Give Guests a Reason to Book Before They Even Arrive

You put a lot of care and thought into your hotel’s lobby and front desk —what it looks like and who’s staffing it.

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You do that because it’s the first impression your guests get right when they walk through your doors, and that first impression can shape their entire stay! 

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It’s important to remember, however, that way before they walk through your doors, they’ve already explored your digital front desk: your website!

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A slow, outdated, or visually unappealing website can turn your potential guests away before they even have a chance to see what you have to offer! On the other hand, a website with the right design and information can be just as welcoming, helpful, and conversion-focused as your best front desk staff!

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What does it take to wow your guests the second they click over to your site? Today’s blog is answering your question! Today, we’re exploring 10 essential hotel web design tips to help you create a website that not only looks amazing but actually increases your bookings!

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Let’s get started!

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Why Hotel Web Design Matters More Than Ever

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In the past, you could count on travelers seeing signs for your hotel, flipping through travel brochures, or stopping in after hearing a word-of-mouth recommendation.

But today, travelers are doing their research online way before they even pack their bags. And, more often than you think, your website is the deciding factor in whether a potential guest books a stay or clicks over to one of your competitors. 

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Here are a few more reasons why great web design is crucial for hotels and the hospitality industry:

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• It’s your first impression — Most guests form an opinion of your hotel within seconds of landing on your site.
• It builds trust and credibility — Clean design and professional visuals signal that your hotel is reliable and high quality.
• It influences direct bookings — A user-friendly interface is a powerful hotel marketing tool. It encourages guests to book directly instead of going through third-party platforms.
• It improves mobile experience — With more travelers booking from their phones, mobile responsiveness is a must.
• It sets you apart from the competition — In a crowded market, a standout website helps your brand stay top-of-mind.

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10 Hotel Web Design Tips to Boost Bookings

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A well-designed website doesn't just look nice! It helps your potential guests imagine themselves at your property, trust your services, and feel confident hitting that "Book Now" button!

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Here are 10 tips to help you design a site that grabs attention and turns visits into bookings!

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1. Make the Booking Button Unmissable

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There’s a time and place for subtlety, but it’s not with your “Book Now” button.

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The button that leads website visitors to your booking platform needs to be bold, easy to find, and available on every single page of your site, especially above the fold.

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Here are some web design tips to make it stand out:

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• Use a contrasting color that grabs attention (without clashing with your brand’s color palette). For example, if your site is mostly white and blue, try a bold orange or gold button.
• Keep the wording clear and actionable —“Book Your Stay,” “Reserve Now,” or “Check Availability” work much better than a generic “Submit.”
• Give it some breathing room. Use white space around the button so it doesn’t get lost in the layout.
• Make it large enough to tap on mobile and consider using a sticky header or floating button that stays visible as users scroll.
• Add subtle animation or hover effects—like a color shift or gentle scale-up on hover—to draw the eye without being too distracting.
• Place it strategically. Ideally, the button should appear in the top-right corner and again near key decision points (like under room descriptions).

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2. Optimize for Travelers on the Go

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In today’s world, the vast majority of your guests are browsing hotel websites and booking their smartphones while they commute, eat lunch, or sit on their couch.

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So, if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you could be losing bookings without even realizing it.

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Follow these tips to create a better mobile experience:

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• Use responsive design so your layout automatically adjusts to any screen size—no pinching or zooming required.
• Prioritize fast load times. Compress images, limit pop-ups, and take it easy on any heavy animations that slow down performance.
• Make tap targets large enough for thumbs—tiny links and buttons lead to frustration and dropped bookings.
• Simplify the navigation menu for mobile users. A clean hamburger menu and clear path to booking make things much easier.
• Minimize form fields during the booking process. Only ask for the essentials—guests can provide the rest later.
• Test your site on multiple devices. What looks great on an iPhone may not behave the same on an Android or tablet. Do your due diligence to make sure all of your users have a great experience, no matter their device.

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3. Use High-Quality, Real Photos of Amenities

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Your guests want to see what they’re actually getting when they browse your site and look through your amenities.

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Whether it's the comfy beds, rooftop pool, cozy lobby, or awesome game room, show them off! Consider investing in professional photography here — they’ll know how to get the best lighting and angles to showcase your amenities in the most inviting and authentic way, so your guests can picture themselves enjoying their stay.

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Bonus points for adding video walkthroughs or virtual tours!

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4. Highlight Reviews and Social Proof

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Word of mouth is a powerful thing, especially in the hospitality industry. 

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No one wants to stay somewhere they’re going to regret, so they’ll look to others to reassure them that they’re making the right choice.

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Ease their worries by highlighting glowing reviews and social proof like testimonials on your website! If other travelers had a great experience, it’s a strong signal that new visitors will too!

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Here are some tips!

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• Pull in reviews from sites like TripAdvisor, Google, or Booking.com. Star ratings and real names go a long way in building trust. Bonus points if you can include guest photos!
• Sprinkle testimonials throughout your site, not just on one page. Try adding them near room descriptions or right next to your “Book Now” button for extra impact.
• Share guest photos or posts from social media (just be sure to ask for permission first). Real people enjoying their stay is relatable and a powerful marketing tool.
• Show your stuff —any awards, badges, or press features can give your hotel that extra layer of credibility.
• Keep things up to date. No one wants to read a glowing review from three years ago or from the pre-COVID world. Regularly refresh your reviews to show that people still love staying with you.

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5. Keep it Simple

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When someone clicks over to your website, the last thing they want to be is confused or overwhelmed.

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They’re there to check out your amenities and (hopefully) book a stay, so anything that distracts them from doing that could cause them to click away before they do.

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Simplicity is key here. Follow these tips to clean up your site and eliminate clutter:

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• Stick to a clean layout with plenty of breathing room. Don’t cram too much onto a single page — give everything space to breathe so it’s easy to look at. Your content and photos should be the stars of the show here; don’t bury them in clutter.
• Use clear, familiar labels like “Rooms,” “Gallery,” “Amenities,” and “Book Now.” If people have to guess where to click, they probably won’t.
• Limit the number of menu items. Too many options in your main menu can overwhelm guests. Focus on the essentials—your rooms, location, pricing, and how to book—and put less critical links somewhere else, like the footer.
• Break up long blocks of text with headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs. Making it easy to scan makes it easy to digest.
• Use clear visual hierarchy to guide guests. As in, make the most important things stand out. Use larger or bolder text for headlines, keep fonts consistent, and make buttons eye-catching so visitors know exactly where to click next.

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6. Speed Up Your Website

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How much patience do you have when you click on websites or mobile apps?

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Assume your guests have even less! Because, honestly, no one likes a slow website. It’s frustrating, and it makes your hotel look outdated and unreliable. 

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If your homepage is taking longer than a few seconds to load, then here are some tips to speed things up and keep your guests from bailing:

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• Compress your images. Large, high-res photos can slow down your site. Compression makes the file sizes smaller (without ruining the quality), so your pages load faster.
• Cut back on unnecessary plugins or add-ons. Too many behind-the-scenes tools can drag down performance. If something isn’t adding value to the guest experience, get rid of it.
• Use a reliable hosting provider. If your web host isn’t keeping everything maintained, everything inside will run poorly. Choose a host known for speed and uptime.
• Enable caching. This just means your site remembers bits of data, so it doesn’t have to load everything from scratch each time. It’s a technical trick that makes your pages feel snappier.
• Test your speed regularly. Use free tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to see how your site is performing and get tips on what to fix.

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7. Location-Based SEO

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Your hotel may be perfectly located, but if your website isn’t optimized for local searches, then you might be getting overlooked anyway!

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That’s where local SEO can help you. Local SEO is a tool to optimize your website so that it shows up in search engines when people are actively looking for accommodations in your area.  And when you do it right, local SEO will help get your hotel in front of the right people at the right time when they’re ready to book!

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Here are a few easy ways to boost your local search visibility:

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• Use location-based keywords throughout your site. Keywords are the words and phrases people type into Google when they’re searching for something — like “oceanfront hotel in Santa Cruz” or “family-friendly inn near Times Square.” Including those kinds of phrases in your homepage, room descriptions, and page titles helps search engines understand where your hotel is and what you offer, so you show up in the right searches.
• Set up and update your Google Business Profile. And make sure your address, phone number, website link, photos, and hours are accurate so guests can find you.
• Add a map to your site. A simple Google Map on your contact or location page helps people see exactly where you are and makes it easier for search engines to show your hotel in nearby searches.
• Mention local attractions. Talk about things to do nearby—like parks, museums, shops, or restaurants. It helps guests plan their trip and gives your website an SEO boost at the same time.
  Keep your contact details consistent. Use the same name, address, and phone number everywhere—on your site, your social media, and any directories you’re listed in. It helps with search accuracy and builds trust.
• Ask for Google reviews. When happy guests leave a review, it tells search engines your business is active and trustworthy, and that can help move you up in local results.

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8. Create Urgency

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A little urgency in your copy can go a long way!

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Phrases like “Only 2 rooms left!” “Don’t miss this Spring Break Special!” or “Book now for 15% off!” can give visitors that extra nudge they need to make a decision, especially if they’re on the fence. When people feel like they might miss out, they’re much more likely to act quickly instead of putting it off.

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Just remember not to overdo it. If every message on your site screams “limited time only” or “almost gone,” it can start to feel disingenuous and turn guests away. Use urgency where it makes sense, and always back it up with real value.

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9. Conversion-Focused Copy

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The words on your website have a job to do, and that’s to gently guide potential guests toward booking.

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So, sure, copy that lists features technically does its job. But why write “Standard Room — 1 King Bed” when you could paint a picture with something like “Unwind after a day of exploring into your own personal retreat complete with a plush, King-sized bed, soft lighting, and skyline views.”

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You get the picture, right?

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Here are a few additional tips to punch up your copy and put the focus on conversion!

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• Keep the tone friendly and conversational. Write like you're talking to a guest in person.
• Focus on the experience, not just the features. Make your amenities come to life in the guest’s imagination.
• Break up the text. Use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs so guests can skim easily.
• Avoid buzzwords or generic phrases. Be specific and descriptive—skip the fluff and give people something real.
• Always include a clear next step. End sections with buttons like “Check Availability” or “Book Your Stay” so guests know what to do next.

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Great writing can make a huge difference. Consider hiring a professional copywriter to punch up your website copy. This will help your messaging to come across more polished, persuasive, and on-brand!

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10. Accessibility Counts

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Your website should be welcoming to all of your guests, especially those with disabilities or different browsing needs.

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That means taking some accessibility steps to make sure that everyone can navigate your site, understand your content, and book a stay with ease. Even simple things like readable font sizes, good color contrast, alt text for images, and keyboard-friendly navigation can make a huge difference for guests using assistive technology.

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And it’s not just about compliance, it’s about inclusion! When your site is easy to use for everyone, it shows that you care about every guest’s experience!

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Ready to Turn Your Website into a Booking Machine?

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If after reading this list of hotel website tips, you’ve decided that your establishment’s online presence could do with a little update, then … that’s great.

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Because we’re here to help you do just that.

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Designity is an innovative Creative as a Service platform that is made up of the best of the best in fields like web design, graphic design, motion graphics, copywriting, SEO, digital marketing, coding, and more all led by a designated Creative Director  — everyone you could possibly need to refresh your website and turn it into a high-performing machine that drives bookings and boosts revenue!

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Why not check out our hospitality marketing page and portfolio to see how we’ve been able to help other hotels and hospitality brands like yours elevate their digital presence with high-quality website design?

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If you like what you see, go ahead and book your demo call. We’ll get you started with a 2-week, no-obligation trial so you can test-drive our web design plus 100 other design and marketing services and see why Designity is the last web design partner your hotel will ever need!

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Are you ready to turn your website into your biggest marketing tool?