TOP hotel franchise operators, Somerston Hotels, has clicked with visitors to its new website, designed and built by Glasgow-based new media agency, Alienation Digital.
Somerston Hotels is one of the UK’s most successful franchisees of the Express by Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express and Ramada Encore Hotels brands.
The company launched its new suite of websites at the end of March 2009, and attracted a 17 per cent increase in visiting traffic within the first month.
In the same period, 43 per cent more visitors were referred to the site from Google as a result of a carefully managed search engine optimisation campaign.
Somerston Hotel’s Leisure marketing manager, Lesley-Ann Cardow, said: “We believe that our online presence is critical to the continued success of our hotels in these challenging times.
“We asked Alienation Digital for a complete overhaul of our websites to engage our customers, highlight the benefits of our properties, portray a professional online image and ultimately drive incremental revenue growth in a competitive market.
“Alienation Digital interpreted our brief and worked hand-in-hand with us to create a fantastic new website which continues to meet our objectives.”
Alienation Digital won the project following a competitive tender process in which agencies were briefed to present 33 unique hotel presences without the cost and complexity of a separate website for each hotel.
Alienation Digital’s MD, Neil Barr, said: “Our solution was to unite the hotel websites within one content management system, with individual templates designed for each of the four separate brands, including a central portal site for the Somerston Hotels brand.
“We concentrated on using our search engine optimisation skills to increase traffic to the site and our designs skills to make it a pleasure for visitors to use.
“We are delighted the new site has produced such impressive results.”
You can visit the new Somerston Hotels website at http://www.somerstonhotels.co.uk, where you will find links to each of the individual hotel websites and a special offers website.
End
Notes to Editors:
About Alienation Digital
Alienation Digital is an award-winning full service new media agency which provides measurable success through web design, web development and internet marketing. The company serves clients across the UK and internationally from its base in Glasgow.
Alienation Digital has experience of designing and developing websites for clients such as The Big Lottery, Business Link and the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.
The company’s key strength lies in identifying and implementing the best new media solutions to add value and help clients meet their business objectives.
Alienation Digital is also a market leader in Social Media Optimisation with the skills and expertise to maximise the use of social marketing sites like Bebo, Twitter and Facebook to increase customer interaction and build web traffic.
Alienation Digital’s strengths have been recognised by the prestigious 2009 Recommended Agencies Register, which independently surveys clients to rate agencies on attributes such as professionalism, creativity and strategic
thinking.
About Somerston Hotels
Somerston Hotels is a leading UK hotel company, operating Holiday Inn Express and Ramada Encore hotels in key leisure and business destinations across the United Kingdom. Somerston Hotels owns and operates 33 Holiday Inn Express and Ramada Encore properties including hotels in London and York, airport hotels and the newly opened Holiday Inn Express Lincoln City Centre. The group also has plans to open a new Hampton by Hilton limited service hotel in Liverpool in Spring 2010.
With a skilled, experienced and knowledgeable team, and ongoing relationships with some of hospitality’s most respected organisations, Somerston Hotels provides its guests with exceptional hotels, excellent customer service and value for money.
Issued on behalf of Alienation Digital by John Scott of John Scott Communications and Simon Bennison of Digital Media
John Scott
M: 07917-729-201
E: johnd.scott@johnscottcommunications.com
Simon Bennison
Digital marketing manager
twitter: http://twitter.com/SimonBennison
mailto:simon.bennison@alienationdigital.co.uk
Tel: 0141 575 9700
Fax: 0141 575 9600
Address: Alienation Digital, The Pentagon, Washington Street, Glasgow G3 8AZ.
http://www.alienationdigital.co.uk
Creative solutions in a digital world
MEDIA RELEASE issued by John Scott Communications. You too can post your story ideas for journalists (aka Press or media releases), on allmediascotland.com. Email info@allmediascotland.com for more information.
Contact: Simon Bennison
Phone: 0141 575 9700
Email: simon.bennison@alienationdigital.co.uk
Website: http://http:/www.alienationdigital.co.uk
