Getting set for the summer rush at your accommodation
Make hay while the sun shines. It’s an old adage, but one that holds truer than ever today, particularly for the accommodation industry where the summer months are a time of plenty for most of us.
As many in New Zealand will be aware and as accommodation data shows, average occupancy rates for commercial accommodation peak in the warmest months – January and February – and drop off to below 50% in the June to August winter period. The situation is similar in the UK, where average occupancy peaks in June to August, during the northern hemisphere summer, and drops off in winter.
But while being busy is great for the bank account, it can be hard on the mind and body. The summer months can be stressful, particularly if you don’t have your systems in order or if you are short staffed. We’ve put together a list of some key steps you can take to work smarter in Seekom and help ease the pressure. All going well, you might even be able to enjoy a bit of time outside of the office in the sun yourself!
1. Offer guests express check-in
Take advantage of our Express Check In forms to speed up the check-in process and reduce the load on your team. These forms allow you to send a follow-up email to guests after they have booked at your accommodation, asking them for any information they may have missed at the time of booking, like the length of their camper van, when they expect to arrive, or their vehicle registration.
Seekom users can set the times and days to email Express Check In forms to guests and customise the information requested.
Express Check In forms can be customised based on your property’s needs.
2. Harness the power of scheduled emails and SMS messages
Scheduled emails are a powerful tool that all properties should be taking advantage of. This functionality has been enhanced recently to allow you to schedule guest emails for a particular time of day or to be sent only to guests staying in a particular room type. Some common ways to use scheduled emails include:
- After a guest has made a booking (Thanks for booking. Please let us know when you expect to arrive and your vehicle registration if you wish to park with us)
- Before a guests arrival (Your door code is XYZ, please come to reception upon arrival to check in and receive your welcome back)
- Before a guest’s departure (Would you like a late check out?)
- After a guest’s departure (We can’t wait to see you again, leave us a review!)
Our new SMS functionality also allows for scheduling of automated messages and can be used in a similar way. We all know some people avoid opening emails while on holiday and the stats show SMS messages have a higher open rate than emails (perhaps due to the vibration settings most of us still have set up on our phones for text messages). Our SMS upgrade allows accommodation providers to use text messages in their communications, increasing their reach and making information even more readily available to guests.
3. Ensure minimum stays and peak season rates are up to date
Have you got your peak season minimum stays and rates set up? This is common practice in many countries and can reduce your team’s administrative load if staff do not have to deal with quite so many short-stay guests and the associated need to re-stock and re-prepare rooms, for each and every one of them. Setting peak rates can help to generate more revenue during a time of the year when your staffing costs often increase due to an influx of visitors and the need to pay staff for working on statutory holidays over the holiday period.
4. Train new staff and ensure they have appropriate permissions
Don’t wait until things get busy to train up new staff on how to use and make the most of Seekom – make sure to think ahead.
The lead-up to summer is the ideal time to ensure new staff are comfortable using the system, and to make sure they have the correct permissions in place for the areas of Seekom they might need to use when guests start coming through the doors.
We have a range of guides and videos that can help you and your team make the most of Seekom features, from how to make a booking through to housekeeping and even payments and invoicing.
If you want to engage with other users or propose new features, make sure to log into the Seekom Community to share your ideas.
5. Use vehicle registration printing to help identify authorised guests
When things get busy, every minute counts. Seekom’s Vehicle Label printing feature allows you to easily print off the registration number of guests’ vehicles during the check in process, for display on their windscreen. This makes it simple to identify which vehicles belong on the premises.
To enable this feature in your Seekom iBex account, email our support team and they will get things set up.
Once enabled, you will be able to print vehicle registrations by visiting the ‘Arrivals and Departures’ page in Seekom iBex, finding the guest you are checking in on the list and then selecting the small ‘Print Vehicle Label’ option on the right hand side.
Once printed, the label displays:
- the guest’s departure date
- the unit, or site or room they are in their vehicle registration number.
6. Manage days when your property is closed to check-ins or departures
Sometimes you may want to close your property to new check-ins or departures on specific days of the year. If you want to do this at your place to ease the pressure on staff - perhaps on Christmas Day – then Seekom makes it easy.
You can manage any days when your property is closed to check-ins and check-outs from the Manage Property screen of your Seekom iBex system.
This feature still allows guests to stay during the period you set, but it will block people from either arriving or departing on the dates you choose, based on what you set.
Some managers use this for periods like Christmas Day, when their property is bound to be full of guests already and they want to reduce the foot traffic coming through reception so staff can enjoy the day as well.
Read the instructions for setting a property closure in our help section for more information.
7. Use data-driven pricing to maximise your summer revenue
When summer demand surges, relying on traditional fixed rates can mean leaving money on the table. Implementing dynamic pricing for your bookable accommodation assets can unlock more revenue and save valuable time. Seekom’s integration with RoomPriceGenie makes it easy to automatically adjust your rates to meet seasonal demand changes and current market conditions, helping you maximise earnings and stay competitive throughout the year.
RoomPriceGenie analyses real-time market data, demand trends, and competitor pricing to recommend rate changes for you – reducing manual updates and helping you capture peak-period demand. The integration with Seekom means you’re always in control; you have the power to set minimum and maximum price boundaries for specific dates or seasons, so your rates never move beyond what you’re comfortable with.
If that sounds like the perfect summer timesaver to you, why not email our support team for help setting up the RoomPriceGenie integration at your property?
It’s your time to shine!
With summer on the horizon for many of you, now is the ideal time to swing into action. You may not tick off absolutely everything on this list, but by tackling at least a few of these, you can reduce those stress levels when the summer guest rush arrives.
Note: Something you may not know is that we also build websites. Many of our customers have Seekom-built, self managed websites with full control, backed by our expert setup and support. If you’re interested in finding out more, please get in touch.
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Five environmental initiatives to try in your accommodation business
Today is World Nature Conservation Day (28 July) and there's never been a better time to reflect on how your accommodation business can make a meaningful difference to our planet.
Modern travellers are increasingly environmentally conscious and many seek out experiences that align with their values. Small, conscious changes to your accommodation offering can create ripple effects that benefit the environment, the guest experience and your bottom line.
Here are five practical initiatives that can transform your property into a beacon of environmental sustainability.
Support local conservation through booking donations
Extend your environmental impact beyond your property boundaries by establishing partnerships with local conservation charities. Create a simple donation mechanism where guests can contribute to environmental initiatives as part of their booking process.
This approach works well because it connects your guests directly with the destination they're visiting and helps them appreciate it more. Whether it's supporting local marine conservation, native species protection or habitat restoration projects, you're creating a tangible connection between tourism and environmental stewardship.
The key to getting buy-in from your guests is to make the connection feel authentic and locally relevant.
Partner with tree-planting programmes
An effective way to offset your property's carbon footprint is through strategic tree-planting partnerships. In New Zealand, Seekom’s partnership with Trees that Count makes it simple for accommodation providers and their guests to contribute to environmental restoration.
Trees That Count is a registered charity in New Zealand that connects donations for native trees with green-fingered planting groups across the country. Every $10 donated leads to a native tree being planted in a restoration project across the country, improving biodiversity, supporting cleaner waterways and mitigating carbon dioxide emissions.
You can mirror this initiative by connecting with organisations on similar missions in your country or easily set up optional tree donations as add-ons during online bookings or at reception check-in with Seekom’s software.
Guests increasingly appreciate the opportunity to make their stay carbon-positive, and you might be surprised how many choose to participate when they have the option.
Get started today. Sign-up with Trees That Count and find out more on the Trees That Count website.
Implement a comprehensive waste-reduction programme
Transform your property's waste from a necessary evil into an environmental benefit. Start with the basics: eliminate single-use plastics where possible, encourage recycling and compost organic waste.
But don't stop there, feel free to get creative with your approach. Install water-refill stations to reduce plastic-bottle consumption, provide reusable shopping bags for guests exploring local markets and partner with local farms to donate food scraps for composting.
Waste-reduction initiatives that are visible often get more buy-in. Guests are more likely to want to match your efforts when they can see the tangible results of their environmental stewardship – like the healthy lemon tree fuelled by your compost outside their window.
Create energy-efficient guest experiences
Energy efficiency doesn't have to mean compromising guest comfort. Instead, think of it as enhancing the guest experience through thoughtful design and smart technology.
Motion-sensor lighting in corridors and communal areas reduces energy consumption while providing convenient illumination. Smart thermostats allow guests to personalise their room temperature, while automatically adjusting when rooms are unoccupied. The softer diffusion of LED lighting throughout your property not only reduces energy costs but also creates warmer, more inviting atmospheres.
Asking your guests to support a towel and linen reuse programme and engaging them with the environmental story behind their choice is a wonderful way to make it stick. A simple sign explaining that reusing towels for just one night saves enough energy to power a television for three hours makes the impact real.
Establish partnerships with local businesses
Your purchasing decisions have a ripple effect on the local economy and environment. By prioritising local suppliers for anything from breakfast ingredients to cleaning supplies or wine you're reducing transport emissions while strengthening community connections.
An easy way to start is with your food and beverage offerings, especially if you have an on-site restaurant. Partner with local farms, breweries and artisan producers to create a menu that showcases the flavour of your region. Guests love discovering local flavours, and ingredients sourced in the vicinity are often cheaper and fresher than alternatives imported from afar.
Extend this philosophy to furnishings, artwork and amenities. Buying local reduces your carbon footprint while creating authentic experiences that guests remember long after they've returned home.
Making It happen
The most successful environmental initiatives share three common characteristics: they're easy to implement, they enhance rather than compromise the guest experience and they create stories worth sharing.
As World Conservation Day reminds us, it’s important to take action to conserve and protect our planet’s natural resources. Your accommodation offering, no matter its size or location, has the potential to make a difference.
The planet, your guests and your business will thank you for making the effort. Start with just one initiative today and watch how quickly environmental stewardship becomes part of your property's DNA.
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Promo codes are back, plus other Seekom enhancements
Seekom users can now manage promotional codes and make it easy for guests to use them when making online bookings at their accommodation, thanks to a recent update that re-introduces the feature alongside some other small but helpful improvements.
These changes are designed to support marketing efforts and make management of last-minute bookings simpler.
Promo codes are back
We’ve added the promo code feature back to our new online booking screens, making it simple for you to allow guests to enter a discount code you have made available as part of a special offer.
This could be used to support an advertising campaign or promotional offer, or harnessed to offer a discounted rate for returning guests when they use the promo code for their next booking with you.
To set up a promo code check out our promo code help guide. Once set up, you can make the code live on your booking screens by visiting the Website Booking Templates screen in Seekom iBox, selecting General Fields, and then Other Options.
Promo codes can be used by guests when booking using Seekom’s online booking screens.
More control over your after-hours cut-off time
Last, but not least, we have given you finer control over the after-hours cut-off time you can set in our system for your property’s needs.
The after-hours cut-off time is an optional setting that can be used to automatically change the selling method of any remaining available units at your accommodation to 'on request.' Any online bookings made after a ‘cut off time’ you set will be processed as a request, rather than instantly accepted, allowing you to either confirm or reject the booking.
Our latest update allows you to select a cut-off time in any 15-minute block, rather than on the hour, as was previously the case.
By setting a cut-off time in Seekom that is slightly ahead of when your office closes, you can avoid situations where a customer booking on the day of their stay starts their booking online shortly before the cut-off time but finishes it afterwards, resulting in their booking being instantly confirmed after your office closes and them turning up with no one to check them in.
Please have a read through our help guide on how to set the after-hours cut off.
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Seekom's new smart SMS system is here
We’re excited to share Seekom’s upgraded SMS system to help you improve the way you communicate with your customers.
As well as making it easier to build better relationships with your guests, this latest enhancement lets you take advantage of opportunities to upsell and gather guest feedback.
What's changed?
This first phase of our SMS (text) overhaul allows you to message multiple guests at once, receive and manage replies to text messages you send out using the Seekom system, and schedule a series of text messages designed to add value and guide your guests throughout their stay.
Text multiple recipients at once
The ability to text one message to multiple guests at once saves time and effort compared to individual communications.
It can be particularly valuable in instances where you need to communicate unforeseen events, such as an early closure of your office due to a family emergency or a major slip on a nearby road that means guests need to take a different route to reach your property.
Receive and manage replies to one-on-one messages
Previously our system didn’t enable customers to respond to the text messages you sent them. Our SMS upgrade changes this by allowing guests to respond to any one-on-one messages you send them and enter into conversations. Texts from guests will now be linked to their booking, allowing you to see a record of your communications, whether they are requests for upgrades or valuable feedback.
Text scheduling
You can now schedule text messages in advance. This opens the door to being able to set up automated messages to customers at key touchpoints like booking confirmation, check in, or after they check out.
Below is an example of how you might use this to add value and guide guests throughout their stay:
- When they book: Give guests confidence with an instant booking confirmation.
- Pre-arrival: Offer an upgrade – this is a great opportunity to upsell.
- Day of arrival: Provide contactless check in details to make check in a breeze.
- During stay: Text your guests the Wi-Fi password or an offer of optional add-ons.
- Pre-departure: Provide departure information and an upgrade offer for late check out.
- After departure: Thank you message and request for guest to post a review.
Why use SMS?
- There are 7 billion phones in the world.
- 91% of adults keep their phones within arms reach at all times.
- 98% of SMS messages are opened in the first three minutes.
- More phones are set up to receive SMS than email.
* Source: Modica Group.
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Seekom and Trees That Count helping NZ accommodation guests to give back
We’ve joined forces with Trees That Count to make it easy for Seekom properties to achieve their sustainability goals by supporting efforts to plant native trees across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Trees That Count is a registered charity in New Zealand that connects donations for native trees with experienced and passionate planting groups across the country. Seekom is supporting the initiative by making it simple for Seekom users and guests at their accommodation to donate to native tree planting if they choose to do so.
“We’re thrilled to champion Trees That Count to our users across the New Zealand accommodation industry,” says Seekom General Manager Nicole Irschick.
“This is a fantastic way for accommodation providers and guests to help offset emissions and contribute to the environment by planting a tree in New Zealand’s big backyard. Over time we’d love to explore similar initiatives overseas for Seekom users in other countries.”
While there are a variety of ways New Zealand Seekom users can support the scheme, one of the easiest and most powerful is accepting optional Trees That Count donations from guests when they make an online accommodation booking or check in at reception.
Seekom has created some easy instructions (see below) for users who want to set up a ‘Trees That Count Donation’ as an optional add-on for guests and staff to select during the booking process.
Once registered with Trees That Count, Seekom users can access supporter graphics to promote their involvement and keep track of the number of trees they and their guests have funded via a leaderboard in the supporters’ section of the Trees That Count website.
Trees That Count has the largest network of planting projects in New Zealand and accommodation providers supporting the initiative can decide which region of the country the trees they and their guests fund are planted in.
Every $10 donated funds planting of a native tree in a restoration project in New Zealand and contributes to the goal of greater biodiversity outcomes, cleaner waterways, habitats for native species, carbon sequestration and stronger, healthier communities.
Trees That Count at a glance:
- Every tree makes a difference: whether you’re funding 10 trees or 10,000, you’ll join the Trees That Count leaderboard and receive a supporter toolkit to help you spread the word about backing New Zealand’s environment. It’s a highly visible way to make a difference.
- Tax deductible: as a registered charitable organisation, all of your donations are tax deductible.
- Mitigate your CO2 emissions: Trees That Count has the latest science to calculate how many carbon emissions you’ll mitigate during the lifetime of your trees growing.
- They’ll do the work for you: Simply donate or gift native trees online, and they’ll get them planted for you by expert planters in a region of your choice.
- Flexible: Donate as you like, facilitate donations from guests using the Seekom online booking screens or when they check in, or set up a monthly donation so you can set and forget. You could even let guests know that if they decide to skip housekeeping for a day, you will make use of the savings on cleaning products and laundry to fund planting of a native tree on their behalf. Get creative!
- Put the tree-planting power in guest’s hands: Giving guests the opportunity to help plant a native tree during their online booking makes it easy for them to make a positive environmental difference during their trip away. Guests love to support accommodation providers that are championing sustainability and regenerative tourism.
- Trusted by tourism businesses: Trees That Count works with Tourism New Zealand and is helping tourism businesses across Aotearoa take action for nature.
Get started today. Sign-up with Trees That Count and find out more on the Trees That Count website.
How to: Adding a ‘Trees That Count donation’ option to your Seekom account
Step 1:
Make sure you are registered as a Trees That Count supporter! Visit the Trees that Count website and sign-up.
Step 2:
Decide how you want to donate. If you want to facilitate donations from guests, either when they book online or arrive at reception, you can do that in Seekom iBex by navigating to ‘Extras’ and selecting ‘Add Extra’. Just add a ‘Trees that Count donation’ option, describe the Trees That Count initiative and set a price of $10 per tree donated, with the option of donating as many trees as a guest wants to add.
Step 3:
Click save and check the add-on option is live and available to guests during the booking process. Example below:
Step 4:
At the end of each month, donate the money your guests have contributed, plus anything else you have pledged, via your account on the Trees That Count website.
General information about creating optional bookable extras for guests staying at your accommodation is available in our help section.
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Contact Us
4/234 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington 6011
Phone (NZ) : +64 4 974 9588
Phone (UK) : +44 20 3835 5939
Support: support@seekom.com
Websites: webhelp@seekom.com
Connect With Us
Copyright 2025 © Seekom Limited (NZ owned)