Portfolio links
GYG Karting
The new GYG Karting site needed to promote the karting circuit as an attraction for arrive and drive customers but also provide a comprehensive archive of club information, race reports and results for Dragon Kart Club which the circuit hosts. The site uses Adobe CoAuthor to update the race results, reports and driver profiles.
The Imperial Hotel Llandudno
The Imperial wanted a new design for the web site to reflect the new logo and print design developed by Sbarc Marketing Communications. Focusing on the scale and Victorian architecture of the hotel, and the seafront location with magnificent views of Llandudno Bay, we used dark blue, high contrast, clean lines, space and appealing photography, bringing the design up to date but keeping it warm and inviting.
A main image area is the prime focus on the page, displaying scrolling photography and branding strap-lines for each site section. Feature boxes and/or pull quotes help prioritise information and to draw the eye through the page, while page designs and layout contains clear navigation and well structured information making it easier for the audience to find what they want and guide them towards either making an enquiry or booking online.
Web4-u Integration
Up to date and comprehensive tourist information has been provided by Web4-u for both local attractions and what’s on information.
Dringo Adventure
Dringo Adventures is a partnership business specialising in outdoor activity short breaks, holidays and courses. Courses are run by a team of highly qualified instructors and are tailored to match the needs of the participants. The locations are carefully chosen to offer the best of the great outdoors in the UK and Europe.
We developed the look and feel for the company identity to reflect the excitement of the holidays and courses, with a friendly and approachable tone and yet has an underlying professionalism implying a quality of service, knowledge and experience.
Photographs were a strong selling point for the activities and, since Dringo were already managing a Flickr account, we included a flickr badge on each page using keywords to pull in related photos.
In order to match customers to a suitable product, organise the site into three main sections or mini sites, making it easier for the audience to find what they want and guiding them towards the required action; making an enquiry or booking online. Displaying upcoming/featured breaks on the homepage and link to related products helped promote the holidays to the required audience.
Betws y Coed Tourism Listings
The tourism association at Betws-y-Coed needed a new look for their already well stocked listings website. The look was modernised but more importantly the content management was revolutionised using web4-u a new bottom up tourism information sharing system.
A full set of templates were developed allowing integration with the tourism businesses data that included accommodation providers, attractions, activity providers, shops, events and places to eat. The site includes up-to-date and comprehensive tourist information plus accommodation searches. The content for each business or article can be managed by the businesses themselves within their own web4-u account. Visit the web4-u website to find out more about the web4-u community.
The Bulkeley Hotel Beaumaris
Powered by Expression Engine, the key objectives of the new website are to increase online bookings, develop brand awareness and to keep customers up to date with special offers and events at the hotel. The website will take on a large part of the marketing, and provide a more direct interface with the hotel and its customers, by focusing on specific target audiences.
Web4-u Integration
In order to offer its Guests up to date and comprehensive tourist information, The Bulkeley has integrated Web4-u attractions and events listings within its site.
Branding
With a rich history, magnificent views, situated on the seafront in picturesque Beaumaris, the Bulkeley Hotel is one of a kind. Teamed with a welcoming atmosphere and range of services within the hotel itself, the extensive modernisation programme has provided its guests with comfort and luxury expected while the character of the building has been carefully revealed with tasteful period elegance.
Now fully modernised The Bulkeley is in a position to capitalise on its own unique brand. The new website will be instrumental in reflecting this change.
Ambassador Hotel Llandudno
Stables Bistro Bar Betws-y-Coed
The Royal Oak required websites for their 3 businesses: Royal Oak Hotel, Stables Bistro Bar & Stables Lodge. Although the three businesses needed to be marketed separately, as each has its own branding with a different audience and a different focus, the sites were designed with graphic motifs and page layout that defines the company’s overall identity.
The Stables Bistro Bar to be edgier to appeal to its more dynamic clientele. The hub of Betws y Coed social life with regular live music, football on widescreen TV, quality food and drink day and night; a great place to meet up with friends, celebrate or just chill out. A dynamic audience both young and old, plus families, day trippers and adventurers. More about Royal Oak Hotel and Stables Lodge
Stables Lodge Accommodation Betws-y-Coed
The Royal Oak required websites for their 3 businesses: Royal Oak Hotel, Stables Bistro Bar & Stables Lodge. Although the three businesses needed to be marketed separately, as each has its own branding with a different audience and a different focus, the sites were designed with graphic motifs and page layout that defines the company’s overall identity.
Designed to appeal to independent travelers The Stables Lodge has a more functional, no-frills approach. Cheaper, but with access to all the facilities available to hotel guests and the same convenient location, plus a drying room and bike storage.
More about Royal Oak Hotel, Stables Bistro Bar.
Waterloo Hotel Betws y Coed
The Waterloo Hotel site redesign joins the Royal Oak suite of websites. The new site focuses on the specific target audiences and allows flexibility to develop different features as well as increasing direct bookings.
Design
Exploring the historical connotations the name brings up, The Waterloo is named for the Waterloo Bridge in Betws y Coed, the colour scheme picks up military red and gold and graphic texture. This was paired with modern clean lines, helvetica type and an uncluttered interface. The design uses the layout of the Royal Oak sites to carry through the overall company branding.
Lamphey Court Hotel
Lamphey Court required a redesign which would allow the hotel to position itself as offering something different; a fresh, new experience; an alternative to the usual package holiday.
Together with marketing consultant Gaynor Thomas we developed a look and feel that reflected the brand values; friendly and welcoming, tasteful, stylish and full of character but not too formal.
We focused on the U.S.P.‘s of the hotel in each section of the site: idyllic and relaxing setting, exciting and unusual outdoor activities, diverse and interesting landscapes. The rich photography selected is complemented by the colourful copy written by Roger Thomas.
Note: the site is currently being managed by an independent consultancy.
Tre-Ysgawen Hall Hotel and Spa
Headlands Hotel Llandudno
The headlands hotel is situated on the Great Orme in Llandudno with great views of the sea. The building is a Victorian character hotel which has been painted by local landscape artist Tina Holley.
In order to incorporate Tina Holley’s painting and to reflect the whimsical style of the architecture we decided to design the site as though it were an old fashioned story book complete with contents page and book marks
Plas Maenan Hotel
The hotel has been restored by owners James & Caroline Burt to its original splendour. The interior is fresh and light and true to Edwardian styles with the simple forms and patterns of the arts and craft and art noveau movements.
The final design was strongly influenced by the fabrics and furnishings within the building with a light colour pallet of period colours. Ornate Edwardian Script was chosen for the main headings but sans serif Century Gothic complements and adds a simplicity to the layout.
Project partner Yvonne Tsang
Tourism Partnership North Wales
TPNW required a site redesign that would fit into the new brand guidelines. The site was reorganised with an audience focus so that web visitors could easily see what the organisation does, how they work and who they work with it. In addition the site must also act as a repository for reports and minutes and downloadable forms giving full access to the TPNW procedures and guidelines.
The Imperial Hotel 2006
The imperial site was redesigned at the end of 2005 to bring it in line with the new marketing material. The site has since been redesigned: see redesign 2008
Green Room Photography
A portfolio site for a photographer. The interface is minimal to contrast with the rich light from the photography.
Alexander Owen Consultancy
The client had a clear understanding of the company brand and was looking to transfer that to the web. We developed a look that matched the business using a a contemporary design together with brand focused copy and photographs.
Brecon Beacon Tourism Listings
This web4-u listings website features an activity search and a section to promote business in specific towns. As with all web4-u websites the content is managed by the business owners.
Brecon Beacons Tourism, the tourism association in the Brecon Beacons has 100 members, all tourism businesses. After an initial workshop/presentation there were 4 members on web4-u. This number has increased so now the majority of members are on the system.
We worked closely with Punch Maughan from BBT to ensure the site met the brand guidelines and provided the functionality required by the members. An enthusiastic association member Punch has been instrumental in the process of creating content and encouraging the members. This is what the she said about the project:
Both my committee and members are delighted with the website and many members are beginning to develop their own web4-u websites in order to make best use of the system ...
I cannot commend Kevin Jones and his team more highly for the speed with which they developed the site, their attention to detail as the site was going live and their ongoing engagement
Front of House Organisation
This site was produced with View Creative for their client Front of House Organisation. I created standard compliant static pages and styled content based on a visual designed by View.
Web4-u Templates: Bluebell
We have been working on a selection of web template for the Web4-u partnership marketing system which allow tourism businesses to have a professionally designed website at a fraction of the cost.
Web4-u is part of a suite of tools collectively known as Your Tourism Community. A bottom up database of tourism businesses, Web4-u is managed by the businesses themselves allowing businesses to quickly and easily share information and thereby giving their customers the complete picture.
This template is comes in a range of colours:
Web4-u Templates: Bluebell
Web4-u Templates: Irish Linen
We have been working on a selection of web template for the Web4-u partnership marketing system which allow tourism businesses to have a professionally designed website at a fraction of the cost.
Web4-u is part of a suite of tools collectively known as Your Tourism Community. A bottom up database of tourism businesses, Web4-u is managed by the businesses themselves allowing businesses to quickly and easily share information and thereby giving their customers the complete picture.
This template is comes in a range of colours:
Web4-u Templates: Bluebell
Web4-u Templates: Applemint
We have been working on a selection of web template for the Web4-u partnership marketing system which allow tourism businesses to have a professionally designed website at a fraction of the cost.
Web4-u is part of a suite of tools collectively known as Your Tourism Community. A bottom up database of tourism businesses, Web4-u is managed by the businesses themselves allowing businesses to quickly and easily share information and thereby giving their customers the complete picture.
Web4-u Templates: Airbourne
We have been working on a selection of web template for the Web4-u partnership marketing system which allow tourism businesses to have a professionally designed website at a fraction of the cost.
Web4-u is part of a suite of tools collectively known as Your Tourism Community. A bottom up database of tourism businesses, Web4-u is managed by the businesses themselves allowing businesses to quickly and easily share information and thereby giving their customers the complete picture.
The Salon Menai Bridge
Keeping up to date with the latest styles, colours and techniques and creating inspirational styles that suit the customer’s looks and lifestyle is key to The Salon Menai Bridge brand. They required a website that would appeal to their customers sense of ‘becaue you’re worth it’ and self-indulgence promising luxury, pampering and a unique experience.
Customers can choose from a range of services delivered with passion and attention to detail and are rewarded by regular special offers and packages. As well as cultivating existing customers, The Salon are looking to develop the student market in Bangor. The home page advertises new services and packages with graphic feature links and include special offers for students with regular updates on Facebook.
The design is inspired by the interior of the salon and brand values sophistication and elegance while drawing together the existing product brands within the business. Photography from L’oreal and commissioned photography by Welshot Imaging dominate allowing the styles to do the talking. The composition is created around a 6-column grid layout and concepts were originated on paper through mood boards and sketches.
© 2025 copyright Kate Watkiss.
