Seekom gives Kauri Court owners time to provide ‘Kiwi hospitality as it should be’
Owners: Neil and Amber Aitkenhead
Palmerston North has no shortage of places to stay. With dozens of accommodation providers competing for guests across the city, standing out takes more than a comfortable bed.
For Neil and Amber Aitkenhead, who invested in Kauri Court Motel & Apartments in 2024, the answer is straightforward: people matter, so be genuinely good to people and make sure the business’ systems run smoothly enough behind the scenes to let you do exactly that.
“Hospitality as it used to be, accommodation as it should be, that's Kauri Court’s tagline,” Neil says.
“We’re family run and operated and great hospitality is what we're all about."
Providing great service needs time and presence to deliver, so Neil and Amber are hands-on owner-managers; greeting guests, keeping standards high, and making sure people feel genuinely looked after rather than just checked in.
Neil says they pride themselves on taking extra time to ‘check in’ with people before they arrive, making sure they have what they need to ensure their stay is a positive experience.
None of that would be possible, though, if the operational side of running the motel was eating up the day.
The Seekom advantage
When Neil and Amber took ownership, Kauri Court Motel & Apartments was spread across three separate systems. They made an early call to switch to Seekom property management software – a decision made easy, thanks to the knowledge some members of Amber's family who own holiday parks around New Zealand and have long relied on Seekom to run them.
"Amber's family has a few holiday parks around New Zealand and they all use Seekom, so she knew how good it was," Neil says.
Now, bookings made through the motel's own website feed directly into Seekom, which updates room availability in real time across every listing channel Kauri Court uses – including overseas travel agents (OTAs). Double bookings can be a problem for operators on systems, Neil says, but with Seekom they simply don’t happen. SeekomPay takes care of payments. The admin that once required juggling multiple platforms now runs seamlessly.
"When I talk to other accommodation providers about the alternative systems they use, I'm both mystified and surprised at all the steps they have to go through. Seekom just makes it easy for us."
With the friction of accommodation management removed, Neil and Amber can give their attention to guests and the welcome that has earned Kauri Court Motel & Apartments such great guest reviews.
The motel offers something relatively rare in Palmerston North: genuine variety under one roof. Its 16 rooms span 12 executive studios and four multi-room modern apartments with inter-connecting options, making it well suited to visitors in town for events or special occasions, large family groups, sports teams, and business travellers alike.
The motel sits five minutes’ walk from the Esplanade and Manawatū River and 15 minutes’ walk from the CBD, including George Street and Broadway, two of Palmerston North's most popular dining and café strips – places Neil and Amber are happy to make personalised recommendations on.
In a city with as many accommodation choices as Palmerston North, Kauri Court's combination of personal service and room variety gives it a strong foundation. The right systems quietly reinforce that – handling the bookings, the payments, and the channel management so Neil and Amber can stay focused on what they enjoy most.
"We're people people. It fills our bucket to see returning guests to Manawatū, Seekom is key to our success".
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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Your Winter Security Checklist: Small Steps That Make a Big Difference
Winter is a good time to take stock. The team gets a breather, and there's finally a moment to look after the things that often get pushed to the back of the queue. Security is usually one of those things.
It doesn't have to be complicated. A few simple habits go a long way towards keeping your property and your guests safe online. So here's a quick checklist. Run through it with your team and you'll be in good shape going into the busy season.
This is the one most properties skip, and it's probably the most important. Had a staff member leave in the last six months? A seasonal worker who came and went? Log into your Seekom account and check who still has access. Old accounts that are no longer in use are an open door, and one that's easy to close.
While you're there, make sure every team member has their own individual login. Shared logins might feel convenient, but they make it impossible to know who did what, and they're much harder to secure.
If you haven't already enabled Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your Seekom account, winter is the perfect time to sort it out. 2FA means that even if someone gets hold of a team member's password, they still can't get in without a second verification step. It's one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to protect your account, and it takes about five minutes to set up.
Our support team is happy to walk you through it. Just give us a call or drop us a message during business hours.
We know, we know. It's easier to just tell the new person the password. But shared passwords are one of the most common ways accounts get compromised.
The good news is there's no reason to share passwords in Seekom. Every account can have unlimited individual users, so everyone gets their own login with their own access level. Set it up once and you'll never need to share a password again.
Removing old user accounts is step one. But if a former team member knew your passwords, changing the locks matters too. Go through your key systems - your PMS, email accounts, OTA extranets, social media, and update any passwords that might have been shared with someone who’s no longer with you.
While you're at it, make sure passwords aren't being reused across different platforms. If one account gets compromised and the password is the same everywhere, the damage spreads fast. A password manager can take the headache out of keeping track of them all.
Your email account is the key to the kingdom. If someone gets into it, they can reset passwords for pretty much everything else. Yet email is often the last thing people think to protect.
A few quick wins:
- Enable two-factor authentication on your business email account, not just your PMS
- Check who has access to shared inboxes like info@ or reservations@ and remove anyone who no longer needs it
- Be careful about what you include in automated guest emails. Avoid putting full booking reference numbers or personal details in subject lines where they can be easily read
- If you get an email that looks like it's from a supplier or OTA asking you to update payment details or click a link, call them directly to verify before doing anything
Phishing is when someone sends you an email pretending to be a trusted source, trying to get you to hand over your login details or click a dodgy link. It happens more than you'd think in the accommodation industry.
The recent Booking.com breach is a good example of how this plays out. Once scammers had real guest data, including booking details and contact information, they used it to send convincing messages that looked like they came from a legitimate source. Guests were contacted via WhatsApp and email and asked to verify their payment details.
A few things to remind your team:
- Seekom will never ask for your password by email or phone
- If an email asks you to click a link and log in, go directly to the website instead of clicking
- When in doubt, call the company directly using a number you already know
- If something feels off, it probably is. Trust your gut and check with us
Take a look at your booking form and ask yourself: do we actually need all of this? A lot of properties collect more than they need. Dates of birth, passport numbers, dietary requirements for a property that doesn't serve meals. The less guest data you hold, the less there is to lose if something goes wrong.
Strip your forms back to what you genuinely use. It's better for your guests, better for your liability, and it makes your life simpler too.
If you're taking online payments, it's worth checking that 3D Secure (3DS) authentication is active on your SeekomPay setup. It adds a bank-level verification step for cardholders, which reduces fraud and protects your revenue from chargebacks.
Not sure if you have it switched on? Drop our support team a message and they'll check for you.
Start with whatever feels most overdue for your property. Even ticking off one or two things from this list will put you in a stronger position than you were yesterday. And if you need a hand with any of it, our support team is here. Give us a call or flick us a message and we’ll help you get sorted.
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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AI and the Future of Accommodation: The Shift That Will Redefine the Industry
Artificial intelligence isn’t approaching the accommodation industry, it has already arrived. And just like the introduction of online bookings two decades ago, AI represents a structural shift that will change how providers operate, how guests choose where to stay, and how leading businesses differentiate themselves.
What makes this moment unique is that most providers are already using AI every day without realising it. It feels futuristic until you notice it’s been quietly improving your life for years
You’re already using AI when you…
- Unlock your phone with Face ID - that’s AI recognising your face.
- Use Google Maps or Waze - AI predicts traffic flows and offers the fastest route.
- Accept suggested replies in Gmail - “Sure, sounds good!” is AI‑generated.
- Use fraud protection on your bank account - AI monitors spending patterns to keep you safe.
- Search online - Google now uses AI to rank, summarise and understand results.
- Let your phone sort photos (e.g., “show me pictures of dogs”).
- Rely on Netflix/Spotify recommendations - AI learns your tastes.
- Use translation tools - instant language translation is powered by AI.
None of this feels complicated. It simply feels helpful. That’s how AI will continue to develop within accommodation: simple, intuitive and quietly powerful.
AI: The New Discovery Layer for Travel
The biggest shift unfolding in the industry is the way travellers search for and choose accommodation. AI‑driven travel assistants, ranging from mobile search tools to conversational trip planners, are already shaping booking decisions by interpreting preferences, comparing options and suggesting tailored places to stay.
Over the next few years, these assistants are likely to become the first stop for many travellers. Properties that appear clearly in AI‑powered search environments will gain a visibility advantage long before a guest reaches a website. This makes it essential for your digital presence to be structured in a way that AI tools can understand, assess and present to travellers.
Where the Biggest Operational Gains Will Be
While the future of AI driven search is transformative, the most immediate value of AI sits behind the scenes, removing friction from the tasks that take up staff time.
Forward‑thinking providers are already exploring AI for:
- Faster, intuitive reporting
- Pricing that adapts to real‑time demand
- Predictive occupancy and revenue insights
- Automated handling of common guest questions
- Streamlined administrative workflows
- Fewer manual errors
Staff aren’t being replaced here. What’s disappearing is the repetitive work that slows everything down. Tasks that once meant jumping between screens or manually checking data can now be done in seconds with simple prompts. The result is more time for genuine guest interaction and far less time lost to admin.
Why Small Providers Stand to Gain the Most
Contrary to common belief, AI isn’t a tool built solely for large hotel chains. Smaller providers stand to benefit even more because AI helps them:
- Reduce administrative burden
- Do more with fewer people
- Compete against larger brands
- Make data‑driven decisions without specialist staff
- Improve guest response times and service quality
- Make better use of their systems, even if they’re not technically confident
AI becomes the great equaliser, giving independents the capability once reserved for big operators.
The Mindset Shift Leaders Need
Three shifts define the accommodation providers who will stay competitive:
- Viewing AI as core operational infrastructure, not a “nice to have
.” Just as online booking engines became fundamental, AI will underpin pricing, reporting, communication and demand forecasting.
- Designing for AI‑driven travel search. Your digital content must serve both human guests and the AI tools shaping their decisions.
- Moving staff focus from task execution to guest experience. AI handles repetition; humans elevate hospitality.
What the Next Three Years Will Look Like
Expect to see:
- Natural‑language reporting becoming standard, making it faster for teams to access the insights they need
- AI‑guided pricing used across most properties, leading to sharper and more responsive revenue decisions
- 24/7 AI guest assistants managing routine queries, improving response times without increasing staffing
- Booking engines optimised for AI search algorithms so properties surface more effectively in AI‑driven discovery tools
- Smaller providers operating with large‑hotel efficiency through automation and predictive insights
- Staff roles shifting from admin to experience delivery, strengthening guest satisfaction and on‑site service quality
AI’s Power to Restore True Hospitality
Hospitality is fundamentally human. But rising admin demands have pushed providers away from guests and deeper into screens. AI offers a path back by reducing the noise, clearing the clutter and bringing people closer to the work they do best.
AI isn’t the end of hospitality. It marks the start of a new era where providers gain the time, clarity and tools to deliver exceptional guest experiences without giving up operational efficiency.
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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.”
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The True Cost of 'Free' Property Management Software
Who doesn’t love the word ‘free’? It’s a powerful hook, especially when it comes to property management software. After all, running a property business comes with enough costs—so why not save on software? But here’s the reality: free software isn’t really free. In fact, it can end up costing you more than you bargained for in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
What Does ‘Free’ Really Mean?
When a software provider offers a ‘free’ property management system (PMS), it typically means you get access to the most basic version of the platform. While this might be enough for a small B&B properties, motel, or campground with a minimal number of rooms, as soon as your needs grow, you start hitting paywalls. Need automated messaging? That’s extra. Want better channel management? Upgrade required. Prefer customer support? That might not even be an option—or it comes at a premium price. Other daily functionality you will likely need, which comes at an additional cost, includes your customer database, invoicing, and emails. On top of that, there’s the weekly management of reporting and dynamic rates. If you also require an integrated payment gateway, you’ll be charged transactional fees, which may initially be hidden under the ‘free’ umbrella—so it always pays to check the fine print.
The Hidden Costs of Free Property Management Software
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Limited Features = Stunted Growth
Free PMS systems for hotels, motels, holiday parks and campgrounds often restrict essential features like reporting, integrations, and automation. This forces you into time-consuming manual processes or, worse, into upgrading to a costly ‘pro’ version.
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Lack of Support = Lost Time & Revenue
When something goes wrong (and it will at some point), who do you turn to? Many free property management software solutions don’t offer live support or even reliable email assistance. This means if your booking system glitches, you’re on your own—potentially losing customers and revenue while you scramble to fix it.
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Data Privacy? You Might Be the Product
One of the biggest concerns with free software is data security. If you’re not paying for a service, how is the company making money? Often, it’s through data collection and third-party partnerships. This could mean your customer data, pricing strategies, and booking trends aren’t as private as you think.
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Integration Limitations = Frustration
Many free property management software options don’t integrate well with OTAs, payment gateways, or accounting software, leading to a disconnected workflow. A robust channel manager is essential for hotels, motels, and campgrounds to maintain real-time inventory updates and prevent overbookings. Without seamless integrations, you’ll find yourself trapped in an ecosystem that can’t keep up with your needs.
A Smarter Investment: A Reliable PMS from the Start
Instead of navigating the limitations and potential risks of ‘free’ property management software, choosing a trusted, full-featured PMS system saves time, frustration, and unexpected costs.
While free property management software may seem appealing, the long-term drawbacks outweigh the initial savings. In business, reliability, efficiency, and data security are worth the investment. Instead of settling for software that limits your potential, choose a PMS system that truly supports your growth from day one.
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