Direct Online Distribution starts and ends with the hotel website (e.g. the property section on the brand website and/or the property stand-alone, independent, website). The hotel website has become the “first point of contact” with the overwhelming majority of hotel customers. Leisure Travelers look for area attractions and family accommodations. Business Travelers look for directions and high speed Internet access in their rooms. Meeting Planners look for seat capacity charts and an RFP.

Unfortunately for many hotel marketers, a visit to the property website turns out to be the “last point of contact” with the customer.

The property needs a website that communicates the consistent brand image, adheres to the latest trends in Internet distribution and serves as a 24/7 sales office. A website that encompasses the essential elements of a revenue generating website: user-friendliness, search engine-friendliness and travel booker-friendliness. Such a website inevitably enhances website usability and overall performance and drastically increases Internet related revenues.

HeBS principals have dealt extensively with major hotel brands regarding the websites of franchised properties and have developed some of the best practices in the field. Allow HeBS principals to audit and evaluate the existing Brand Guidelines for Franchisee’s Stand Alone Website, and develop recommendations for improvements based on the industry’s best practices.

Name of HeBS Service Package:

Brand Guidelines and Best Practices for Franchisee’s Stand Alone Website

Consulting Service Type:

Audit, research, analysis & recommendation written report + phone consultation

This HeBS service is ideal for:

Major hotel brands, independent brands, luxury and boutique hotel brands, hotel management companies (HMC), condo and residential resort brands, hotel representation and marketing companies, CVBs and DMOs.

Features of the Service Package:

• Audit of the Existing Brand Guidelines
• Develop a Comprehensive Independent Site Standards and Guidelines
• Website Domain Name Policy
• Email Addresses
• Privacy and Security
• Required Links and Features
• Customer segmentation
• Website Navigation Map
  • Main Navigation
  • Actionable Navigation
  • Sub-Navigational Tier
  • Support Navigation
  • Required Elements
• Website Copy and Description
  • Unique content requirement
  • How to write for the Internet users
  • How to write for the search engines
  • Required Elements and Content Inclusions
  • Best Practices
• Search Engine Optimization
  • Headers, page titles, description tags and meta tags
  • Search engine registrations
  • Best practices
• Strategic Linking and Link Popularity Strategy