Located in a historic building in the heart of Gràcia, one of the busiest districts in Barcelona, Via Augusta withstood the pandemic by implementing efficient health and safety protocols and guaranteeing a reliable quality service for their guests.
Providing a dedicated, approachable, and trustworthy experience has always been the top priority for this hotel. Via Augusta has relied on the same team for years—helping travelers to feel as though they are in a home away from home, as they find the same familiar friendly faces whenever they return to the city.
“Our mission is to cater to our guests’ needs. To achieve that, we have to strive so that our team has all the tools and energy they need in order to provide the best possible service. It’s as easy and complex as it sounds.” Miguel Alba Castelló, Hotel Manager, explains.
Thanks to the seamless integration between SiteMinder and Beonprice, the property has been able to accomplish precisely that, while improving every aspect of their hotel management strategy. Beonprice has become particularly essential in optimizing their revenue management plan, boosting direct bookings, and helping them save valuable time that they now invest in nurturing guest relationships.
Putting convenience, security, and efficiency first
Being able to rely on the right tools is crucial for any accommodation business, especially in a travel destination as popular as Barcelona. The team at Via Augusta had worked with other solutions before, but switching to BeOnPrice has saved a significant amount of time in terms of hotel and revenue management.
“We used to have two different platforms and now we can manage everything from one place. We just have to confirm the changes we want to make.”
Using this RMS and SiteMinder’s features has allowed Via Augusta to cover two basic needs that previous platforms didn’t fulfill: getting better price recommendations and being able to instantly apply them after having reviewed and accepted the updated fees. As teamwork is also vital for the hotel, they were looking for a solution that was convenient and easy to use, so that anyone at the property could set up price changes whenever needed.
Alba also highlights the quality and swiftness of both platforms in terms of support and the general experience of using their interfaces, which he describes as user-friendly, straightforward, and reliable. These systems are secure and ensure user data privacy for clients and the property alike.
“We haven’t had a single issue ever since we started working with them,” he claims. The integration process was an additional plus. “It was way faster than we expected. We noticed quite quickly that one of the reasons both of these companies are succeeding has to do with their way of approaching connectivity. There was always at least one expert from each platform ready to assist us and the two times we’ve had to contact their teams to check on some connections, they got everything sorted out for us in just a few hours.”
The importance of boosting direct bookings
Getting the most out of each stay to improve profitability is key for any property. Direct bookings are a great way of reducing dependency on third-party distribution channels and keeping commissions under control. They also allow hotels to own guest relationships, which are crucial in crafting efficient revenue management strategies. Despite Barcelona’s wide hotel offering and the current struggles of the travel industry, Via Augusta’s results speak for themselves:
‘‘It’s hard to give a set number for how much direct bookings have increased in such a complex period, but I can confirm we’ve seen a 20% growth in the past couple of years during the weeks and months when the hotel has been open.”
Alba has clear advice for those planning to implement this technology in their properties: “We have to take advantage of any tool that can help us streamline our daily tasks and run our businesses in the most efficient way. Digital solutions like BeOnPrice or SiteMinder have proven to be great to manage our inventory and setting our fees. They’re definitely a must-have for us!”
