Vlaanderen Vakantieland: digital transformation of a Flemish icon

Simplified technical architecture for the revamped Vlaanderen Vakantieland website

The refresh of the Vlaanderen Vakantieland website resulted in a simplified technical architecture. Before, there were three separate websites (Vlaanderen Vakantieland, Logeren in Vlaanderen, and the accommodation management portal) and different content management tools. That approach had room for improvement. Today, the three portals have been brought together under one website and the use of different tools and platforms has been reduced to a minimum.

With the help of iO, all existing data was migrated to the new CMS, keeping manual work to a minimum. The new website was built in the open-source CMS Drupal 10. The result is a website with inspiration for holiday experiences and holidays nearby, where accommodation can be searched, and where properties can manage their accommodation.

Challenge

Integrating three websites and various tooling to streamline maintenance and reduce costs.

Solution

A future-proof Drupal 10 platform that lays the foundation for further digitalisation.

About Vlaanderen Vakantieland

Many Belgians know Vlaanderen Vakantieland, the television programme that has aired on public television since 1990. But behind Vlaanderen Vakantieland is also Logeren in Vlaanderen vzw, an organisation dedicated to promoting holiday experiences and holidays in your own country, in cooperation with local tourist organisations. They also offer support to accommodations in terms of marketing and entrepreneurship.

To the website

Easy management and promotion: The revamped accommodation portal

Some 1.300 hotels, bed & breakfasts, and holiday homes are currently registered on the website. The owners of those accommodations can log in to the Vlaanderen Vakantieland portal to manage and edit the details of their accommodation. They can also add packages, often combining local trips or experiences with an overnight stay in their accommodation. iO has migrated and simplified the portal for these accommodations, making it even easier for them to manage and promote their property.

Carefree SEO migration and go-to-market

Migrating three different websites to one revamped website is no simple feat. Both Vlaanderen Vakantieland and Logeren in Vlaanderen have built up considerable SEO value, which we did not want to lose in this migration.

Our SEO and go-to-market experts ensure that websites go online smoothly and according to the appropriate quality standards. For this reason, we created a detailed plan for a smooth SEO migration and corresponding redirect plan. By doing so, we avoid 404 errors during the migration and preserve — and when possible even improve — the SEO value.

We also paid a lot of attention to the data and analytics part of the website, with a comprehensive measurement plan and careful configuration of the necessary measurement tools. This allows us to accurately measure the behaviour of website visitors, while of course respecting GDPR legislation and visitor privacy.

A solid foundation for ambitious digital plans

The updated website is not only intended to make it easier and more fun for users to find holiday experiences nearby. It also forms a solid basis for the ambitious future plans of Logeren in Vlaanderen vzw.

Now that the technological basis and architecture are in place, we can help the organisation to digitalise further. That includes online renewal and handling of accommodation memberships, expansion of the webshop (for selling and cashing holiday vouchers), and online ticket sales.

Experiencing Flanders has never been easier.

Vlaanderen Vakantieland and iO, a fruitful collaboration

Our collaboration with Vlaanderen Vakantieland demonstrates how a thoughtful approach and high-quality website development can lead to further successful digital transformation.

By using proven and reliable technologies like Drupal, we created a platform that enhances the user experience and provides a solid foundation for the organisation's further growth. These steps are part of a larger story of success and progress.

Logeren in Vlaanderen vzw was very excited and satisfied with the collaboration with iO. We are proud that we were able to sink our teeth into such an iconic brand and be a part of this journey. Of course, the project and cooperation was only successful thanks to a strong team and the right vision on the client side.