SWOT Analysis of 5 Tourism Website
Ruben R. Rush
TDM 401 – Tourism Management
9 September 2009
1. Kings Island (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.visitkingsisland.com
Strengths
- They showcase when their hours of operation, on the homepage. They have flashing date and time when their close.
- Great strategy on bring in people with their 4 – day renewal sale for $69.99, which days are September 7, 25, 26, 27
- They have their announcement and upcoming events on their homepage.
- Website is very easy to navigate
- When you first go the homepage, an important flashing message pops up in bright red and white lettering telling you what is important.
Weaknesses
- They can show some video clips of their thrill rides, for potential thrill seekers.
- No parking prices or information.
- No park policies information.
Opportunities
- Have a quick link on homepage, for parking prices, and information.
- Have some photos and video of the park in action.
- Have a quick link to show park policies.
Threats
- No zoom opinion to view the park map closer.
- The park map is very small and lettering is very small.
- Kings Island name is not very large on homepage.
2. Marriott (Example of strength) (Strongest Site)
Website = http://www.marriott.com
Strengths
- Homepage is simple and very user friendly.
- Has ease on reserving guest rooms online
- At the bottom of the homepage, you can click on various city hotel sites.
Weaknesses
- Too much writing on the homepage.
- Word font on website a little too small.
- White background makes website a bit blinding.
Opportunities
- Can minimize some of the less use information on the homepage.
- Increase the word font throughout the whole website.
- Add some color to homepage.
Threats
- Too much information on homepage can chase way potential visitor.
- Too much searching on website can make website hard to use for seniors.
- Homepage is overwhelming with a lot of writing.
3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.siouxfalls.org
Strengths
- Great city news and information on homepage.
- Has employment, business, and contact us information on top of the homepage, instead of, on the bottom like most website.
- Has weather information at the bottom of homepage.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t have a quick link for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- A lot of writing on the homepage.
- Homepage has too much information, can be overwhelming.
Opportunities
- Add a quick link for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- Reduce some of the less use information on the homepage.
- Reduce some of the writing on the homepage.
Threats
- May have some complaints about not having a quick link to access the Parks and Recreation Department easier.
- Can lose resident focus with the overwhelming of information on homepage.
- City brand name on homepage is very small.
4. Navajo Nation (Example of Weaknesses)
Website = http://discovernavajo.com
Strengths
- Great introduction letter on homepage, tells you a little about the Navajo nation.
- Website is very basic, with different quick links on the left side of the homepage.
- A lot of information on website to learn about the Navajo people.
Weaknesses
- Have some tour video of key attraction on the Navajo Reservation.
- Have some information about the president and vice – president of the Navajo nation.
- Have some information about the casino.
Opportunities
- Add some tour video of the great scenic attraction across the Navajo nation.
- Add information about president and vice – president of the Navajo nation.
- Add map and information about the casino, for future tourist.
- Finish putting up the scenic routes page.
Threats
- May lose tourist focus, because there’s no casino information.
- No city or town information on website, can lose assurance of potential tourist.
- Website is very unclear on buying authentic Navajo jewelry and art.
- Website is very unclear on getting authentic Navajo food.
5. Fiji (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.fijime.com
Strengths
- Great photo slideshow on homepage.
- Has nice photo quick link to view islands map, quick search, Air pacific, Matai specialists, and your Fiji wedding.
- There’s quick links for Bula (Hello), dive, explore, meet, romance, thrill, and vacation package.
- You can easy search different islands, places to stay, things to do or see, and getting to Fiji.
- Very neat and clean.
Weaknesses
- They these quick link, that say “Advertise your Business here” Needs to be remove.
- Too small writing under the photos.
- No chat option.
Opportunities
- Show when the best time, to visit Fiji.
- Have a quick link for Chat.
- Have information on government policies.
Threats
- Show current Fiji trends.
- Show current weather.
- Show some example of Fiji food and tradition.
I strongly believe the Marriott website is number one, because on January 8, 2007, Marriott.com set a record by generating more than 55,000 reservations in one day, posting a record 55,109 reservations and generating over $17 million in gross revenue. You could say ‘They must be doing something right.’ When travelling, travelers often compare various companies based on price, location, and availability. Due to the size of the company and their well developed website, Marriott has a strict advantage over other hotel chain companies.
The Marriott homepage is simple and very user friendly. The first thing a viewer would see is “Find a Hotel”. This feature allows the user to find a Marriott hotel anywhere in the world. It is very self explanatory and the user would just have to type in where in particular they would want to go and the results would give the viewer all the Marriott hotels in that area. The company has many no hassle policies that guests really love. The Find and Reserve feature online is very convenient for many users. They can just type in where they want to go and when they want to go and the website does the rest. It will pull up Marriott hotels in that area and the user can explore and decide which Marriott hotel is best for them. Potential customers can also pick and choose what room and price range fits their needs. The Marriott also has a great rewards program that their guests can sign up for.
The Marriott website does have room for improvement. They can reduce a lot of the wording on the homepage and add some size to the writing font.
The Marriott Hotel website was the strongest website of the five websites. The website was very simple and user friendly. The website had ease on reserving guest rooms online.
TDM 401 – Tourism Management
9 September 2009
1. Kings Island (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.visitkingsisland.com
Strengths
- They showcase when their hours of operation, on the homepage. They have flashing date and time when their close.
- Great strategy on bring in people with their 4 – day renewal sale for $69.99, which days are September 7, 25, 26, 27
- They have their announcement and upcoming events on their homepage.
- Website is very easy to navigate
- When you first go the homepage, an important flashing message pops up in bright red and white lettering telling you what is important.
Weaknesses
- They can show some video clips of their thrill rides, for potential thrill seekers.
- No parking prices or information.
- No park policies information.
Opportunities
- Have a quick link on homepage, for parking prices, and information.
- Have some photos and video of the park in action.
- Have a quick link to show park policies.
Threats
- No zoom opinion to view the park map closer.
- The park map is very small and lettering is very small.
- Kings Island name is not very large on homepage.
2. Marriott (Example of strength) (Strongest Site)
Website = http://www.marriott.com
Strengths
- Homepage is simple and very user friendly.
- Has ease on reserving guest rooms online
- At the bottom of the homepage, you can click on various city hotel sites.
Weaknesses
- Too much writing on the homepage.
- Word font on website a little too small.
- White background makes website a bit blinding.
Opportunities
- Can minimize some of the less use information on the homepage.
- Increase the word font throughout the whole website.
- Add some color to homepage.
Threats
- Too much information on homepage can chase way potential visitor.
- Too much searching on website can make website hard to use for seniors.
- Homepage is overwhelming with a lot of writing.
3. Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.siouxfalls.org
Strengths
- Great city news and information on homepage.
- Has employment, business, and contact us information on top of the homepage, instead of, on the bottom like most website.
- Has weather information at the bottom of homepage.
Weaknesses
- Doesn’t have a quick link for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- A lot of writing on the homepage.
- Homepage has too much information, can be overwhelming.
Opportunities
- Add a quick link for the Parks and Recreation Department.
- Reduce some of the less use information on the homepage.
- Reduce some of the writing on the homepage.
Threats
- May have some complaints about not having a quick link to access the Parks and Recreation Department easier.
- Can lose resident focus with the overwhelming of information on homepage.
- City brand name on homepage is very small.
4. Navajo Nation (Example of Weaknesses)
Website = http://discovernavajo.com
Strengths
- Great introduction letter on homepage, tells you a little about the Navajo nation.
- Website is very basic, with different quick links on the left side of the homepage.
- A lot of information on website to learn about the Navajo people.
Weaknesses
- Have some tour video of key attraction on the Navajo Reservation.
- Have some information about the president and vice – president of the Navajo nation.
- Have some information about the casino.
Opportunities
- Add some tour video of the great scenic attraction across the Navajo nation.
- Add information about president and vice – president of the Navajo nation.
- Add map and information about the casino, for future tourist.
- Finish putting up the scenic routes page.
Threats
- May lose tourist focus, because there’s no casino information.
- No city or town information on website, can lose assurance of potential tourist.
- Website is very unclear on buying authentic Navajo jewelry and art.
- Website is very unclear on getting authentic Navajo food.
5. Fiji (Example of Strength)
Website = http://www.fijime.com
Strengths
- Great photo slideshow on homepage.
- Has nice photo quick link to view islands map, quick search, Air pacific, Matai specialists, and your Fiji wedding.
- There’s quick links for Bula (Hello), dive, explore, meet, romance, thrill, and vacation package.
- You can easy search different islands, places to stay, things to do or see, and getting to Fiji.
- Very neat and clean.
Weaknesses
- They these quick link, that say “Advertise your Business here” Needs to be remove.
- Too small writing under the photos.
- No chat option.
Opportunities
- Show when the best time, to visit Fiji.
- Have a quick link for Chat.
- Have information on government policies.
Threats
- Show current Fiji trends.
- Show current weather.
- Show some example of Fiji food and tradition.
I strongly believe the Marriott website is number one, because on January 8, 2007, Marriott.com set a record by generating more than 55,000 reservations in one day, posting a record 55,109 reservations and generating over $17 million in gross revenue. You could say ‘They must be doing something right.’ When travelling, travelers often compare various companies based on price, location, and availability. Due to the size of the company and their well developed website, Marriott has a strict advantage over other hotel chain companies.
The Marriott homepage is simple and very user friendly. The first thing a viewer would see is “Find a Hotel”. This feature allows the user to find a Marriott hotel anywhere in the world. It is very self explanatory and the user would just have to type in where in particular they would want to go and the results would give the viewer all the Marriott hotels in that area. The company has many no hassle policies that guests really love. The Find and Reserve feature online is very convenient for many users. They can just type in where they want to go and when they want to go and the website does the rest. It will pull up Marriott hotels in that area and the user can explore and decide which Marriott hotel is best for them. Potential customers can also pick and choose what room and price range fits their needs. The Marriott also has a great rewards program that their guests can sign up for.
The Marriott website does have room for improvement. They can reduce a lot of the wording on the homepage and add some size to the writing font.
The Marriott Hotel website was the strongest website of the five websites. The website was very simple and user friendly. The website had ease on reserving guest rooms online.
