Hotel La Soldanella

Tell us about your property.

Hotel La Soldanella was opened by my grandfather in 1961, initially comprising only three apartments. Over the years, we expanded it into a 3-star superior hotel with forty-one rooms, a wellness center with a pool, a small gym, and a large panoramic garden overlooking the Dolomites.

We’re located three kilometers from the Tre Valli ski area, part of the Dolomiti Superski circuit. However, in recent years, there’s been a significant increase in demand for summer tourism in mountain areas.

We welcome all kinds of guests—families, groups, couples, and solo travelers—who appreciate our less-common single room option. While we’re active on Booking.com and Expedia, 95% of our bookings are direct.

With Smartpricing, we’ve doubled our revenue. The summer demand boom certainly played a role, but it’s clear that without dynamic pricing, we wouldn’t have achieved these results. Timing was crucial. We were ready to seize the opportunity.

How did you manage rates before Smartpricing?

My grandparents and later my parents always used the old fixed rate list, set at the beginning of the year and rarely adjusted except for slight increases based on the previous year’s performance.

I took over hotel management three years ago, just before COVID-19, and was always sure of one thing: the fixed rate list was costing us money.

How did you decide that Smartpricing was the right solution?

I have a background in tourism marketing and keep myself updated by attending many courses and trade fairs. I knew dynamic pricing was a necessary step—I just needed to figure out how.

I tested other software, but they still required a lot of manual work and didn’t fully solve my problem. I needed a solution that saved me as much time as possible.

Our web agency introduced me to Smartpricing, and after a demo, I felt it was the right fit—finally, a tool that didn’t demand constant intervention!

Did you have any doubts about adopting Smartpricing?

Like with any change, it was a bit unsettling at first—not so much for me, but for my mother, who previously managed the rates manually. She followed fixed criteria, and moving away from this approach was challenging for her.

I supported Smartpricing because it simplifies management. It’s automatic; you don’t have to calculate or check prices multiple times a day. Compared to working with a revenue manager who calls daily, it’s a huge time-saver.

How has your work changed with Smartpricing?

The impact on revenue was immediate: since using Smartpricing, our revenue has doubled, and even my mother had to admit its value! Of course, the summer demand boom in mountain destinations contributed, but without dynamic pricing, we wouldn’t have achieved such results.

The other major benefit is the time saved. Before, I spent an entire day calculating room rates and entering them into the channel manager. I appreciate Smartpricing because it’s automated and effortless, yet customizable enough to allow me to set my own parameters.

I was one of the early adopters, back when the software was in its infancy. Comparing the old dashboard to today’s—it’s unrecognizable for all the improvements you’ve made. I like that it evolves over time, making an already convenient tool even better.

Do you use Smartpricing with long-term customers?

Yes. Sometimes they’re surprised by quotes differing from the “usual.” It’s not always easy, but I explain how things work now. A useful comparison is with airline ticket prices, where it’s widely accepted that rates fluctuate.

While some customers may grumble initially, they understand in the end. We’re growing, and growth naturally leaves some behind, but I believe it’s part of the process. You may lose some customers, but you gain others.

Would you go back to the old way of managing rates?

Not a chance! We assess our investments annually, and Smartpricing has proven to be a worthwhile one.