Free Trial with iknow-Uk
Online marketing company iknow-uk.com is offering accommodation providers a free trial to promote their business on their award winning website.
The one month free trial will allow accommodation owners from around the UK to upload pictures, information, availability, rates and links to their accommodation profile page so visitors to iknow-uk are fully informed of what is available when they plan their trip or holiday.
Property owners will have full control of the content featured on iknow-uk’s website and can change, amend or add information at their own leisure.
The company is renowned for its success in helping accommodation owners obtain the best search results and as a result, more customers coming through the door.
A well-known and trusted site with both accommodation owners and holiday makers, the site features thousands of properties across the UK, ranging from bed and breakfasts and guests houses to self catering cottages and hotels.
In 2008, the company helped over 2,000 hospitality customers beat the credit crunch by keeping them ahead of their competition. The site in 2008 alone received seven million visitors by the end of October, bringing them two million up from 2007.
The company has seen over 90 per cent of their clients renew their contracts each month due to the success they have seen since registering with the site.
So how does it all work?
iknow-uk is the UK’s fastest growing accommodation listing website, which allows anyone who owns their property within the UK to advertise their accommodation on the website.
The site offers property owners the platform to advertise their website and property details to people wishing to stay across a range of towns, cities and villages in the UK.
The consultancy aims to provide an advertising tool for clients to feature their properties on the website to enhance business and attract potential visitors to their property.
Features of the site include a comprehensive control panel that allows clients to edit and refine all aspects of their online advertising. Clients may add photos and captions to their profile page to obtain the best results when advertising their properties.
Guidance is situated throughout the site provided by iknow-uk, to ensure clients get maximum potential from the website.
A key feature to the online consultancy site is the ability to show potential visitors direct access online to when the client’s property is available. The page has been set up to display a calendar, which summarises the availability of the property and not individual rooms.
The iknow-uk website also features a last minute category whereby clients who opt to use the calendar feature, will see their properties placed in the last minute directory for guests wishing to find a quick getaway or last minute deal.
Links can also be made direct to the clients’ website through iknow-uk.com.
Marcus Simmons, Managing Director at iknow-uk Ltd, said, "The Internet is changing the way people find and book accommodation. Hotel, B&B and other accommodation owners have to learn quickly how to benefit from the effectiveness of Internet advertising.
“Most importantly we deliver results! This is demonstrated by over 90 per cent of our customers renewing each year because of the exceptional results they achieve over their 12 month subscription."
The website is split into 10 different sub websites each representing different areas of the UK.
For example, if you have accommodation to rent in York, you can register your York hotels or other types of accommodation online at iknow-yorkshire.co.uk and complete a profile all about the property, its location and attractions nearby.
The advantage of having the sub websites is so visitors looking for a holiday can easily find the information they are looking for without any fuss or confusion. For example, a person looking for Harrogate hotels does not require or need information about accommodation in the South of England and having the separate sites enables people to happily search for exactly what they are looking for without any hassle.
A great feature of the iknow-uk website is the extensive information about tourist attractions and places to visit within each region.
For example if you own accommodation within the Yorkshire region whether it be York hotels or Harrogate hotels, you can inform your prospective guests about the location of your accommodation and transport links to and from it. This is a key advertising tool for online marketing as you are able to sell your property based on its whereabouts in the city or town. For example if you have accommodation near York’s race course it would be to your advantage to post information about its whereabouts on the website.
A great advantage to having your own profile on iknow-uk is that you can tell people the exact requirements of staying at your accommodation so there are no surprises upon arrival.
The teams at each of the sub websites have come up with a wide list of categories for you to place yourself in, so people looking for accommodation can narrow their search to find what is right for them.
For example if you have lots of hotels and each of them caters for stag and hen parties, you can situate your property into this category on the website lists.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
The iknow-yorkshire.co.uk website is part of a larger online consultancy company called iknow-uk.com.
The firm specialise in rental accommodation, providing a platform for people to advertise their properties to rent across the UK.
The companies main internet advertising websites are iknow-yorkshire.co.uk, iknow-northwest.co.uk, iknow-lakedistrict.co.uk, iknow-devon.co.uk, iknow-cornwall.co.uk and iknow-wales.co.uk.
The online marketing site is keen to expand their sites, adding iknow-scotland.co.uk, iknow-somerset.co.uk, iknow-dorset.co.uk and iknow-kent.co.uk to their site in the last 12 months.
Clough Bottom Cottages Scoops Top Tourism Award
Clough Bottom Farm Cottages have won the ‘Self Catering Award’ at the prestigious Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board’s Tourism Awards 2009/10.
The three luxury holiday cottages, which were up for two awards at the ceremony, were presented with their trophy by Radio 2 DJ and fellow Northerner Stuart Maconie.
A celebration of innovation and creativity in the North West Tourism Industry - over 300 people attended the awards ceremony, held at Ribby Hall Village. This, the sixth annual ceremony saw a remarkably high level of entries which were narrowed down to four shortlist entries per category.
Commenting on the ceremony and finalists Mike Wilkinson, Chief Executive of Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board, said on the day of the event,
“Today was a day for celebrating great achievement in what we can’t deny have been challenging times. Those working in tourism have retained their nerve and called upon all their creativity and resources to sustain and, in some cases, even increase business and visitor numbers.
“In this year of the ‘staycation’ all our finalists and winners have shown tremendous strength of character and proved that with ingenuity, well-trained staff and great customer service that we can still achieve our shared goal, of making Lancashire and Blackpool a premier destination for domestic as well as overseas visitors.”
Upon arrival at luxury self catering cottages, guests are welcomed with a complimentary hamper filled with a selection of homemade and locally sourced produce, and can purchase a range of Food from the Farm seasonal ready meals, made with the farm’s own organic beef, fruit and vegetables.
The team at Clough Bottom is dedicated to enhancing their guests’ holiday experience and for 2009 have introduced a poly tunnel allowing guests to pick their own complimentary organic vegetables all year round. Herbs, salads and fruits are also available in the organic vegetable patch and orchard.
Narrowly missing out on the highly coveted Sustainable Tourism Award, Clough Bottom prides themselves on giving their guests a truly memorable holiday experience, and are totally committed to the environment and sustainable tourism.
While staying at the farm cottages, Clitheroe guests are encouraged to support local businesses and reduce car usage as part of the ‘Stay Local, Eat Local, Buy Local, See Local’ scheme. To support this, each of the cottages - Woodcutter’s Cottage, Saddle Barn and The Coach House feature welcome folders and ‘What’s On’ guides providing a wealth of local information including walks, places of interest and things to do in the area. Wildlife diaries are also included in each cottage for guests to record their sightings of birds and wildlife.
Clough Bottom will now go forward to represent the region along with accommodation providers from Liverpool, Manchester, Cumbria and Chester & Cheshire at England’s North West Tourism Awards due to take place later this year.
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the NWDA, said, “These awards recognise and reward the best of Lancashire’s tourism industry and I’d like to offer my congratulations to all of the winners.
“Lancashire consistently produces top quality entrants for the regional awards and I look forward to welcoming them to the England’s Northwest Awards later this year.”
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Notes to Editors
Situated in The Forest of Bowland – an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in rural Lancashire, Clough Bottom Farm is a 360 acre organic working farm that has successfully blended traditional diversification with a conservation-minded, more sustainable approach to life and business.
Owners Harry and Jane Backhouse ensure each of their varying ventures is underpinned by a strong environmental conscience.
From the rearing of their organic beef herd, thriving tree nursery business and award-winning holiday cottages, to the production of 10kg organic beef boxes and the provision of high-tech management training courses, everything they do is driven by a desire to safeguard the environment for future generations.
To book one of the four star holiday cottages at Clough Bottom, or to find out more about their trees and shrubs or organic beef, visit http://www.cloughbottom.co.uk or call 01254 826285.
Clough Bottom
Bashall Eaves
Near Clitheroe
Lancashire
BB7 3NA
Website: http://www.cloughbottom.co.uk
Summer fun in the Sea, Sand and Sun!
Make the most of simple holiday pleasures with Beach Retreats this summer. Pack the beach bag and step on the sand in minutes.
Beach Retreats offers chic, carefree self-catering beachside holidays on the north coast of Cornwall - a million miles from the nine to five. There’s instant R&R on the doorstep, whether it’s a paddle in the sea, a stroll along the Camel Estuary, the chance to perfect an impressive sandcastle or fly a kite on the beach.
Alternatively, for the more energetic, there’s a wealth of adrenalin-filled activities to choose from out at the nearby Extreme Academy including surfing, kitesurfing, waveskiing or kite buggying.
Nestled away in a secluded spot in Trevone, surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, are Lamorna and the Annexe at Larmona. With such a tranquil location, enclosed courtyard and private lane access everyone can enjoy an uninterrupted break from the daily grind.
These Beach Retreats contemporary properties are perfect for renting together with friends and family. Lamorna sleeps up to seven and the Annexe sleeps four. Enjoy relaxed alfresco dining in good company with the well equipped outside cooking facilities, while admiring the panoramic views over three bays.
Beach Retreats has a variety of other properties in idyllic locations, which can include those special extras - a swimming pool, fire pit or ‘surf showers’ - all conveniently close to fantastic local dining. From Watergate Bay’s Beach Hut or Fifteen Cornwall to Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, there’s no shortage of choice for eating out. And the holiday concierge service can help fill up the fridge before guests arrive so there’s no need to go shopping the minute they arrive.
Let this year be the year to rediscover life’s simple pleasures, Cornish style.
For further details on how to make the most of this offer please call Beach Retreats on 01637 861005 or visit www.beachretreats.co.uk
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Notes for editors
For further information and images, a copy of the new Beach Retreats brochure or to discuss a possible visit to a Beach Retreats property, contact Rosie Halloran (Wild Card Truro) on 01872 243560, or Laura Gray (Wild Card London) on 020 257 6470.
rosie.halloran@wildcard.co.uk
laura.gray@wildccard.co.uk