Hotels: why a good website matters
Having a website is hugely important for a hotel. But why exactly?
A website showcases your hotel and lets guests book directly with you. To understand its value, compare the bookings it generates with its cost. What information should you include and how should you manage it?
Why does it matter?
Having a website dedicated to your hotel matters for all sorts of reasons:
- Improve your online presence
- Allow bookings on your site with an appropriate system
- Manage bookings in-house if your organisation allows it
- Show all your offers
- Offer site-specific discounts
On a single page and in seconds, prospective guests can find the information they need. Relevant, well-organised information makes their search easier, though it does not guarantee extra bookings.
Direct bookings: what should your site include?
A phone number or an e-mail address is enough to receive direct enquiries. Your team then checks availability and confirms each booking. A form collects the dates and the guest's contact details, but it remains a request to process: submitting it does not confirm the room.
If you want guests to book on the site, you need a booking engine. Check that it displays the correct availability and how bookings reach your team. A site, even with an engine, does not update your other channels automatically: that synchronisation depends on the tools you use.
Before choosing a booking engine for your hotel website, make a test booking: select dates and a room, check the displayed rate, then complete the confirmation. Then look at what your team receives and whether the room remains available on your other channels.
If you also offer the same room on Booking, check whether your tools synchronise availability between the platform and your site. Test each channel and verify that the room is no longer bookable on the other after confirmation. Without synchronisation, block it manually on the other channel as soon as a booking is confirmed.
What information should your site include?
From the rooms page, a guest must be able to see photos, compare offers and check availability without hunting for where to click. Have the hotel, the rooms, the reception and the exterior photographed by a professional photographer: these images can also be used on your social networks.
If no room is suitable, provide a clearly visible link to the contact page. Include your address, e-mail address and telephone number: some guests prefer to book by phone or ask a question before choosing.
Between choosing a room and confirmation, here is what the guest should be able to check to prepare their stay:
- On the room page, display the rate, included services and available dates.
- Before booking, state whether pets are allowed and remind guests of check-in and check-out times.
- Before finalising, allow the guest to review the chosen room, dates and rate.
- After confirmation, show a clear acknowledgement and keep available information on distances to train stations and airports as well as activities near the hotel.
To convert your visitors into guests, your site must answer specific questions. Here are the details and sections that make the difference.
Before booking, show room photos, rates, included services and availability. State check-in and check-out times, your pet policy and your contact details. After booking, display a clear confirmation. Make information on distances to train stations and airports and nearby activities easy to find.
| Rubrique | Informations essentielles | Pourquoi c'est décisif |
|---|---|---|
| Contact | Adresse, e-mail, téléphone | A hesitant guest who cannot find your contact details will book elsewhere. Every contact point must be visible. |
| Offres | Tarifs, types de chambres, services inclus | Presenting everything in one place reduces back-and-forth and abandoned bookings. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an agency to create my site? No, if you have the time to build and maintain a functional site. Use an agency if you cannot manage its creation or the integration of a booking engine. In both cases, the site must be appealing and allow the guest to book without difficulty.
How do I avoid double bookings between my site and platforms?
If you take bookings on your site and on platforms, availability must be updated on each of those channels. Check how bookings reach your team and whether your booking system synchronises availability. If not, block the room on the other channels as soon as a booking is confirmed.
