HotelFriend Helps Das HÖFCHEN Eliminate Overbookings and Improve Direct Sales by 20%
Client
dashoefchen.deProperty Type
Hotel
Location
Stadecken-Elsheim, Germany
The project launch
July 2021
About Das HÖFCHEN
Das HÖFCHEN is a charming family-owned hotel located in Stadecken-Elsheim, Germany. Here, the owners Carla Rauch and Annkristin Schmied-von Witzleben encourage sustainable travel by promoting local culture, serving organic products, and running regular yoga retreats.
Based in a former winery, the hotel boasts 8 guest rooms, a bar, a 24-hour front desk, plenty of space for outdoor activities, and a dedicated site for workshops.
However, Das HÖFCHEN struggled to organize the hotel’s daily operations, especially those related to handling online bookings. Striving to provide a hassle-free experience to their guests, the owners contacted HotelFriend to resolve the issue.
Challenges Faced by Das HÖFCHEN
Das HÖFCHEN was using a legacy property management system (PMS) that lacked modern features and functionalities. They also used a third-party channel manager which was not integrated with the PMS and induced a fragmented workflow.
As a result, the client faced overbooking problems and a delay in responding to booking requests. The hotel was also missing out on potential revenue opportunities due to its inability to sell rooms, services, and special offers directly from its website.
Solutions Provided by HotelFriend
HotelFriend's team worked closely with Das HÖFCHEN to understand their needs and challenges. Based on their feedback, we provided the hotel with a Growth package that includes a cloud-based PMS with a fully integrated Booking Engine and Channel Manager. The suite was implemented in July 2021.
The HotelFriend's technology aimed to boost the hotel’s workflow in the following ways:
- The new PMS with a clear interface and functionalities fully matched Das HÖFCHEN's requirements. It offered a centralized dashboard for managing daily operations such as reservations, guest check-ins, invoicing, and housekeeping.
- The integrated Booking Engine allowed guests to instantly reserve rooms and services online via the booking button. The look and feel of the booking engine were tailored to match the hotel’s website. Now the guests can view detailed descriptions of rooms, check-in/out times, and experience smooth online checkout.
- The Channel Manager helped the hotel prevent overbookings by syncing all their online and offline bookings in real-time. Now the client can automatically update rates, availability, and inventory across all channels from a single platform.
Results Achieved
Backed by HotelFriend, Das HÖFCHEN was able to automate its daily operations, eliminate disruptions, and provide a seamless booking experience to guests. “The staff no longer has to worry about overbookings or responding to booking requests manually, and that significantly increased our productivity,” says Carla.
No more overbookings
With the integrated Channel Manager, overbookings have become a thing of the past. The HotelFriend system ensures that inventory is accurately updated in real-time across all channels, including online travel agencies (OTAs), thereby reducing the risk of double bookings. This has resulted in a significant decrease in customer complaints and negative reviews.
Direct sales increased by 20%
HotelFriend's integrated Booking Engine has made it easier for guests to book rooms, lunches, wine-tasting events, or conference facilities directly from the hotel's website. The ability to upsell these services to guests while they are making a reservation resulted in a significant increase in online sales.
Around 3.5 hours per week are saved on manual tasks
Seamless integration between the tech stack components has eliminated disruptions in daily workflow and resulted in improved staff productivity. Das HÖFCHEN has been able to reduce the number of recurring manual tasks, freeing approximately 3.5 hours per week for staff to focus on delivering exceptional experiences.
Enhanced brand image
The implementation of a new PMS has greatly contributed to the hotel's brand image. Guests are pleased with the hotel's efficiency and the level of service provided by the staff. With a user-friendly and reliable booking system in place, the hotel has gained a competitive edge in the market and positioned itself as modern and tech-savvy.
«The team is extremely friendly: they listen to your ideas and deliver exactly what you want. Thank you very much!»
Hotel Das HÖFCHEN
Carla Rauch, General Manager