Below is an extract from an article by Neil Salerno which discusses the decision process a person looking to book a hotel goes through. The decision of where to stay is secondary to that of the destination and location so accommodation establishments need to first help sell the destination and location before a traveler will book at their establishment. The SmartGuide Interactive Travel Guide that can be embedded into websites, emailed, distributed via social media is essentially an interactive destination guide loaded with the necessary information and rich media to help sell you destination.

“I referred to some hotel sites as nothing more than online brochures. A hotel online brochure is a site, which only covers information about the hotel itself; that makes it dead-in-the-water from a search standpoint. Someone who designs such a site, doesn’t understand how travelers use the Internet to find and book rooms.

Few people choose a hotel before choosing a destination. The fact is that most travelers first select a destination, attraction, or activity, then select a hotel within the scope of that destination. Hotel online brochures mention little, if any, information about the destination features nearby. Yet, this is the most important search findability information on your site. Selecting a hotel is most often the “second” decision made by travelers.”

To view the full article – “Let’s Be Honest, Does Your Hotel’s Website Suck?”