Winning Websites - websites strategically created to
captivate, create demand, and outperform the competition

The Challenge

Churchill Manor's previous design had functioned primarily as an online brochure instead of a vivid, marketing piece encapsulating the passions of these very seasoned innkeepers as well as the exquisite beauty of the Mansion. Napa, California is also a very competitive area for bed and breakfast inns and their previous site did not compete effectively in the current 'high tech' landscape. The planning stages of this design literally began over a year ago as ideas began to formulate for their 'dream' website. One thing we knew we had to expand upon and market heavily was Joanna's expertise as a very knowledgeable wedding coordinator. Not many innkeepers have shaped their talents in this way, but Joanna has thrived in perfecting the wedding services she offers. Her previous site also did not adequately express the detailed execution Joanna brings to every wedding she hosts. To remedy this, we set out to develop a site that would sell Churchill Manor as the ultimate wine country escape as well as the perfect wedding destination. Essentially, our expertise as designers married with their expertise as innkeepers and wedding coordinators worked together to produce this show stopping piece!

The Answer

The day finally came! I had wondered, at times, if we would ever arrive at Launch Day. But…yes…we are here! And, the site is truly a reflection of Brian and Joanna's passion for the Napa area, the weddings they host and the guests they work so hard for every day. As you peruse the site, you'll notice many special touches throughout: the signs next to each room are actually hand painted on the doors of the guest rooms, Brian and Joanna's story on how they became innkeepers is included as a fascinating look at the story behind this beautiful mansion, and absolutely every piece of information a bride and groom could ever need is included in their expanded and comprehensive wedding pages! You can also catch a glimpse of all the Napa wineries divided by region in the Plan Your Stay page. Many years ago, before they had hit their stride, a photographer came by and snapped a picture of Joanna and Brian and their young son. Little did they know that this photo would grace the cover of Frommers! But it did…and their phone never stopped ringing. Our hopes for this beautiful mansion and these dedicated innkeepers is that their new site, fully representational of Churchill Manor, will achieve even better results!

Now, Joanna, wouldn't you say it was all worth it????

The Challenge

The foundation of an excellent website design requires both a talented team and someone who really listens to the client - I mean…really gets it. And you can’t ‘get it’ unless you understand what makes the client tick, what excites them and what draws the passion out of them. The greatest challenge in this design process was that Old Thyme Inn needed the ‘passion’ of their innkeeping talents to be reflected in a site that truly represented their property and their artistry. Kathy is a plein air artist and Rick is a voice talent. Together, their artistic energy serves as the foundation for a wonderful guest experience at Old Thyme Inn. Yet, from years of just ‘getting by’ with an old site, their inn’s beauty and true personality did not come forth. Well…we at White Stone Marketing wanted to change all that! And…change we did…

The Answer

We took Kathy’s beautiful paintings and put them throughout the site, in the background, in the way the flash morphs from a painting into an actual photo, and you’ll even see them in the photos that grace the room pages. Furthermore, you’ll note the artist theme of the entire site in the paintbrush navigation and subtle design elements to enhance Kathy’s love of painting. Rick’s voice talent can also be heard in his exceptional narration on planning the perfect day in Half Moon Bay. Listen to it before you go…you’ll be glad you did! One thing we have discovered at White Stone and for which we always strive for is when people can combine their passion with what they do for a living, there is no limit to the success that can be achieved. And….that is just what we are banking on will happen for Old Thyme Inn!

Don’t ever stop painting, Kathy – you are amazing!

The Challenge

Rae and Cindy have been clients of White Stone Marketing for many years now. And, as Rae can attest to, we have begged them for years to get a new site! And, yes, we finally got the green light! The first order of business was to get Jumping Rocks photography out there to do a complete overhaul on their photo collection. Squam Lake inn is so much more than just rooms! They have a wonderful café and the Red Barn Shop with unique and whimsical gift offerings for any occasion. I knew we would need a well rounded photo shoot to encompass all the elements that make up the spectacular property of Squam Lake Inn. When I first saw the photos, I had to restrain myself from coming out of my chair!! I had been promoting this amazing inn for years without realizing its true beauty! Of course, I always give my clients 150% but I simply hadn’t known what I was really promoting! Now, I was more excited than ever to accurately portray the marketing message through a new, compelling design.

The Answer

Rae and Cindy wanted a site that was both fun and simple and they gave us a lot of creative license! Mark and Matthew of Jumping Rocks decided to take the postcard theme prevalent at the inn and develop their photography around this which we then incorporated throughout the site. You’ll notice the stamp and postcard motif cleverly crafted throughout to reflect both the traditional and the modern. You’ll also find little gems in this site – like the story of the movie, “On Golden Pond” and how it was Squam Lake that inspired the movie. However, the real joy in this project came in finally being able to design a site that truly represents Squam Lake Inn and its fantastic owners – Rae and Cindy.

Rae…We did it? Can you believe it? How long did we talk about this…?? Wow! The day finally came!!

The Challenge

The old site didn't take advantage of the lodge's two main selling points – The views and the complete North Woods Experience in her remote location in Greenville, Maine. Because of her location, she needed her inn to become the destination and as such had to appeal to the adventurous traveler by creating compelling itineraries and visually stunning graphics. Jumping Rocks Photography took both still and video-like sequence shots to communicate the total experience of being on the lake, or next to the fire, and on the sea plane. Our talented design team put these still shots in motion and created a site that has folks literally sitting on it for up to 10 minutes simply watching the sequence!

The Answer

We created a very content rich site that not only sold the experience but has folks excited about going there! The client knew she wanted a marriage of video and stills but didn't anticipate the final result!

So...Linda…keep telling Dennis to make those sandwiches while you ring up the sales!!

The Challenge

After 3 websites in 10 years, Thomas Porter of Vintage Villas felt that the property had never been adequately represented online. The owner knew that the personality, warmth and experience of the property were not accurately communicated. Larger, more expensive design companies offered the fundamentals of an acceptable site, but the designs lacked personality and had a “cookie cutter” look. A lack of regional exclusivity meant they were working for his direct competition, serving only themselves and not the individual businesses. The entire process with other firms left him frustrated and drained.

The Answer

White Stone Marketing created a market-savvy website showcasing the property's charming personality. Traditional components were merged with creative elements to deliver a user-friendly website that is bold, beautiful, and emotionally provocative - with a solid “it” factor!

And…guess what –Vintage Villas completely paid for the site in just one day of selling gift certificates for future stays!

The Challenge

Janis and Ann, owners of King's Cottage, had, like many innkeepers, lived with a worn out, tired website that REALLY undersold their property. The inn is stunning but the previous website did nothing to showcase the elegant and comfortable component of King's Cottage. Thus, our challenge was to bring this site into the 21st century and make it something that caused people to book! Once folks came to King's Cottage, they would return time after time. It was simply a matter of hooking the newcomers.

The Answer

We went all out on this site creating fun and visually appealing animation throughout the design. We also wanted to make sure that Ann's wonderful massage services were properly showcased - she alone is worth the price of the trip!! In fact, the greatest compliment is turning a skeptical client into a believer. As Janis wrote, "We LOVE IT! Thank you very much. We got a real kick out of the use of the milking barn and the cow pictures on the plan your stay page. We are glad our pictures were good enough to use!"

So, we captured the essence of the inn and created a buzz with their new customers and fellow innkeepers! - We like creating buzzes!

The Challenge

The distinctions of Chambered Nautilus were (completely) hidden in an out of date website that did little to convey the inn's personality and advantages. Analysis confirmed an under-performing web presence left it flat in Seattle's competitive bed and breakfast market. It was essential the inn better communicate the properties' upscale offerings with a website that that was both beautiful and findable.

The Answer

A new website and market strategy including:
-easy to navigate, SEO-rich content
-stunning professional photography to tell the story of the stay
-user-friendly availability calendar and reservation system that make it easy for guests to book online and purchase gift certificates
-a "Plan Your Stay' page showing highlights of the city (to encourage longer visits)
-a thorough marketing overhaul, complete with pay per click, to strengthen online presence

"With the new website, occupancy increased 13% in Dec 2009, 5% in Jan 2010 - our two slowest months of the year and a down economy. Advance deposits are up 60% over last year and - almost unheard of - we are full this upcoming non-holiday weekend in January. Trust me, there is no shortage of Bed and Breakfast rooms open in Seattle - I am even thinking of raising rates a bit over current levels!

And, Joyce, I won't even tell them how much more money you made this year over last - it might make your competitors a wee bit angry!

The Challenge

Creating a whole new image for the Inn at Thornhill in Jackson, NH wasn't too much of a challenge. Their old site did nothing to showcase the amazing and luxurious property. In fact, just days before we started working on their site, I watched a news program which showed they were voted the 2nd best resort in America!! Wow! So..we were given the opportunity to showcase a site that would be worthy of the 2nd best resort as rated by Conde Naste. Working with Jim, Ibby and Steven was a joy! They gave us creative license and we created a site that was worthy of their distinction!

The Answer

White Stone created a stunning site - a thing of beauty to be sure! Occupancy and revenue increased and their noteworthy, long list of accolades were fully backed by a functional and productive revenue producing site. Also, they said the following: “We have been getting a lot of GREAT comments on the site, and, that we are so IMPRESSED”, note the capital letters!

Yes..Steven...we did note the capital letters! Thank you!

The Challenge

As new innkeepers who bought a beautiful property but inherited a terrible website, Stephen and Cynthia Malkowski needed some divine intervention! Securing both Jumping Rocks Photography, White Stone and a nationally acclaimed photographer for National Geographic, they were able to realize their dream! Arch Cape Inn is a stunning castle in Arch Cape, Oregon near Cannon Beach, Oregon. To see it is to fall in love with it! However, no one was in love with the site. And ... Stephen and Cynthia had big dreams - really big dreams - they saw an inn that could be an eco-retreat to harbor the weary, green traveler and provide eco-friendly adventures and seminars as part of their mission statement.

The Answer

This is the fun part! We succeeded! In a huge way! Today, Cynthia and Steven are at the helm of a thriving inn with a website that has been the envy of many! In fact, they've been told that some people simply go to their website when they are feeling depressed and need an injection of beauty! I love that! But ...besides the beauty -it's been a huge money maker and has helped them... the realize profits larger than they ever anticipated in a down economy.

They said they were moved by this experience. We are moved that they are raking in the profits!

The Challenge

We are proud to report that Westwynd Farm Inn not only won business of the year but they also won second place for Website of The Year!! And, we started with a website that wasn't really that bad. So, even though they were fine with their current site, they decided to take the plunge and have been rewarded hugely both financially and in their occupancy. Please take a moment to read their business of the year application attached here!

Please Click Here to read more.

The Answer

Their year is off to a fabulous start. At this point last year, she had booked $77,821.10. As of this morning, they booked $170,611.90. I think the story for Westwynd Farm is not just the new web site design but also White Stone Marketing's ongoing support which just keeps their business growing and growing.

Yours is really a huge success story, Carolyn!

The Challenge

Joan and Brian of the Blacksmith Inn had just finished a round of beautiful new Jumping Rocks Photography and realized that they were truly underselling themselves. With the encouragement of the new photos, they undertook a new web design. Because the process had been painful in the past, they were reluctant to embark on this new challenge. However, they hadn't met the White Stone team and the methodical approach we take to web design.

The Answer

Success! We launched an innovative and creative design that accurately showcased the beauty of the Blacksmith Inn. No longer were they underselling their property but accurately representing who they are and their marketing message!

So, Joan, I guess you never hear: "Your Inn is so much nicer than we expected" anymore, huh???

The Challenge

Since we had actually designed the site BEFORE this one, we were updating...more or less! But Cheryl and Mike's mothers had become famous in the interim (They are the world renowned Pie Mom's you know) and since Bobby Flay had specifically come to Berry Manor to FILM them, we figured it was time for a redo! We had our work cut out for us! Fortunately, Jumping Rocks saved the day with their exquisite photography and we were able to really bring to life the opulent beauty that is Berry Manor Inn. The challenge was further complicated by the fact that they have soooo many events and packages! In fact, they are seriously the only inn I know that celebrates Ground Hog's Day! And to the hilt I might add!

The Answer

But, we did it. We were able to provide a clear and succinct list of activities, dates, weather info, so that everyone could book early and celebrate Ground Hog's Day with Cheryl and the Pie Mom's! In fact, we've even got the Bobby Flay video right there for you to take a look at. I hear that fame has gone to their heads! Oh well...they will just have to get used to it with a site like that.

Cheryl, tell the pie moms I'm coming soon!

The Challenge

This was another situation where the innkeeper came to us with a site that wasn't really that bad. They knew and we knew that the site could be a whole lot better! Judy is one of those rare gems in the innkeeping world who just "gets it"! She hired Mark and Matthew and they captured the true essence of a country inn in the heart of New England. Her inn simply overflows with gracious hospitality and a sense of peace. I've been there - so I know. Thus, our challenge was to make her website deliver all the nuances of complete relaxation, knowing the guests’ every need was attended to.

The Answer

And, did we succeed? Why don't you read what Judy had to say, "White Stone has become like a third business partner in the 2 years that we have been working together. The design process for the new web site was definitely a collaboration that resulted in a beautiful site that increased our business as soon as it went live. We saw an increase of 10% in sales in the first 6 months that the site was up! The site captures the essence of the Inn, without over selling it, and we get many comments from our guests on how easy it is to use.
Everyone at White Stone has been a pleasure to work with, and the depth of knowledge of web site marketing at the company has been invaluable to me. Their attention to the details of our presence on the internet has freed me up to focus on our guests, who are my first priority!"

Thanks Judy! You are one of those innkeepers who makes my job enjoyable!

The Challenge

Laura and Courtney are a dynamic sister team who each own beautiful inns in the heart of Washington DC - Embassy Circle Guest House and Woodley Park Guest House. When they first came to White Stone, they had two websites with only a few photos and very little in the way of marketing. The first step we had to take was to combine the sites under one umbrella - www.dcinns.com and then to build out a site that would add distinction and individuality to each inn without underselling or overselling either one. We worked tirelessly with Laura and Courtney to achieve a site that appealed to both the large international travel base they have procured as well as the many domestic travelers who come to DC on business and leisure travel.

The Answer

After many months, the dream became a reality. In fact, the innkeepers were giddy with delight - Laura commented, "This has to be it because we are completely giddy. We are going out for champagne soon!" Needless to say, we were all delighted and relieved that the site was launched with huge success. To this day, their business continues to grow exponentially as they realize the profitability of having a site that clearly states their marketing message and mission.

Embassy Circle Guest House continues its #1 streak on Trip Advisor! Way to Go Laura!

The Challenge

One of biggest challenges right out of the gate on the Lake Pointe Inn design was simply understanding the "Arts and Crafts" Movement! Once we were finally able to wrap our brains around this obscure movement, we were able to deliver a product that really exemplified the era! Again, the superior work of the Jumping Rocks crew helped polish the product!

The Answer

They have certainly gotten some good press since the site went live! In fact, you can see a photo shot at their inn on a recent cover of the Washingtonian! The new design propelled their inn to new heights and has allowed them to really sell the experience!

The Challenge

Before Frank and Ralph ever signed on as White Stone clients, I can still recall a session where Scott was critiquing websites. We came upon Frank's old site and Scott asked him if he wanted to `hear it straight?" Frank's reply."It a website, not my kid - go for it!" And, we did. We ended up designing a whole new image for White Gate Inn & Cottages. Our challenge in this new design was to create a site that would rise head and shoulders above the crowd. You see ...Asheville, NC has a bed and breakfast on practically every corner! We also wanted to blend their passion for growing orchids into the design. After all, isn’t incorporating your passions a key part to any marketing message?

The Answer

Yes! We did it! In fact, they called us not long after the site went live and said they couldn't find sheets! Their rooms were being turned over more often than a..well..I can't say! But, you know what I mean. White Gate Inn and Cottages was thriving - they even expanded and added their amazing cottages (which are pet friendly I might add!!)

3) Frank and Ralph are now social media crazy – just check them out on Facebook!

The Challenge

Actually, Delaware Inn had nowhere to go but up when they came to us for a new site design! As I recall, there was a picture of a bike leaning up against the house as their main photo. So.with a little of Jumping Rocks magic, we were able to build a site that characterized the essence of Sharon and the style she brings to her beautiful inn in Rehoboth Beach, De. Her inn is about lifestyle and choosing to live out her dreams as an innkeeper while still doing the things she loves - like teaching yoga and walking on the beach! So.with the overlay flash of the pineapple (the symbol of hospitality), we set out to create a unique selling piece.

The Answer

She is so successful now - I have a hard time getting a hold of her! The site has expanded her business and drawn exactly the type of clientele that allows her to live out her marketing message and lifestyle. This site was transformative - not only professionally but also personally for Delaware Inn.

So...Sharon...when can I give you a call?

The Challenge

Rising to the challenge of creating a site that would fit both their distinction as a luxury boutique hotel as well as a bed and breakfast was just the kind of project perfect for the White Stone team. Saratoga Arms caters to both business groups and the leisure travel. We had to find the right balance between leisure and business travel in creating a work of art that appealed to their discriminating guest.

The Answer

The White Stone Team hit a home run! Their site went live in October of 2007 and it paid for itself with online bookings within 2 months! In fact, in talking to them shortly after, I think I recall them say they were spending money like drunken sailors! I'd say we did our job!

Amy..you know who to call when you want to go shopping!!

The Challenge

We were delighted when Don and Javier chose to have White Stone Marketing redesign their site! In fact, their current site was HUGE and paring that down to a manageable and bookable website was the greatest challenge we had in marketing them. Furthermore, they owned several properties and we needed to create a consistent brand for both their bed and breakfast as well as their vacation rental.

The Answer

With the implementation of stunning photography and professionally shot video, Harbour Cottage Inn and Pier One have enjoyed tremendous success since the sites went live. In fact, they enjoy a break from the bitter winters of Maine by getting away to sunny Mexico!

Drink a margarita for me guys!!

The Challenge

Our challenge here was also in bringing several properties under one domain and to accurately represent the brand. By creating a distinct image that reflected both the charm and sophistication of each Noble Inns property, we were able to bring out each one's best attributes. We sought to make sure that the right guest found the property that best suited their individual needs.

The Answer

We rose to the challenge! The Noble Inn properties began to see the type of guest that was looking for exactly what the Oge House, the Jackson House and the Carriage House had to offer. Our design achieved maximum results by increasing both occupancy and revenue for these beautiful San Antonio, Texas Inns!

I've got to make it to the river walk one of these days, Don!

The Challenge

Ellen is also one of those innkeepers who we were delighted to have as a client of White Stone Marketing! Her website was in desperate need of an overhaul and it didn't communicate the unique property she had turned Birchwood Inn of the Berkshires into! Because Ellen has a hearing ear dog, Quinn, we also wanted to incorporate her presence into every facet of the design. The pet friendly component was a huge selling point and Quinn and Piper were the perfect mascots to fly the banner of that marketing message. The new design, coupled with the brilliant Jumping Rocks Photography, performed better than any of us had dreamed it would!

The Answer

Everything was dramatic – from the greatly increased search engine placement to the new stream of guests bringing their favorite pooch with them, the website achieved all our marketing objectives.

Tell Quinn I'm still one her greatest fans!