Bed and breakfasts, holiday cottages, guest houses and small hotels
Web Design for B&Bs, Holiday Lets and Small Hotels
Web design for accommodation businesses means building websites that turn lookers into direct bookings for bed and breakfasts, holiday lets, guest houses and small hotels. Booking platforms bring guests but take commission on every stay, so your own website is where you win repeat and direct bookings at full margin. A good accommodation website shows the rooms honestly, answers every guest question before it's asked and makes booking as easy as on any big platform. Buzz Media builds websites for accommodation businesses across Lancashire, from valley B&Bs in Rossendale to stays near Pendle Hill.
Why accommodation businesses need their own website
Your own website is the only place guests can book without you paying commission. Booking platforms are useful for being found, but guests who discover you there often look you up afterwards. A professional website with direct booking gives them a reason to book with you instead, and it's where repeat guests come back to.
Pages every accommodation website needs
These are the building blocks of a strong B&B, holiday let or small hotel website.
Rooms or properties
Give each room, cottage or apartment its own page with honest photos, sleeping arrangements, bed sizes, bathroom type, accessibility details and the view. Guests compare carefully, so specifics beat adjectives.
Availability and booking
Show availability and let guests book or request dates directly, ideally through a booking engine linked to your calendar. If you also list on booking platforms, a channel manager keeps availability in sync and prevents double bookings.
Location and things to do
Explain where you are and why it's worth staying: nearby walks, attractions, pubs, railway stations and how long it takes to drive to the main sights. This also helps you appear in searches for places to stay near those attractions.
Guest information
Cover check-in and check-out times, parking, Wi-Fi, breakfast, dogs, children, accessibility and cancellation terms in plain text. Every question answered on the page is one less reason to book elsewhere.
Reviews and trust
Show recent guest reviews, any awards or quality ratings you hold, and clear contact details, including a phone number for guests who prefer to call.
How to win more direct bookings
Make booking direct at least as easy as booking through a platform, and give guests a reason to do it. Common approaches include a best-price promise, a small direct-booking extra such as a late checkout or breakfast hamper, and a simple mobile booking flow with as few steps as possible. Collect email addresses with permission so you can invite past guests back.
Photos sell rooms
Accommodation websites live or die on photography. Use bright, recent, professionally shot photos of every room, the bathroom, the outside space and the view, and keep image files compressed so pages still load quickly on a phone. Avoid stock images of generic scenery; guests want to see your place.
Getting found in local searches
Guests search for places to stay near something: a town, a walk, an attraction or an event. Name the places you're close to where it reads naturally, keep your Google Business Profile complete with photos and accurate category, and ask guests for reviews that mention what they did nearby.
Restaurants, cafés and other hospitality businesses
If you run a restaurant, café or pub rather than offering rooms, the priorities shift to menus, table bookings and opening hours. See our guide to web design for restaurants.
Accommodation website checklist
- A page for each room or property with honest photos and specifics
- Live availability and direct booking on mobile
- Location page covering nearby walks, attractions and travel times
- Guest information: check-in, parking, dogs, breakfast, cancellations
- Recent reviews and contact details on every page
- Google Business Profile complete and matching the website
Good to know
Your questions, answered.
Can my website take bookings directly?+
Yes. We can add a booking engine or availability calendar so guests can check dates and book or request a stay without leaving your site.
I already list on booking platforms. Do I still need a website?+
Yes. Platforms help guests find you, but many look you up before booking. Your own site lets them book direct, which means no commission on that stay.
How do I stop double bookings if I use several platforms?+
Use a channel manager or a booking engine that syncs availability across your website and every platform you list on.
How long does an accommodation website take?+
A straightforward site can go live in about seven working days once photos and content are ready. Sites with integrated booking take a little longer, and we'll agree a timeline up front.
Related guides
Sources
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