Langtaufererhof

Tell us about your property.

My parents opened Langtaufererhof in 1994 with 20 rooms, and in 2016 we expanded to 44 rooms. I manage the hotel together with them, with my focus primarily on marketing and operations.

We attract a sporty crowd—our high season in winter is all about ski tours and group travel, while in summer we mostly host couples.

Year-round, most of our bookings—whether in winter or summer—come directly, but we also work with all the usual booking platforms.

What’s been great is seeing how well guests have accepted our new pricing. Initially, I was unsure how they’d react, but we decided to let the system run on its own, and the results speak for themselves—it really works.

What software do you use at your property?

We’ve had hotel software since around 2001, and when we renovated in 2016, we switched over to xenus.

We use the full suite of xenus modules—everything from the reservation system and POS tools for service and kitchen, to email communication and the wellness calendar.

Thanks to the xenus Mobile Cloud app, I always have access to the room schedule right on my phone, so I’m in the loop even when I’m on the go.

On top of that, we use a channel manager and, since December 2021, Smartpricing.

I first read about Smartpricing in the xenus newsletter, which led me to dive deeper into dynamic pricing strategies.

One deciding factor for us was that Smartpricing’s pricing model was affordable and made sense for our business.

During the setup phase, when we connected all the systems, the xenus team was there to guide us, so everything went smoothly.

What convinced you to use xenus?

Back then, xenus struck me as far more innovative and advanced compared to other providers.

Our business was evolving—we were expanding and adding new services, like massage treatments.

I wanted software that could grow with us, and with xenus, I saw that it opened up more possibilities for the future.

In all my time using xenus, I’ve never run into something I needed that wasn’t doable. Whether it’s a specific report or a new customization, they’ve always made it possible.

How did you handle pricing before Smartpricing, and what problem were you looking to solve with dynamic pricing?

Before Smartpricing, we used a fixed price list and adjusted rates based on season, room category, and factors like length of stay. We also kept an eye on competitor prices.

Our main goal was to steadily improve occupancy, bring more flexibility to pricing, and make short-term adjustments easier.

For some of our regular guests, it’s still a bit unfamiliar, but new guests accept the prices without issue. In fact, in the industry, it’s becoming the norm.

What results have you achieved with Smartpricing?

With Smartpricing, I’m able to achieve rates I’d struggle to set on my own. It makes it much easier to secure strong rates, especially during peak seasons.

And guests are accepting the prices, too. At first, I had some doubts, but we decided to let the system handle pricing autonomously—and we quickly saw that it works.

I just reviewed the figures for the last three weeks, and even compared to last year (when we still offered many regular guests lower rates), we’ve seen an 18% increase per person per night.

Has using Smartpricing & xenus helped you save time?

Absolutely—the combination of Smartpricing and xenus definitely saves us time, mainly because everything is connected via interfaces, and prices update automatically in the system and across all booking channels.

I wouldn’t ever consider going back to using a fixed price list.