Greta House website launched following visitor demand

Finding the ideal bed and breakfast in County Durham has become even easier for surfers on the web as June saw the eagerly awaited launch of Greta House’s new website.

With the help of the North East Regional Portal (TNERP) the Greta House bed and breakfast in Barnard Castle is now online and ready for business.

Greta House owner Kath Chesman contacted the regional portal after receiving a postcard detailing its ‘Grow Your Business’ (GROW) initiative which offers local SMEs up to 80 per cent funding to develop their IT systems and services.

The initiative provides rural and urban businesses in the region with advice and funding to help them update or implement IT systems and it is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and One NorthEast.

Although Greta House is a very small bed and breakfast with just three double bedrooms, Kath had been overrun with requests to put the guest house online as she explains:

“A lot of our guests are from all over the country and they stay here year-after-year when they visit the region. Many of them have asked if we have a website, as they want to show their friends and family where they stayed while here.

“Also, I’ve found in the past year when people phone up to book they want to look at what they’re booking before paying. Now they can.

“When I received the postcard from TNERP it seemed the perfect opportunity. As I don’t get a huge income from Greta House, I couldn’t justify spending a lot of money on a website and as 80 per cent of it was funded, the expense was greatly reduced. It didn’t compromise on the quality however, and I’m overjoyed with the finished site.”

“Greta House is a prime example of the positive impact the GROW scheme is having on smaller business that just don’t have the money to spend updating IT systems”, says Norma Foster, chief executive at n-e-life.com. “But our initial consultation with Kath proved that no matter what the size of your business, having an online presence is no longer a luxury - it’s a necessity.”

Located in the picturesque Galgate area of Barnard Castle, Greta House offers guests a home-from-home, a place to relax and unwind with the little extra touches that differentiate it from some of the larger hotels in the region. Prices for a double room start from £57 per night and include breakfast. For further information visit www.gretahouse.co.uk or telephone (01833) 631193.

A not-for-profit organisation and a fully owned subsidiary of the Regional Development Agency One NorthEast, TNERP represents the North East England online via its n-e-life.com website. It can also provide e-commerce advice, funding, e-tendering services and online shopping.

For further information telephone 0191 487 2002 or visit www.n-e-life.com.