MOD 05 Bike Hotel
Smartconnect revealed the untapped potential we had in reconnecting with past guests. Now we know how to match their interests and create more effective messaging.
Sandrà di Castelnuovo del Garda, Italy
36
Context
MOD 05 Bike Hotel is set in the peaceful countryside of Castelnuovo del Garda, just minutes from the southern shores of Lake Garda and the nearby Parco Natura Viva nature reserve.
Since 2023, the property has specialized in gravel biking, offering a full range of services for cycling enthusiasts: scenic bike routes, local guides, a fully equipped bike room, a wash area with a workshop, and on-site bike rentals.
Its strategic location near major theme parks – Gardaland, Movieland, and Caneva World – makes it attractive to a wide variety of travelers. Beyond cyclists, the hotel also welcomes families, couples, and small groups seeking a mix of adventure, fun, and relaxation in a single trip.
The challenge
After repositioning itself as a bike hotel, MOD 05 set out to build a real community of cycling lovers – not just among hardcore cyclists, but also among curious beginners and nature lovers. To succeed, the hotel needed to clearly communicate its new identity.
“We realized that many of our past guests shared traits with our new ideal audience: nature lovers, active travelers, and families. But we weren’t sure how to truly engage them.” - MOD 05 Bike Hotel Team
At the same time, the hotel wanted to shift its booking mix. Until then, 53% of bookings came from OTAs like Booking.com, while only 40% were made directly.
The solution
To strengthen its new brand identity and boost direct bookings, MOD 05 chose Smartconnect and managed to shift from generic outreach to personalized, targeted communication.
With Smartconnect, the property was able to:
- Reconnect with past guests by identifying those who had shown interest in outdoor activities and bike tourism.
- Promote tailored experiences with offers crafted for specific customer segments, rather than generic deals.
- Highlight the local area through a content calendar that included informative newsletters in addition to promotional ones, featuring the best bike routes and outdoor tips.
The results
The first campaign launched during Vinitaly, a major regional event. A well-targeted newsletter allowed MOD 05 to test the power of personalized communication and the results spoke for themselves: a 29% click-through rate (CTR), nearly six times the industry average.
“Smartconnect showed us how much untapped value we had in our existing contacts. Now we know how to create content that speaks directly to their interests.” - MOD 05 Bike Hotel Team
Garda Relais
Smartconnect allowed us to start a journey we had in mind but couldn’t put into practice. Now we know it’s possible to turn unused contacts into real guests.
The Ziba Hotel & Spa
Smartconnect helped us generate qualified traffic and thus increase quote requests through our website without spending a cent more on advertising.