Two campsite operators, two worlds: While Thomas is still sorting order slips in the morning, Anna is already sending information to all guests’ smartphones. In this article, you can find out from Thomas’ perspective how digitalisation at campsites with Hotelcore makes everyday life easier and even strengthens genuine hospitality.
Thomas and Anna: analogue habit meets digital freedom
I’m Thomas, the owner of a small campsite by the lake. I’ve lived for camping for over 20 years – and for paperwork. Daily programmes are posted at reception, orders for bread rolls come in on a list, and when the weather changes, I reach for the megaphone.
Next door, less than five kilometres away, my colleague Anna runs her place digitally, efficiently and with more time for her guests.
“Thomas, you have to try it out!” laughs Anna.
“I haven’t seen a bread roll slip for weeks!”
She shows me how easy it is: Guests can call up information, book offers or give feedback at any time via their digital guest folder. Reservations for e-bikes or the sauna are made automatically via the online reservation tool – everything is centralised, everything is digital.
“I used to answer the same questions all the time,” she says.
“Today, my team saves up to 20 hours a week. We prefer to invest this time in our guests.”
Shortage of skilled labour? Digitalisation takes the pressure off Anna’s team
I love the contact with my guests. But I often simply don’t have the time. Between check-ins, phone calls and spontaneous enquiries, there is little room for personal dialogue.
I realise how that makes me think.
The shortage of skilled labour is also affecting us: new employees are hard to find and training takes time.
Anna uses the Hotelboard from Hotelcore – a digital tool for task management and team communication.
“New colleagues find their way around more quickly because all the information is in the system. Everything is in one place, so there are no misunderstandings,” she explains.I used to answer the same questions all the time. Today, my team is more concerned with experiences – not notes,” she says and laughs.
In this way, she creates clarity in the team and ensures satisfied employees who can concentrate on what’s important: the guests.
Multichannel communication – information where guests are
Anna thinks digitally holistically. In addition to the guest folder, she uses digital info points and the info channel, which display information in central locations, such as in the lounge, at reception or in the restaurant.
Anna says:
‘Our guests love the fact that they are always up to date, no matter where they are on the site. For us, digital means that the information is there before the question is asked.
This takes the pressure off staff and ensures that no guest misses out on an offer or event.
More bookings through digital visibility
My campsite offers countless additional services – from bike hire and children’s entertainment to the wellness area. But without digital visibility, many of these opportunities remain unutilised. At the same time, additional bookings in traditional operations also mean more administrative work for my team – phone calls, queries, manual entries. If everything were easier to use, I would also generate significantly more turnover.
Anna has integrated all offers directly into her digital guest directory.
The result: more turnover, less effort and satisfied guests who can organise their own leisure time.
“Guests used to ask me if they could book bikes online,” she says.
“I always had to say: ‘No, please go to reception’ Now they just book directly online, even spontaneously.”
Sustainability and digitalisation – a powerful combination
I print out information myself every day – from the daily programme to the order lists. One look at Anna shows me that there is another way. Digitalisation not only saves time, but also resources.
Less paper means less waste, lower printing costs and a plus for the environment – an argument that goes down well with guests, especially at sustainable campsites.
“Since going digital, we print 80% less. That not only makes me happy, but also the nature around our lake,” says Anna proudly.
Conclusion
I admit, I was worried that technology would replace humanity and be very complicated to implement. But Anna showed me that the exact opposite happens.
“Thanks to digital support, I can do what I love again: chatting with guests around the campfire.”
Digital guest care takes over routine tasks and frees up time for real encounters. At the same time, it optimises internal processes, reduces costs and creates transparency within the team – from small family businesses to large resorts.
Digitalisation doesn’t change what we love – it changes how we live it.
I’m definitely going to read up on it and who knows, maybe I’ll finally have more time to just be a host at the next campfire.
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