Sector
Commercial
Service
Web Design & Development
Technology
Umbraco
The client
VillaGaiety
VillaGaiety is the Isle of Man’s historic arts centre and gardens complex, incorporating three venues: the Villa Marina, the Gaiety Theatre, and the Broadway Cinema. These venues are central to the Island’s cultural scene, hosting a wide variety of events and shows including concerts, cinema screenings, live comedy, and sports tournaments such as chess, boxing, and all-star wrestling.
The challenge
Existing website called for visual improvements
The management team at VillaGaiety recognised the need to refresh their website to enhance the customer experience. They wanted the new site to provide easier access to up-to-date event information and facilitate a simplified ticket purchasing process, particularly for users on mobile devices and tablets. The existing website was outdated and did not reflect the vibrant and diverse events held at VillaGaiety’s venues, nor did it provide an optimal user experience.
The solution
Revamped website with enhanced user experience
PDMS was enlisted to design and build a new, high-impact, visually engaging website for VillaGaiety. The goal was to create a platform that not only showcased the wide array of events hosted by the venues but also integrated seamlessly with VillaGaiety’s ticketing partner, TicketSolve. The website needed to be user-friendly with custom features to enhance the customer experience.
The project
The PDMS design team created a visually stunning website using the Umbraco Content Management System (CMS). Key features of the new site included:
- Interactive Seating Plans: Users could explore the view from specific seating zones in the Royal Hall, cinema and theatre, enhancing their ticket purchasing decisions
- 360 Virtual Tours: Visitors could check out various function rooms and bookable facilities, offering a comprehensive view of the venues
- Blog and social media: The website was updated with a new blog and social media integration, reflecting VillaGaiety’s new branding and engaging effectively with their audience
These features collectively made the website a one-stop portal for all information related to the events at VillaGaiety’s venues, enhancing user engagement and making it easier to purchase tickets.
The results
The newly refreshed website was met with great enthusiasm from the VillaGaiety management and their customers. It successfully showcased the diverse events across the three venues and significantly improved the user experience. The introduction of interactive seating plans and virtual tours added a new dimension to the ticket purchasing process, while the TicketSolve integration ensured seamless transactions.
Overall, the new VillaGaiety website not only met but exceeded management expectations, making it a crucial tool in promoting the island’s vibrant arts and entertainment offerings.
The website’s performance metrics demonstrated its success:
20% reduction in bounce rate
Users more engaged and spent more time exploring the site
24% increase in transactions
Simplified ticket purchasing process led to a significant rise in sales
Client testimonial
Check out what our customers think
“The team at PDMS has been great to work with, with their professional and knowledgeable approach. Here at the VillaGaiety we are extremely happy with the final product and feel it has exceeded our objectives, with customers already giving us lots of positive feedback.”
Joseph Morphet Former Marketing Officer at VillaGaiety