Hotel Szeifert is a jewel located in the heart of Sovata, a renowned spa town in Mureș County, Romania, offering a blend of relaxation, wellness, and comfort. It has become a sought-after destination for both domestic and international guests due to its proximity to the famous Ursu Lake, the largest warm saline lake in the world.
The hotel started its journey in 2012 with just 16 rooms and one accommodation unit. It has since expanded and now accommodates up to 104 guests across three buildings, offering a range of services such as saltwater baths, massages, and even dental services. In 2014, it was awarded “Hotel of the Year” by Szallas.hu, and in 2019, it received the same award from Travelminit, based on guest reviews and jury evaluation.
In 2022, Desy Laszlo, a former bank director, joined the Szeifert Hotel team. Using his expertise, he focused on optimizing the hotel’s economic performance and improving its operational efficiency.
Business Challenges
Before collaborating with Pynbooking, Szeifert Hotel was using traditional software for managing bookings, which lacked a Channel Manager. As a result, all reservations made through online partners like Booking.com and Travelminit were handled manually.
This manual process led to numerous problems, including overbooking risks and the need to manually input reservation details from multiple sources. Furthermore, the hotel faced significant challenges with cancellations and managing group bookings, especially when details about special services and requests were required for each guest.
Additionally, the hotel needed a solution that would streamline its reservation process and automate the booking and invoicing systems. Desy Laszlo also wanted to optimize the hotel's website to drive more direct bookings and reduce its reliance on third-party platforms.
The Solution
The collaboration with Pynbooking began in 2023 when Desy Laszlo sought a solution to automate reservations and streamline processes. After researching options and receiving recommendations from other professionals in Sovata, Desy decided to move forward with Pynbooking.
The team quickly set up the hotel’s property in the PMS Cloud Hotel system, and it was integrated with the Channel Manager to synchronize and update availability, prices, and reservations across multiple platforms such as Booking.com and Travelminit. Additionally, the hotel's website was upgraded with the Pynbooking Booking Engine, allowing direct bookings to be made with ease.
The GuestApp was also integrated to automate guest check-ins, check-outs, and communications. This enabled Szeifert Hotel to offer a self-service experience to its guests, improving the overall guest experience and reducing manual work for the staff.
Benefits
By using Pynbooking, Hotel Szeifert has significantly improved its operations and increased its direct bookings. With the help of the Booking Engine, direct bookings now represent a large portion of total reservations, reducing reliance on third-party platforms and the associated commission fees.
Other significant benefits include:
- Automated Reservation Process: The integration of the Channel Manager has allowed for synchronized updates across all platforms, reducing errors and increasing booking efficiency.
- Real-Time Reports: Hotel management has access to up-to-date reports, allowing them to monitor occupancy rates, room availability, and other key performance indicators.
- Dynamic Pricing Optimization: The hotel has used the “Rate Optimizer” feature to offer promotional rates during off-peak seasons, further maximizing revenue.
- Group Booking Management: Handling group bookings has become much more efficient, reducing the time spent on manually entering special requests and conditions.
- Improved Guest Experience: With the implementation of the GuestApp, guests can enjoy a streamlined check-in/check-out process, enhancing their overall experience.
As a result, Hotel Szeifert has doubled its direct bookings and optimized its occupancy rate. The hotel also plans to continue expanding its use of Pynbooking to further enhance guest experiences and operational efficiency. The next steps include modernizing the reception and implementing keyless entry systems.
Conclusion
“Pynbooking is a game-changer for us. It has allowed us to gain better control over our bookings and optimize our resources. With its intuitive interface, even temporary staff can easily adapt and become operational quickly. This solution is indispensable in the increasingly competitive hospitality market,” concluded Desy Laszlo, Economic Director at Hotel Szeifert.
By adopting Pynbooking, Hotel Szeifert has positioned itself as a leader in the competitive tourism market of Sovata, achieving exceptional results while reducing operational inefficiencies.
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