The best hospitality website design
Creating a new website or updating your pages for your hospitality business is a big step, and it’s important to do it correctly. Here at POSH we have many years of experience in delivering high quality websites for our hospitality customers. Hotels, cruise ships, guest houses, restaurants – you name it, we’ve worked on it! So if you’re looking for the best hospitality design for your business, then we can help.
We’ve put together 11 top tips to consider when planning your design. They are all key elements to ensure the success of your site, and are something to discuss with your designer.
1. Great user experience
A good website is one where users can easily find the information they are looking for. This means having a clear button to your booking page, information on your rooms and rates and any special offers you may have.
Your potential guests will have hundreds of hotel or restaurant options to choose from and if they can’t find what they need within a few seconds, they will simply go to a competitor’s website instead. For example – how easy is it to check availability on Eagle Brae’s website?
2. Responsive design
Not everyone is using your website on a Windows desktop or iPhone. There are many different screen sizes available, including Androids phones, tablets and laptops. Make sure your website can adapt to any screen your potential customer may be using.
3. High quality images
People look at images first on websites, so you need to make sure they are high quality in order to draw them in further. We can arrange for a professional photographer to make your hospitality business stand out online. For example, look at the stunning photography of the lodges at Loch Lomond Waterfront.
4. Compelling content
Before anyone spends money online, they like to ensure they are spending it wisely. You can help in this decision by providing quality content about your business, including pages about your rooms or food, and even blogs on daily life in your area. Adding a bit of personality to your writing can really help you engage with potential customers online, further encouraging them to book. For example, Mackays Hotel in Wick sits on the shortest street in the world, and they use this to engage guests. Do you have anything unique that can hook in an audience?
5. Online booking
Whilst some people do still prefer to book over the phone, online booking is preferred by many. This means customers can see all available dates and even change their dates themselves without needing to call. You are also able to get an overview of all availability for the coming months.
6. Encourage reviews
Ask previous customers to leave reviews. This can help future customers decide to book with you. You may decide to host reviews externally on your social media, like Kingsmills Hotel.
7. Interactive features
Virtual tours of rooms or a chat assistant can help people decide to book. This is because you are immediately engaging with them and building a connection. An excellent example of both of these features can be found at Ness Walk in Inverness.
8. Loading Speed
Fast loading times are crucial for retaining visitors and improving SEO rankings. If your site is too slow to load, then people will simply click away and look at the next hit on their Google search results. We can help you optimise your website pages.
9. Consistent Branding
Each page of your site should be consistent in branding and tone of voice. Pages should feel a part of the same family, just like here on our own website!
10. Accessibility
It’s vital to ensure your website is accessible to all potential customers, including those who use page readers. We can do this by making sure your site uses alt text and readable font sizes.
11. Security
Finally, when dealing with people’s payment details, it’s important to factor in site security to keep them safe. We can help you decide what is best for your needs.
By incorporating these elements you can ensure the best hospitality design for your website. If you’d like to discuss any of this further, or would like to work with us on your project, just get in touch!