Effortless hotel management anywhere: Yara Hotel

85% occupancy and 62% online direct bookings during 2024

The challenge

ThinkReservations enabled Kate Reid Nashawaty and her partners on the ambitious project of transforming an abandoned construction site in Palm Springs into a world-class boutique hotel reminiscent of exotic destinations like Bali or Tulum: Yara Hotel

As first-time hoteliers, they faced several challenges:

• Implementing a robust property management system quickly
• Creating a seamless guest experience from booking to checkout
• Managing operations efficiently with a lean team
• Delivering a paradise-like atmosphere in the heart of Palm Springs

Why ThinkReservations

After careful consideration, Yara Hotel chose ThinkReservations as their all-in-one property management platform. This decision proved instrumental in addressing their challenges and setting the stage for success.

As Yara’s property management system, ThinkReservations delivered a comprehensive solution for managing reservations, inventory, and guest data. Its key contributions included:

• Rapid implementation: The platform's quick setup allowed them to become fully operational in an extremely short timeframe, with the onboarding team aiding the process.
• User-friendly interface: Despite having a non-technical team, staff members were able to navigate ThinkReservations independently.
• Personalized guest experience: By using ThinkMessenger, Kate was able to leverage real-time guest messaging, offering experiences tailored to guest preferences or stay details.
• Comprehensive automation: ThinkReservations enabled end-to-end automation of the guest lifecycle, from reservation confirmations to post-stay surveys. This feature was crucial for streamlining operations with minimal staffing, allowing staff to focus on providing exceptional guest experiences.

Seamless booking experience

The booking engine proved to be "really intuitive for guests" according to Kate. This frictionless process reduced booking abandonments and enhanced the overall guest experience from the very first interaction.

• Operational efficiency: Reduced phone calls and email volume, allowing staff to focus on in-person guest interactions.
• Powerful reporting capabilities: ThinkReservations provided robust reporting tools, giving Kate instant access to critical metrics like RevPAR, ADR, and occupancy. "I love having all that data at my fingertips," she remarked, emphasizing the platform's role in facilitating data-driven decision-making.”
• Remote-ready management: ThinkReservations' cloud-based platform enabled Kate to manage Yara Hotel remotely. Living in a different city, Kate could oversee operations, access real-time data, and make informed decisions from anywhere. This flexibility allowed her to balance her professional responsibilities with personal commitments.

The results

Yara Hotel launched smoothly on day one. The implementation of ThinkReservations yielded several positive outcomes:

• Guests enjoyed a premium, hassle-free experience throughout their stay
• The lean team efficiently managed operations through automation
• Kate could oversee the business remotely while balancing other responsibilities
• The hotel realized its vision of creating a paradise-like oasis in Palm Springs

Kate summed up the impact of ThinkReservations, stating,

Conclusion

By leveraging ThinkReservations' comprehensive features, Yara Hotel overcame the challenges of launching a new boutique hotel. The platform's user-friendly interface, powerful automation capabilities, and robust reporting tools enabled the property to deliver a world-class guest experience while maintaining operational efficiency.