ResortsandLodges.com has received
a WebAward for excellence in Web site design and development from the Web
Marketing Association The company was chosen from among 2,400
entries from more than 40 countries during the WMA’s annual WebAward
competition.
  The company’s redesigned site was awarded the “Standard of Excellence”
in the competition’s Hotel/Lodging/Travel category. The redesign, launched
in late 2006, showcases the diverse features and benefits of approximately
10,000 resort and lodge properties worldwide. Focusing on an enhanced user
experience and including the development of completely new front- and
back-end functionality, the site update maximizes conversions and provides
sophisticated tracking for the company’s leisure advertising clientele.
  “We are extremely proud to have our design and development work
recognized internationally,” said Ryan Bailey, Vice President of
ResortsandLodges.com. “Our goal was to establish ResortsandLodges.com as a
premiere vacation portal, built on best practices for conversion. We felt
the best way to do that was by taking the traveler through a branded
‘journey’ presented through rich media, to enhance and even transform their
affinity with our advertisers.”
  The new design features an interactive map which allows online
customers to quickly and easily explore vacation destinations and lodging.
In addition, it highlights each resort or lodge property through a mix of
unique content developed through individual client interviews, colorful
photography, and interactive video. A convenient search tool allows
visitors to filter properties by resort type, accommodation type, activity
type, amenity type and price range.
  In addition to an enhanced traveler experience, the Web site redesign
also included the development of sophisticated tracking for the company’s
resort and lodge advertising clientele. Advertisers can now view
performance statistics for click-through rates; page impressions, email
inquiries and phone activity. The phone calls appear as visual data and are
recorded as voice data, making it simple for a client to assess the
frequency of conversions over the phone. Much of this development has never
been implemented on any other travel-related Web site.
  “More than ever before, ResortsandLodges.com allows advertisers to
truly track the performance of their campaigns,” said Bailey. “Through
sophisticated data analytics, they can continually optimize their campaigns
and manage the creative approach for extraordinary results.”
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