New Shetland accommodation site goes live

Promote Shetland has created the website stay.shetland.org using property listings from the annual Shetland Accommodation Guide.

Developed in conjunction with The Shetland Times - which will continue to offer the accommodation guide in print format - the new site replaces the former shetlandvisitor.com platform.

The print guide is available through selected tourist information iCentres on the UK mainland, and on stay.shetland.org as an interactive digital “flip” edition with options to download, print, and share.

It is hoped the site will boost the volume of beds booked directly with local hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation and help providers to maximise their revenue.

With no commission charges, this should minimise the amount of revenue draining out of the islands’ economy to global booking platforms.

Stay.shetland.org contains a contact and enquire function enabling people to check on the availability of accommodation properties at the touch of a button. Users can then contact providers directly to make a booking.

Shetland Times chief executive Colin Grant, whose company is continuing to compile and publish the Shetland Accommodation Guide, described it as an “indispensable publication for anyone looking to visit the islands”.

He said the company is delighted to be working in collaboration with Promote Shetland on creating and developing the new listings platform.

“The new site has a cleaner and more modern look and its responsive web design allows it to work as well on smartphones and tablets as on larger desktop devices,” Colin said.

“It includes a wide range of improvements to make it easier for visitors to find suitable accommodation, make enquiries and, ultimately, book accommodation directly with participating providers".

David Nicol of NB Communication, which runs the Promote Shetland contract on behalf of Shetland Islands Council, said the new site aimed to build on what the Shetland Visitor platform had provided for the past decade.

The upgraded website will provide a “better and more unified experience” for people seeking information about Shetland and to book holiday accommodation.

David added: “In addition, as part of the very popular shetland.org ‘family’ of websites, we anticipate that the listings will be visible to even more people.”