The Coach House Skipton
How a Skipton institution finally went online — cutting out third-party fees and taking direct bookings for the first time.
Hotel & Accommodation
Skipton, North Yorkshire
WordPress + PMS Integration
A Skipton Institution Goes Online
The Coach House has been a fixture in Skipton for decades. Guests love it. Reviews are excellent. But until recently, they had no website at all. Every booking came through Booking.com, Expedia, or similar platforms — each one taking a cut of the profit.
It was time to change that.
The Problem
Operating without a website in 2024 creates serious business problems:
Third-Party Fees
Every booking through Booking.com or similar platforms meant giving away 15-20% of the room rate.
No Direct Channel
Guests who wanted to book direct had no way to do so online. Phone only — not ideal for modern travellers.
Missing Information
No central place for room details, amenities, or local attractions. Guests had to piece together information.
Lost Opportunity
An established business with a great reputation, invisible on Google for direct searches.
What I Built
The goal was simple: create a professional website that integrates with their existing property management system and drives direct bookings.
Direct Booking Integration
The most important feature — seamless booking without third-party fees:
- PMS integration — bookings sync directly with their property management system
- Real-time availability — guests see what’s actually available
- Secure payment — handled through trusted payment gateways
- Instant confirmation — no waiting, no manual processing
Professional Presentation
The Coach House has years of reputation. The website needed to reflect that:
- Clean, professional design — matching their existing branding
- Room showcases — each room presented with photos and amenities
- Mobile-optimised — guests researching on phones get the full experience
- Fast loading — no one waits for a hotel site
Easy Management
Hotel staff needed to make quick updates without calling a developer:
- Simple content updates — change text and images easily
- Room availability — managed through the PMS, reflected on site
- No technical skills needed — training provided for the team
The Results
Direct Bookings Weekly
Guests now book through the website, keeping more profit per room in the business.
Reduced Third-Party Dependence
Still listed on booking platforms, but now with a direct alternative that costs nothing per booking.
Professional Online Presence
An established institution now has an online presence that matches its reputation.
Staff Confidence
The team can make updates themselves. No more waiting for external help.
The site launched and immediately started generating direct bookings. As spring arrived, bookings increased — exactly when they needed them most.
Ongoing Support
The Coach House opted for one of my support plans, which includes:
- Hosting and security — fast, secure, always online
- Regular updates — WordPress and plugins kept current
- Email migration — moved their email to the same server
- Priority support — help when they need it
For a hospitality business, uptime matters. They don’t have to worry about the technical side.
How I can help
Your site isn't bringing anything in
You've got a website. Maybe it even looks decent. But the enquiries aren't coming and you're not sure why. I find what's holding it back and fix it.
You're paying too much for your current platform
Proprietary website builders and closed CMS platforms can cost hundreds, sometimes thousands, a year for no good reason. I move businesses onto WordPress and cut the ongoing cost right down.
Your developer disappeared, or stopped caring
It happens more than it should. If you've been left with a half-finished site, no access to your own files, or a developer who's stopped returning calls. I can take it over and sort it out.
You're starting from scratch
New business, new direction, or starting for the first time. I'll build something that brings the work in from day one.
Let's build something that works for your business.
Start with a free 30-minute call. No hard sell — just an honest conversation about your website.