A survey published by Wicklow.com shows that Hotels and Guesthouses in County Wicklow are very responsive to email enquiries from potential visitors.

The survey was prompted by the launch of the new Wicklow Tourism website. A ‘mystery customer’ planning a visit to County Wicklow sent an email to the hotels and guesthouses listed on the Wicklow Tourism website. The mystery customer requested some information on the hotel/guesthouse specifically and some advice which required a little local knowledge.

The replies received were then evaluated under the headings of

• Speed of reply
• Content of reply

The speed of response from the hotels and guesthouses was impressive with the majority responding well under 24 hours. Chester Beattys in Ashford responded in well under an hour.

The quality and content of the reply was also good, but many missed out on the opportunity to further promote County Wicklow in their replies.

A number of hotels and guesthouses did not reply to the mystery customer email, but this was due to incorrect information on the Wicklow Tourism Website. Although the Druids Glen Marriott was one of the hotels that had incorrect information on the site, the ‘mystery customer’ email was delivered to the hotel and read, but unfortunately it did not reach the correct department for whatever reason.

The full 14 page report has a list of very useful recommendations for any business with an internet presence, not just the hotel and guesthouse market.

The report also carries an open invitation to any business in County Wicklow to apply for a free account on Wicklow.com news. This free acount allows a business to instantly publish their own company news and announcements relevant to a wide audience.

Copies of the report are available free of charge, and can be requested by sending an email to news@wicklow.com. Just put “Hotel and Guesthouse Report” in the subject line of the email.