Holiday Accommodation Research Makes For A Level Playing Field
Holiday Accommodation Research Makes For A Level Playing FieldEarlier in the year my wife (Mel) and I went to the UK for a holiday. One of the things we would have liked to have done would have been to stay in some holiday cottages in Sussex run by Ian, who is the friend of a friend of mine.
As much as a stay in UK country accommodation would have been a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of central London (that's me below posing for the typical London shot) - and as you can see, the prices are very reasonable - we weren't able to swing it.
But after having a look at Ian's site, and more general Sussex holiday sites, it really struck me that the smaller boutique accommodation operator has never before had such great access to their target market - namely people taking a holiday.
Online Bookings Outstripping Travel Agent Bookings
All the stats I've looked at show that more and more people are booking holidays online (it's overtaken bookings via Travel Agents according to many sources) - and I know from experience that an enormous amount of research is done online to find the best spot, the best place and the best deal.
So for any web site, learn web marketing or engage the services of someone who knows what they're talking about.
Cheers
Brendon
[ comments ]
Often a friend will ask for a recommendation. I give an agents phone number. The friend looks for the agent's web site, finds none, and surfs over to a site that costs much more. Based on personal experience the discount agent could probably triple his business with a decent web site.
The same 'pet' agents I deal with on air fares don't do hotels? Their reason? Hotels in Asia are so hard to do business with and they so seldom have a web site. On a typical vacation/business trip I spend much more overall on hotels and meals than the air fare. But no one wants the business ... truly, plan a trip for the US to say the Philippines or even to a 'with it' country like Japan. It's about as much fun as having a root canal.
Web developers and marketers who say you can't find business? It's there folks, believe me.
just checked-out Ian's website. To me it looks quite ok. The design is fine, it looks pfrofessional enough, has all the info on it, and personally i wouldn't mind calling them for making a reservation. wontn't even take 5 minutes. Infact, i just bookmarked it as an example of simple good design. Sure they can use some SEO/SEM job but beyond that looks fine to me.
I guess i dont understant your point -of-view. By no means i am trying to attack your views. just dont understand them
Sonny, I quite like Ian's web site too - nice and simple and cheerful.
I was trying to make the point that 'little' operations like Ian's farm cottages can now compete quite well with the big guys and what a great thing that is.
And I'm with you - the simpler the better.
Cheers
Brendon
P.S.: sorry for no link to my site, i dont have any...for ur curiosity, i am based in Philadelphia