Enhanced Hotel Image Gallery
Background
Our hotel booking platform wanted to improve the user experience for travelers searching for hotels online. Our research showed that users valued high-quality images of the hotels and their rooms, as they often rely on them to make a decision about where to stay. However, we had received feedback from users that the image galleries on our platform were often slow to load, difficult to navigate, and didn't always provide a complete view of the room or property.
Challenge
Our challenge was to design an online image gallery that met users' expectations for speed, ease of use, and visual appeal, while also accommodating the needs of hotels to showcase their properties in the best possible light.
Approach
We started by conducting user research to understand how travelers search for and evaluate hotels online, and what they expect to see in an image gallery. We also surveyed hotel partners to gather their feedback on what types of images they preferred to showcase, and what features they wanted to see in an image gallery.
Based on our research, we identified the following design principles for our online image gallery:
Speed and performance: The gallery should load quickly and smoothly, even on slow internet connections.
Usability and navigation: Users should be able to navigate the gallery easily, with clear labeling and intuitive controls.
Image quality and completeness: The gallery should showcase high-quality, comprehensive images of the hotel and its rooms, with the ability to zoom in and view details.
Mobile responsiveness: The gallery should be optimized for mobile devices, with the ability to swipe and pinch to zoom.
With these design principles in mind, we created wireframes and prototypes of the image gallery, using Sketch and InVision, and tested them with users to gather feedback and iterate on the design.
Results
Our new online image gallery was launched in July 2022, and the results have been positive. Here are some of the key metrics we tracked:
Increased engagement: Users are spending more time on the site and viewing more images per hotel than before.
Improved conversion: Hotels with more complete image galleries have seen an increase in bookings.
Enhanced user experience: Users have reported that the new gallery is easy to use, fast, and provides a more complete view of the hotel.
Positive feedback: Hotel partners have been pleased with the new gallery and have reported an increase in inquiries and bookings as a result.
Conclusion
Our new online image gallery has improved the user experience for travelers searching for hotels online and has provided hotel partners with a powerful tool to showcase their properties. By applying user-centered design principles and collaborating closely with our hotel partners, we were able to create a gallery that met the needs of both users and businesses, resulting in increased engagement and bookings on our platform.