A Boutique Desert Retreat Launched From Brand to First Booking in 14 Weeks
We launched a 24-villa desert retreat for a private investor: brand, direct-booking website, OTA and Google listings, guest messaging and launch campaigns.
RAS AL KHAIMAH · 60 MINUTES FROM DUBAI
Twenty-four villas
at the edge of the desert
The villas
Compare all villas
Dune Pool Villa
1 bedroom · 85 m² · private pool
Oasis Family Villa
2 bedrooms · 140 m² · sleeps 5
Hajar Residence
3 bedrooms · 220 m² · butler
- Client
- RAK Glamping
- Location
- Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
- Website
- rakglamping.com
- Sector
- Hospitality & Travel
- Service
- Build With Us
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Team
- 6 people: venture lead, brand designer, 2 devs, performance marketer, content writer
- Built with
- Next.jsSanity CMSCloudbedsStripeWhatsApp Business APIGoogle AdsVercel
- direct bookings
- 62%direct bookings
- first-season occupancy
- 78%first-season occupancy
- average guest rating
- 4.8★average guest rating
- idea to first booking
- 14 weeksidea to first booking
01 · About the client
The owner of RAK Glamping, a UAE-based private investor, built 24 villas at the edge of the Ras Al Khaimah desert, an hour from Dubai. The property was nearly finished, but there was no name, no brand, no booking system and no team to run marketing. The investor wanted a retreat that could sell directly to guests from the UAE, Europe and the UK rather than depend on travel agencies and booking sites.
02 · The problem
- 01
No brand or presence.
The property had no name, identity, website or listings.
- 02
OTA dependence.
Without a direct channel, most bookings would come through commission-heavy booking sites.
- 03
Fixed opening date.
The first season started in fourteen weeks, when desert weather turns mild.
- 04
Owner time.
The investor wanted a weekly report, not a second full-time job.
03 · Our solution
Acting as the retreat's founding team, we created the name, identity and story, then built a fast direct-booking website connected to the property management system, with secure payments and seasonal pricing. We set up and optimised Google Business Profile, Google Hotel Ads and the main booking sites, all synced from one calendar. A WhatsApp concierge handles pre-arrival questions, experiences and transfers, handing special requests to the guest team. Launch campaigns targeted UAE weekenders and European winter travellers, and the owner receives a one-page weekly report.
04 · What we built
Brand and story
Name, identity, photography direction and tone of voice.
Direct-booking website
Live availability, seasonal pricing and secure payments.
Channel management
Google Hotel Ads and booking sites synced from one calendar.
WhatsApp concierge
Pre-arrival questions, experiences and transfers in the guest's chat.
Weekly owner report
Bookings, occupancy, revenue and reviews on one page.
Building a hospitality venture? Let's launch it together.
05 · Challenges we solved
- 1
Winning direct bookings
We offered direct-only perks and best-rate messaging so guests had a reason to book on the website.
- 2
Seasonality
Pricing and campaigns were planned around the desert season and UAE long weekends.
- 3
Opening on time
Brand, site and listings ran in parallel tracks so everything was live before the first guests.
06 · Our approach
Weeks 1–2
01 Discovery
Positioning, guest profiles and pricing with the investor.
Weeks 3–5
02 Brand
Name, identity, story and photography brief.
Weeks 6–11
03 Build
Website, booking engine, listings and WhatsApp concierge.
Weeks 12–14
04 Launch
Campaigns in the UAE, UK and Europe and the first guests.
07 · Results
The retreat opened on schedule with a recognisable brand and a booking website that brings in most reservations directly. Guest questions are answered on WhatsApp in seconds, and the investor follows the business through a weekly one-page report.
Inside the product.
Key screens from the build. Click any screen to enlarge.
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Get in touch
Building a hospitality venture? Let's launch it together.
Share a few lines about your idea, workflow or project. A senior lead replies within one business day.
- Free 30-minute strategy call
- NDA on request
- Proposal within 48 hours
The right conversation can save you
six months.
Free 30-minute strategy call · NDA on request · Proposal within 48 hours