What is a hotel website builder?
A hotel website builder is a tool designed to help you create a functional, user-friendly website with features tailored to the hospitality industry. Whether you have a developer on staff or not, a good website builder will let you edit content easily - without needing to understand HTML or CSS.
As the hospitality industry evolves, you need a website builder that keeps pace. Look for one that lets you update promotions, room information, and photos quickly, so you can stay agile and responsive to changing guest needs.
Key features of a hotel website builder
Choosing the right website builder can be tricky - especially for those without a technical background. Here are some key features to look for when selecting your hotel's website builder.
Design customization
Every hotel has its own brand identity, and your website should reflect that. A good builder will allow you to customize your site to match your unique style, from uploading promotional banners to using specific fonts, colors, and templates that represent your brand.
Booking integration
Booking integration is crucial. It allows you to connect your website to your reservation management system (RMS) and booking engine, streamlining the reservation process. This means your guests can book, check out, and receive automated confirmations - all without leaving your website.
SEO
Effective SEO for hotels ensures your hotel can be found by both traditional search engines and AI-driven platforms. To improve your SEO, look for a website builder that includes SEO plug-ins, supports easy keyword optimization and makes your site more easily crawled by search engines.
Responsive design (mobile friendliness)
A responsive design is essential for ensuring your website is accessible to guests on all devices, especially since a large portion of guests will access your site via mobile. Your site should load quickly, adapt to different screen sizes, and maintain the same functionality across devices. A lack of mobile-friendly features can lead to guest frustration, resulting in them abandoning your site and booking elsewhere.
5 Top hotel website builders in the market
So now that you know what features to look out for, it's time to review the top 5 website builders on the market, including their strengths and weaknesses.
Wix
Wix is a popular, user-friendly option for hotels. With drag-and-drop functionality and an AI website creator, it's easy to design a hotel website. Wix Hotels allows you to manage room inventory, reservations, and payments - all in one place. However, the free version includes ads on every page, and you can't customize the domain.
VEVs
VEVs is a website builder tailored for vacation rentals, with integrated booking software that lets you easily connect to OTAs. However, its paid plans start at $70 per month for just 10 rooms, making it less cost-effective for larger properties. That said, it's an easy solution for managing availability, pricing, and payments in one place.
Squarespace
Squarespace is known for its ease of use, especially for website novices. It's mobile-friendly and responsive, and it has AI support built in. However, its customization options may be limited, and there's no free plan available.
WordPress / Elementor
WordPress, combined with the Elementor plugin, offers extensive customization options for hotels. It's great for creating a site with your brand's unique elements, but it can be overwhelming for beginners. The free plan is quite limited, and it can be expensive to scale up, especially if you opt for Elementor.
Friday
Friday is an AI-powered website builder that offers user-friendly design features with a range of customizable templates. It's slightly more expensive, as it only offers one pricing plan, and it has limited plugin integration options.
How to choose the best hotel website builder for your hotel
The right website builder depends on your hotel's size, budget, and specific needs. If you need extensive customization and flexibility, WordPress/Elementor and Friday are great choices. For smaller hotels or those just starting out, Squarespace is a solid, affordable option. Wix offers a well-rounded choice, with a good balance of booking, inventory, and payment management features all in one place.
Tips to keep in mind when creating your hotel's website
When you're creating your hotel's website, it's important to consider the images you choose, as they play a crucial role in showcasing the guest experience. Additionally, ensure your website builder either includes a built-in booking engine, or allows for seamless integration with your preferred booking solution.
Make sure you have a blog section to enhance your SEO efforts by targeting important keywords for your hotel and destination. Clearly lay out the differences between room types, highlight available amenities, and provide detailed service descriptions.
Make it easy for guests to contact you through WhatsApp, social media, or direct calls. Lastly, include a reviews and testimonials section to build credibility and trust.
When should you choose a custom-built hotel website?
A custom-built website is the best choice for hotels that want complete control over design, functionality, and scalability. While website builders offer strong integration options and are ideal for many hotels, a custom approach allows for a fully tailored experience that aligns perfectly with your brand and long-term growth strategy.
Hotels that invest in custom websites often have highly specific design or user experience requirements that go beyond what templates can offer. This could include unique branding, interactive elements, or specialized booking flows. A custom build also provides full flexibility in how different systems work together, ensuring seamless integration with property management software, booking engines, and guest engagement tools.
Another advantage of a custom-built site is performance optimization. Developers can fine-tune every element for speed, SEO, and mobile responsiveness without the constraints of pre-set themes. For larger hotel groups or those with multiple properties, a custom approach can also support more complex website structures while maintaining a consistent experience across all locations.
While a custom-built website requires a larger investment, it can be a valuable asset for hotels that need a completely unique digital presence with long-term flexibility. However, for most hotels, modern website builders provide a robust, scalable, and efficient solution that integrates seamlessly with essential hotel technology.
Conclusion
Choosing the right hotel website builder is an important decision. Depending on your hotel's unique needs and size, you should be able to choose a builder that's right for you. Equipped with the tips outlined above, you're on the right foot to face web development no matter your technical skills.
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