Hedgehog Corner/Goodlands Cottage
About Us
My on line system is invariably polite, clear, concise and wide awake whatever the time of day or night!
Joy Raymond at Hedgehog Corner offers both quality self catering accommodation at Goodlands cottage and exclusive camping in a pretty field overlooking a wooded valley.
Goodlands Cottage is delightfully spacious 3 bedroomed holiday accommodation that is child and senior friendly and has a garden and six acres of meadow. It's ideally located to explore Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast on the Devon and Dorset border. Hedgehog Corner Camping provides peaceful camping for 10 tents and maximum 20 adults on site in a pretty field overlooking a wooded valley. Great facilities including fridge freezers. Ten spacious Tent pitches.
Why did you decide to add online booking to your website?
People can book there and then. If a decision has been made by the guests to stay at your property then a Call To Action to pay the deposit is the best way to secure their visit to YOU and not stray off
Save time answering the phone
I needed to spend less time on the phone - I was inundated with calls at all times of the day and night. Repeating myself endlessly and possibly forgetting some important facts when guests rang to make a potential booking. Now, even if I take a booking over the phone I do it online using the HBO new booking form stage by stage so I cover all the Qs and the property shows up as booked immediately!
As a small business time is the most valuable resource I have. While guests book on line I can be busy on other areas of the business.
It's a great way of showing prospective guests how BOOKED UP you are
Seeing a well filled diary on line often encourages guests to book ahead NOW! I have in fact already at the start of this year taken 2 bookings for next summer in one case 19 months ahead!
Never lose potential customers due to an unanswered phone
Due to the volume of calls I was finding some potential guests couldn't get through losing me bookings. Also overseas guests will be in different time zones and its not possible to stay up all night the online booking system works for me 24/7 ensuring I never miss a booking whatever the time of day.
People can book there and then
People can book there and then. If a decision has been made by the guests to stay at your property then a Call To Action to pay the deposit is the best way to secure their visit to YOU and not stray off on line and find something a bit cheaper or better! If a phone is not answered it unintentionally can give the wrong impression of your business. You are always professional , prompt and polite if you are online.
Take Payment Online
The Holiday Bookings Online booking system lets guests pay online at the same time as booking. Using a Secure Server to make payments is reassuring for guests. And of course for them to know that they have secured their booking from the comfort of their own home without having to put a cheque in the post and wait for confirmation from the provider. Online is instant.
Customers Can Instantly See Prices And Available Dates
With the Holiday Bookings Online booking system customers can see prices and decide in their own time if they can afford and which dates would suit. Allows them time to discuss with significant others. Also it avoids any embarrassment for the guest if they get half way through the booking and then change their minds they can do this again in the privacy of their own home without putting either themselves or the accommodation provider out in any way.
Also with clear T&Cs no one of either party can be sure about what is expected of them.
Booking online at unsociable hours
More and more prospective guests make their decisions in the evening after a long chat with the family and it can be past midnight when a decision to book is made. My on line system is invariably polite, clear, concise and wide awake whatever the time of day or night!
Foreign visitors
Again the system gives foreign visitors the opportunity to study the online booking form and carefully read all the booking requirements slowly and in the comfort of their own home.
Not lose momentum in booking book now get the booking while customer interest is hot
It is essential to "close the deal" when an interested party is on the verge of booking the on line way is "no hassle" and the provider is not personally subjecting them to any "hard sell" The prospective guests feel they are in charge of their booking at all times during the process.
What made you choose Holiday Bookings Online as your online booking software provider?
I now really couldn't imagine running my business without the booking system.
It was recommended to me by another professional in the accommodation business with years of experience in the field.
It has all the essential features I required such as a live availability calendar, live price display and a search facility.
I will be honest and say it took a day or two to get used to the system but its worth the investment financially and time wise. To have finger tip control at all times is amazing.
It is value for money without a doubt though I struggled for years without a booking system I now really couldn't imagine running my business without the booking system.
Has the booking system helped your business?
It's helped enormously I can go out for the day, go out in the evening with a clear conscience and know that as Elvis would say it's "Taking Care of Business".
In what other ways has the booking system helped you?
It has helped manage bookings and make it quicker and easier to do so. Its made the whole operation run like clockwork
It has helped generate bookings
An online system gives a good feel of professionalism for the prospective visitor at all times. I have the optional customised page upgrade which ensures my booking pages match my website making the whole system look very professional and maintain my branding.
Managing Bookings Easier
It has helped manage bookings and make it quicker and easier to do so. Its made the whole operation run like clockwork.
Less Wasted Calls
My phone calls are down dramatically but the bookings have increased year on year.
Lets me work remotely
I have put the system on to my mobile. I prefer being in my office to deal with bookings but should the need arise I can access important information. I suspect it may well be useful this summer when I at the property on change over day and need to double check a bedding arrangement or other query I can pick up my phone and do it on line and instantly.
Marvellous Marketing Tool
As a marketing tool it is fantastic. I write to all my guests at Christmas and am able to send out an e mail with any offers too. Indeed should there ever by a Force Majeure and the business had to close i.e. fire damage, I could contact all my guests instantly.
Central regularly backed up storage of booking data
Its great to have such a concise file of bookings and prices charged over the years as form of reference and indeed to be able to resend information to guests who have booked. It also means if, heaven forbid, my computer should fail and lose all my data at least it's all safely backed up at Holiday Bookings Online.
Manage Booking Information More Easily
Searching for bookings and customers can be done quickly including both current and past bookings and customers.
The secure booking admin area lets me see at a glance information and notes on bookings and customers. Very handy to make side notes such as anniversaries etc, so I can remember to pop a card in to the welcome hamper etc.
How would you describe the support you've received from Holiday Bookings Online?
The online support is second to none
First class. Fantastic immediate support from HBO no matter how big or small the query. Invariably an e mail to the support system is responded to within an hour or two or less. And very friendly too.