🛎️ Hospitality Marketing Lessons from Four Seasons Hampshire

This case study is full of ideas that’ll work for your brand, whether you have 5 rooms or 500 acres 🙌

Author

Caroline Claassen
April 15, 2025

Let me set the scene real quick: sweeping English countryside, high tea, horse stables, outdoor activities, and picnic baskets straight out of a movie set. Sounds dreamy, right?

Well, that’s exactly what the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire delivers—and not just on location, but on Instagram too. Their feed has been following me around like a well-trained golden retriever 🐶 (seriously, it keeps popping up!). And I’m not mad about it.

Today’s case study dives into why this hotel’s content is so good, what makes it feel so effortlessly elevated, and how any property—yes, even one without a 500-acre estate—can apply the same strategies.

Grab your coffee and come explore this countryside gem with me. You’re gonna love it. ☕️

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Branding Strategy: Warm, Cozy, Countryside Luxury

You land on their Instagram and instantly feel it: the elegance, the charm, the just-posh-enough vibe of the English countryside. Think: horses trotting through lush fields, vintage picnic baskets, kids in pressed clothes enjoying the fresh air, English high tea with polished silverware... all without feeling staged or stiff.

✨ Their vibe in three words? Warm. Elegant. Wholesome.

From their bio to their Highlights (see the Rooms, Kids at Four Seasons, Activities, Pet Friendly, etc.), the brand story is clear: this is a luxurious yet family-friendly escape—where everyone from your toddler to your terrier feels pampered.

Marketing Strategy: Why Their Instagram Pops Off

1️⃣ Content That’s Actually Useful (And Pretty)

No generic hotel room pics here 🙅‍♀️. Every post has purpose and context. If you do spot a room thumbnail, it’s a video that takes you on a little journey—usually starting from the outside and leading you through the estate or a day-in-the-life experience.

They highlight:

  • 🍰 Afternoon tea in the conservatory

  • 🧺 Estate picnics (yes, with wicker baskets)

  • 🍦 Ice cream stands reopening for the season

  • 🐶 Dog-friendly stays (tagged pet influencers included!)

  • 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Kids enjoying seasonal activities like egg hunts

  • 🐴 Horses, views, spa experiences, terrace BBQs—the whole shebang

2️⃣ A Video-First Approach 🎥

Their feed is video-heavy, and it’s working. Most of their recent high-engagement posts are Reels. These videos don’t require a cinema crew—they’re simple, charming, and show movement and mood.

🏡 Video > static photo, especially for Instagram in 2025.

3️⃣ Short, Smart Captions 💬

Forget long-winded descriptions. Their captions are snappy and engaging, often just one line. Sometimes a question. Sometimes a greeting. Sometimes a whimsical phrase like “Good morning, Easter explorers 🐣”.

📝 Pro tip: Check their top 3 pinned posts—every caption is one sentence. That’s it. And it works.

4️⃣ Diverse Influencer Collabs 🧑‍🧑‍🧒 🐾

Yes, they work with influencers—but smartly. Not just travel influencers. You’ll see:

  • 👩‍👧‍👦 Family creators with young kids

  • 🐶 Pet influencers (like literal famous dog accounts!)

  • 💁‍♀️ Lifestyle creators who match their brand tone

This widens their reach without watering down the brand.

🔄 One thing they don’t do really (yet)? Collaborative posts. Would love to see them leverage these more for extended reach!

5️⃣ UGC + Staff Spotlights = Human Touch 👏

the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire is elegant, stately, and impeccably polished—but it’s the little glimpses of people that make it feel real.

And they’re doing a lovely job at balancing that.

You’ll spot staff in action throughout their feed—not just standing still and smiling, but actually doing things. From serving up a flawless English tea to showcasing the brand-new “Hampshire Kids Passport”. It gives their content this warm, welcoming feeling that says, “We’re here to take care of you.”

Seeing familiar faces pop up from time to time makes the property feel more intimate, more approachable.

💡 And it’s not just staff—guest moments are featured too.
Their carousels often include user-generated content (UGC). These pictures aren’t overly edited or branded. They’re real. And they’re powerful. Because when potential guests see other families, couples, or even dogs enjoying the estate, they immediately think: “That could be us.”

If there’s one area where they could push this strategy further, it would be through collaborative posts. When they feature guest content or work with influencers, they usually just tag them. But by switching to full-on collab posts, they could double their exposure and reach new audiences in an instant.

🔑 Key Takeaways from the Four Seasons New Hampshire

✔️ Their content FEELS like the stay: cozy, luxe, elegant countryside
✔️ They don’t rely on boring room pics—they create moments
✔️ Their short captions work—simple, not salesy
✔️ Influencer variety = wider reach and smarter targeting
✔️ Highlights are used to educate and inspire guests
✔️ They balance curated aesthetics with real, relatable charm
✔️ UGC and team faces keep the feed human

✅ Three Things You Can Do Right Now

1️⃣ Reorganize your Instagram Highlights to match guest interests (Spa, Food, Kids, Rooms, etc.)
2️⃣ DM a local pet influencer or family content creator—offer a weekday stay in exchange for content
3️⃣ Create a short Reel that shows a day-in-the-life from check-in to bedtime—it doesn’t need to be fancy, just real!

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💭 Final Thoughts on the Four Seasons New Hampshire

Yes, this is a Four Seasons property. Yes, they probably have a decent content budget. But truthfully? Most of their content is replicable with a phone, a good eye, and a little creativity. It’s not about having a five-star camera—it’s about showing your five-star experience through storytelling.

✨ Let this be your reminder: your content doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to feel like you.

You’ve got this. See you next week! 🙌

Cheers,
Caroline ☕️