Das Kittchen's Journey from Former Penitentiary to a High-Tech Smart Hostel

Client

das-kittchen.de

Property Type

Hostel

Location

Wismar, Germany

The project launch

April 2024

About Das Kittchen

Das Kittchen is a unique hostel set in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Wismar. Opening its doors in June 2024, this conceptual hostel once was a youth detention center. It offers guests an extraordinary experience – to stay in rooms converted from former prison cells. Despite the unconventional setting, Das Kittchen lies in the very heart of the city and ensures comfort with modern amenities and a welcoming atmosphere.

Each of the 35 rooms is equipped with a flat-screen TV, tasteful modern furnishing, and some even feature automated skylights. To enhance guest comfort and incorporate smart home automation into the hostel rooms, the owner, Christopher Lunke, was looking for an all-in-one software solution.

Challenges Faced by Das Kittchen

The visionary owners of Das Kittchen sought to create a seamless and memorable guest experience while managing the complexities of hostel operations.

With a diverse range of room types, including accessible rooms and multi-bed dormitories, as well as the need for OTA channel connectivity and automation of internal processes, the hostel required a powerful yet easy-to-learn system. Key requirements included:

Implementing a user-friendly system for staff and guests

The owners faced the challenge of finding a software solution that was both comprehensive and easy to use. With a diverse team, including new staff who required quick training, the system needed to be intuitive to ensure smooth operations.

Managing room availability and bookings across various OTA channels

The hostel aimed to synchronize the data across all channels in real-time, ensuring optimal occupancy rates. They needed a robust channel manager to reduce manual intervention and potential errors.

Simplifying check-ins and check-outs with a wall-mounted kiosk system

Another challenge was to simplify the check-in and check-out process. This kind of automation requires careful planning and execution to provide an efficient experience for guests and improve overall satisfaction.

Providing secure, smartphone-enabled access to room and cabinet locks

To ensure security while providing convenience, the hostel wanted to implement a system that allowed guests to access their rooms and cabinets using their smartphones.

Automating room functions such as TV, heating, and lighting controls

Das Kittchen’s owners envisioned a high-tech guest experience where room functions like TV, heating, and lighting could be controlled via in-room tablets or a Mobile App. The task was to integrate this into the PMS and ensure the reliability of the system.

Integrating automation for payment, inventory management, and accounting

The challenge was to find an integrated solution that could handle these diverse tasks accurately. This required robust software capable of managing transactions, tracking inventory, and generating detailed reports for accounting purposes.

Solutions Provided by HotelFriend

HotelFriend provided a Grow suite, strategically combined with its guest-facing products.

Property Management System: The PMS delivers a robust solution for managing bookings, room types, rates, and check-in/check-out times. With modules for event management, housekeeping management, accounting, and reporting, the system ensures comprehensive coverage of hostel management, making operations smoother and more organized.
Booking Engine: A customized booking engine was seamlessly integrated into Das Kittchen's website, allowing guests to make direct bookings. It boosts direct revenue and helps to provide guests with a seamless booking experience.
Channel Manager: The Channel Manager synchronizes room availability across multiple OTA channels such as Booking.com, Trivago, HRS, and Expedia. With 2-way synchronization, the optimal occupancy rates are maintained, and all channels accurately reflect room availability.
Mobile Concierge App: Enhancing the guest experience, the Mobile Concierge App now allows guests to control room features such as lighting and TV, and access hostel information via their smartphones. This modern touch aligns with the hostel's vision of smart automation, creating an even more unparalleled experience.

Wallmount Kiosk + HotelFriend POS: To streamline the check-in and check-out process, HotelFriend provided an efficient POS and kiosk bundle. Such setup enables guests to quickly check in and out, encode room key cards, and settle final bills without any need to wait or interact with staff.

Implementation and support

We ensured that the implementation process was easy for Das Kittchen and provided comprehensive support every step of the way.

Training

Comprehensive training sessions were conducted for the hostel staff to quickly adapt to the new system. It ensured that all team members, regardless of their tech proficiency, could use the system effectively.

Extended support

Ongoing assistance was provided to address any operational challenges. We took care of resolving all issues promptly so that the property could operate without disruptions.

Integrations featured

The property required integration with several external systems to fully optimize transactions, door lock access, and control room lighting and heating.

HotelFriend POS

HotelFriend's POS system collects sales from tablets and self-service kiosks into one cloud-based ecosystem, boosting efficiency and service quality. It provides real-time visibility of table bookings and helps staff manage the restaurant smoothly.

Salto Systems

The Salto electronic locks enable secure door access using various credentials and mobile technologies, fitting most standard doors. They provide an ideal solution for secure access control across diverse applications, from hotels to corporate offices.

KNX

KNX is an open standard for building automation that enables integrated control of various systems, including lighting, HVAC, blinds, security, energy management, and more. KNX devices communicate seamlessly, allowing centralized management of the hostel's environment.

Fiskaly

Fiskaly provides cloud-based fiscalization for receipts in Germany and Austria, without the need for on-site installations. Its API-first products ensure easy integration with existing systems and compliance with local tax laws.

DATEV Export

DATEV offers comprehensive software for accounting and business organization, used by over two million German companies. HotelFriend's integration with DATEV simplifies financial accounting by connecting the PMS to the software with a convenient export feature.

Google Hotels

Google Hotels helps users search for, compare, and book hotel accommodations, enhancing online presence and reach for hoteliers. It offers tools to attract potential customers and manage bookings effectively.

Results Achieved

HotelFriend’s suite exceeded the expectations of both the guests and the management team, setting a new standard for what a modern, tech-savvy hostel can offer.

Fully automated room experience

Das Kittchen now offers guests a fully automated experience where various room functions are seamlessly controlled through intuitive interfaces. Guests can adjust lighting, heating, and even entertainment systems via in-room tablets or the mobile app.

80% reduction in wait times during busy hours

The wall-mounted kiosk and POS system have revolutionized the check-in and check-out process. Guests now enjoy a hassle-free experience, with an 80% reduction in wait times during peak hours. This efficiency has contributed to a smoother operation and enhanced guest satisfaction.

Achieved a higher level of access security and convenience

The integration of Salto Systems for secure door access has provided guests with the convenience of smartphone-enabled entry while ensuring high security standards are maintained. This modern access control solution has added to the unique experience of staying at Das Kittchen, where the past meets cutting-edge technology.

Staff productivity improved by 33%

The intuitive interface and comprehensive training provided by HotelFriend have enabled the staff to quickly adapt to the new system, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations. The PMS has facilitated better room management, efficient housekeeping schedules, and seamless event coordination.

Spike in guest satisfaction and positive reviews

With the implementation of the Mobile Concierge App and smart room automation, guest satisfaction has improved even further. Visitors are thrilled with the convenience of controlling room features and paying via their smartphones, which was reflected in positive reviews and increased repeat bookings.