Originally Posted by Normandie:
“I've only half-watched the last couple of nights - half-watched last week's too... but I've set tonight's episode to record.
Martin's a wonderful businessman, no doubt, but I suspect he wasn't in the hospitality industry. For such an expensive property, he's got a crap website. And, unless the site doesn't work on Firefox, there's nothing on the Tariff page. Which is weird.
http://www.halliwellhouse.co.uk/
Even the photo gallery doesn't succeed in making the property look worth £7-£8k a week... though when I've seen the snapshot views on the 4iaB previews, it does look lovely and furnished to a high standard. I don't think he's used a professional photographer or web designer. Stupid mistake.
Still, the prices are on the link below - scroll down to the bottom to get the for 12 / for 8 / etc weekly and daily costs. While you're there, note that the availability calendar is wide open - ie, calendar not updated since last September and apparently no bookings at all during 2016.
https://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/hale/240443
I know there is a market for big get-togethers for family / friends gatherings - there are sites that specialise in them -
for eg: http://www.thebigdomain.com/united-kingdom
...and Halliwell House may well have its place and be successful in that sort of niche, but it seems such a bad fit with the way 4iaB works. It's a high-quality, large capacity, self-catering holiday home and making it relevant and appealing to a 4iaB audience will take better presentation and marketing skills than Martin has displayed so far. Maybe he needs the help of the Charmed Ones.
Being sooooo judgemental in advance of actually watching the show
I think he's got his marketing wrong, his pricing wrong (is Hale, Cheshire a 'destination' town ?) and to offer one night stays in that property is absolutely bonkers. It should be a minimum of 2 night stays or even 3 night stays. I suspect he's got sod all in the way of bookings (still only one TA review and this 4iaB series looks to have been filmed 6-7 months ago at least). I suspect 4iaB is desperation tactics. Wrong show but potentially great publicity.
We will see.
ps: excerpt from the TA review:
We had a arranged to have use of the hottub (for an extra charge) which we all loved. Things such as robes can be provided but they have small additional charges so I would advise to take your own. Also remember to take your slippers as there are cream carpets throughout so you must remove your shoes.
Bits in bold are by me. So you pay £300-400 a night per room and have to pay extra for the hot tub, robes and no free slippers ???”
“I've only half-watched the last couple of nights - half-watched last week's too... but I've set tonight's episode to record.
Martin's a wonderful businessman, no doubt, but I suspect he wasn't in the hospitality industry. For such an expensive property, he's got a crap website. And, unless the site doesn't work on Firefox, there's nothing on the Tariff page. Which is weird.
http://www.halliwellhouse.co.uk/
Even the photo gallery doesn't succeed in making the property look worth £7-£8k a week... though when I've seen the snapshot views on the 4iaB previews, it does look lovely and furnished to a high standard. I don't think he's used a professional photographer or web designer. Stupid mistake.
Still, the prices are on the link below - scroll down to the bottom to get the for 12 / for 8 / etc weekly and daily costs. While you're there, note that the availability calendar is wide open - ie, calendar not updated since last September and apparently no bookings at all during 2016.
https://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/hale/240443
I know there is a market for big get-togethers for family / friends gatherings - there are sites that specialise in them -
for eg: http://www.thebigdomain.com/united-kingdom
...and Halliwell House may well have its place and be successful in that sort of niche, but it seems such a bad fit with the way 4iaB works. It's a high-quality, large capacity, self-catering holiday home and making it relevant and appealing to a 4iaB audience will take better presentation and marketing skills than Martin has displayed so far. Maybe he needs the help of the Charmed Ones.
Being sooooo judgemental in advance of actually watching the show
I think he's got his marketing wrong, his pricing wrong (is Hale, Cheshire a 'destination' town ?) and to offer one night stays in that property is absolutely bonkers. It should be a minimum of 2 night stays or even 3 night stays. I suspect he's got sod all in the way of bookings (still only one TA review and this 4iaB series looks to have been filmed 6-7 months ago at least). I suspect 4iaB is desperation tactics. Wrong show but potentially great publicity.We will see.
ps: excerpt from the TA review:
We had a arranged to have use of the hottub (for an extra charge) which we all loved. Things such as robes can be provided but they have small additional charges so I would advise to take your own. Also remember to take your slippers as there are cream carpets throughout so you must remove your shoes.
Bits in bold are by me. So you pay £300-400 a night per room and have to pay extra for the hot tub, robes and no free slippers ???”
If he's used a web designer and is happy with that rubbish website he's not as sharp as he thinks. It looks amateurish and the first thing I thought was that it looks like a blog page rather than a site promoting a professional business.
He is really taking the pee.
