8 Simple Tips for a Great Hotel Website

Are you keen on getting a dedicated hotel website? This would be a smart choice, as your property website is often the first impression potential guests receive and the most important factor in their decision to book…or not!

Most of your marketing decisions will be based on the ultimate goal of engaging potential guests to visit your hotel website and to make their reservation directly. It is a crucial step to gaining business, yet one that is too often neglected by independent hoteliers.

We’ve shared eight simple tips for a great hotel website and hope they help your business build more online presence and reputation.

Website Main Objectives

Keep in mind that the main goals of your website, from a customer perspective, are to:

• Provide users with clear and precise information referring to their search criteria,

• Reassure them about your hotel’s quality, value, and significance,

• Make it a dream and desire for them to stay at, and experience your hotel.

• Allow them to easily check rates and availability so they can book their rooms promptly and effortlessly.

  

  Hotel Website Most Important Technical Tips

1. Responsive Template

This means that your website’s template (its structure and design) automatically adapts to all sorts of screen devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.) for an optimal viewing experience. Most people today browse the Internet on their phones or tablets, especially when travelling.

2. Quick Navigation

You need a website that is fully functional, where content and images load rapidly. Frustration can quickly set in when users encounter a slow-loading site. For many travellers, a slow-loading site might be the push they need to switch to another hotel's website.

3. Booking Engine

A  Website Booking Engine that enables the capability to check rates and availability for specific dates directly on your hotel website. It is typically included in your Channel Manager package, which facilitates the centralised, automated management of various online distribution channels (e.g., Expedia, Booking.com). Prominently displaying your current best rates on the homepage, or revealing room rates alongside room descriptions, can significantly enhance your conversion rates.

Hotel Website Simple Marketing Tips

4. Simple Design

Opt for a simple, lightweight design that respects and highlights your brand and logo. If you need inspiration for visual elements, platforms like Freepik offer a way to browse royalty-free images that can effectively represent your hotel's brand. A well-conceived design should, at first glance, convey your hotel's positioning (your concept; the unique and appealing features of your hotel).

5. Clear Menu

Implement a clear and structured menu to ensure navigation is straightforward and effortless. The visitor should have no difficulty quickly finding all the information they seek.

Moreover, establishing efficient interlinking among your web pages facilitates even smoother navigation, further enhancing user experience.

6. Professional Pictures

Remember, an image speaks a thousand words; thus, ensuring your website is visually engaging is paramount. Maintain simplicity in your text and utilise as many relevant keywords as possible to bolster your Search Engine Ranking.

Travellers often favour visual stimuli, such as images and videos, to envision their experience at your property, rather than wading through lengthy room descriptions.

7. Communicate Directly to Your Potential Guest

Regular communication via  Social Media or a blog section on your site keeps visitors informed about activities, experiences, and news that may interest them.

Employ a personal touch in your messaging, and ensure that the content is directly relevant to your potential guests. For example, describe the available activities at your destination and link them to corresponding pages or articles for additional details. This facilitates guest access to comprehensive information and may motivate them to share your content on their social media, consequently enhancing your Search Engine ranking.

8. Multilingual Content

To achieve international visibility, consider translating your website into different local languages of the target countries. This not only improves your ranking on Google, Bing, and other Search Engines in each country but also provides great convenience for potential guests, encouraging them to book directly on your website.

And What About SEO?

Having checked these 8 boxes, you're well-prepared to increase traffic to your hotel website or attract more potential guests.

This starts with SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), a strategy aimed at positioning your website prominently in Google search results.

Learn more about the secrets of Search Engine Marketing in our next article.