Article

24 November 2025

Viktoria Camp

CEO, CPO, & Co‑Founder of Affinect

Domain warming is the process of slowly increasing how many emails you send from a new or “cold” domain so inbox providers like Gmail and Outlook learn to trust you and put your messages in the inbox instead of spam. Done right, domain warm-up protects your sender reputation, boosts deliverability, and makes your cold outreach or marketing campaigns much more effective.​

In this article
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What is domain warming?

Why does domain warming matter?

How long does a domain warm-up take?

When do you need to warm up a domain?

Step‑by‑step: how to warm up a domain

Best practices for successful domain warm-up

Common mistakes to avoid during domain warm-up

What is the difference between email warm-up and domain warm-up?

How do I know if my domain is warmed up?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Domain warming (or domain warm-up) means you start with very low email volume on a new or rarely used domain and gradually ramp it up over days or weeks while keeping engagement high and spam complaints low. Mailbox providers treat new domains as suspicious until they see consistent, wanted, and authenticated traffic, so warming helps you “prove” you are a legitimate sender.​

A “cold” domain is new or has little sending history and therefore low reputation, while a “warm” domain has a history of successful delivery and positive engagement like opens, clicks, and replies. Warming is especially important if you plan to send larger volumes (hundreds or thousands of emails per day) or run ongoing sales and marketing automation.​

To start automating your email marketing in UAE hospitality, focus on these crucial workflows:

1. Welcome Series & Onboarding
First impressions count. Automated welcome emails engage new subscribers or guests immediately, introducing them to your brand culture, services, and special offers.

• Personalize with guest names and preferences.
• Include popular amenities or dining options.
• Highlight membership or loyalty perks.

2. Booking Confirmation & Pre-Arrival
Once a guest books, automation confirms their reservation and provides useful information to build excitement and reduce uncertainty.

• Send booking details, check-in/check-out times.
• Offer add-ons like airport transfers or spa appointments.
• Remind guests of local events or dining specials during their stay.

3. Abandoned Booking Reminders
Not all bookings complete on the first try. Automated reminders nudge potential guests who started booking but didn’t finish, improving conversion rates.

• Include clear CTAs to complete reservations.
• Sweeten the offer with limited-time discounts.
• Use dynamic content to reflect what rooms or services they viewed.

4. Post-Stay Feedback & Reactivation
Engage guests after checkout with automated thank-you emails, requests for reviews, and incentives to book again.

• Ask for feedback to improve services.
• Send “We miss you” emails to encourage repeat visits.
• Promote upcoming events or new packages relevant to their preferences.

5. Loyalty & VIP Campaigns
Reward your most loyal guests automatically with exclusive offers and updates.

• Deliver birthday or anniversary discounts.
• Notify members of point balances or upcoming rewards.
• Include early access to promotions and special events.

6. Cross-Sell Automation
Increase revenue by suggesting related services based on guest behavior.

• Upsell spa treatments for guests who booked rooms.
• Promote dining offers to guests who reserved stays.
• Recommend family activities for guests who booked kids’ rooms.

Using cross-sell automation within your workflows can significantly boost average guest spend.

Drip campaigns are a key part of automation; these are a scheduled series of emails triggered by guest actions or dates. To make them effective in UAE hospitality:

• Segment your audience by booking history, preferences, or nationality for more relevant messaging.
• Personalize content at every step with names, stay dates, and tailored offers.
• Use culturally appropriate language and visuals, including Arabic and English options.
• Include strong calls to action, driving bookings or upsells.
• Balance frequency to stay top of mind without overwhelming inboxes.
• Monitor metrics and tweak campaigns regularly for optimization.

For example, a pre-arrival drip series might start with a booking confirmation, followed by a welcome guide, and end with a last-chance upgrade offer a few days before arrival.

Loyalty programs are a cornerstone of hospitality success in the UAE. Automating loyalty-related emails keeps members engaged effortlessly:

• Inform guests about point accrual or redemption options.
• Deliver personalized reward offers based on past stays.
• Send exclusive event invitations to VIP members.
• Reactivate dormant loyalty members with incentives.

Automation ensures your loyalty program stays vibrant and valuable without manual follow-up, reinforcing guest retention and lifetime value.

Ready to implement automation effectively? Follow this simple roadmap:

1. Collect clean, permission-based guest data.
Incorporate preferences, demographics, booking info, and past purchases.

2. Choose a powerful automation platform.
Pick one tailored for hospitality and the UAE market needs, supporting multilingual content and integrations (e.g., PMS, CRM).

3. Map out key workflows.
Prioritize welcome series, booking confirmations, abandoned cart reminders, and loyalty communications.

4. Segment your audience.
Start broad with guests vs. prospective leads, then refine by behaviors and preferences.

5. Design personalized email templates.
Use dynamic content blocks and multilingual options.

6. Set triggers and timing.
Choose logical points to send each email (post-booking, pre-arrival, post-stay).

7. Test before launch.
Preview emails, test workflows, and ensure mobile responsiveness.

8. Monitor performance regularly.
Analyze open rates, click-throughs, conversions, and revenue impact.

9. Optimize using feedback and data.
Adjust messaging and timing to improve results over time.

Automating your email marketing in the UAE hospitality industry is more than a tech upgrade; it is a strategic move to delight guests with personalized, timely communications that convert. Whether you are running a luxury hotel, boutique resort, or vibrant restaurant, mastering email automation UAE and effective drip campaigns hospitality UAE can revolutionize your marketing results.

Begin by focusing on guest-centric workflows like welcome sequences, booking confirmations, and loyalty emails. Layer in cross-sell automation to boost revenue, and continuously refine your strategies based on data. With the right tools and approach, you will save time, increase bookings, and deepen connections with your guests in this dynamic market.

Ready to make automation work for you? Start mapping your workflows today and watch your guest engagement and revenue soar!