Technology : Website development
The open-source content management systems used by hotel companies predominantly use
PHP coding .
Which cMS iS the beSt ?
While the big brands have the budget for very complex , constantly updated custom-built websites , regional players and independents are increasingly adopting feature-rich website content management systems ( CMS ) for their websites with help from outside agencies . The days when a property had to engage expensive programmers to make changes to custom-built websites are in the past .
Content management systems allow a non-technical user to log in to a website ’ s administration area and make changes to copy , pictures and other features , enabling hotel companies to easily update their website content .
“ Content management systems like WordPress have provided a sense of liberation to my clients ,” says Reed Heil , senior project manager at GCommerce Solutions , Park City , Utah . “ Hotels are in a hyper-competitive environment , and they rely on their websites for a good portion of their business . They need the ability to quickly make changes to their site without having to engage their agency .”
However , simply using a content management system does not eliminate the need for creative and strategic updates to a website . “ Sometimes what gets lost is that the CMS is a tool ,” says Adam Cagle , managing director and partner at Agency 689 , Mercer Island , Washington . “ It ’ s not enough to have something so templated
58 HOTELS July / August 2014 www . hotelsmag . com