Who they are
Gaudi Accommodation is a complex of 12 serviced apartments located in Cluj-Napoca, run by Nicora Marius Lucian. What makes Gaudi different from most properties is the vision from the very beginning: everything was designed to operate without a front desk, in a fully self-service model. Guests book on their own, receive quick access to the building and apartments, and the check-in and check-out process takes place entirely online.
Gaudi has been using Pynbooking since 2019, and the collaboration started in the most natural way possible.
I received the recommendation from a business partner, and after the first presentation I was convinced.
The challenge
When you manage 12 apartments without front desk staff, every step of the guest experience must work flawlessly from the start. There is no one at a desk to resolve an access issue or manually handle a reservation. Everything must be automated, reliable and integrated.
The real challenge was not just eliminating the front desk, but creating an experience where guests don't even feel its absence. Building access, apartment entry, payment, invoicing — each element had to function like a well-oiled machine, without human intervention.
The solution
Pynbooking provided the complete technology infrastructure for Gaudi Accommodation's self-service model. The implementation covered several areas:
Smart locks and access control — The apartments are equipped with smart locks integrated into the Pynbooking system. Guests receive automatic access based on their reservation, and the building gates also open through the system. Fiscal cash registers are also connected for automatic invoicing.
Channel Manager — Gaudi is present on Booking.com, Directbooking and AirBNB, with availability and rates synchronized in real time. When a reservation comes in on any platform, the system automatically updates all channels.
Website with Booking Engine — The Gaudi website was built by the Pynbooking team and includes a direct booking engine that allows guests to book without intermediary commissions. A booking button was added to the Facebook page that links directly to the Booking Engine.
GuestApp — The guest application includes control buttons for the building gates. Essentially, the guest's phone becomes the access key for the entire stay.
The results
The self-service model works exactly as designed. With 95% of bookings processed automatically, Gaudi Accommodation operates without receptionists. Guests go through the entire cycle — from booking to check-out — without interacting with a staff member, unless they choose to.
The integration of smart locks with the reservation system means that access activates and deactivates automatically based on stay dates. There are no physical keys to hand over, no cards to lose.
It works without receptionists. I have 95% of bookings automated — from the reservation coming in to check-out, everything runs on its own.
Presence on three major distribution channels, combined with the own website and the booking button on Facebook, ensures a steady flow of reservations. The Channel Manager eliminates the risk of overlaps, and the Booking Engine brings direct bookings without platform commissions.
What's next
Gaudi Accommodation has proven that the fully automated accommodation model is not just an aspiration, but an operational reality. With Pynbooking as the technology foundation, Nicora Marius Lucian has built a business that scales without adding staff. Each new apartment can be integrated into the same ecosystem, with the same automations, maintaining the same level of service for guests.
