Acacia Ridge Hotel
A 24-room country hotel website where guests check dates, see the price and pay a deposit by M-Pesa from their phone.
- Client
- Fictional hotel, Nanyuki
- Services
- Website, M-Pesa, training
- Built with
- WordPress, Daraja STK Push
- Package
- Premium, 21 days
This is a demonstration project for a fictional organisation. It shows how we would plan and build this work for you. Ask us for a walkthrough on a call. You can also try the M-Pesa checkout yourself; it runs in simulation mode, so no money moves.
The brief
Most guests find a country hotel on a phone, often from Google Maps or an Instagram post shared by a friend. They want three answers quickly: is a room free on my dates, what does it cost, and can I pay without calling.
The brief we set for this demonstration was a hotel with 24 rooms and a busy front desk that loses bookings when the phone rings during check-in. The owner wants direct bookings, fewer commission payments to booking sites, and a site the manager can update.
What we built
Each room type has its own page with photos, what is included, the nightly rate and a short list of house rules. A date checker sits at the top of every page, so a guest never has to hunt for it.
When a guest asks for a booking, the site sends an M-Pesa payment prompt for the deposit straight to their phone through Safaricom’s Daraja STK Push. The front desk gets the booking on WhatsApp and email with the M-Pesa receipt number, so there is nothing to retype.
Rates the manager controls
Seasonal prices and closed dates are changed from one screen, with no code.
M-Pesa deposit
The guest enters their number and gets the PIN prompt on their phone. Payment and booking are matched by receipt number.
Fast on 3G
Compressed photos and a light theme, tested on a mid-range Tecno and an Infinix phone.
Found on Google
Google Business Profile, map, opening hours and structured data for rooms and reviews.
WhatsApp handover
Every booking request reaches the front desk on WhatsApp with dates, guests and the receipt.
Privacy first
A clear privacy notice and consent for marketing messages, in line with Kenya’s Data Protection Act.
How we would measure success
For a real client we agree these measures at the start and check them after launch.
- Direct bookingsShare of bookings made on the website instead of through agents.
- Deposit rateHow many booking requests come with a paid deposit.
- Phone callsFewer calls asking about prices and availability.
- Page speedTime to load on a mid-range phone on 3G.
Built with
- WordPress
- Sorvantic M-Pesa plugin
- Daraja STK Push
- WhatsApp Business
Screenshots
Taken from the working build, not mock-ups.
Want something like this for your organisation?
Tell us what you need and we’ll send a written quotation within two working days.