Most hospitality websites lose customers before they even walk in. We compare what's available and show you what a well-built venue site should cost, look like, and do.
Most venue websites are costing them bookings. Slow load times, no online menu, buried phone numbers, and photos taken on a phone from 2019. The good news: a purpose-built hospitality site doesn't have to cost a fortune. Below are the main options, from DIY to fully custom, and what each is actually worth.
We design and build hospitality websites in-house, purpose-built for Australian venues. Not a template. Not a WordPress plugin. A fast, conversion-focused site with your menu, booking integration, Google Business optimisation and photography brief included. We know what hospitality venues need because we work with them every day.
The best-looking DIY templates on the market. Squarespace sites look professional with minimal effort and include a basic online store and reservations via OpenTable. Good starting point for venues that want to manage their own content.
Wix gives more layout flexibility than Squarespace with an AI builder that generates a starter site in minutes. Large app market including reservation tools, loyalty widgets and live chat. Good if you want to customise heavily without code.
The most powerful and flexible option, but it needs someone to build and maintain it. Not a DIY choice for most venue owners. Best when paired with a developer who knows hospitality, otherwise it becomes a maintenance burden.
A full-service agency will build whatever you want and handle everything. The downside: most aren't hospitality specialists, charge accordingly, and the result is often over-engineered for a venue that just needs a fast, clean site that converts.
How the main options compare for a typical Australian venue.
| Option | Typical cost | Hospitality-specific | Done for you | Ongoing support | Time to live |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarginCompare Service Recommended | Fixed price, get a quote | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Squarespace | $23+/month | to | to | to | Self-paced |
| Wix | $22+/month | to | to | to | Self-paced |
| WordPress + developer | $3,000 to $8,000+ | to | ✓ | Varies | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Digital agency | $8,000 to $25,000+ | to | ✓ | Retainer | 8 to 16 weeks |
Tell us a bit about your venue and we'll come back with a fixed price, a timeline and what we'd build for you.
Get a free quote