Escape Sunzal

The Client

Escape Sunzal is a boutique surf hotel on El Salvador's Sunzal beach, one of the country's most popular surf destinations. The property combines comfortable accommodations with proximity to consistent waves and a growing food and nightlife scene.

The Challenge

The hotel was well-known among returning surfers but struggled to attract first-time visitors. Without a website, discovery happened exclusively through booking platforms that charged high commissions and didn't communicate the property's personality. The team needed a direct booking channel that showcased the Sunzal experience.

The Approach

We designed a visually-driven website that uses lifestyle photography to sell the experience, not just the rooms. The layout emphasizes the location: the surf break steps away, the local dining scene, and the laid-back atmosphere. The booking inquiry flow was simplified to a single form with smart date suggestions based on surf season.

The Solution

The final site features room pages with photo galleries, amenity details, and rate information; a location guide covering nearby surf breaks, restaurants, and activities; a streamlined booking inquiry form with seasonal pricing indicators; guest reviews integrated from third-party platforms; and a gallery section showcasing guest experiences. Image optimization keeps the photo-heavy pages loading quickly across mobile connections.

Direct booking inquiries grew by 42% in the first quarter, reducing dependence on commission-heavy OTA platforms. The average booking value from direct inquiries was 18% higher than OTA bookings, as guests could see and select premium room options. Page load times averaged 1.9 seconds on mobile. The location guide section drove 30% of repeat visits, with guests bookmarking it as a trip planning resource.