Spring is just around the corner, and with it comes a fresh wave of opportunities to attract guests to your charming guest house. As nature awakens and flowers bloom, it's the perfect time to revitalise your marketing efforts and draw in visitors eager to enjoy a...

The Beach Palace Ramsgate has been nominated for the prestigious International Travel Awards. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional quality and outstanding performance of The Beach Palace Ramsgate in the hotels & resorts industry. The nomination...

As we transition into the winter months here in South Africa, we understand the challenges that come with maintaining optimal occupancy levels. However, fear not! With strategic online marketing efforts, you can attract guests even during the slower winter season....

As winter approaches, so does the challenge of maintaining healthy occupancy rates. While South Africa's winter months may bring cooler temperatures, they also offer unique opportunities to attract guests seeking cosy getaways and memorable experiences. In this...

After a bumper season, it's time to start looking at getting things going for 2024 and another awesome season to come! Applying the 2024 tourism trends to your guest house can significantly enhance the guest experience, increase bookings, and differentiate your...

Promoting your guest house during the winter months can be an effective way to attract guests and boost bookings. Here are some strategies to help you maximize your promotion efforts during this season: Highlight winter-themed activities: Emphasise the unique...

In today’s rapidly evolving technology environment, it is important for hospitality businesses to understand the latest trends in artificial intelligence (AI) and understand the impact it can have on their operations and their guest experience. AI has the potential to...

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that can provide valuable insights into the performance of your accommodation website. Whether you are a small bed and breakfast or a large hotel chain, using Google Analytics can help you understand how your website is being used...

The pandemic has brought about a fundamental change in the way we work, and with remote work becoming more prevalent, companies are looking for innovative ways to attract and retain employees. According to Statista, 30% of employees currently work for companies that...

Things are starting to hot up in South Africa and we can’t wait for the long awaited season to finally kick off. But are you ready to receive guests and are you on top of things with your online marketing? If not, don’t worry, we’re here to help. We’ve put together a...

South Africa - home to starry skies, wide open plains, pristine beaches and an endless amount of nature reserves, making it the perfect holiday destination. If you’re into camping and the outdoors, even better!! Whether you prefer disconnecting on the beach,...

As we’re all very much aware, most hotels and guesthouses struggle in the winter months. Less leisure travel happens locally as well as internationally and this leads to lower occupancy in general. Marketing at this time is now absolutely key to helping you get more...

In our last edition we looked at a few great, FREE ways to use Facebook to increase those all important and sought after direct bookings and to be honest, if those are the only steps you’re taking when it comes to your social media marketing, that is already a huge...

Some of us aren’t the biggest fans of Facebook or social media in general, but by this time, we’re all aware of the huge impact it can have on your hospitality business - be that a hotel, lodge, guest house or tour company. Social networking sites and apps have...

Let’s start with the basics, What is Google Hotels?  Simply put, it’s a “hotel metasearch engine” which forms part of the wider, general Google Search Engine.  It allows potential guests to search for, and book, accommodation online and establishments to...

Whether you’re starting your business from scratch, taking over an existing business or just looking to upgrade your current online marketing strategy ( there’s always room for improvement right? ), the following must have services and products are absolutely key to...

In 2021 your mobile website experience is absolutely critical to marketing success.  It’s been relevant for some time now, but the importance of it only continues to increase.   What is mobile site experience exactly, what does it mean for your website and...

So, what are the actual benefits of email marketing and should be using it?  The answer to that is absolutely YES!   We’ve put together a list of the benefits of email marketing and reasons why you should already be using it!  It’s Super Affordable...

As we’re all aware, technology changes fast, and website design trends are no different. Design elements and website features that were once modern and innovative, may have become tired and overdone in recent years. The last thing you want when visitors arrive at your...

With all of us struggling to get back on our feet after the nightmare we’re currently living through regarding all things tourism, 2021 is going to be a crucial year for us in terms of clever, cost effective marketing strategies if we want to survive. One of the best...

With South Africa’s tourism industry yet again receiving a massive blow, and establishments being forced to stay shut for leisure travel, it’s been very hard on us all to remain afloat and survive these unprecedented times. Even so, it remains ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for...

Now that we as South Africans have been granted a little more freedom of movement and the Covid-19 pandemic seems to be more under control, there is a sudden demand for mini-breaks over weekends, and even mid-week, and just a general desire to get away from it all for...

During the course of the ongoing pandemic, there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of negative reviews accommodation establishments have been experiencing. This is due to some very pandemic-specific reasons at work. Firstly, travelers who are staying in...

With South Africa’s tourism industry yet again receiving a massive blow, and establishments being forced to stay shut for leisure travel, it’s been very hard on us all to remain afloat and survive these unprecedented times. Even so, it remains ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for...

In the aftermath of the current Covid-19 pandemic, global tourism is bound to shift in a different direction. Travelers will be looking for experiences giving the most bang for their buck with minimum risk. Due to the disastrous effect the pandemic has had on the...

With South Africa’s strict lockdown rules being slightly alleviated, the tourism industry, and accommodation establishments, in particular, can now again start thinking about reopening their doors and the way forward. The first allowed out the gates are the business...

As we are all well aware, hotels, guest houses, tour companies and the like are experiencing substantial revenue losses due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and "normal life" as we know it is essentially over. The after-effects of this pandemic will linger on for at least two...

With the current Covid-19 pandemic on the loose and South Africa’s nationwide lockdown causing much uncertainty, we are all left feeling a little unsure of what the future may bring. The tourism and hospitality sector has been hit hardest of all with travel bans and...

Whilst we are settling into the quietness of lockdown, one space is buzzing with human interaction. People are turning to social media to connect with friends, family, and to stay in the loop. More than ever before. Although this provides a rather unique opportunity...

In these uncertain times, faced with a worldwide pandemic, the hospitality industry is feeling it most of all due to travel bans, lockdowns and an unprecedented sweep in booking cancellations. However, fear not! We are here to equip you with some handy tips on how to...

The travel and hospitality industry has been fundamentally changed by the increase in popularity of social channels. This has in turn completely changed the face of travel and tourism marketing. From the way that travelers are searching for potential destinations, the...

If you are a small property owner still not sure if investing in a modern website is the right thing to do, you will find the below information very informative and in all probability experience a rapid change of mind. There are loads of reasons why your accommodation...

Valentine’s Day provides a perfect annual opportunity to boost your marketing efforts. Here are a few practical tips for you to help you reach couples who want to celebrate this special day. As well as romantic ideas to help make their experience at your establishment...

It is safe to say that cycling worldwide is one of the fastest growing recreational activities and becoming a major global tourism trend. Bicycling also contributes to better health and related savings, as well as less congestion, environmental health, and happier...

There are festivals, and then there are festivals. In Germany, you celebrate with beer, in France with wine. Trust the English to come up with a Yorkshire Pudding Festival and the Spanish with a Tomato festival - a real messy mass tomato fight in the streets of Bunol,...

1.) Sign into your Gmail account Sign into the Gmail Account you want to Link to your Business Email Address. www.google.com/gmail/ Look for the Gear Icon top right - Click the gear icon and select Settings. 2.) Add your Business Email account details. Click on...

The slow trickle of tourists and visitors during the low season is a real challenge to guest house owners. Let’s take a look at a few ways to help you boost your occupancy and make the most of the offseason. 1. Prioritise the slow season in your marketing strategy....

Google Hotels - The next big thing! Our favourite search engine giant, Google, has quietly been experimenting with accommodation bookings and travel options that’s sure to have a massive effect on the travel industry. Their idea is to give online travel agencies a...

Google+ is shutting down for consumers. The official deletion date of the platform is, 2 April 2019. The reason for this course of action is due to a bug that exposed the user data of 52.5 million accounts. As a social media platform Google+ never got the traction to...

Earlier this year Google issued information stating that they will mark all url’s not preceded by HTTPS as “not secure” in their Chrome browser, thus sites will risk losing valuable traffic by being marked as such. Bottom line is that Google is concerned with your...

Every establishment has faced challenges during the off-season, when things are quieter and the steady stream of tourists holidaying on our shores slow down to a trickle. You’ve identified when your slow season is, but how do you fix it and prevent reservations from...

14 February provides a great chance for guest house owners to take advantage of the romantic buzz and create a helpful boost to bookings. Let's dive in and take a look at how you can make this special day count. 1. Start with Love. Valentine’s Day is one of the best...

Sustainable tourism has been defined by the World Tourism Organization as “satisfying current tourist and host community needs, while protecting and improving future opportunities. It is seen as a guide in managing all resources, in such a way that economic, social,...

The words “sustainable” and “responsible” have become buzzwords in tourism in recent years, right up there with “eco-friendly”, as the newest thing to strive to for all in the travel business. But what is sustainable tourism and why should we in the travel business...

In celebration of World Tourism Day, we’ve compiled 27  reasons to visit South Africa. Looking at our list of touristy favourites we hope that these are also reasons to be more protective of our fragile ecosystem, more creative and committed in our push towards...

POPI refers to South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information Act. This newly introduced Law regulates the Processing of Personal Information and applies to your business. The Act was signed into law in November 2013 and formally introduced in February 2017. The...

If you are getting started with a strategy for receiving and managing online reviews and guest feedback, first on your list should be the world’s biggest travel site: TripAdvisor. TripAdvisor has become an important resource for travelers as well as establishments...

Is the hotel rating system something of the past? We tend to think so. The inspection and classification of lodging facilities emerged in the early 20th century. However, the seismic change in the global hospitality industry over the last two decades has rendered the...