12 WhatsApp templates for hotels that Meta actually approves

A template is the only message you can send once more than 24 hours have passed since the customer’s last message. Meta reviews them before approving, and most rejections come down to the same things: vague text, exaggerated promises or variables without context.

These are the ones that work best in hospitality, with the reasoning behind why they pass review.

Confirmation and logistics (category: utility)

The cheapest ones, and the ones guests appreciate most.

1. Booking confirmed. “Hi {{1}}, your booking {{2}} is confirmed: {{3}}, {{4}} nights, breakfast included. Check-in from 3 PM.”
2. How to get here. “{{1}}, here is how to reach the hotel and where the transfer picks you up.” With a location button.
3. Check-in reminder. The day before: arrival time, what to bring and who to write to.
4. Transfer details. Departure time and seats, with “Confirm” and “Change time” buttons.
5. Payment instructions. Link and deadline, without artificial urgency.
6. After check-out. Thank you and a link to the Google review. Once only.

Abitti · Channel 3.200 followers

This week: 15 % off on stays of 3 nights or more. Reply "promo" and we send the details.

10:15 · 👍 96 · ❤️ 41

Sunset today at 6:12 PM 🌅

10:16

Commercial (category: marketing)

Meta is stricter here and customers can mark you as spam. Use them sparingly and with segmentation.

7. Quote sent, no reply. After 48 hours: restate availability and ask if they are still interested.
8. Season open. For past guests: new dates before anyone else.
9. Low occupancy offer. Only to your past-guest list, with a clear expiry.
10. Last availability. Real, not invented. If you say two rooms, make it two.
11. Stay anniversary. A year later, with a concrete benefit.
12. Annual re-engagement. Once a year, with a clear way to opt out.

Why templates get rejected

• Variables at the very start or end of the text, or two variables in a row.
• Text that makes no sense without seeing the variables.
• Words like “free”, “you won” or false urgency.
• Typos and ALL CAPS.
• Buttons that do not match the message.

AdventuresBusiness

See you tomorrow 🌴Reminder: check-in is tomorrow from 3 PM. The transfer leaves at 1 PM. Reply "yes" to confirm your seat.10:47

Yes, confirmChange time

How to write one that passes first time

Meta’s review is mostly automated and looks for patterns. These rules have saved us almost every rejection:

1. The text must make sense without the variables. Read it replacing each {{1}} with “XXX”: if it still reads fine, you are good.
2. Never start or end with a variable. It is the number one cause of rejection.
3. No two variables in a row. Put text between them, even a comma and a word.
4. Correct category. Marking something clearly promotional as utility gets it reclassified, and you pay more.
5. Coherent buttons. If the button says “See location”, it should open the location.

When to send each one

The calendar we use in the hotels we run:

• On booking: confirmation with the details and a “how to get here” button.
• 48 hours after an unanswered quote: one reminder. If there is no reply, close the case.
• 24 hours before check-in: reminder with time, transfer and who to contact.
• Check-out morning: departure time and late check-out option.
• 24 hours after leaving: thank you and review link.

Five touchpoints across the whole cycle. More than that is tiring, and a tired customer blocks the number.

Mistakes that cost money

Blasting promotions to everyone. It raises costs, lowers your number quality and leaves you unable to write when it really matters.

Writing outside business hours. A promotion at 10 PM reads as spam. In Colombia, Law 2300 also regulates the hours for commercial contact.

No way out. Every marketing template must let people say “stop writing to me”, and you must respect it the first time.

We write them, submit them for approval and leave them running as part of the WhatsApp Business API setup.