Windermere Lodge - In the Media
The following article was published in the Cumbria Business Gazette in June 2008Hobson's choice is proved right
John Hobson's initial dissatisfaction with the county's standard online offering for tourists has lead - after much hard graft - to his pioneering Windermere Lodge site winning Cumbria Tourism Website of the Year. Terry Kirton finds out how he got there
Windermere Lodge - www.windermerelodge.co.ukWhen John Hobson went looking for holiday accommodation on the internet he knew exactly what information he wanted. There had to be detailed descriptions of all that was on offer for tourists in the surrounding area. The information had to be neatly packaged on a navigable site and it needed to be targeted directly at him and his family's needs. But what did he find? Most websites just did not meet his expectations.
So when he set about building a website for his holiday lodge on the Limefitt Park site in the Troutbeck Valley, near Windermere, he decided that effective content, precise targeting, relevant links and attention to detail would be the order of the day. Now his hard work has not only helped build a profitable business, it has won Windermere Lodge the title of Cumbria Tourism Website of the Year.
DEVOTED WEBMASTER
“I started out as a consumer of this type of product and saw just how rarely I could get the information I needed,” he said. But to satisfy the needs of the whole range of visitor-types requires a considerable amount of energy. So how much time does he devote to his role of webmaster, I wondered. "Ah well, I think you had better ask my wife that question. I am afraid it has become my main hobby," said John who writes a regular blog and updates events and news sections at least once a week. "It is hard to say just how much time it takes up, but I do spend two or three hours at a time updating information," said John, who has clearly put his heart into the creation of this spectacularly user-friendly site which offers huge quantities of information for potential visitors.
Not satisfied with one list of things to do, this site focuses on different tourist needs. For the family there is a section on “Things to do on a rainy day”. There are specialist pages for walkers and wildlife-watchers and gardeners. For those who like to spend their holiday pottering around the area and sight-seeing there are copious details on houses to visit, local history and geography and a comprehensive events calendar.
TALKING YOUR LANGUAGE
Another impressive feature is the series of welcome pages written in a range of languages. Not content with the usual web-based translation service, John has written the pages in the popular European languages either himself or with the help of friends. "There is also a Google widget at the bottom of the page to provide a translation for other languages like Greek, Japanese and Chinese," he said. Care has also been taken to consider the overall look of the site. It may not be as slick as those created for the wealthy hotel chains, but it reflects the personality of the company. "We have used natural colours in our site design - blues and greens - that help relate the site to the Cumbrian countryside. We wanted to ensure that the site doesn't look like a template design, but reflects our own individuality." he said.
Interactivity with website users is also as important. John's blog is kept up to date with all sorts of tips and insights into the area. There is a visitors' online forum and two video tours which show the area across the seasons. If the clear layout plans of the interior of the lodge do not provide enough information for potential customers there is a 360 degree panoramic feature.
And there is another form of interactivity which John sees as equally important. “We firmly believe that it is only by weaving our offering into the fabric of the local area that we will generate success. Windermere Lodge is nothing without our beautiful setting and our success is bound up with that of the local economy and environment" he said.
GUIDING PRINCIPAL
This has been the website's guiding principle - and it has been working particularly well. This year has started slowly because of the current economic downturn, but website visitor numbers steadily increased during 2007 with, on average, one booking gained from every 150 web visits. At the peak of the season there were something like 2,500 unique visitors per month.
John will certainly not be resting on his laurels. In an attempt to constantly improve customer service, paper-based questionnaires are issued to each guest to measure satisfaction levels.
"We publish the results on the website to create a virtuous marketing circle," he explained. But John is bracing himself for a tough year. He believes that most tourism-based businesses are anticipating a dip in visitors. "The strength of the pound is now an issue," he said.
Nevertheless, his company should be well equipped to maximise its potential in a difficult business climate. A great deal of work has to be done on creating effective content and in reciprocal linking to relevant organisations such as the Wainwright Society, Cumbria Online and Walking World - all of which will help draw in those more elusive visitors.
But I will let John have the last word on the effectiveness of his website.
"The web allows small enterprises like ours to create a meaningful presence alongside more established businesses and agencies. It is proof that what counts is effort and quality and not the amount of money that you spend,"
The following article was published in the Lytham St Annes Express in May 2008
Couple's website in regional tourism win
Published Date: 22 May 2008
By Staff Copy
A Lytham couple have won a regional tourism award for the quality of their website.
John and Linda Hobson triumphed against major tourism operators to win the Cumbria Tourism Website of the Year Award 2008.
The couple have been letting their holiday lodge in Limefitt in the Lake District for the past 18 months and promote it through their website. www.windermerelodge.co.uk
After entering the prestigious Cumbrian tourism awards earlier this year, they learned last month that they had been shortlisted. And at a glittering ceremony, held at the Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, they learned they had won.
Mr Hobson said: "We won against three other very professional finalists. This means that we are now going on to represent Cumbria in the North West Tourism Awards for this category in October."
Entries were invited from "any organisation in the tourism industry offering new or innovative website facilities in keeping with their product or service" which demonstrated "considerable success and excellent customer/user service".
The other finalists included websites run by the English Lakes Hotels and the South Lakeland Parks Ltd, which has facilities at various locations.
The Hobson's Windermere Lodge provides accommodation for up to four people and has views over Wansfell to the East, Applethwaite Common to the West and the Troutbeck Fells to the North.
If you need any further information please don’t hesitate to email us
| Bookmark with: |
|
StumbleUpon |
|
Delicious |
|
Digg |
|
|
|
Propeller |
| Internet Explorer |