Independent Travel Agent Website Build

The project is to create a clean, mobile-friendly website that serves as the online hub for my independent travel agency. At its core the site must combine a real-time booking system with rich, inspirational content so visitors can research, plan, and complete their trip in one place.

Key functionality
• Booking system that lets clients search dates, see live availability, and pay securely.
• Travel blogs and tips section I can update easily to keep SEO fresh and showcase expertise.
• Customer reviews displayed in an engaging, filterable format.
• Contact form routed to my CRM.
• On-page chat bot plus an AI assistant that can answer common itinerary questions 24/7.
• Newsletter subscription that plugs into Mailchimp (or a comparable tool) for automated follow-ups.

Look & feel
The visual style should evoke adventure and trust—think high-impact hero images, clear calls-to-action, and a colour palette that aligns with modern travel brands. Speed, accessibility, and responsive behaviour across desktop, tablet, and mobile are non-negotiable.

Tech stack
I’m open to WordPress with a reputable travel theme, a custom build, or another platform you recommend—provided future content edits remain simple for a non-coder.

Acceptance criteria
1. All features above work seamlessly in Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge.
2. Page load under three seconds on a standard broadband connection (GTmetrix test).
3. GDPR-compliant cookies and data handling.
4. Handover includes admin credentials, theme/plugin licences (if any), and a short video walk-through.

If parts of the build can be staged—design first, then booking integration, then AI/chat—please outline that in your proposal along with an estimated timeline for each stage.