In today’s digital age, the first impression a hotel makes on its potential guests is often created through its website. For this reason, a modern website development is a crucial factor for the success of any hotel. Let’s explore why having a modern website is the key to your hotel’s success.
1. First Impessions
The first point of contact for a potential guest is usually your website. A modern, well-designed website enhances the hotel’s image, giving the impression of a professional and reliable establishment offering high-quality services. On the other hand, a website that does not follow current trends can create a negative impression, leading visitors to look for alternative accommodation.
Easy access to essential information, such as cancellation policies, terms and conditions, and customer support, is crucial for building trust with potential guests. When users can quickly find this information, they feel safe and informed. Additionally, the design of a modern website should fully reflect the hotel’s corporate identity, creating a harmonious image that matches the style and ambiance of your property, offering experience that reinforces your professional image.
2. Mobile-first Design
Nowadays, mobile devices play an essential role in everyday life, meaning many users prefer to make booking through their phones. A website that isn’t mobile-friendly misses out on a large portion of visitors. Mobile-first design focuses on mobile devices from the first stages of website development, ensuring excellent user experience. This allows your site to adapt seamlessly to smartphones and tablets, making it easier for guests to navigate and book from any device.
Beyond improving the appearance and functionality on smaller screens, mobile-first design also increases website loading speed, which boosts its ranking in search engines (SEO).
San Antonio Corfu Resort is a prime example of a hotel website with a mobile-first approach. Its design and development was created with a sleek, modern design with clean lines and a calming color palette. The pages feature images that highlight the property’s natural beauty, while the content organization offers a pleasant user experience, no matter the device used to visit the site.
3. Online Booking and Interactivity
A modern website should not only inform visitors but also facilitate the booking process. With an innovative online booking system, guests can check availability, select rooms and complete their reservations easily and quickly, reducing the time and effort required on their part. This leaves guests with a pleasant experience and often encourages them to choose your hotel again.
Additionally, with a modern booking system, you can offer personalized options, such as special offers or additional services like transfers or meals. The ease of canceling or modifying reservations through a control panel enhances the user experience. Furthermore, by incorporating secure payment methods, you can offer users peace of mind, boosting the hotel’s credibility. All these features provide a comprehensive experience that makes customers want to return.
Melina Bay Hotel uses the modern webhotelier booking system, designed to help hotels increase direct bookings and revenue. It allows guests to make bookings directly from the hotel’s website, offering a unique and personalized experience. Users can easily check dates, number of guests, availability, rooms and prices.
4. Channel Manager
Channel Manager is a vital tool for hotels, as it helps distribute available rooms across multiple platforms, such as OTAs (Online Travel Agency), Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), and search engines. This tool automatically updates prices, information, and availability across all channels when a booking is made, preventing issues like overbooking and price discrepancies.
The Channel Manager can function either independently or alongside the hotel’s booking system. By using a Channel Manager, the hotel reduces time and errors in managing bookings. A popular Channel Manager software is primalres, which, when combined with the webhotelier booking system, helps hotels better organize their sales.
5. Multilingual Support
Multilingual Support is essential for hotel websites to satisfy the international audiences.The ability for visitors to browse and search for information in their own language enhances the user experience, making it friendlier and more accessible. Users can easily and quickly find information about services, prices, and offers without struggling to understand.
Providing multilingual support does not just attract new customers; it also boosts the hotel’s image as a professional establishment that cars about the needs of international visitors. This enhances the sense of hospitality, making guests feel understood and valued, leading to greater satisfaction, which can result in more direct bookings and positive reviews.
Odysseus Hotel in Corfu offers multilingual support, providing its website in three different languages. This facilitates user navigation and enhances the hotel’s appeal to international audiences, helping boosts its reputation and reviews.
6. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
A modern website that is well-optimized for search engines (SEO) ranks higher in search results, attracting more visitors organically, without the constant need to spend money on ads. An effective SEO strategy includes the use of relevant keywords that match user searches, ensuring your content meets their preferences.
SEO also contributes to reducing loading time, an essential factor, as users prefer fast access to content without delays. Correctly selecting meta titles and meta description is also crucial, as these elements affect the first impression visitors get when your site appears in search results.
Implementing a completed SEO strategy goes beyond choosing the right keywords or metadata. It also involves quality content that addresses users’ questions and needs. By applying these practices, your website can improve its organic ranking in search engines, attracting new customers. This boosts your hotel’s reach and success.
7. Social Media
Incorporating your hotel’s social media into the website enhances communication and interaction with guests by creating a more direct relationship. With easy access to social pages, visitors can stay updated on offers, reviews, and hotel events. This easy access, combined with seasonal offers or events, can encourage bookings. Additionally, likes and comments from satisfied guests on social networks build trust with other visitors, creating a reliable image for your business.
A good Digital Marketing strategy plays a key role in promoting your hotel and engaging with guests. Targeted campaigns via Google Ads and social media can attract new users. A well-designed Google Ads campaign allows you to target audiences with specific demographics and searches, increasing the chances of attracting new customers seeking services your hotel offers.
Therefore, integrating social media into your page and using an effective digital marketing strategy are essential prerequisites for increasing your hotel’s interaction with its guests.
8. “Billboard Effect”
The Billboard Effect refers to the phenomenon where a traveler discovers information about a hotel on an OTA (Online Travel Agent) platform, such as Booking.com or Expedia, and then visits the hotel’s official website to find more details and complete the booking.
Hotels often choose to sell through OTAs to increase visibility, although the commissions charged by these platforms significantly reduce their revenue.
To avoid these losses, your hotel should capitalize on the Billboard Effect to increase direct booking as much as possible.
Common practices to reduce OTA fees include:
- Enhancing your hotel’s website to best showcase the property, attracting new customers and encouraging direct booking.
- Offering incentives for direct bookings, such as discounts or free upgrades.
- Integrating language and currency options.
- Continuously updating your listings and information on OTAs.
Conclusion
Nowadays, designing a modern website is a necessity for hotel accommodations From creating a positive first impression to enhancing the user experience with mobile-first design, online bookings, and social media integration, the quality of your website is directly related to your bookings and the image of your hotel.
A well-designed website that uses modern technologies, such as mobile-first design and an advanced booking system, enhances the guest experience and facilitates interaction with them. Proper SEO configuration significantly contributes to better ranking on search engines, attracting more organic visitors. The integration of online booking systems, social media, and multilingual support improves customer service and strengthens their trust, making them more likely to return or recommend your hotel to others.
Additionally, the right Digital Marketing strategy combined with Google Ads campaigns boosts the visibility of your hotel and contributes to an increase in direct bookings. The use of a Channel Manager and leveraging the “Billboard Effect” help attract an international audience and reduce dependence on OTA platforms. With all these factors and the regular upgrade and improvement of your website, your hotel can remain competitive and attract new customers.
If you are ready to upgrade your hotel’s website, reach out to gocreations!
