Stay In The Bay

A website redesign project for 5 different websites

stay in the bay website series

Project Brief

Design Challenge: Can one WordPress theme be re-used among multiple websites and still be flexible with branding and content?

The websites needed to reflect these two layers of branding. We also needed to curb the cost of redoing work that could potentially be reused. We decided on creating a singular parent theme, which each website would use, and creating a child theme for each individual website. The child theme would override the parent theme in key areas where the second level of branding needed to come through.

Skills & Tools Used:

Other:

Bootstrap

The Finished Websites

With the initial launch of the project I developed the child themes for Greenwich Inn, Berkeley Rodeway Inn, and Marinwood Inn & Suites.

Motel Capri specials page
Guests can easily find special rates to book from the website.
Marinwood inn and suites local area
Users can view a collection of popular attractions in the area.
Berkeley Rodeway Inn stay in the bay partners
The footer of each site promotes the other properties in the area.
Berkeley Rodeway Inn website design
Final website for berkeleyrodewayinn.com
Greenwich Inn website design
Final website for greenwichinn.com
Marinwood Inn and Suites website design
Final website for innnovato.com
Motel Capri website design
Final website for sfmotelcapri.com

Interactive Features

The websites were tied together using a “popover” which displays all available partners. The theme was developed to be optimal for mobile users especially in call-to-actions and website navigational features.

Stay In The Bay website brandmark pop out feature
The user can quickly navigate to other properties by clicking the brand mark.
Stay In The Bay website mobile menu
The pop-out menu has a layout optimal for mobile devices.

Project Expansion

As the client continued to add properties to the Stay In the Bay Portfolio, the website series expanded—all using the originally developed parent theme. Myself and other developers created child themes and curated content for each website brought onboard.

Geary Parkway Motel website project
Final website for gearyparkwaymotel.com
Presidio Inn website project
Final website for presidioinn.com
Travelodge Vallejo website project
Final website for travelodgevallejo.com
Stay In The Bay brand website project
Final website for stayinthebay.com
El Camino Inn website project
Final website for elcaminoinn.com

Conclusion

The execution of the WordPress themes worked perfectly. Using a symbolic link one parent theme would delegate files to each WordPress installation. The child theme implemented colors and variations in each website’s page templates. The project can be expanded indefinitely while allowing for variations to branding elements in each partnered website.

Project Team

  • Jacob McAdam, Project Manager & Web Developer
  • Jared Wallace, Graphic Designer
  • Moe Himed, Web Developer

This website was made by OptiRev for their client Stay In The Bay (2016).

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