Hotels Jump On Selfie Craze With Selfie Promotions, Contests

The best way to generate buzz for a hotel is to get savvy travelers talking about it. That's why so many hotels are capitalizing on the selfie craze by offering discounts to guests who post pictures of themselves at their properties -- creating some free publicity in turn. They’re even offering selfie sticks to guests to make it easy to snap, tag and post.

Here’s where you can indulge your inner narcissist and save on your next vacay:

Kimpton Hotels

The chain of 66 boutique hotels lets guests borrow a selfie stick from the front desk to use around town -- and runs an #AdoreThySelfie hashtag contest. Guests who tag their selfies with the hashtag on Twitter or Instagram are entered into a monthly contest to win a $150 Kimpton gift card, your own selfie stick and a giant version of the winning selfie.

JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa, Palm Desert, California

The resort is offering a “Your Spring Selfie” package that runs between $169 and $399 a night and includes a selfie stick, plus a map of choice “selfie spots” around the resort. Guests who post their selfies to social media sites with the hashtag #SpringSelfie are entered to win a return visit.

Mandarin Oriental Miami

The Mandarin Oriental had so much success with its “Selfie in Paris” package last year, which included three hours in a private car, complete with driver and Wi-Fi, that the Mandarin is launching #MyMiami at the Mandarin Oriental Miami this spring. Guests will receive selfie sticks and a training session with local professional photographers who will guide them on the best selfie techniques and even mobile editing tricks. Guests will also enjoy a chauffeur-driven tour around Miami of the best selfie spots. The hotel will also offer prizes for the best posted selfies tagged with #MyMiami.

La Concha Renaissance, San Juan

Guests who choose the resort’s “Take a Selfie Adventure” package are offered welcome specialty drinks upon arrival and get 20 percent discounts on the resort’s tropical rainforest and rum factory tours. In addition to other surprise gifts, guests who tag their selfies with #Belaconcha on social media sites are entered to win a three-night, two-day stay at the resort.

Cheaptickets.com

While it’s not a hotel, travel booking site Cheaptickets.com is encouraging users to upload their spring break travel selfies (or “trelfies”) to the map on the Cheaptickets site and share it with others. Users with the most votes have a chance to win a free vacation.

Of course, if you do enroll in one of these packages, be careful not to take your selfie stick to a museum or music festival -- many have banned them altogether.