The Website Setup Checklist Every hotel or Vacation Rental Needs
Building or redesigning your website is exciting. It’s the digital front door to your property, the place where guests form their first impression long before arrival. But without the right preparation, that excitement can turn into frustration fast.
Missing logins, misplaced brand files, and forgotten integrations can delay your launch and weaken the guest experience.
That’s why we created this simple but powerful website setup checklist for boutique hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals. Think of it as your packing list before a big trip: once you’ve checked every box, you can hit “launch” without worry.
Step One: Secure Your Domain & Hosting
Before design begins, make sure your digital foundation is solid.
Your domain name (e.g., toftetrails.com) is your property’s address online. Your hosting is the land it sits on. Without both in place (and accessible) your project can’t move forward.
What to prepare:
Domain access: Know where it’s registered (GoDaddy, Squarespace, etc.) and have logins ready.
Hosting credentials: Provide access to your web platform (Squarespace, Showit, WordPress, Cloudbeds CMS, etc.).
Pro Tip: If you prefer not to share logins, most platforms allow you to invite your web designer as an admin user instead.
Step Two: Gather Your Branding Assets
Your website is the embodiment of your property’s personality. Having your brand materials ready keeps design cohesive and efficient.
What to include:
Logos (ideally in .png and .svg formats)
Brand color hex codes
Font files & license information
Photography and videography that best capture your space
If your brand is still evolving, this step doubles as a great opportunity to get aligned before design begins.
Step Three: Connect Your Platform Integrations
A hotel website is a living hub for guest interaction. Integrations make sure your site not only looks beautiful but functions seamlessly from first click to final booking.
The essentials:
Booking engine embed codes (Cloudbeds, ResNexus, Lodgify, etc.)
Email marketing platforms (Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Flodesk, etc.)
Google Business Profile access
Social media links
Review platforms to feature (Google, TripAdvisor, Yelp)
Pro Tip: Connect these early so your designer can test and style them during the build — avoiding post-launch tech headaches.
Step Four: Set Up Analytics & SEO Tools
Even the most beautiful site can’t perform if no one can find it. Setting up analytics and search tools ensures your new site works as hard as you do.
Don’t skip:
Google Analytics — Tracks your traffic, conversions, and guest behavior so you can see what’s working.
Google Search Console — Monitors your keyword rankings and alerts you to technical issues.
Invite your web partner (hi!) so they can help manage setup and reporting seamlessly.
Pro Tip: Setting these up before launch ensures data starts tracking from day one, so no missed insights.
Step Five: Final Accessibility & Security Checks
Before launch, take a moment to view your site through your guests’ eyes. Is it easy to use, fast to load, and safe to book?
Your final pre-launch checklist:
Mobile responsiveness: Over half of travel bookings now happen on mobile.
SSL certificate: Ensures your site is secure (https:// instead of http://).
Page speed optimization: Guests won’t wait for a slow site, especially when comparing options.
Pro Tip: Test your site across different devices and browsers to ensure consistency everywhere.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
With this checklist complete, your web build will be smoother, faster, and ready for long-term success.
At Brosy Studio, we guide boutique hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals through setup, strategy, and design, so your website doesn’t just look good, it books good.
Ready to start your build with confidence? Let’s make your digital front door as welcoming as your property itself.
