Global Bay approached Valsanzibio, formally known as The Monumental Garden of Valsanzibio and Villa Barbarigo when it was facing a downturn in 2018. With its foresight and anticipatory approach, Global Bay helped Valsanzibio see tremendous growth post-pandemic, exceed its conversion targets, and achieve international interest.
Challenge
After a decade of steady increase in the number of visitors year on year, Valsanzibio saw a slowdown in 2018. The owner sought broader visibility through PR, including an article in the UK’s Financial Times. That’s where Global Bay approached the estate and began discussions.
Challenge one was to redesign the outdated website. It clearly lacked user experience across different devices. The old website also didn’t support online ticketing. Challenge two was to fix the inconsistent social media activity, and challenge three was a lack of low-quality visual content that would do justice to the estate’s beauty.
The final challenge was competitor analysis of similar Italian landmarks that were already benefiting from an improved digital presence.
Solution
From October 2018 to February 2019, Global Bay worked closely with Valsanzibio to transform its digital presence.
After redesigning and creating a fast, superior website, Global Bay paired it with an integrated online ticketing system. A rich social media strategy was poised for the global stage, and to support it, Global Bay created a resource library of high-quality photo and video assets.
Since launching in February 2019, Global Bay has continued to work with Valsanzibio on a retained basis, which helps the estate maintain its digital growth and attract global audiences.
Result
Results exceeded expectations when Global Bay launched Valsanzibio’s new digital platform. The monthly web traffic increased by 300%, Instagram and Facebook followers grew by 353% and 171%, respectively, and the new online ticketing system became a crucial asset during and after the pandemic, as it enabled safe and contactless bookings. As a result, digital ticket sales surged by 806% as compared to 2019. With Global Bay’s assistance, Valsanzibio outlasted its challenging period and emerged so strong that it earned a feature on BBC’s Monty Don’s Adriatic Gardens, which exposed it to a global audience.
Jay Harrison 