What will Web 2.0 do for you?

Always seeking to stay at the forefront of new trends, the new Great Hotels Organisation consumer website is set to launch in 2008, incorporating key elements from the Web 2.0 platform.

Web 2.0 is a new type of web-technology which has marked a dramatic shift in how visitors engage with websites and brands. Lifeless websites with tiresome downloadable pdfs are rapidly being replaced with exciting and interactive pages. Today, users not only expect to find an easy-to-use functional site but, more importantly, they want to see compelling content and interactive tools which they can use throughout their visit.

So, what exactly is web 2.0?

Centred on the user’s way of interacting with content, a Web 2.0 site enables visitors to search for, manage, and most important of all, share information and content in a way that suits them. These sites often invite visitors to become members of their community by allowing them to create their own private or public area on the site. Once visitors sign up, they are offered tools to interact with other members, invite friends and family, and they also have the ability to add, customize or share content on the site.

This revolution has opened up amazing possibilities for the industry – resulting in better service and the ability to sell more products via an online presence. To fully reap the benefits of the Web 2.0 platform, it is important to realise that not only do you need to develop your own site with care, but it is also imperative to monitor and pay attention to what happens on social networking sites.

An invaluable sales and marketing tool, your website is often the first point of contact between you and your guests. A pleasant first impression is crucial to convert these visitors to customers - they come to your site not only expecting to be able to book their stay, but also to be convinced that you will provide them with the experience and atmosphere they’re looking for.

GHO has already developed a solution for your booking functionality, G-Wiz, designed to impress your guests with its features and easy-to-use interface. But what can you do to ensure that your web visitors are impressed enough with your presence to make a booking?

Cont...