Casa Peleyón: From manual property management to technological excellence

Known as “A Charming Refuge,” Casa Peleyón has been Ángeles Ortiz Pérez‘s life project for two decades. This enchanting boutique hotel with just six rooms, strategically located near the Camino de Santiago, is the result of years of dedication where every detail has been meticulously designed to offer an unforgettable experience. However, manual reservation management was limiting the team’s ability to provide the service they desired.

What is now an elegant hotel was originally a structure that served as a hayloft and shed where farming tools were stored. The spectacular lounge, with its distinctive vaulted design, once housed the typical boat of the estuary, with an outdoor patio where sailboat sails were conditioned (considered heritage of humanity). This historic space, with beams dating back to before the 18th century and large windows in the rooms, has been featured in several decoration magazines.

Despite its unique charm, Ángeles faced a common challenge among small boutique hotels: manual reservation management consumed too much time and resources. 

“Before the pandemic, I managed everything manually, with phone calls and emails, which required constant attention,” Ángeles mentioned.

The essential nature of hotel technology

Ángeles attended an industry event where she was recommended to implement a property management system (PMS), although she was hesitant due to her low room count. It was the global pandemic that finally made her understand that she needed a technological solution that would allow her to focus more time on her guests.

“The pandemic made me realise that I needed to dedicate more time to my clients and find an easier way to manage operations,” she explained. 

“Little Hotelier has given me peace of mind by automating reservations, as the system manages everything; if inventory fills up, Little Hotelier closes rooms automatically. I can go on a trip without worrying because everything keeps working perfectly.”

Efficiency provides the foundation for growth

With Little Hotelier, Casa Peleyón has completely transformed its daily operations and distribution strategy. Ángeles highlights that one of the greatest benefits has been finding peace of mind 

“It’s unthinkable that we lived without Little Hotelier until now. It allows you to plan ahead. We can now open reservations for the next year with ease, something that was unthinkable before.”

Additionally, the solution has optimised the management of various special rooms within the property. 

“We try to divide a lot, focusing on the customer experience. We have double rooms with one bed, triple rooms, double rooms that can be converted into two, rooms for pets… Little Hotelier manages everything perfectly and distributes our rates and room types to all channels.”

From lost reservations to maximising success

One of the most serious problems Casa Peleyón faced was the loss of business opportunities due to the impossibility of offering all their rooms on all channels at the same time.

“Before, we lost many reservations because we had to manually assign rooms to different channels and we couldn’t make all rooms available on all of them. With Little Hotelier, I can put all rooms on all channels and let whoever comes first reserve,” said Ángeles.

The results didn’t take long to arrive. Since implementing Little Hotelier, Casa Peleyón has experienced an increase of approximately 40% in its reservations. Although Ángeles recognised that this increase may also be due to market trends, what’s indisputable is that “Little Hotelier has made it possible to manage that increase efficiently.”

The value of more time and an expanding guest profile

The time freed up thanks to Little Hotelier’s automation has allowed Ángeles to focus on what really makes a difference: the guest experience. As the cornerstone of this family project, in which her three children also play a major role, Ángeles has been able to dedicate more time to the details that make Casa Peleyón special.

“I can now dedicate myself to creating more varied artisanal pastries for different needs: gluten-free, lactose-free, sugar-free… This has allowed us to significantly improve our ratings, for example our breakfast now has a score of 10 on Booking.com.” 

These morning breakfasts are part of that atmosphere of elegance and comfort that has been treasured over time by their guests. Furthermore, the Casa Peleyón team can dedicate more time to explaining to guests everything they can do in the area: 

“We focus on showing them both the good beaches for surfing on the coast and the beautiful valleys and hiking routes in the nearby mountains. They are surprised to discover that this was a very important area in antiquity and is now forgotten.”

Another interesting aspect that Ángeles highlighted is how their guest profile has changed.

“It has changed a lot since the pandemic. Before, families with young children were our main demographic, now they are families with older children (12-13 years) and we get approximately 30% international tourism, especially guests from Germany, Italy, and Belgium.”

This change in guest profile has also necessitated an adaptation in service, which can now be managed more efficiently thanks to Little Hotelier’s features such as the front desk system and guest engagement tools.

The future is bright with the right technology

For Casa Peleyón, Little Hotelier has been much more than a piece of software: it has become a strategic ally that has allowed the hotel to evolve and adapt to new market demands.

From the warm welcome to the most sophisticated amenities, every aspect of customer service has been enriched by this technology that allows Ángeles and her family to dedicate their attention to what matters: the guests.

“The peace of mind that Little Hotelier provides is what I value most. It’s unthinkable to live without it now,” Ángeles concluded.

Thank you, Ángeles, for sharing your experience with Little Hotelier and demonstrating that, regardless of the size of the accommodation, the right technology can make a significant difference in operations and results.