There are some businesses that simply cannot do without the internet. Tourism professionals have long understood this. The internet is a great resource because it allows for shorter distances and faster communication . For a hotel, having a web presence means being able to reach customers far away, gain visibility even abroad, and communicate promptly with users. Communicating quickly allows the hotel to build a relationship with its customers and maintain it over time. A hotel website is a business card and determines the first impression a customer gets of the property.

The hotel website can encourage a customer to make a booking or it can push him towards other properties or to book through an OTA , so it is important that the hotel website has certain characteristics, which we will see shortly.

First the hotel website must be simple to use, should not strain the eyes and should not be dispersive. The owner of the hotel has set up the site to obtain direct bookings. To prevent the customer from getting lost in the intricacies of the site, there must not be too much text: the information provided must be clear and concise. Have a section dedicated to attractions and points of tourist interest it can encourage the customer to visit those places or help him define the stages of his journey. You can make the mistake of filling a section of this type with text and discourage the customer from reading. Other appreciated information is that relating to festivals and events.

Website for hotels: the role of images

A good impression is also important. Being able to view the rooms is certainly helpful for guests, who want to assess the quality and presentation of the room they're booking. People also like to choose, so it's essential to create a photo gallery featuring photos of the property's most beautiful rooms. When it comes to images, it's important to keep two things in mind: the photos must be high-quality to be uploaded to the website; and it's advisable to hire a specialized photographer , who will be able to showcase the rooms to their fullest potential through images. Even better if videos are available on the hotel website, but this is a plus.

A must-have feature on a hotel website is a contact section . This should be extremely simple and straightforward for the customer. Prompt responses help build customer loyalty. The hotel's address and directions should also be clearly visible in this section.

Finally, a very common mistake is not having a responsive website . This should be avoided, considering the widespread use of devices other than the traditional PC and the constant increase in bookings from mobile devices.