Profitroom Talks: Driving Direct Bookings with Hotel Helka

Discover how Hotel Helka boosted direct bookings to 32% with Profitroom’s innovative solutions.

In today’s highly competitive hospitality industry, direct bookings have become a cornerstone for many hoteliers seeking to maximize revenue and enhance guest relationships. Hotel Helka, located in the heart of Helsinki, successfully implemented Profitroom’s Booking Engine 360, CRM & E-Mail Marketing, and Hotel Website solutions, leading to direct bookings accounting for 32% of all sales.

By offering lower rates for direct bookings compared to OTAs and leveraging promo codes and newsletters, Hotel Helka has streamlined operations, reduced staff workload, and improved guest satisfaction.

Read on to learn how Hotel Helka transitioned to Profitroom, the strategies they implemented, and their future plans.

Getting to Know Hotel Helka

Karolina Dziedzic, Customer Success Manager Profitroom: Could you tell us a little bit about your hotel?

Teemu Valojarvi, Hotel Manager Hotel Helka: Hotel Helka is a unique property in Helsinki that combines Finnish design with a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We’re proud to offer our guests a memorable stay, whether they’re visiting for business or leisure. Sustainability and exceptional guest experiences are at the core of everything we do.

Why Hotel Helka Chose Profitroom & The Impact of Its Solutions

Karolina: Wonderful! You’ve been using Profitroom’s sevices since July 2023. Could you share which of our solutions you’re currently utilizing and how they’ve helped simplify your operations?

Teemu: Absolutely. We’re using Profitroom’s Hotel Website, CRM & E-Mail Marketing, and Booking Engine 360. These tools have been instrumental in streamlining our processes.

The booking engine is intuitive and efficient, making it easy for our guests to book directly.
The CRM and the website editor help us maintain an engaging online presence and communicate effectively with our guests.

Karolina: Why did you decide to partner with Profitroom in the first place?

Teemu: We were looking for a partner that could provide a simple yet efficient booking engine and website editor at a reasonable price. Profitroom’s solutions stood out as the perfect match for our needs, offering both functionality and value.

Seamless Transition & Operational Impact

Karolina: How was your experience transitioning to Profitroom from your previous provider? What was the onboarding process like?

Teemu: The transition was incredibly smooth. The onboarding process was well-structured and easy to follow. There was a clear schedule, and we always knew what was expected of us before each follow-up meeting. The Profitroom team made the whole experience seamless.

Karolina: That’s great to hear. To what extent has Profitroom’s platform helped automate your hotel’s operations? Could you provide some examples?

Teemu: Profitroom has significantly eased our workload. The Booking Engine 360 is user-friendly for our clients, which means they’re booking more directly through our platform. This has reduced the need for staff intervention in the booking process, allowing our team to focus on other areas.

Guest Experience & Direct Booking Success

Karolina: Have you received feedback from your guests about the booking process?

Teemu: Yes, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Guests find the booking process simple and intuitive, and we rarely receive inquiries for support. That’s a testament to the system's effectiveness.

Karolina: Direct bookings are a key focus for many hoteliers. What proportion of your sales are direct bookings, and what is your strategy for this channel?

Teemu: Direct bookings are our main source of reservations, accounting for about 32% of all sales since the change in rate parity regulations in July 2023. To encourage direct bookings, we strategically offer lower rates on our own channel compared to OTAs. This approach boosts direct sales and strengthens our relationship with guests.

Powerful Tools for Marketing & Guest Engagement

Karolina: Which features of the Profitroom Suite have had the biggest impact on your operations?

Teemu: Promo codes and newsletters have been game-changers for us. Creating promo codes is incredibly easy, allowing us to quickly generate offers for specific needs. Guests can then book directly without any hassle. Newsletters have also been a valuable tool for reaching a large audience with promotions and updates.

Karolina: How has our solution improved your marketing and guest communication efforts?

Teemu: The newsletter functionality is very user-friendly, making it simple to create and send campaigns. While we’re still exploring the full potential of Marketing Automation, we see immense opportunities to enhance our communication and marketing efforts even further.

Future Growth & Final Thoughts

Karolina: What are your plans for the future, particularly in terms of your partnership with Profitroom? Would you recommend our services to other hoteliers?

Teemu: Our goal is to further develop our use of Profitroom’s features and fully leverage the platform’s capabilities. The cooperation has been easy and effective, and we would definitely recommend Profitroom to other hoteliers looking to optimize their direct booking strategies.

Karolina: Thank you so much for sharing your insights. It’s inspiring to hear how Hotel Helka has embraced direct booking strategies with the help of Profitroom. We wish you continued success and look forward to seeing your future achievements!