Siesta Motel simplified payments and attracted more guests with Little Hotelier

Tucked in the heart of the Florida Keys at 7425 Overseas Highway in Marathon, Siesta Motel has been a hidden gem amongst fishing enthusiasts and beach-goers for years. 

This 10-room property, known for its “cleanest rooms in paradise” motto and budget-friendly rates, sits minutes away from popular destinations like Sombrero Beach and the Dolphin Research Center. With its tropical gardens, outdoor pool, and prime location for accessing world-class deep-sea fishing, the Siesta Motel attracts both adventure seekers and those looking for a relaxed Keys experience.

We spoke with Frank Catchpole, owner and general manager, about how the property has transformed its operations and relied on Little Hotelier’s platform for 9+ years.

Life before Little Hotelier: A manual maze

Prior to implementing Little Hotelier, Frank and his team faced the tedious task of managing their property’s inventory across multiple online travel agent (OTA) websites. 

“Before Little Hotelier, we had to use the OTAs to manage our sales and availability, which was extremely tedious and difficult,” Frank recalled.

Payment processing was entirely manual, with the team handling transactions from various booking platforms separately. This fragmented approach not only consumed valuable time but also caused the potential for errors and missed bookings.

Transitioning from manual methods to effortless payment solutions

The transformation began with Little Hotelier’s automated payment solutions. 

“We absolutely love the automated payments feature, which allows us to secure payments with our OTAs. It saves us so much time and works perfectly,” Frank said.

With guest payments from booking platforms now collected automatically through the integrated system, the manual processing burden for online bookings has been eliminated. The impact has been dramatic with an estimated “80% reduction in cancellations,” according to Frank.

Little Hotelier’s payment request feature has also proven invaluable for the Siesta Motel. 

“We use this feature frequently when a guest’s payment is not processed for various reasons. Sending the request is quick and easy,” Frank explained.

“It takes us about a minute to send the payment request, compared to the time it takes to call the guest or contact the OTA to send a request. By sending the request, I would estimate 80% of the guests send their payments, freeing up our time to focus on other tasks.”

Speed meets simplicity

Beyond automated OTA payments, the team relies heavily on Little Hotelier to manage direct bookings. 

The virtual terminal has become essential for handling walk-ins and phone reservations. 

“We typically only use the virtual terminal for guests who are walk-ins with no prior online reservation without manual effort. We just charge the guest using the virtual terminal and it is done in seconds,” Frank explained.

With the virtual terminal being used almost everyday, it’s become an integral part of Siesta Motel’s payment workflow, handling everything that doesn’t come through OTA channels automatically.

Unlocking bookings from TripAdvisor and Google Hotel Ads

The benefits of Little Hotelier extend well beyond payment processing. Through Little Hotelier’s metasearch feature, Demand Plus, Siesta Motel has significantly increased its online presence. 

“Demand Plus has helped us achieve an increase in bookings from TripAdvisor and Google Hotel Ads, which we had very little to none of before using this feature,” Frank shared.

This enhanced visibility has opened new booking channels that were previously untapped, bringing in guests who might never have discovered this Florida Keys gem.

Mobile flexibility when it matters

Frank and his team leverage Little Hotelier’s mobile app for their operational needs that arise when they’re away from the front desk.

“It provides quick access so we can check on availability on the go when away from laptops. It is also useful for blocking off a room quickly when we take a phone reservation,” he explained.

This mobile accessibility ensures that whether Frank is showing a guest around the property or handling a phone call poolside, he can manage room availability instantly without rushing back to the office.

The bottom line: Productivity, savings, and growth

When asked about his favourite feature of the Little Hotelier platform, Frank didn’t hesitate: 

“Our hands-down favourite feature we love is the automated payment system. We literally have nothing to do because Little Hotelier does all the work, and the rates are lower than we found anywhere else.”

The transformation at Siesta Motel demonstrates how the right technology partner can revolutionise operations for independent properties. By automating payment processing, reducing cancellations, expanding online visibility, and providing tools that work seamlessly together, Little Hotelier has enabled Frank and his team to focus on what matters most – providing excellent service to their guests in paradise.

With automated payments and the virtual terminal transforming hours of admin into seconds, seamless OTA management, and increased direct bookings through enhanced online visibility, the Siesta Motel has built a modern, efficient operation that helps them maintain the personal touch their guests love.