Customer Spotlight: Landhaus Irmgard

Key Results:

• +30–35% increase in monthly bookings: Within just two months of relaunching their website with the Lighthouse Booking Engine and connecting Channel Manager, the hotel saw a substantial uplift in direct reservations.

• 50% time saved on administrative tasks: By replacing manual processes with Lighthouse automation through Reservation Manager, Landhaus Irmgard cut their office workload in half – freeing up time to focus on guests and family.

• Significant cost savings from direct bookings: Transitioning bookings from OTAs to the hotel’s own site saved up to 15% per booking in commission fees. This enabled reinvestment in guest experience and long-term loyalty strategies.

Running a hotel is never easy, especially when you're doing it all with your partner and a handful of helpful friends. For one Dutch hotelier juggling 22 rooms, 49 beds, and a homegrown hospitality ethos, the past few years threw more than a few curveballs. But with resilience, a little tech help, and a lot of heart, Nynke Pool-Rokette from Landhaus Irmgard turned the tide. 

Background

Located in the scenic town of Braunlage in Germany’s Harz Mountains, Landhaus Irmgard is a 22-room, family-owned hotel run by a Dutch-Surinamese couple. The hotel is known for its warm, hands-on hospitality and charming location.

The property is tucked away near the forest yet just minutes from the town center. With no permanent staff, Nynke and her husband manage everything themselves, from reception to breakfast service, sometimes with help from friends.

Their approach combines personal attention with practical systems, offering guests a cozy, kid-friendly stay. Occasional dinner service features Surinamese-inspired cuisine, reflecting the couple’s diverse background and adding a unique flair.

It’s a place where every detail is infused with care, and every guest is welcomed like family.

The wake-up call: No website, no visibility

Imagine running your hotel for two years without a functioning website. That was the reality for Nynke, who relied heavily on repeat guests and third-party OTAs like Booking.com. It wasn’t ideal, but it kept the lights on.

Then, everything changed. Just two months after their new website with Booking Engine went live – and with the addition of Channel Manager – bookings surged.

And it wasn’t just a small bump in numbers. Compared to the same time last year, bookings jumped by 30–35%. That’s a significant gain for any property, especially one that hadn’t used its direct channel for years.

Once their website was live and seamlessly integrated with a modern Booking Engine, the hotel began attracting not only their loyal regulars but also a fresh stream of new guests booking directly. And the OTA fees? They started shrinking fast.

From manual chaos to calm control

Nynke’s operational reality before Lighthouse is in stark contrast to today's streamlined processes. Everything was done manually, including pen, paper, and a charmingly hand-drawn booking map mirroring a spreadsheet layout.

“We really did it in the old-fashioned way, with a map, where the bookings were written on paper. The funny thing is, the layout now from Lighthouse, that’s what my map looked like.”

By switching to Reservation Manager, she saved at least 50% of the time spent on admin tasks. Whether managing room status, check-in/out emails, or breakfast planning, automation lightened the load across the board.

She also took advantage of built-in email automation, setting up workflows for guest communications. These included confirmation messages, pre-stay details, and even post-checkout follow-ups requesting reviews or offering discounts for direct bookings.

These improvements weren’t just about efficiency, they gave her more time to focus on guests, family, and strategic decisions.

Direct bookings: Real savings, real loyalty

Third-party platforms like Booking.com charge around 15% commission per booking. For Nynke, moving reservations over to her own website has made a noticeable difference in revenue.

She doesn’t just hope guests will book directly, she encourages it. With every OTA guest, she shares a business card and a message, ‘come direct next time, and get a discount.’

That’s not just a revenue strategy, it’s relationship building. And it’s proof that small gestures can drive long-term loyalty and profitability.

Staffing shortages and self-reliance

Hiring staff is a challenge for many rural or small-town hotels. But, retaining good people can be even harder. After multiple attempts – with results ranging from absences to poor fit – Nynke and her husband decided to manage the property themselves.

That level of partnership means that every hour saved and every efficient process is a win. From printed housekeeping lists to shared breakfast tasks, they keep things moving with minimal friction. Hoteliers operating without a team will find a Reservation Manager absolutely essential.

Real-time help, human support

Running a small hotel is unpredictable. Questions pop up fast, and getting the right answers can’t wait until next week. That’s why she relies heavily on Lighthouse’s support team, especially the chat function.

Whether it’s about adjusting rate plans for newly renovated rooms or automating post-stay emails, help is just a message away. She also uses webinars to stay up to speed and troubleshoot when needed.

This kind of support matters, especially when there’s no tech team on-site. It’s a reminder that even solo hoteliers don’t have to go it alone.

Final thoughts

Too often, independent hoteliers are told they must make concessions when running a hotel: control or convenience, professionalism or personal touch, family or growth. But this story proves otherwise.

Nynke didn’t need a big budget or a corporate team to run a successful business. She didn’t need to sacrifice evenings with her kids to analyze spreadsheets. She simply needed the right partner. One that understood her goals, respected her independence, and empowered her with tools that work the way she does.

Whether you're doing it all yourself, managing a small team, or preparing for growth, Lighthouse adapts to you. It simplifies tasks and removes barriers, giving you back time, clearer headspace, and confidence in your business actions.

It helps you shift from being dictated to by the market, to crafting a pro-active strategy.

So no, you don’t have to give up your independence to run a high-performing property. You don’t have to trade your family time for revenue gains. And you definitely don’t have to go it alone.

You can have a platform that's responsive to your needs, flexible in its setup, and designed to grow with your business.