Name of your website?English Retreats
Your name?
Rebecca Carter
Your Location (city, etc)
London
Please give us a short summary of your website?
Find luxury bed and breakfast accommodation throughout England including boutique hotels, country houses and top class hotels in London. We specialise in privately owned businesses that offer something extra for the discerning customer. Excellent guest accommodation and facilities in great locations. We also have tourist information for every county.
What inspired you to launch your own website?
A gap in the market for a well designed, easy to navigate website that promotes excellent bed and breakfasts which people can use time and time again.
When did you launch your first website, and what was it?
This is my first website which was launched in December 2005.
How did you decide on a name for your website?
We wanted something memorable that gave a good brand awareness rather than a generic title such as 'B&B UK'.
What makes your website different from other, similar offerings?
Our website has an outstanding design that makes it really user friendly. Every accommodation provider has a full page listing in the same format that gives the customer quality and comprehensive information about each hotel or bed and breakfast. We are proud of our personal and efficient customer service.
What is your eventual goal? (To sell it, keep it for income, secure a book or other mainstream media deal?)
To provide our custumers with an effective marketing tool and the website users with an invaluable tool they can enjoy using on a regular basis.
How does your investment of time and money balance against your success?
A good balance is needed in any business and the more we invest in both time and money, the greater our success in the long term.
If you had an unlimited development budget for development, how would you change your site?
We wouldn't change the website and feel that gradual growth is more healthy than rapid expansion so that our quality of service doesn't suffer.
If your site got really big, really quickly, would you be able to keep up with the demand?
Of course!
How do you plan to develop the website?
We have lots of plans for the coming twelve months and enjoy seeing the website mature and develop over time.
What has been your biggest challenge?
Competing in a very competitive market has been a challenge, but the rewards when you suceed are greater.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Internet based advertising where we can moniter the results - Relevant travel based advertising works well as it compliments our website.
How has running your website differed from your expectations?
The time and effort required to run a large website was beyond expectations but the challange and rewards are worth it.
How has your popularity grown.
We now have over 200 businesses advertised on the website and a growing customer base year on year.
What is your website address?
English Retreats
