A hotel management plugin on WordPress helps me with all aspects of online reservations.
We live in an era of pet-friendly restaurants, doggy day care and fashion lines for the discerning pet. So when it comes to finding someone to look after your pets at holiday-time, it makes sense that pets get spoiled as much as their owners – if not more so.
The Tortoise Shell Cat Boutique Hotel is one such establishment, with private garden cottages filled with every amenity – think water fountains, private lawn and a choice of luxury furniture – with state-of-the-art webcam surveillance for owners to check in on their pets from afar.
For owner Theresa Nightingale, it was a lifelong dream in the making.
Giving back to those who give so much to us
As a passionate cat-owner, Theresa has always been the go-to cat sitter for friends and family over the years. With seven cats of her own, she knows a thing or two about introducing and integrating visitor cats to the resident pack, and keeping everyone happy. After mulling over the idea for a few years, she finally took the plunge to become a full-time business owner.
The first step: building the private cottages that would become the luxury lodgings for her future guests.
“The cat cottages allow me to extend the luxurious lifestyle that my own cats enjoy, while keeping guests safe, stress-free and comfortable. This is an appealing set-up for nervous cats, and cat owners who prefer the home-like feel of the cottages,” explains Theresa.
Each cottage is fully enclosed for security and privacy and features real lawn, furniture, bedding, toys and hiding places for nervous cats. They also have use of a concierge (Theresa) when they feel the need for company or a playmate. Webcams are hidden in strategic places that allow owners to see what their cats are up to from afar. The remote live feed runs 24/7.
“The goal is to provide peace of mind to owners who can enjoy their trip without worry,” explains Theresa.
Using technology to streamline operations
The second step for Theresa was to create a website that would form the foundation of her business.
Theresa found everything she needed for her booking site in a basic web hosting package from xneelo. Her content management system (CMS) of choice is WordPress. “A hotel management plugin on WordPress helps me with all aspects of online reservations and showcasing the cottages. It also serves as the blog where I post daily reports on each cat, their appetite and behaviour,” she says.
So far the transition to website business owner has been seamless. “I’ve only ever had to contact support once to restructure a domain name package. Everything else has been smooth due to excellent customer communication on xneelo’s part,” explains Theresa.
Leverage what’s available online
Theresa has learned a lot about running a business in a very short time. Her biggest learning? Using social media as a marketing tool.
“I did not realise the social media fodder that would be produced by the guest cats exploring and engaging with their cottages. Social media users love cat content so it makes for great marketing,” says Theresa.
Her biggest tip for entrepreneurs is to make use of the digital tools out there. “There is an invaluable wealth of online resources available to small business owners, and so much of it is free, she says.
I have trusted xneelo for many years and their support is unmatched.
