Web Design
New WordPress Website
The Most Beautiful Place On Earth
In 2011, I (James) realized a lifelong dream; I got to visit the south island of New Zealand. Over the course of two weeks, I explored the most beautiful place on the planet (said with no hyperbole) and stumbled upon what I consider to be Heaven on Earth – Hopewell Lodge.
To say Hopewell is off the beaten path is an understatement – it’s a three hour trek down a windy road or accessible via water taxi from Picton (traveler’s tip: take the water taxi!), but like any epic journey, you are rewarded for your tireless effort when you reach this breathtaking destination located on the stunning Marlborough Sounds.
To arrive at Hopewell is to be amazed by the beauty of the place and the warmth of its owners, Mike and Lynley Clegg. Mike and Lynley reminded me so much of my own parents who are also entrepreneurs and work tirelessly to build their business and please their guests. I felt happy and at peace at Hopewell and left there feeling that it was the highlight of my trip.
In 2014, I returned again and spent more time getting to know Mike and Lynley and I opened up to them about what I did (own a fledgling marketing agency). We talked about their web presence and I shared that I felt their online representation did no justice to the Hopewell experience. It was a functional website, but it undersold all the magic of its owners and the property. I asked Mike and Lynley if they’d trust my team to design them a new site.
This was a passion project.
A True Representation
A great business is much more than bricks and mortar; it’s the soul and caring that lives within. I wanted to showcase that with Hopewell’s new website and make it clear to any potential traveler that this was indeed a special place that’s incomparable to anywhere else.
Our team went to work and I think we hit our goal. Mike and Lynley feel that we delivered on we sought out to do – showcase the magic of Hopewell. In 2017, Hopewell Lodge experienced the best year in their history. Certainly, the hospitality of Mike and Lynley drive this, but I’m proud to say their website supports their efforts assuring that their clientele won’t give anyone else a second look.
We met James and Marcella 3 years ago when they came and stayed at our lodge. We were the typical owner-operators; flat out running things and too close to it all, too tired often, to put any decent thinking and time into our marketing. James pulled us aside and talked to us about what he and his team could do for us, a talk that culminated in them creating our new website and marketing presence. And what a pleasure it has been to work with and know these people. They are consummate professionals with that rare ability to genuinely understand what our business is all about, to keenly observe how we work and to create a presence that truly reflects what Hopewell Lodge is all about. From beginning to end we were amazed at the level of contact and care that went into our project. It was all done so well that, when the new site was unveiled, we loved it right away and since then have hardly altered anything. And our customers love it too, no matter upon which platform it is being viewed.
There are many, many people out there doing web-based marketing and design but there are only two we know of who “get” what the whole enterprise is about and truly appreciate all of the nuances of businesses like ours. Further, they always seem to be there for us, to help with technical issues and with ongoing education as to how to best utilize our new channel. In short James and Marcella and the team at Beyond Marketing really deliver in a meaningful and personal way. Last season was our best ever and Beyond Marketing certainly deserve credit for helping to deliver such great results. Oh, and did I mention that we are 13,500kms and several time zones away? Seems like they are just next door.
—Mike Clegg, Hopewell Lodge
