The new websites represent a big leap forward for hospitality technology in Africa, which will not only make it easier for travellers to research destinations thoroughly, book and share their experiences on such forums as TripAdvisor, but also be an additional interactive sales tool for those in the travel trade, said Protea Hospitality Group's sales, marketing and revenue director, Danny Bryer.
He said that the Prokard Rewards Programme portal on the new website has been streamlined and simplified as well, making it easier for members to see, at a glance, how many Prokard Rands they have accrued and how they can redeem them on future accommodation and other hotel services.
The new websites have a fresh-and-slick feel whilst offering functionality to ensure the user experience is efficient and seamless, said Protea Hospitality Group's head of online distribution, Clinton Arnot, who has managed the project from inception to launch.
Whereas the previous websites were largely dominated by written hotel information and static image galleries, the new sites work on a totally different premise and start with the question: Where would you like to go?
"We used focus groups and feedback from guests, as well during the creative process for the new website, because the online space has to reflect elements they consider to be key attributes.
"Consumer behaviour is different nowadays, in that most people complete much of their travel cycle online, which means hospitality companies need to be in that space as well."
The new generation travel cycle, said Arnot, follows a predictable path:
Said Arnot: "If potential guests are doing everything online except the actual travel, then your brand's digital real estate needs to be exciting, enticing and presented in such a way that it's easy to navigate, simple and secure to book, very visual and sells destinations as well as hotels. The way the websites are now structured include links about 'discovering our top cities, top destinations, top hotels and top activities'.
"What we are ultimately trying to do with these websites is to be a conduit to all forms of travel that culminates in the experience and the sharing of that experience.
"Social media has been integrated to allow potential travellers to read reviews about any hotel they're currently researching and even links to write reviews for TripAdvisor."
Danny Bryer described the websites as a new doorway to the best of Africa. "We've invested for the future by creating digital real estate that will not only showcase the largest and leading hotel group in Africa, but also create a tourism platform for our inspiring-and-vibrant continent to encourage travel in any way, shape or form to our shores.
"We are as much about strengthening Brand Africa and Brand South Africa as we are about showcasing our own superlative portfolio of hotels and the 10 very different, but equally beautiful, countries in which our brands are thriving.
"I'm immensely proud of these new gateways to Africa. They clearly demonstrate that we can and do compete on the world tourism stage and that, in terms of the quality of the new websites, the hotels they showcase and countries that inspire them, Africa deserves its place in the limelight."
To view the new websites, go to www.proteahotels.com and www.africanpridehotels.com.
