of surveyed travelers would pay more for a vacation rental with better reviews.
← Back to case studiesTravel & HospitalitySandbank Cottage
Taking a destination beyond the booking platforms
The Challenge
Sandbank Cottage started as an Airbnb and VRBO listing, but Ellen wanted the property to be bigger, more memorable, and more discoverable on its own. The project focused on building a stronger local presence around a Victorian home rental in Southern Illinois, giving the property its own website, better guest-facing materials, and marketing support that could attract more direct interest.
of surveyed travelers find trip inspiration on social media.
of surveyed travelers say influencer recommendations affected their bookings.
A Victorian rental with a destination of its own.
Sandbank Cottage — Web · Print · Social · SEO
Building a direct path from discovery to reservation
What We Did
The property already had strong charm, but it lived mostly inside Airbnb and VRBO. That made it harder to control the full experience, build a stronger standalone brand, and market the rental in a way that reflected the personality of the home itself. The first goal was to give the property its own place to live online and make it easier for people to discover it outside of listing platforms.
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02What we built around the property
The Strategy
We started with a website that could better showcase the Victorian character of the house, tell the story of the stay, and make direct booking easier. That included integrated booking functionality and calendar syncing so availability could stay aligned with the other platforms. From there, we expanded into printed materials and local promotion that made the property more visible in the places its ideal guests already go.
- Custom website design built around the property’s character and guest experience
- Booking integration with calendar syncing to help prevent double bookings
- Brochures and business cards for guests, surrounding attractions, and nearby wedding venues
- Blog and Facebook content support tied to local vacation-rental search visibility
Turning local character into a reason to book
The Results
Sandbank Cottage became a destination with its own name, website, printed leave-behinds, and local search presence. Travelers planning winery weekends, trail trips, and weddings now have an easier place to find, share, and book.
