Wapa di Ume, originally established as a family residence in Ubud in 1993 with just four units, has undergone significant growth over the years. In 1996, the property expanded to 18 rooms and joined a local hotel chain under the name Waka di Ume. By 2012, Wapa di Ume had decided to become an independent hotel, undergoing major renovations and adding 15 more rooms, bringing the total to 33 rooms.
The resort’s philosophy and architecture is deeply rooted in the Balinese concept of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasises the three fundamental relationships: between humans and nature, among fellow humans, and with God. Over 60% of the property’s land is preserved as gardens, creating harmony between the buildings and the natural environment.
Wapa di Ume actively supports the local community, hosting cultural dinners where children from nearby villages perform traditional Balinese dances, with a portion of the proceeds donated to local foundations. The resort also prioritises hiring staff from the local community, further strengthening its connection to the region.
To provide guests with the ultimate comfort, Wapa di Ume offers a range of facilities, including six room types such as lanai, suites, and pool villas, as well as a gym, two swimming pools, a restaurant, and a complimentary shuttle service for guests wishing to explore Ubud. With its harmonious blend of nature and culture, Wapa di Ume offers guests a tranquil and authentic experience in the heart of Ubud.
Manual rate updates causing headaches
Before adopting SiteMinder in 2015, Wapa di Ume faced significant day-to-day challenges in managing room rates.
“It used to take up to 30 minutes to update rates from the system to the online channels,” said I Gede Nusantara, Assistant Director of Sales at Wapa di Ume.
This manual process required updating each channel individually, up to three times per day. Not only was this time-consuming, but it also increased the risk of errors and inconsistencies across booking platforms. The consequences of this can include double-bookings and guest frustration, leading to a loss of revenue and reputation.
It was clear to the team that they needed to find a better way of distributing and managing the property’s inventory.
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Smooth operations and more control
After comparing several systems, Wapa di Ume ultimately chose SiteMinder to provide a channel management solution as part of its hotel platform – the only software platform that can unlock a hotel’s full revenue potential.
According to Gede, SiteMinder stood out for several reasons. The system’s user-friendly interface and comprehensive features made managing channels easier and more efficient. The dashboard’s clear layout simplified tasks, and SiteMinder’s extensive channel connectivity was unparalleled.
“Initially, Wapa di Ume was only connected to five online channels. But after switching to SiteMinder, we now work with more than 30 channels,” Gede shared.
On top of SiteMinder’s B2B channel connections allowing Wapa di Ume to broaden its market reach, the integration with the resort’s PMS and booking engine was seamless, helping to streamline operations.
The ‘rate multiplier’ was a particularly useful feature in SiteMinder’s platform for automatically mapping room rates across different channels. Additionally, the ‘limit rate plan’ feature allowed Wapa di Ume to control room availability or closures on certain channels automatically, reducing the risk of overbooking.
Results that speak for themselves
Since implementing SiteMinder, Wapa di Ume has seen significant positive outcomes. In the first year, the proportion of online bookings increased dramatically, from just 30% to 60%. Direct bookings also rose by 10% compared to the previous year.
SiteMinder has not only streamlined Wapa di Ume’s channel management process but has also enhanced operational efficiency and boosted overall bookings.
“If asked to rate how likely I am to recommend SiteMinder to other properties on a scale of 1-5, I’d give it a 5. I highly recommend SiteMinder to other hoteliers,” Gede said.
Thank you for the great feedback Gede! SiteMinder is committed to supporting Wapa di Ume in achieving even greater milestones in the future!