My name is Tom Wilson, and until a few years ago, I was just another graphic designer working at a small firm in downtown Toronto. It wasn’t a bad job, but something was always missing. I loved design, of course, but there was a deeper itch that I couldn’t quite scratch—an itch for creation, for control over a project from start to finish. But I didn’t know what to do about it. Then, one evening after a few glasses of wine, I found myself stumbling upon a website that caught my eye: JoomlaHBS.com. At the time, I had no clue what “Joomla” was, let alone “HBS,” but by the end of the night, I knew that this was going to be the start of something new.
I had dabbled in Website Development a few years before, playing around with HTML and CSS in my free time, but I never took it seriously. The idea of creating fully functional websites was intimidating to me. But after digging into Joomla, I realized how accessible it could be. Joomla HBS, with its built-in hotel and booking management system, was particularly intriguing. I had recently spent some time helping a friend renovate her small boutique hotel, and the idea of building a website that would not only showcase the property but also allow guests to book directly felt like a challenge I was ready to take on.
I started experimenting, first with small projects. I set up a personal portfolio site, just to get the hang of Joomla. The more I learned, the more I realized the platform was far more powerful than I had ever imagined. The flexibility was endless—thanks to its components, modules, and extensions, I could essentially create any kind of site I wanted. But it wasn’t just about designing something that looked good; Joomla HBS showed me how to incorporate booking systems, availability calendars, and guest review systems—all without needing to write any complex code.
What struck me most about Website Development was how empowering it felt. I had always worked as part of a team, relying on developers and project managers to handle the technical side. Now, I could bring my ideas to life by myself. I used Joomla HBS to design the site for the boutique hotel I mentioned earlier, integrating its powerful booking system. The process was remarkably smooth, and within weeks, the hotel’s owner was already seeing an increase in direct bookings. It was rewarding to know that my design had helped her business grow.
But I wasn’t content with just one project. I wanted to expand. I started reaching out to local businesses—restaurants, event spaces, and even smaller bed and breakfasts—offering my services to build their websites with integrated booking systems. I quickly realized that Website Development was not only a creative outlet for me, but also a way to help small businesses compete in an increasingly digital world. I wasn’t just creating pretty websites; I was solving problems and giving these businesses the tools they needed to succeed.
Over the next year, I took on more clients, each with different needs. Some wanted booking systems that could manage seasonal promotions. Others needed the ability to offer discounts or collect customer feedback through review systems. The more I worked with Joomla HBS, the more I appreciated its versatility. Its ability to customize every aspect of the booking experience was a game-changer. With the Room Type Component, I could offer my clients the option to categorize their rooms in multiple ways—by bed size, view, price range, or even amenities. The Booking Cart Module, which allowed users to book multiple rooms at once, was another feature that impressed me.
As my business grew, so did my understanding of Website Development. I started hiring a small team to help me with larger projects, and we began offering full-fledged solutions that included not just web design, but also SEO optimization, social media integration, and even content creation. Joomla HBS continued to be the backbone of our booking systems. We used the Booking Cancellation Component to ensure our clients could handle booking changes, the Global Hotel Search Modules to help users find properties worldwide, and even implemented the Top Destination Module to highlight certain locations.
The most satisfying part of this journey was how much it impacted my clients. Take the case of Sarah, who ran a small vineyard bed and breakfast. Her website was outdated, and she had been relying on third-party platforms to handle bookings, which resulted in a large percentage of her income going toward commissions. We worked together to create a customized booking solution using Joomla HBS, which allowed her to take direct bookings, offer seasonal discounts, and even upsell her wine tours. The increase in revenue and customer satisfaction was substantial, and Sarah’s success story became one of the key reasons my business began to thrive.
Today, my agency specializes in Website Development for small to medium-sized businesses in the hospitality industry. We’ve expanded from local clients to international ones, helping hotels, guesthouses, and travel agencies set up their own booking systems. It’s a far cry from the design firm I once worked for, and it’s everything I could have hoped for. I never imagined that a random night spent exploring Joomla HBS would lead me to such a fulfilling career. But here I am, not just building websites but building meaningful connections with my clients and helping them achieve their business goals.
Joomla HBS has played a crucial role in my success. Its simplicity, flexibility, and ability to scale for various business needs made it the perfect platform for someone like me who started out with no real technical experience. If you’re thinking about diving into Website Development, especially in the hospitality or tourism sector, I couldn’t recommend Joomla HBS enough. It was the key to unlocking a world of possibilities I never imagined for myself. And for that, I’ll be forever grateful.