How Seekom Helps Staff Stay Stress-Free at Spring Creek Holiday Park
Managers: Judy and Gert Theron
Running a popular holiday park is no small task, but Seekom’s property management system has made operations much smoother for managers Judy and Gert Theron.
Nestled just outside Blenheim, Spring Creek Holiday Park spans 5.5 acres with 74 campsites and 26 units, offering travellers a picturesque getaway in New Zealand’s magical Marlborough region.
A seamless booking system and efficient, warm guest communications are vital to the holiday experience, and thankfully Judy knows a good system when she sees one.
Judy says she immediately saw the value in Seekom’s software when she and Gert came on as the managers of the holiday park four years ago.
“The more you use the system, the more you get out of it,” she says. “Some users just use it for bookings, but you can utilise it for reporting, payments, and all your guest communications.”
One of the most recent Seekom features Spring Creek Holiday Park has implemented is SMS messaging, a tool that has quickly become an integral part of their day-to-day operations.
“We started using it in October or November, just after it launched, and now we use it every single day.”
From notifying late arrivals of their site numbers to sending gentle payment reminders, SMS messaging has transformed the way Spring Creek Holiday Park interacts with guests. Unlike emails, which can go unread while guests are enjoying their holidays, text messages ensure quick responses and seamless communication.
She says the park has found guests respond to SMS messages more quickly than email as a lot of people don’t check their emails regularly while on holiday.
Seekom’s PMS doesn’t just enhance guest interactions – it also frees up valuable time for Judy and her team.
“I can get things done quickly, which leaves me a little bit of time for a glass of wine in the evening.”
The system is also very easy to learn, which is essential for a busy team.
“It literally took me 48 hours when I first arrived, and I was up and running. And when I train my staff to use it, they pick it up really fast.”
Seekom plays a crucial role in keeping Spring Creek Holiday Park running smoothly, with three office staff regularly using the system.
“We are really happy with Seekom. You just have to get the right package that works for you, but when you do, it is really powerful.”
Special offer – try it FREE!
Never tried SMS before? Enjoy three consecutive months of free messaging (up to $40/month value)*. This is equivalent to over 200 messages per month. Experience the power of SMS with no obligation. Set up is fast, and our team can help you create scheduled templates. See first-hand how SMS can elevate your guest experience and streamline operations.
*Terms and conditions apply.
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
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Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
How SMS leads to happy guests at Carters Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
Park Owner: Chrissy Alfeld
When guests arrive at Carters Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park on New Zealand’s West Coast, many of them are pleasantly surprised to receive a friendly text message from park owner Chrissy Alfeld, welcoming them at the start of their holiday.
It’s a small touch, but one Chrissy has introduced for anybody arriving after the park’s office closes in the evening so they can rest easy knowing their late-check in won’t be a problem.
SMS messaging is built into the Seekom property management system the park uses, allowing Chrissy’s team to complement their usual email communications with text messages that guests won’t easily miss.
She says text messages are ideal for letting people know the park’s late check-in processes, as well as for urgent messages to guests staying at the park, notifying guests about any late check-out options available, or unobtrusive reminders about settling up their accounts.
“It works a lot better than running around trying to find guests or interrupt them when they are in the middle of something. We can just ping them with a quick text message and they can come to the office.”
Mobile phone coverage on the West Coast is patchier than some parts of New Zealand – part of the region’s appeal – which means reaching guests over the phone when they are out exploring the outdoors can be difficult.
“There’s so much to see here, whether it’s the Kawatiri Coastal Trail, Old Ghost Road or the seal colony beside the Cape Foulwind Lighthouse, so guests are often off the park and exploring in remote areas. "
“When we send an SMS, it just pings their phone when they get back into the coverage area and they respond as soon as they can.”
Chrissy says guests appreciate the immediacy of text messages and it also makes life easier for staff.
“It’s a really efficient way of getting in touch with people. The point of action gets done really quickly, whether it’s a reminder about a payment or a friendly message to let them know about something they left behind when they checked out.”
She says a big advantage of having SMS functionality built into Seekom’s system is the fact all SMS messages and replies are tracked against individual guests. That allows staff working on different shifts to see a log of previous messages so they can understand what has already been done and avoid repeating the same questions.
While Carters Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park hasn’t yet explored the use of SMS messages for promotions or to alert guests of special deals, SMS marketing of on-park activities is something Chrissy says could be explored in future.
“We’re all about making sure guests have a smooth experience all the way through their stay – we have found Kiwis in particular respond well to SMS messages because they don’t seem to check their emails as often as our international visitors.”
Chrissy says West Coast Tourism’s work promoting the region is making a positive difference to visitor numbers at the park, and Seekom’s system is helping her team manage that growth painlessly.
“Business is really good – we haven’t stopped since after Covid. Seekom is a big part of that, we base out whole existence around the system and what we see on our screens. "
“When new reception and management staff start I tell them Seekom is right up there with the most important things they should learn.”
Special offer – try it FREE!
Never tried SMS before? Enjoy three consecutive months of free messaging (up to $40/month value)*. This is equivalent to over 200 messages per month. Experience the power of SMS with no obligation. Set up is fast, and our team can help you create scheduled templates. See first-hand how SMS can elevate your guest experience and streamline operations.
*Terms and conditions apply.
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
SeekomPay ‘brilliant’ for business at boutique South Island motel
Owner and manager: Fizz Hunter-Weston
After using Seekom to run unique Central Otago motel Clyde Central for over four-and-a-half years, owner and manager Fizz Hunter-Weston says she can’t believe she only started using SeekomPay six weeks ago.
“It’s absolutely brilliant – we just wish we started using it earlier.”
Before upgrading to SeekomPay, Fizz and her team had to manage all their payment card transactions manually using Seekom’s vault.
“It’s all done instantly now,” she says.
SeekomPay saves Fizz more than 50 hours a year and links seamlessly into the Seekom booking system embedded in Clyde Central’s website, with Xero integration also making the financial management of her accommodation easier.
Fizz enjoys the freedom of not having to be on-site to handle her business.
“SeekomPay allows me to run my accommodation from anywhere – I don’t need anyone to be on-site to take payments.”
She says SeekomPay fits right in with her innovative approach to business, with Clyde Central excelling at catering for two niche demographics – dog lovers and cycling enthusiasts – in addition to travellers who are just looking for an outstanding place to stay.
The motel offers popular "dog retreats" and a “Gravel Riders Bash” plus bike hire and e-bike charging. It also contains a mini bike shop as well as bike storage and a bike cleaning and maintenance station.
“It’s not like a traditional hotel or motel, it’s a cool little boutique place.”
Clyde Central is located an hour’s drive from Wanaka and Queenstown and two-and-a-half hours’ drive from Invercargill and Dunedin, attracting cycling enthusiasts looking for a change of scene and the prospect of cruising some of New Zealand’s most epic cycle trails.
Nestling at the start of four of New Zealand’s Great Rides – Otago Central Rail Trail, Lake Dunstan Trail, Roxburgh Gorge Trail and Clutha Gold Trail – Fizz’s establishment lives up to its name of being central in more ways than one, she says.
“Lots of guests come to do the rail trails, and the river and lake are right next door too. We have a nice outdoor area with a fire that guests like to sit around to roast marshmallows or just chat and enjoy a drink in the evening.”
Clyde Central’s eight units range from one to three bedrooms and are like small apartments with cooking facilities, designed to allow guests to be self-sufficient if they want to be, she says.
Fizz says when she bought Clyde Central in 2020 it was easy to decide on Seekom’s property management software.
“I looked at just about every system available and I chose Seekom because it ticked the most boxes.”
Fizz says she loves Seekom’s automated SMS and email guest-messaging functionality that she uses to keep guests informed about key details, especially as the communication options support the self-check-in process and offer her the flexibility to operate off-site.
After a quiet winter period Fizz says summer at Clyde Central is hotting up with strong booking numbers and a waiting list for the next dog retreat, after the last one sold out.
Now she’s got all her financial ducks in a row with SeekomPay, Fizz is ready to get all the dogs and bikes in a row and take care of business for the peak season.
Note: Something you may not know, is that we also build websites. Many of our customers have Seekom built, fully managed websites which we maintain, including SEO management. If you’re interested in finding out more about this, get in touch.
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
SeekomPay ‘brilliant’ for business at boutique South Island motel
Clyde Central Motel SeekomPay ‘brilliant’ for business at boutique South Island motel Owner and manager: Fizz Hunter-Weston After using Seekom […]
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Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Seekom helps take Staysouth’s Queenstown accommodation to the world
General Manager: Sonya Archibald
Staysouth has specialised in offering outstanding accommodation in the heart of Queenstown to suit the needs of discerning holidaymakers since 2006. Making its selection of hillside villas, penthouse apartments and lakefront townhouses visible and easy for guests to book requires the support of a world-class property management system – a role that’s been fulfilled by Seekom for the best part of the past decade.
General Manager Sonya Archibald says the accommodation preferences of visitors to Queenstown have changed over the years and even vary from season to season, making it essential to be able to move with the times to meet customer expectations.
“We needed software to be able to grow with us and be flexible to better capture the demands of the market.”
Seekom’s support has helped Staysouth expand its portfolio to manage more than 50 high-quality apartments and villas, all the while maintaining its signature superior standards of service, presentation and customer communications.
As well as exceptional service, Staysouth prides itself on its concierge team of long-term locals who are on hand to dish out insider information on anything from the hottest night spots and best-suited fine dining experiences to general advice on where to shop for a particular item.
Sonya says Staysouth inherited Seekom when it bought the management rights to a villa complex in 2016. However, it wasn’t being used to its full potential to begin with.
“Over time we’ve dug deep to find out what the system can do for us to maximise its functionality – we try to stay ahead of the game.”
Sonya says she appreciates the way the team at Seekom listens to Staysouth’s queries, takes on board suggestions from her team and involves them in beta testing for new features. She says this mutually beneficial working relationship has resulted in new functionality and other improvements that add value for StaySouth, as well as the wider community of Seekom software users.
Many members of Staysouth’s team, from its operations manager to its reservations team, use Seekom in different capacities to make sure that the experience guests have is memorable.
Seekom’s multi-property booking calendar is a vital tool for the team, Sonya says. This allows Staysouth staff to view bookings across their properties and easily understand which ones are available or booked on any given day.
“The booking calendar is what we start the day with – it’s basically my screen saver.”
Sonya says another crucial tool is Seekom’s sales channel manager that enables Staysouth to upload its availability and pricing and then integrate the data with multiple booking websites. When a booking is made on one site the other sites are automatically updated, creating consistency and saving time.
“We couldn’t operate without Seekom’s channel manager. It makes perfect sense to have it as part of the reservation system rather than go through a third-party provider.”
Sonya says she is looking forward to working with Seekom to save her team time by improving the format of the ‘owner report statements' Staysouth issues each month to the owners of the properties it manages on their behalf. These reports provide owners with a summary of their property’s performance, making decision making and financial planning easier.
Another way she plans to streamline operations is by implementing Seekom’s Xero integration, Sonya says.
The future is bright for Staysouth, with a host of improvements on the go to ensure that its high-end accommodation experience in one of New Zealand’s most breathtaking holiday destinations continues to stand out from the rest.
Note: Something you may not know, is that we also build websites. Many of our customers have Seekom built, fully managed websites which we maintain, including SEO management. If you’re interested in finding out more about this, get in touch.
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)
Luxury lodge lands legendary accolade aided by electronic ‘employee of the year’
Owners: Max and Robyn Reelick
Nelson’s Palazzo Motor Lodge is revelling in a run of recognition, reaping a range of awards due to the welcoming, customer-focused approach of owners Max and Robyn Reelick and star back-office support from software MVP Seekom.
The luxurious five-star motel offers 16 spacious apartments, including 10 with their own private spas, making it a popular choice for guests who appreciate Italian style and a touch of class.
Max says it was a “no brainer” to choose Seekom’s iBex management software when he and Robyn bought the motel four-and-a-half years ago.
“Seekom is one-stop shop which not a lot of providers offer – the whole platform is really user-friendly and they’re always tweaking it with useful bits and pieces.”
Palazzo Motor Lodge was included in Tripadvisor’s illustrious Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Hotels list for 2023, joining an A-list of legendary establishments that have received such consistently brilliant reviews that Tripadvisor ranks them in the top 1 per cent of hotels worldwide.
Having garnered such outstanding recognition, it’s no surprise Palazzo Motor Lodge recently won the New Zealand’s Best Motel – Under 25 Rooms at Hospitality New Zealand’s Awards for Excellence for the second year in a row.
Max says Seekom software takes care of all the bookings, stores guest bookings in one place and manages all the little details behind the hotel’s operation, allowing it to rightfully claim the title of “employee of the year”.
“Every hotel operator’s nightmare is having a double booking when the town is full, and you don’t get that with Seekom – it helps you sleep better at night.”
Seekom cloud-based software also plays a role in boosting the lodge’s bookings because the platform is user friendly for customers as well as staff and managers, he says.
“It has a great customer portal.”
Max and Robyn rely on motel minders to take time out from the demands of running a high-end establishment and enjoy a well-deserved holiday. Max says Seekom makes it simple for the minders to step into their shoes because it’s so easy to train them up on the software.
“As soon as you say ‘Seekom', they say ‘fantastic’. Last year I trained someone up on Seekom who had never had any experience in hotel management - we left them for two weeks and there wasn’t a problem. It’s an easy system to use and Seekom’s support team is readily available to contact if you have any questions.”
In contrast with another property management system he used in the past, Max has found Seekom to be proactive in adapting to the needs of its users.
“Seekom comes and offers new tools on a yearly basis that are beneficial to users, and their channel manager encompasses everything. They built such a good product years ago and have tweaked it organically to make it seamless.”
The elegant Italian-styled motel aims to cater for everything the discerning guest might require, offering a concierge service, wireless chargers and fast internet access to suit the requirements of corporate guests, as well as a handy deliver-to-your-door laundry service.
Nestled in the heart of the city, its location is hard to beat, with Max describing it as a “five- minute walk or 10-minute stumble” to anywhere in central Nelson’s vibrant arts, culture and restaurant scene.
He says he’s thrilled Palazzo Motor Lodge has been recognised as one of the world’s premier accommodation providers and recognises Seekom’s role in securing the awards that take pride of place in the motel’s reception area.
“We’re proud to have an association with Seekom – we find their synergy and ethos to be the same as ours. Winners surround themselves with winners.”
Note: Something you may not know, is that we also build websites. Many of our customers have Seekom built, fully managed websites which we maintain, including SEO management. If you’re interested in finding out more about this, get in touch.
One of our amazing business development managers will be in touch to showcase our product to you and talk you through how we can help grow your business.
Our fully scalable Property Management System can provide you the tools and integrations you need to scale and grow your business year round. With the added functionality of a fully integrated channel manager, connect your property or properties to as many channels as you'd like.
Seekom Blog
Smarts to help you operate more effectively and efficiently. From guides of our systems and integrations to tips and tricks you can use every day - we've got you covered.
Contact Us
PO Box 9300, Marion Square, Wellington 6141
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Copyright 2024 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)