Improved online channel management capability and direct booking capability on the website streamlines distribution and increases revenue.
Spread across vast acres of lush green land in Kampala, Uganda, Dolphin Suites is a thoughtful oasis for business and leisure travellers alike.
The striking brick hotel sits amidst the quiet countryside while also offering guests access to the bustling business district of Kampala. The property is easily accessible to the airport and city amenities, and features an onsite restaurant, fitness centre, spa and meeting rooms. Every room in the hotel is thoughtfully appointed and features and individual balcony. What makes Dolphin Suites the preferred choice for the modern discerning traveller is its friendly and courteous service.
The challenge
Before implementing STAAH, the group property faced challenges in managing online bookings efficiently. Coordinating availability across multiple channels was a cumbersome task, often leading to overbooking or missed opportunities. These could also cause negative guest experience and long-term brand erosion that is hard to build up.
Additionally, manual updates and discrepancies in pricing caused a bit confusion. The distribution and booking management system was taking its toll on the team and revenue of the group.
STAAH provides an easy way to set and update room rates and availability
After just one demo of the STAAH channel manager and booking engine, the team at Dolphin Suites knew this was platform that would pull it out of its traditional distribution and booking model.
Migration to STAAH was simple, managed closely by the customer support team who follow a robust onboarding process. The team was quickly trained on using the booking engine and channel manager to its full capability with ongoing support from the account manager who engage with the hotel frequently to ensure they are optimising their guest and revenue optimisation through STAAH’s advanced features.
Thanks to the channel manager’s real-time and automatic inventory management, issues related to price differences between each online travel agents (OTA) were quickly resolved. Streamlined integration resolved overbooking issues – all from the ease of a single, user-friendly STAAH dashboard. STAAH’s built-in smarts, including pooled inventory, channel-specific pricing, base rates, drip-feed and auto stop/sell limits are designed to improve revenue performance.
In addition to the channel manager, Dolphin Suites also opted for the STAAH booking engine to drive commission-free, direct bookings. A plug and use platform, the booking engine from STAAH is a completely customisable widget that is designed for the modern traveller – mobile-first, highly secure and offering a 3-step booking process. Combined with its advanced revenue management capabilities, including dynamic pricing, multiple rate options, promotional packages, stop-sell limits and more.
Driving revenue gains and efficiencies with STAAH
STAAH’s reputation preceded its adoption by the hotel. It was known to be a performance driver for properties of any size. It hasn’t disappointed with the Dolphin Suites enjoying its enduring benefits through the rigorous continuous product improvement cycle followed by STAAH.
STAAH’s comprehensive functionalities has drastically reduced the workload of the team when it came to distribution. There has also been a significant lift in revenue, including direct revenue and an expanded online reach. While Dolphin Suites is yet to explore and use all of STAAH’s features, the real-time inventory and pricing update is one they value the most. Pricing strategy is boosted by STAAH’s dynamic pricing guide and robust insights.
What sets STAAH apart from many of its counterparts is its customer service. From set-up to ongoing optimisation, STAAH’s robust customer support emerged as a crucial asset, providing prompt assistance and ensuring uninterrupted operations.
