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tarpnman
08-07-2012, 07:17 AM
(Admin code added by Palmer - 5ED51357KE567994V)

Company Details

1a) Name of Company
Hotel Utica – Utica, New York

1b)Company Tag Line or slogan:
Traditions of Yesterday...with Every Comfort of Today.

1c) Do you have a company logo?
Yes, the one on the website is poor quality (as is everything about the current website), so you'll have to use that and clean it up. I have a black and white logo available here: http://bamsites.com/clients/utica/hotel-utica-logo-300x160.jpg

1d) Do you have a corporate visual identity (a customized (non stock) logo and color scheme carried out throughout your office, stationery, business cards, etc.)? Currently there is no prevailing color. I believe the color of the hotel’s exterior could play a part in the design. Also, the grand lobby with the chandelier could also be incorporated.

The best photos of the hotel are here: http://www.ascendcollection.com/hotel-utica-new_york-NY261/Hotel-Photos?sid=xWgtrM.1pm13gDug.33&&sarea=&sname=&slon=-75.231415&slat=43.102814&schain=&scountry=&sstate=&type=&sradius=&sstate_country=&scity=


1e) What is the nature of your business?: Briefly describe your products or services:
Hotel Utica is an historical hotel built in the early 1900's that catered to high profile clientele back in the day. It has been restored to its original elegance, with a spectacular lobby.

1f) Who is your target market? The primary focus is for business travelers, then tourists, and groups such as business meetings, weddings, associations, etc.


Website Details

Most Wanted Response:

1b) Do you have an existing website? If so, what is the URL? http://hotelutica.com

2b) IMPORTANT: Please list at least 3 URLs (web addresses) of high quality sites that you like the look of (these do not have to be sites who’s business is similar to yours.

1. I like this idea: http://www.bedandbreakfastsofsavannah.com/ There is an historical and classy look to these. The problem with these sites is they are too long vertically. I want the new site to be compact vertically such that the entire site can appear "above the fold". This is very important. Also, we need to have a reservation online booking widget, similar to what they have prominently placed in the design to engage visitors allowing them to start the booking process.

2. Here's another: http://www.saintpaulhotel.com/ - I like the bold yet warm colors. I like the horizontal booking widget that doesn't take up much space.

3. And another: http://www.thepfisterhotel.com/ - I like the brevity of the website's height and the simple design.


3b) What colors or color schemes would you like? The colors are up to the designer. This is an historical landmark hotel so you may want to weave that feel into the site. See corporate identity info in 1d.

4b) List the Navigation links for your Site:
Home, Reservations, Hotel Utica, Specials & Packages, Attractions, Groups & Meetings, Travel Agents, Customer Support, Contact
5b) What type of look are you trying to achieve? (e.g. clean, high-tech, conservative, warm, flashy, etc.)

6b) Please provide the addresses of competitors' sites, if possible:

7b) Do you have any images for use in the design of your site? Use the images from the links above at ChoiceHotels.com

Deadlines and Deliverables

1c) What is the deadline for your template design? August 24, 2012

2c) Will you require HTML coding? (Yes/No)
I just need the Home page and a Sub page template in PSD.

3c) If so, will you require it to be ONLY CSS layout? (Yes/No)
No

4c) How many pages coded will you require delivered?
Don't need coding.

Good Luck

Tarpnman

belladonna
08-08-2012, 07:58 AM
Hi! im in, I`ll work on a concept :yes:

belladonna
08-12-2012, 03:39 PM
Hello, is it possible to get 2 or 3 of the hotel pictures in higher resolution?... to be used as the main image :). Thanks!

djaka
08-12-2012, 09:24 PM
Thank you for the invitation,
version1
please advise.
regards
:)

belladonna
08-12-2012, 11:25 PM
Hello, here you have my concept :), changes can be made:

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica2.jpg

tarpnman
08-13-2012, 10:15 AM
Hello, is it possible to get 2 or 3 of the hotel pictures in higher resolution?... to be used as the main image :). Thanks!

Hi belladonna,

I'm looking into getting better photos. I need them as well. In the meantime the best ones are available here:

http://www.ascendcollection.com/hotel-utica-new_york-NY261/Hotel-Photos?sid=xEc_Fi.uA0U3gUYP.35&&sarea=&sname=Utica%2C+NY%2C+US&slon=-75.231415&slat=43.102814&schain=A&scountry=&sstate=&type=&sradius=&sstate_country=&scity=&srp=RACK&nroom=1&nadult1=1&nchild1=0&nadult2=&nchild2=&nadult3=&nchild3=&nadult4=&nchild4=&nadult5=&nchild5=&map=n

belladonna
08-14-2012, 03:15 AM
A variation :)

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica5.jpg

tarpnman
08-14-2012, 06:43 AM
They look great belladonna. The contest runs to the 24th. One thing we may want to consider is a very visible phone number.

Also, you can eliminate the 1- before the 877...

tarpnman
08-14-2012, 06:45 AM
Thanks djaka for the quick response. you can eliminate the 1- before the phone number.

belladonna
08-14-2012, 05:36 PM
Hi, not a problem, IŽll wait for some feedback closer to the deadline :). I fixed the phone number in the meantime:

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica2_changes.jpg

belladonna
08-14-2012, 05:37 PM
http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica5_changes.jpg

tarpnman
08-15-2012, 03:53 PM
Thank you belladonna for the quick turnaround!

djaka
08-16-2012, 06:58 AM
:)

tarpnman
08-16-2012, 12:38 PM
Thanks djaka,

Is this one different than your original?

I'm going to wait until the deadline before sharing with client.

djaka
08-20-2012, 05:43 PM
No actually, I just fixed the phone number as instructed.

silviu-ivan
08-21-2012, 04:55 AM
Hey Tarpnman,

Here is my concept. I went with a a clean and bold look, with a big slideshow that will impress the user. Right next to it, the user is invited to check the room availability, or to call the hotel for a reservation.

I didn't add any other text, in order to keep the site above the fold (max-height=600px). The site content has a height of 595px, so no vertical scrolling will appear.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Silviu

http://silviu-ivan.com/do/utica/utica-silviu-v1a.jpg

tarpnman
08-21-2012, 05:54 AM
This is a reminder to all designers that the deadline is coming up shortly for this project. Thank you to the designers that have already submitted, you guys are very creative!

All other designers, please submit ASAP!

Thanks,

Tarpnman

djaka
08-22-2012, 07:50 AM
another design, trying to capture element of the architecture of the hotel and the comfort of the room.
thank you

krishm
08-23-2012, 10:13 AM
I will submit very soon.. Thank you.

krishm
08-23-2012, 01:25 PM
Home Page design.

Thank you.

tarpnman
08-24-2012, 05:22 AM
All Designers,

Final Call for Template Entries.

Please submit your entries if you have not already.

Contest closes at 12:00 CST tonight.

Thanks

Tarpnman

tarpnman
08-27-2012, 05:30 AM
Attention Designers

The client likes belladonna and djaka. We are going to provide some revisions for them.

Thanks to the other designers for your great work!

tarpnman
08-27-2012, 06:16 AM
Belladonna,

They like the "dome" idea in the burgundy rendition. They'd like to make the phone/email more subtle. Perhaps remove the "box" around them. They like the dome, but want to see that in the brown you presented.

They also felt it was a bit "boxy". They like the piano photo.

There is a slight concern that the reservation column on the right might take up too much room. Perhaps you can run it along the bottom like on this site: http://www.bedandbreakfastsofsavannah.com/

Please try some of these changes when you have time.

Thanks tarpnman

tarpnman
08-27-2012, 06:24 AM
djaka,

They like the second rendition with the portico type header image. It would be great if you could remove the stock photo watermarks ;).

Try to make the tagline fonts more spread out and experiment with a different color, it doesn't look quite right.

You can bring back the "specials" area near the bottom, since we will need to have that, at least on the home page and perhaps visible throughout the site.

Maybe a combination horizontal booking widget and a specials are visible and condensed just above the footer area.

I don't believe we have to replicat all the links in the footer, just:
Home | Site Map | Contact

Try these changes - thanks
tarpnman

belladonna
08-27-2012, 04:35 PM
Hello :), thanks for the feedback! IŽll make some changes and have them ready for tomorrow morning. Thanks! :D

belladonna
08-28-2012, 02:56 PM
Hello, I made some changes, I removed the box behind the dome and also used a bigger image of the piano that fades into the welcome text area to make it less boxy. I also changed the book now section to horizontal and placed it right under the main image, hope its better now :D, as you can see the hight can be adapted so now it fits the screen without scrolling :yes:. Let me know what you think, more changes can be made!

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica_chosen_changes1.jpg

belladonna
08-28-2012, 03:30 PM
And a variation with room for the specials :D

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica_chosen_changes2.jpg

djaka
08-28-2012, 04:36 PM
Hi,
thank you for the feedback, I'm working on the revision.

tarpnman
08-29-2012, 11:40 AM
Thanks for the quick turnaround Bella.

I'll see what djaka comes up with and we'll make a decision.

djaka
08-30-2012, 07:16 AM
Thank you
kind regards

djaka
08-30-2012, 07:53 AM
with the specials :)

tarpnman
09-04-2012, 05:04 AM
We have chosen Belladonna as the winner. Congratulations.

Thanks to all the other designers, especially djaka, for the great work!

I have a few more revisions, bella. Perhaps we can discuss in the revisions forum.

Thanks!

tarpnman

djaka
09-04-2012, 05:16 AM
congratulation belladonna! :)

belladonna
09-04-2012, 10:35 AM
Thanks tarpnman! :D, Im ready to work on the changes, just let me know what you need and IŽll prepare it.

Thanks Djaka! :)

tarpnman
09-05-2012, 04:50 AM
belladonna,

Yes, here are the changes:
- remove the location field from the booking agent
- move the Book Now button to the right of the remaining fields, this will allow you to reduce the height of that whole lower row, including the specials.
- I would like a subpage as well, the color will be the same as the cream color to the right of the piano. We will retain the specials and booking widget throughout the site.
- There will be some footer information below the main template, against the patterned background, just below the bottom margin of the specials and booking widget.
- Footer: c Hotel Utica Home | Site Map | Contact 877-906-1912

Take a crack at these and we'll have another look.

Thanks

tarpnman

tarpnman
09-05-2012, 12:32 PM
whoops, I meant the cream color to the LEFT of the piano!

belladonna
09-05-2012, 10:32 PM
Hello, no problem I figured out that was the color :D, here you have the changes, do you have some content you would like me to try on the subpage?

Homepage

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica_chosen_changes3.jpg

belladonna
09-05-2012, 10:33 PM
Subpage

http://www.julieta-garcia.com.ar/julieta/do/bella_hotel_utica_chosen_subpage.jpg

tarpnman
09-06-2012, 08:56 AM
Thanks Bella,

I'm sending this to the client for final confirmation.

tarpnman
09-13-2012, 07:00 AM
OK Belladonna - all done.

Please send the psd's for both main and sub.

Thanks a Million for a great job, as usual.

Sincerely

tarpnman

belladonna
09-13-2012, 06:47 PM
Files sent!
Thanks! :D