not necessarily six distinct creative works.
Usage and expenses.
Check usage, music, permissions and possible renewals. Include staff time for in-house work; for a stay-for-content exchange, include hosting and opportunity cost.
Choose formats before filming
Vertical framing may suit a full-screen phone story, while horizontal video can serve a wide screen. They can complement each other. The specific placement matters more than the broad label “social media”.
Define exports.
Specify aspect ratio, resolution, captions, language and music or music-free versions. Official channel recommendations provide a starting point; check them when preparing distribution.
Test the real destination.
YouTube publishes recommended upload encoding settings. Do not assume these apply to every platform. Test readability, sound and cropping on the placements you actually chose.
Approve the content and plan its use
Prepare an approval checklist: accurate information, requested scenes, people shown, sound, captions, formats and permissions. Decide who consolidates comments and when a version is approved.
Remember distribution.
An unused folder of files does little for communication. Assign every video a placement, owner and publishing date that fits the usage rights.
Interpret results carefully.
Track the objectives set in the brief. Views, visits and bookings are not equivalent. Identified campaign links help monitor traffic without proving the video alone explains a booking.
Fictional example: a relaunch with two needs
A hotel is preparing to reopen. It wants a presentation film for the website and shorter videos explaining rooms and breakfast.
First request a quote for the film and variations from a provider able to coordinate production. Compare it with a mixed scenario: a main film plus a series of stay-focused assets.
A mixed approach can offer different perspectives, but it needs more coordination and compatible licences. It is not automatically cheaper.
Choose after comparing scope, work samples and timing. Keep the brief consistent so the proposals remain comparable.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Do agencies only produce horizontal videos?
No. Format depends on the brief and provider capabilities. Request the variations you need and comparable work samples.
Is filming in-house free?
No. Even without an external invoice, account for staff time, equipment, training, editing and approvals.
Do you need an average price per video to decide?
Not without knowing the scope. Compare preparation, filming, edits, rights and expenses. A price per file does not reveal whether it is a new creative or just another export.
Can you combine UGC and a brand film?
Yes. They can serve complementary needs. Check editorial consistency, timing, permissions and coordination workload.
Sources and methodology
References support the specific points identified in the guide. Our checklists and fictional examples are editorial tools, not customer testimonials or measured campaign results.