We’ve been given the opportunity to work with  The Crianlarich Hotel near Glencoe and help them with their SEO and Internet marketing.  One of the great things about working with this hotel in particular is because the manager Nigel Bird wants everyone involved in marketing to speak to each other – sounds so simple doesnt it? But how may times have you managed to get the PR company, website designers and developers, SEO and  social media guys and the person on the hotel staff responsible all in one room? Well I can honestly say never, well not until we started working with Nigel.Â
The hotel has been under new management for just under a year and gradually the hotel is getting away from the coach party market and into a lovely place to stay for couples, families and small groups of friends. This time of year they are providing excellent accommodation, drying facilities and warming food to skiiers on Glencoe, not only feeding and watering them but taking them to and from the slopes as well. The reviews on Trip Advisor just get better and better.Â
Our involvement starts soon and we just can’t wait!
Popularity: 1% [?]
Trip Advisor, the well established travel/accommodation review site is no stranger to controversy with many blog posts and comments from the hotel & leisure industry questioning its policy on ‘the right to reply’ and ‘bonifide posts’.
TA bills itself as providing “Unbiased holiday reviews, photos and travel advice for hotels and vacations”
It came to light in 2009 that Trip Advisor was to begin charging for business listings – this has now come to pass.
As we have over 20 years experience in the hotel & leisure industry we are interested in feedback and comment from any Hotel, Guest House, B&B, Self Catering, Restaurant etc as to what this means to you ….
Popularity: 9% [?]
I am sure we are all aware of the power of Trip Advisor and if you are like us then you tend to check it out before booking anywhere. Friend and former employer Taychreggan Hotel  have hit new highs with a fantastic review from people who are yet to stay there – now that has to be a first doesnt it?  Due to a slight car accident in the forecourt of the hotel, the helpfulness of the staff means that they have secured a booking in February and a rave review – lets hope they continue to rave about the hotel after staying there – no reason why not! You can see the review here and read the many other 5 star reviews.
On the subject of Trip Advisor they are introducing a paid enhanced listing option to owners and in January it is on special offer for approximately £300. The enhanced listing gives you a link to your website, a telephone number displaying on your listing, more control over the content and the ability to add your own images. Has anyone taken them up on the offer? We are in two minds. Does it devalue the power of public opinion if owners can manipulate their listing? Or does it add credence to the listing with the addition of a weblink and telephone number? Not sure and interested to hear anyone elses views on the subject. For more information on Trip Advisor business listings then take a look here.
And back to Taychreggan…. well done guys, keep up the good work and we will be over to see our favourite hotel soon!
Popularity: 5% [?]
Yet again customers David & Clare at The Kilberry Inn have received a great review from The Sunday Times this weekend. We know that the food is fabulous, the wine list delectable, the service perfect, the beds comfy and their website somewhere in between all of that, but it is great when they are awarded such high praise from such a well known newspaper. To read the article in full you can go here and keep your eyes out for the Hairy Bikers who have also spent time there and will be on the TV soon with tales from Clare’s kitchen.
Popularity: 22% [?]
As you know, we are neither an hotel or a guest house or a B&B however, many of our customers are and this latest ‘gold star’ addition to the VisitScotland rating system has put the accommodation cat amongst the paperwork pigeons.  Â
The main question being how, do visitors know what they are booking into with so many schemes on the go? Some schemes are voluntary, some are most definitely not and what is the difference between a 4 star property and a 3 gold star property – is the 3 gold star one now better?  It took quite a bit of digging but I did eventually find the star grading information but I am still not quite sure how clear I am.
We are interested to hear your views as we have only heard negative comments so far and we are sure there are positive ones as well – aren’t there? Not quite sure why everyone we speaks to seems to dislike VisitScotland, what we are sure of is that the majority of our accommodation customers are members and pay a lot of money to stay members, so VisitScotland must be doing something right.
Popularity: 33% [?]
