Who they are
Hotel Szeifert in Sovata is a story of constant growth. It started in 2012 with 16 rooms and grew to a capacity of 104 guests, spread across 3 buildings. Service quality has been recognized through important awards: Hotel of the Year 2014 on Szallas.hu and Hotel of the Year 2019 on Travelminit.
Desy Laszlo, CFO since 2022, came from the banking sector with a clear mindset: every decision must be backed by numbers.
The challenge
Before Pynbooking, the hotel used traditional software that didn't include a Channel Manager. This meant that reservations from Booking.com and Travelminit had to be entered manually. The consequences were predictable: only a few rooms were posted online, and potential guests frequently saw "sold out" messages — even though the hotel had availability.
Without a deposit system, last-minute cancellations were frequent. And the team spent hours on administration instead of focusing on the guest experience.
The solution
Pynbooking connected all the pieces of the puzzle. The Channel Manager automatically synchronized availability across all channels, eliminating both manual work and the risk of overbooking. The Booking Engine transformed the website from a simple showcase into an active sales channel.
Desy, with his analytical thinking, immediately saw the impact in the numbers.
I understand numbers and I'm convinced that Pynbooking helps us achieve better results.
— Desy Laszlo, CFO
The results
- Direct bookings doubled — in March 2024, the direct channel surpassed Booking.com as the main booking source
- Website ranked 3rd as a booking source within just 12 months of implementation
- New employees operational in 3 weeks — the system is intuitive enough for rapid onboarding
- Zero overbooking — automatic synchronization across all channels
Marketing budgets have better ROI; we don't pay commissions on direct bookings.
— Desy Laszlo, CFO
The financial impact is twofold: on one hand, the volume of direct bookings increased. On the other, each direct booking eliminates the OTA commission, which can reach 15-20% of the accommodation value. Multiplied by hundreds of bookings, the savings are substantial.
What's next
With direct bookings already in first place, Hotel Szeifert has a clear competitive advantage in the Sovata market. The next step is continuous optimization of the channel mix and investment in direct marketing, knowing that every dollar invested in promoting their own website generates a superior ROI compared to OTA dependency.
