A website is the most basic and essential tool for running a successful hotel business. It’s an online presence where guests can get information about your hotel, make reservations, and more. Such an online presence could give you a competitive advantage against your competitors.
Hotel websites provide a wealth of information to visitors and prospective guests. This article will discuss the essential features you will need to get a friendly website for your hotel to obtain optimal management.
5 Essential Features for a Hotel Website
- Mobile Friendliness
With the advancement of smartphones and tablets, many people search the internet using their mobile devices. Your hotel should therefore ensure that the website is mobile-friendly. A website’s mobile compatibility is crucial to both the site’s organic search and user experience. To achieve this, you should build your website based on a responsive web design.
This milestone can detect the device a user is using. It will then adjust the layout, menus, and content to provide the user with the best experience on the tool. It is not necessary to have a separate mobile site when using responsive design. You can use a single website across several devices; desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Online Booking
According to Statistic Brain Research Institute, over 50 per cent of hotel bookings are done online. Your hotel website can capture commission-free direct bookings, which is vital to the success of your hotel’s marketing strategy.
Many travellers prefer to reserve hotels online rather than calling or emailing. Without an online booking platform, you risk losing customers to your competitors who offer this convenient way of reservation. A benefit of online booking is that it is available 24/7, so customers can book whenever they want from wherever they are.
- User-Friendly Navigation
Your hotel website should be easy to use and navigate. Internet users prefer a website that is easy to use to one that is complex. Ensure that room packages, descriptions, services, and amenities are presented straightforwardly.
Website navigation should be intuitive, making it easy to find information and eventually leading the customers to book. You should organize your website content with the customers in mind. In addition, include visual content and high-quality images that attract the viewers.
- Guest Reviews and Testimonials
Most travellers look through guest reviews and testimonials before choosing a hotel. Incorporating reviews and testimonials can provide prospective customers with the proof they need to make a booking.
Providing a comments and experiences page within your hotel website is essential. Also, remember to keep the reviews fresh and updated. A recent review will be more convincing than an evaluation that was left a year ago.
- Contact Information
You should make it easy for your potential clients to contact you using their most preferred channel. It could be through email, phone, chat, or social media. Never assume that all your clients will book online.
Provide contact details, including a map of your location. Additionally, you can include your phone number and email in the footer or header of every page on your website.
Conclusion
Every hotel business needs a website as a vital marketing tool. It could be the key to its success. Always remember that most travellers will be viewing your website from a mobile device. Finally, the most significant aim of your website is to convert every visitor into a booking. Add a book-now button or link on every page on your website.
