Building a Scalable and Integrated Website for a Bespoke Tour Operator
Client Overview
Kirker Travel is a bespoke tour operator specializing in curating cultural tours across Europe for discerning travelers. With offerings ranging from opera trips and rail holidays to short cultural breaks, Kirker required a sophisticated digital platform to showcase their hundreds of touring products. Umi Digital was approached to redevelop their website into an integrated tech stack that supports both online bookings and direct engagement with their expert sales team.
The Challenge
The project presented several challenges, including migrating data from Kirker’s legacy website, which had a complicated data structure. Additionally, the website required highly bespoke integration work to support their wide range of tour products. Kirker’s model relies heavily on specialists within their company who manage specific regions or even individual cities, making it crucial that the new platform was flexible enough to handle a variety of product listings and groupings.
The Solution
- Umi Digital developed a headless web application that delivers a seamless, app-like experience on the web. This new platform allows Kirker’s customers to easily discover their next cultural tour and engage directly with their experienced sales team, while also having the option to book online. Key elements of the solution include:
- Headless Content Management System (CMS): Umi Digital implemented a headless CMS, allowing for more flexibility in data management and ensuring scalability. The CMS enables Kirker to manage hundreds of tour products with ease while providing an intuitive user journey.
Seamless Integrations: The platform was built with highly bespoke integration work to accommodate the various variables that impact product listings and groupings. This ensures that each region, tour, or cultural experience is presented in the most engaging way possible. - Flexible and Scalable Technology Stack: The flexible software system we used allows for near-infinite growth in terms of both functionality and design. This ensures that the platform will evolve alongside Kirker’s needs, enabling them to introduce new features and functionalities over time.
- Marketing-Ready Features: We built the platform with marketing in mind, integrating features that support strategic advertising efforts throughout the year. These functionalities will empower Kirker’s marketing funnel and allow them to execute smart, targeted campaigns as they continue to grow.
The Result
The launch of Kirker Travel’s new headless web application has provided them with a modern, scalable platform that meets both their operational and marketing needs. Customers now have a streamlined, user-friendly experience that reflects Kirker’s reputation for high-quality, bespoke tours. The platform’s flexibility ensures that it can grow and adapt as the company evolves, while empowering the marketing team with the tools they need to attract and engage new customers.
Key Achievements
- Successfully migrated a complex data structure from the legacy website to a new headless CMS.
- Delivered a seamless and app-like experience, allowing customers to engage with both the sales team and book online.
- Built a flexible platform capable of supporting future growth in functionality and design.
- Integrated marketing-ready features to support strategic advertising and engagement.