A DORSET brewery has invested in a county tech start-up that builds apps for the hospitality and tourism industries.

Hall & Woodhouse (H&W), based in Blandford, is backing tech firm Holidaymaker in its mission “to bolster the holiday park and hospitality industry with increased guest engagement technology”.

In 2020, the Holidaymaker guest experience app was created to drive revenue, boost brand loyalty, and increase repeat business for hospitality brands.

The developer created apps allowing people to interact with venues, as well as ordering and more.

The fresh investment from H&W will allow the company to develop implementation and reach of the technology.

Anthony Woodhouse, H&W chair, said: “We feel strongly about backing Dorset-based winners and enabling entrepreneurs to unlock their full potential.

“Holidaymaker was an obvious investment for us as a business due to its work in the hospitality sector.

“It is an exciting time to be working closely with Holidaymaker, as it looks to grow and push the boundaries of what can be achieved in the sector.

“We are eager to see what learnings we can apply to our own business through this partnership.”

H&W investment has already helped enable Holidaymaker to evolve from functioning solely as a guest experience app to a platform that enables parks to market directly to their guests and owners.

Anthony also sits on the Holidaymaker board in an advisory capacity.

Co-founder of Poundbury-based Holidaymaker, David Lakins, said: “Having Hall & Woodhouse’s backing has provided us with the foundation to take the next steps to grow the business and expand our offering.

“We are incredibly excited to have Anthony’s great insight, experience and guidance on the board, and his company (H&W) is the perfect match; sharing innovation, passion and culture.”

Holidaymaker is currently working on a new app for H&W which will create a personalised communication tool for the business.

The app will host information on H&W’s menus, dining offers, and local attractions, with guests also able to book a table, accommodation, and browse other pubs in the company’s estate across the south.

Anthony added: “Holidaymaker has a really interesting product with a strong management team.

“We believe in the team’s vision to provide technology that delivers innovative solutions for the hospitality sector. We feel fortunate to be part of the team’s journey to achieve this ambition.”

To find out more about Holidaymaker, visit www.holidaymakerapp.co.uk, and for more on Hall & Woodhouse, see www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk.