How Short-Form Video Helps You Get More Visitors (and Sales)

Hospitality businesses need more than foot traffic — they need qualified foot traffic. Video is helping restaurants, attractions, and tourism businesses get chosen by visitors and locals — not just seen.

Now that tools like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts put your message in front of decision-making travelers, short-form video has become one of the most powerful (and underutilized) tactics in the industry.

Key Stats:

• 65% of travelers use video to help plan their trips

• 74% say video influenced where they decided to go

• 84% of people say a brand video convinced them to buy something

This includes:

• Food videos that inspire a visit

• Walk-throughs of attractions

• Hotel or tour previews

Why It Matters for Your Business: 

Visitors staying in hotels are constantly deciding how to spend their time, money, and appetite — and many simply don’t know what’s out there.

Short-form video helps:

• Show your experience with emotion, story, and energy

• Make your business stand out from text-heavy competitors

• Create a connection before guests even leave their room

Where to Start: 

The best-performing videos:

• Are under 60 seconds

• Use real moments, not stock footage

• Focus on how the experience benefits the viewer

We’ve seen it work with our own TikTok and Instagram channels @ChicagoDoes — now with over 75,000 followers. Businesses featured in our videos are seeing real results.

That’s why this October, we’re launching the Chicago Does Interactive Video Map — a digital-first tool designed to connect short-form video, QR codes, and print in one unified program. It’s built to help hotel guests decide where to go and what to do — at exactly the right time.

If your business isn’t showing up in short-form video — someone else is.

Want to get started with a video presence that actually drives traffic, bookings, and sales? Contact your Ateema representative or Sales@ateema.com to learn more.