At Mihi Digital, the best websites begin with listening, and when the team behind The Sunray in Osmington approached us to create their new website, they weren’t simply launching a pub. They were reviving a Dorset landmark – one with nearly a century of stories and history behind it.

Located in the picturesque village of Osmington on the edge of the iconic Jurassic Coast, The Sunray has undergone a remarkable transformation, and they needed a new website to reflect this. The historic pub and its neighbouring luxury holiday cottages have been carefully restored, creating a unique destination where guests can eat, drink and stay in one of Dorset’s most beautiful coastal locations.

Our role was to design a website that would capture this vision and bring it to life digitally and rather than forcing a template or rigid structure, we worked closely with the client to understand:

• the story of the pub

• the positioning of the cottages

• the type of guests they wanted to attract

• how visitors should feel when they arrive on the website

The result is a site that feels calm, aspirational and welcoming, mirroring the experience guests will have when they visit in person.

You can explore the finished website here: sunrayosmington.com

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Working closely with the team at Thorndon Farm, we developed a clean and modern design that reflects their off-grid luxury glamping experience. From carefully chosen fonts and colour palettes through to layout and messaging, every detail was crafted to help tell their story and showcase the tranquil, high-quality experience they offer.

First-Time Booking System Integration
To make bookings easy for guests and stress-free for the owners, we integrated Booklet, their first-ever online booking system. This allows visitors to check availability and book directly via the website, while also syncing seamlessly with platforms like Airbnb. That means more visibility, fewer admin headaches, and more time to focus on what they do best – creating memorable stays.

A Nature-Filled Retreat with a Touch of Luxury
Thorndon Farm offers spacious safari tents with private bathrooms, wood-fired hot tubs, and uninterrupted views of the surrounding countryside. It’s the kind of place where you can truly switch off – whether you’re stargazing from the deck, cooking over the fire pit, or saying hello to the friendly resident alpacas.

Family-run, dog-friendly and designed with comfort in mind, it’s the perfect escape for couples, families, or anyone who just needs a proper break from the buzz.

Visit the site: thorndonfarm.co.uk

Experts in Tourism Website Design
At MiHi Digital, we’ve worked with more than 100 award-winning tourism businesses across the South West and beyond. From glamping sites to self-catering cottages and hotels, we understand how people browse, book, and buy. Whether you need a brand-new website, a better booking system, or a stronger presence in search – we can help.

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When we were approached by Visit Exmouth to build a brand-new website, we couldn’t resist! Having worked with many tourism sites like Visit Exmoor and Discover Dartmouth – the team knew they were in safe hands.

The site was built from scratch, with a focus on local events, things to do and accommodation for all, from large groups and families, to dog owners and sporting enthusiasts. We updated the branding and created a new logo too!

Users can upload their own events through our integrated editing software and are provided with up-to-date information on special offers direct from local restaurants, shopping and accommodation businesses – as and when they arise.

Your ideal morning in Exmouth might look like an Alfresco seafront breakfast, before meandering through the winding streets with a coffee in hand – later taking the dog for a run on the beach and beyond! Perhaps you’d rather get on the water with one of the many watersport activities to choose from – ever tried paddleboarding? At night – you’ll be spoilt for choice with local gigs, live shows, and comedy nights on tap.

The site is now live, so you can check it out and plan your next visit to Exmouth here.

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Join us for an exciting discussion on the current state and future of tourism in the region. This in-person event will be held at Strawberry Fields Lifton, Lifton, UK. We’ll explore the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities facing the South West tourism industry.

Wanting to understand current booking and traffic trends and where you stand against them? Which legislation is coming up and how that will affect your business? How the industry is likely to evolve over the next few years? How about fire regulations, compulsory registration, and those things you’ve been wondering about but not had a chance to ask?

We’ve brought together a range of experts to answer your questions and outline where they see our region’s tourism industry going over the next few years; the challenges we are facing as well as the opportunities for your business to take advantage of.

Event Speakers / Q&A Panel:

Malcolm Bell MBE – Visit Cornwall

Sally Everton – Visit Devon

Alistair Handyside MBE – Professional Association of Self Catering (PASC)

Mark Worden – MiHi Digital

Event topics and questions

We will be covering all the major aspects of tourism within the region and there will be opportunities to ask questions in advance of the day, as well as at the event itself.

Who is the event for?

This event is suitable for all tourism businesses from across Devon and Cornwall.

You can book your tickets to attend this event here.

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Utilise email marketing – it really does work!

We find that many tourism businesses across Devon and Cornwall still aren’t making the most of email marketing. For every £1 spent on email in the UK a staggering £30 of revenue is generated and we know from our own experience it’s one of the most cost effective ways of filling weeks and getting bookings all year round.
When you’re sending promotional emails make sure that:
1. You’re not being reactive – sending because you’re worried about how bookings are looking is too late.
2. Make sure you’re sending on a regular basis – at least once a month.
3. Ensure that the content within your emails is targeted at your audience – as an example, if you’re focused on families, what is there for them to do in the winter months and where are the best places to go?
4. Try sending in advance of a weekend for better results and opens

Make the most of the weekends

The majority of our clients will get enquiries and bookings from Sunday evening through to Tuesday. The reason for this is that the weekend provides prospective guests and customers with an ideal opportunity to research and make decisions. With that in mind, Facebook advertising and other communication is particularly effective from Friday through to Monday. If you’re not currently making the most of this period then ensure you’ve got plenty of content going on while your guests have the time to take it all in. Sunday evening is a winner for every tourism business.

Make sure your content is targeted

Conversion is always higher when you can really peak someone’s interest. How do you do that? By making sure your content is as relevant to them as possible. Looking for pre-schoolers? Tell them what there is for under fours in the area and how you cater for them. Romantic breaks? What’s going to get the pulses racing of young couples and what is it that makes your venue the perfect place?
The more relevant the content to your target market – the better the results.

Give people a deadline to make a decision

This time of year is usually dominated by promotions – we’ve definitely received a lot of offers over the past month or so. If you’re offering discounts, then always give your prospective guests a time frame in which to book. It encourages them to make the decision and also gives you great social media content as you countdown to the deadline and create urgency.

Refresh those photos

When was the last time you updated your photos? If it’s been more than two years then have a look at what needs refreshing across your website. Nobody wants to see photos from years and years ago…

Make the most of galleries on social media

It’s a competitive market so anything you can do to increase the amount of time someone spends on your social media post vs someone else’s. Adding plenty of photos (more than four and less than 10) will prompt people to click on them and cycle through. The result? More engagement, more time spent on your post, more chance of a booking.
Avoid too many though – it could get boring and they’re better split into several posts! Remember everyone responds differently to certain images!

If you’re using PPC advertising, make sure it’s as accurate as possible

If you’re using PPC advertising, then the best conversion rates are always received when you target your key phrases. So if you’re on a limited budget ditch the generic terms such as “holiday cottage Devon” and go with a tighter set of key phrases… if you’re dog friendly add that onto your search term so it becomes “dog friendly holiday cottage Devon”. By becoming more specific you become more relevant and as we’ve already said, that generates more bookings and a better return.

How old is your website?

If it’s more than four years old, it could well be time for a refresh or a replacement. If you’re currently considering getting a new site then you need to be acting soon in order to get it completed for the January bonanza bookings.

Grow that Instagram profile

On Instagram? Two quick tips…. First one is to use Instagram stories and always tag your story steps with a location – it’ll increase your reach. Second is to cycle your hashtags. What do I mean? Don’t always use the same ten on everything; it’s like fishing in one place all day and expecting the fish to come to you. Think about what your potential guest is searching for and head on over with the fishing rod!

Take stock of where you stand

If you’re not really sure where you should be going or how you get to the next step with your tourism business then give us a call. We’ve worked with no fewer than 40 award winners of the past five years and have built a proven record in helping them increase bookings and increase visibility.
If you’ve got a question, then give us a call on 01566 232323 or email hello@mihidigital.co.uk

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“The Bear and the Hare” – John Lewis, 2013

After the success of their 2011 advert, “The Long Wait”, John Lewis had a tough act to follow. However, they didn’t disappoint with their animated Christmas advert, featuring a gentle story about a hare waking up a bear from hibernation, so he doesn’t miss the magic of Christmas. What really makes this advert is Lily Allen’s rendition of Keane’s “Somewhere Only We Know”, which reached number 1 in the UK Singles chart.

“Holidays Are Coming” – Coca Cola, 1995

It’s probably one of the most recognisable adverts ever. Known as ‘Christmas Caravans’, the illuminated lorries in the advert are made more enchanting with special effects by the world-famous Industrial Light and Magic, the company behind the Star Wars films! This advert is rolled out every year without fail, with thousands of people flocking to see the trucks as they pass through a town or city near you.

“1914” – Sainsbury’s, 2014

This advert comes into our top 5 because it’s based on actual events. As great as animated animals are, this advert gives the watcher an insight into one of the most extraordinary parts of modern history, and left us feeling a bit bittersweet by the end of it! Sainsbury’s also donated all profits made from the sale of the chocolate bar featured in the advert to the Royal British Legion.

“This is not just Christmas food” – Marks And Spencer, 2006

Christmas dinner is one of the best bits about Christmas Day, and we didn’t think anyone could make it look any better. We were wrong.
M&S have a habit of making tasty food look even more darn tasty with their adverts, and this one was no exception. Showcasing all the Christmas delights you could purchase from M&S that year, they signed off the advert with the classic line “This is not just Christmas food, this is M&S Christmas food”, indicating that theirs really is in a league of their own, and has been ever since.

“Coming Home for Christmas” – Heathrow Airport, 2017

Whilst the majority of social media were talking about John Lewis’s 2017 Christmas advert, Heathrow Airport broadcast their own advert for this Christmas and, in our opinion, blew John Lewis out of the water. The advert is heartfelt, relatable, and the final scene in the airport gives a huge nod to one of the best Christmas films ever, Love Actually. So all in all, this Christmas advert is possibly one of the best… ever?
So what do you think? Did we miss any out? Let us know on Twitter at @MiHiDigital.

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