When you run an independent hotel, you’re likely a jack of all trades, wearing different hats each day: receptionist, marketer, maintenance worker, and perhaps even the breakfast chef. Therefore, it’s no surprise that revenue management may often slip to the bottom of your to-do list, or may even be nonexistent.
But here’s the thing: it’s one of the fastest ways to grow your profit.
That’s why we teamed up with SabeeApp for a live webinar “Hotel Revenue Essentials: Smart Tech and Strategies for Growth”, to make revenue management more approachable, more actionable, and way less overwhelming.
Missed the session? No problem. Watch the recording or read this quick (and useful) recap.
Where Independent Hoteliers Stand Today
We kicked off the session with a poll: how are you setting your prices right now?
Approach | % of attendees |
Gut feeling | 0% |
Spreadsheets | 29% |
Basic PMS / OTA rules | 18% |
Full RMS automation | 18% |
Almost a third still depend on spreadsheets. They are effective, until manual updates begin to take away your time for guests.
“Spreadsheets are a solid start, but they were never meant to replace strategy.” - Natalie Reiter, Director of Revenue Management Services at RoomPriceGenie
Lightning Round: What Every Hotelier Needs to Know
With years of hands-on experience at world-renowned hotels such as The Ritz London and Shangri-La, Natalie is the ideal Genie to consult for practical revenue advice.
We hit her with five rapid-fire questions. Here’s the expert insight you can apply today:
| Big Question | Natalie’s Take | What You Should Do |
| Occupancy or ADR? | Balance both. | Track RevPAR to get the full performance view. |
| Automation vs Intuition? | Let tech track trends; trust your gut for edge cases. | Focus human time on strategy, not spreadsheets. |
| How often to update rates? | Hourly in busy cities; daily everywhere else. | Use auto-updates in your RMS so you never miss a demand spike. |
| OTA dependency? | Use them to get new guests in the door, then give guests a reason to book directly next time. | Offer perks at your website for direct bookers. |
| Rate parity? | Only if it helps profit. | Sweeten your direct channel with extras. |
Mythbusting the Industry’s Favorite Excuses
Let’s clear the air:- “Small hotels don’t need revenue management.” → With fewer rooms, every underpriced night hits harder.
- “Stay €1 under your competitors.” → That’s not strategy—it’s surrender. Price for votre demand, not theirs.
- “Dynamic pricing scares loyal guests.” → Loyalty comes from hospitality, not static prices. What’s more, a study by ZHAW School of Management and Law confirms the positive impact for hotels using dynamic pricing.
- “An RMS is a luxury.” → So was a channel manager once. Now, dynamic pricing is essential.
The No. 1 Fear: Losing Guests to Price Changes
A full 33% of webinar attendees said their biggest concern was scaring off regular guests with fluctuating rates. Dynamic pricing is not a novelty. Nowadays, travelers are accustomed to fluctuating rates based on demand, as they recognize this concept from airlines or rideshares like Uber. Furthermore, with RoomPriceGenie, pricing adjustments are smooth and reasonable, not shocking.- Gentle nudges, not wild swings
- Total control over min/max prices and overrides
- Loyal guests? Tag them for custom offers or surprises at check-in
Transparency, AI, and Staying in Control
Not all tech is created equal. Before choosing any RMS, ask:
- What data is it using, and how often is it refreshed?
- Can I understand why prices change?
- Can I override it when needed?
RoomPriceGenie checks every box, because black-box algorithms belong to aircraft, not your pricing.
Use our checklist with 10 tips to choose the right Revenue Management System for your property.
Your Next 7-Day Revenue Action Plan
If you take one thing from this webinar, let it be action. Here’s what you can do this week:
- Audit your pick-up curve → Compare this month to last. Find soft nights now.
- Automate one thing → Start a free RoomPriceGenie trial or set simple rules in your PMS.
- Reward direct bookers → Offer a small perk that OTAs can’t compete with (late check-out, welcome drinks, free parking).
Catch the Replay: Hotel Revenue Essentials
Missed the live session? Get actionable strategies from our chat with David Mate from SabeeApp and Natalie Reiter from RoomPriceGenie.
About SabeeApp
SabeeApp is a cloud-based property management system (PMS) designed to simplify and optimise the daily operations of hotels, guesthouses, and hostels.
SabeeApp’s platform offers a comprehensive set of tools that allow hoteliers to manage reservations, bookings, payments, and more, all from one central system. As a fast-growing SaaS company, SabeeApp is committed to helping hospitality businesses improve their efficiency, enhance guest experiences, increase revenue, and minimise administrative tasks.
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