Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve achieves conversion rate of 12.94% - find out how they did it

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve a unique luxurious british hotel and safari. The underdeveloped booking engine made the number of direct bookings go down significantly. Find out how the hotel managed to minimize the use of OTA's!

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve combines indulgence with adventure by offering guests the opportunity to stay in the heart of a 600-acre nature reserve. Home to beautifully landscaped gardens, over 700 rare and endangered animals, and a range of luxury accommodation including a historic 4 star hotel, this picturesque reserve nestled in the Kent countryside is the perfect place to enjoy a short stay with a difference.

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is part of the Aspinall Foundation – an internationally renowned charity that is dedicated to preserving rare and endangered species and their natural habitats. All profits from their award-winning short breaks go back into the charity’s conservation work, meaning that guests can take part in an unforgettable safari experience while helping an amazing cause.

The elephant in the room

Port Lympne approached Journey, a master reseller of the Profitroom Booking Engine, back in November 2017 for our expertise on generating more direct bookings through their website.

Port Lympne had concerns about their current booking engine and felt it didn’t properly showcase their unique range of accommodation. They also felt that user experience was poor; the booking engine was difficult to navigate and they were seeing a dropout rate higher than the UK average. As a result, their direct bookings were rapidly decreasing.

The lion’s share of bookings

Showcasing Port Lympne’s large range of accommodation options, from Forest Hideaways and hotel suites to glamping huts and Tiger Lodges, and being able to compare them easily during the buying process, was key.

With its flexible, user-friendly interface and conversion-led design, the Proftroom Booking Engine ticked all the boxes for the team at Port Lympne, and after go-live, they immediately started to see some incredible results.

Four months in, Port Lympne’s dropout rate is now way below average and their conversion rate has hit 13%. They’ve also seen a dramatic decrease in their OTA reliance which is now just 4%, saving them thousands in commission. With the majority of bookings now being made directly through their website, it won’t be long until Port Lympne say goodbye to OTAs altogether!

“We love the user experience this booking engine gives our guests and since moving to Profitroom we have seen a large increase in online bookings via our website. The support we receive is fantastic, from setting up new offers and room types to quick calls around best practice. I would 100% recommend Profitroom”. Jessica Riggs, Revenue Manager, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve