Payne Mansion increases its Direct Bookings by 25%

The Payne Mansion was recently refurbished and is the creation of Curlett & Cuthbertson. One of few buildings to survive the great fire of 1906, it's registered with the California Historical Society. The result is astonishing: full of charm and Victorian character.  

While the Payne Mansion has gone through several phases of major renovations to bring modern day technology and comfort, it is still a showcase of classic Victorian-era architecture and exquisite craftsmanship, retaining all of its original design, charm and beauty. Thanks to its proximity to San Francisco's major sights like Fishermans Wharf and Chinatown, it's a favourite for all types of travellers and regularly hosts weddings and events. 

Since coming on board with Frontdesk Anywhere, the management team has enjoyed the userfriendliness of the system, the ability to access the PMS anytime, anywhere and has witnessed a dramatic increase in direct bookings.

Dating back to 1881, the Payne Mansion Hotel features 10 gorgeous rooms including 2 Presidential Suites, 2 Junior Suites, 2 King Deluxe Rooms, and 4 Standard Rooms.  Each of the hotel's 10 guestrooms has been meticulously renovated with all the comforts of modern luxury while maintaining its original beauty. Guests also have access to a full range of services including same day wash-n-fold laundry, and on-demand car service through iCar. 

Since coming on board with Frontdesk Anywhere, they have increased their direct bookings dramatically. When they opened in June 2014, direct bookings were about 1 to 2%. By December 2015, they had jumped to 13%, and by January 2016, they had risen to  massive 25%. 

Starting a Hotel with the right PMS

When the hotel first opened after the renovations there was no property management system in place. Brian Nachreiner, the hotel's manager, carried out a lot of research before choosing Frontdesk Anywhere. While at first they also considered traditional legacy systems, the limited space available for on-site servers was a no go. For starters, they knew the PMS had to be cloud-based, mobile, and accessible from anywhere.
“Frontdesk Anywhere being cloud-based was huge for us. It didn’t require a server on site, and as we’re a small property, we believed an investment for a server was not worth it”.

Brian worked with a wide variety of systems throughout his career in the hospitality industry, and in addition to Frontdesk Anywhere being cloud-based, he also really appreciated the user-friendliness of the system: "All tasks are very straightforward, and designed with hoteliers in mind. It’s fast and easy to learn about the system and train staff".

Reasons for choosing Frontdesk Anywhere:

Direct booking surge

The management worked hard and succeeded to "get their name out there, without marketing or paid search, leveraging word of mouth and strategic use of OTAs". Frontdesk Anywhere's intuitive and sleek booking engine supported this approach by capturing repeat bookers and savvy travelers who know booking direct will lead to the best experience.  The branded automated emails help build trust and ensure guests receive a high-touch service from the moment they book till they receive their thank you note and receipt.  

Flexible reports

Robust reports allow you to draw a complete picture of your property.

Anywhere, anytime

Being able to access the account and make changes to rates, inventory or reservations from a smartphone is a game changer. 

Simple & time-saving

User friendliness was one of the reasons for choosing Frontdesk Anywhere. The cloud PMS did not disappoint: "It’s incredibly easy to use". In addition, all the functionalities work to make hoteliers' days easier: "It's a great software that was made to save you time. You don't have to reinvent the wheel. When you know and use all the features available, you're doing your job right. Take the time to understand all that the system can do for you." 

About Frontdesk Anywhere

Established in 2009 and headquartered in San Francisco, Frontdesk Anywhere is a leading provider of innovative hotel management software for independent hotels and management groups. The company is focused on converging processes traditionally performed by separate systems into a single all-in-one productivity application in the cloud. All modules are seamlessly integrated within the application and accessible from any computer or connected mobile device. For more information about Frontdesk Anywhere and our award-winning hotel management software email sales@frontdeskanywhere.com