Center Parcs makes online booking easier

Center Parcs, the UK’s favourite short break destination, has seen a significant growth in the number of its customers booking their break on the web since it developed it’s web booking engine in 2003. This increase has prompted Center Parcs to create and develop a brand new web booking engine with a view to further increasing the share of online bookings.

A number of tests were carried out by Center Parcs on the current web booking engine in order to understand user issues with the system and then again on the prototype to ensure users were happy and comfortable with its functionality.

With a number of major changes having been made to the web booking engine, the most significant is that customers will be able to book up to three units of accommodation rather than just the one that they were previously able to do in one visit – this will reduce the amount of time that customers have to spend booking their Center Parcs break online.

In addition, customers will also be able to select the location of their accommodation with options based on walking distance to the Village centre which is particularly useful for families with young children who may need to be closer to all the facilities their chosen village has to offer. Accommodation availability will also be highlighted when there are only a few lodges left for a certain time period meaning that customers can determine how quickly they need to book in order not to miss out.

Jo Button eCommerce Marketing Manager at Center Parcs said: “We are really excited about this new phase of the site and maximising the customer experience for Center Parcs customers. It has fantastic fresh look and feel and we have a number of exciting developments coming up that will strengthen our online brand proposition”

Further developments include an enhanced search engine, a function whereby customers will be able to pay their outstanding balance online as opposed to speaking to the call centre plus the overall look and feel of the website which makes it easier to navigate round and gives clear, simple instructions all of which leads to less time needing to be spent trying to book a Center Parcs break.

Development is set to continue with Center Parcs planning to add an additional functionality, similar to Google Earth, which will allow customers to view and utilise interactive maps of each of the villages.

Center Parcs Brochure Line: Centerparcs.co.uk