Smart options for Highland accommodation providers
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SPONSORED CONTENT By Julie Macleod
This month, I want to introduce two really smart new business solutions which are perfect for small and medium scale accommodation providers based in the Highlands. SmARt Explorer Digital Concierge with Visitor Guide
If you have been considering a paper free option for your guest information and want to help your guests achieve an amazing holiday experience - SmARt Explorer is a new digital guest concierge created with visitors to the Highlands of Scotland in mind.
It has been designed for and is best suited to boutique and bespoke Hotels, Hostels, B&B’s, Self-catering accommodations and caravan and camp sites.
The integration of the smARt concierge with a comprehensive visitor guide brings together a number of key components of the guest journey and experience onto one easy to use digital platform making it super simple to help your guests make the most of their visit and create those unforgettable experiences.
The smARt Explorer – The smARt explorer (theglobalartcompany.com)
The Concierge comes in poster, sticker or photo frame format to suit your needs.
Your own concierge QR code can also be printed on a beer or coffee mat for placement in the bar or restaurant area.
Automated Bookings Management System
Many accommodation providers in the Highlands want to be more in control of their bookings and increase their profits by generating more direct business and paying less in commission fees to the online booking travel agencies. If this is your goal, then you may well be interested in a new automated online booking system developed by MacKenzie Business Solutions with small to medium accommodation providers in mind.
There is high awareness across the Highland hospitality industry of the benefits to accommodation providers of using online travel agencies such as booking.com, Expedia and Airbnb who offer a global booking resource which is boosted by the comprehensive digital marketing activities and campaigns they undertake. The downside however is that commission levels on the bookings generated have become more significant, taking vital income out of the pockets of a sector particularly hit hard by the effects of COVID-19. It’s become a cause for concern shared amongst many in the hospitality sector, for a variety of reasons. So what can Hotels, B & B’s, self-catering and guest accommodation providers do to decrease their reliance on agencies and increase their own bookings?
MacKenzie Business Solutions utilises a system which enables booking calendars to be synced with external resources, one of these could be the booking calendar on your own website, making it easier for guests to book directly. It means that accommodation providers can still take bookings through multiple online agencies to maximise their market exposure while at the same time building up direct customers without having to constantly update or manage multiple booking calendars.
This is exactly what Burnside Cottage did on their new website created by MacKenzie Business Solutions.
Case Study – Burnside Cottage
Kacey and Stephen George own Burnside Cottage, a very successful bed and breakfast business on the Caithness north coast of the Highlands. Since buying the property in 2018 they have completely refurbished it and added their own touches to make Burnside Cottage a delightful and welcoming place for their guests to stay. A familiar story I’m sure for many accommodation providers.
The consistent positive reviews and feedback they receive is a testimony to the quality of service they provide and ensures that their booking levels remain reasonably high all year round.
To enhance their online presence and effectively promote their excellent new facilities Kacey asked MacKenzie Business Solutions to create a new website for the business which would enable visitors to book their stay directly with them online. Kacey wanted a single resource that could manage all the bookings for her business in one system - effectively synchronising the booking system they already had in place with three of the major online travel agencies, booking.com, Expedia and Airbnb. Together with all direct bookings they received as well.
MacKenzie Business Solutions were able to provide the perfect solution comprising a custom-built website integrating…
- a property management system
- a booking engine
- a channel manager
- online payments
- time-saving content writing
- engaging SEO copywriting
- enhanced User Experience
To see the website created for Kacey and Stephen George incorporating the above features please click on this link Burnside Cottage
Both these innovative products are reasonably priced to suit the pockets of the small accommodation provider. If you would like to find out more about the SmARt Explorer Digital Concierge and Visitor Guide contact: julie@thesmartexplorer.com.
If you would like to find out more about the automated booking management system which can also be created to seamlessly integrate with the SmARt explorer digital concierge and/or your existing accommodation website, contact: Roy MacKenzie roy@mackenziebusinesssolutions.co.uk
or visit website MacKenzie Business Solutions | Affordable Websites | Dingwall | Highlands
