From New Orleans to Clarksdale: A hotelier’s journey to running a thriving hostel business
“Sirvoy is the perfect fit for hostel owners. It’s simple, affordable, and does exactly what you need without all the bells and whistles that just add complexity.” – Robert Weinstein, Multiple Hostel Owner
Robert didn’t set out to become a hostel owner but growing up in a motel run by his mom, hospitality was always in his blood. After traveling the world and staying in hostels, he saw an opportunity to offer something unique. His first hostel, Auberge Nola in New Orleans, quickly expanded from one house to two. As the property became a go-to spot for travelers, Robert knew it was time to grow.
In 2019, Robert expanded his business with Auberge Clarksdale, Mississippi’s first-ever hostel. Located in Clarksdale, the birthplace of American music, it was the ideal spot for his second property. But what started as a smooth expansion soon revealed a new set of challenges that would force Robert to rethink how he managed his growing business.
Two properties, one overwhelming system
When Robert opened Clarksdale, he knew he needed a PMS to handle his growing business. After exploring several options, he chose Sirvoy for its ability to meet the demands of his new property. But since Hostel Nola had opened first, it was still using a different system.
“At first, everything worked fine, but as the business grew, managing two systems became a real headache. I was juggling between platforms, manually entering credit card info and dealing with unnecessary steps.”
One place to manage it all
The results were clear at Clarksdale.
“Before COVID-19, we were running at 84% occupancy. After the pandemic, we dropped to around 34%. But with Sirvoy, we’ve bounced back. We’ve seen more direct bookings, and managing everything has become much smoother.”
Robert was delighted with how well Sirvoy worked for Clarksdale, but as his business grew, he knew he needed to make the switch for Nola too.
“I needed a system that could handle reservations, payments, and guest communication all in one place. Sirvoy made managing both properties much easier. Once I had both properties on the same system, things really started to run more smoothly.”
“What really won me over was the support. Whenever I’ve had late-night questions, the team is quick to respond. If something goes wrong, they’re right on it, and I know I won’t be left hanging. It’s peace of mind I didn’t have with my previous system”.
As a business owner, Robert is always mindful of costs, and he quickly realized that Sirvoy was more affordable than other options.
“Before Sirvoy, I was paying for a much pricier PMS that didn’t offer half the features Sirvoy does. The simplicity and cost-effectiveness were a huge draw for me. Why pay more for something that’s harder to use when Sirvoy gives me everything I need at a much better price?”
One of the standout features for Robert has been the guest relationship tools. “I can automatically group returning guests and leave notes for the team. This has been a huge improvement, especially for repeat visitors.”
Back on track with a little help from Sirvoy
With Sirvoy, Robert was able to get his business back on track.
“The direct bookings have been huge for us. We started using the Google Hotel Ads feature, and it’s brought in a lot more direct traffic. It’s helped us rely less on OTAs and focus more on building our guest community.”
Managing two properties is now much simpler.
“I don’t have to log into two different systems anymore. I can see both properties under one roof, and everything I need is right there on the dashboard. It’s much easier now, and I don’t have to worry about switching between systems.”
Let’s make things easier together
Robert’s story shows that with the right tools, managing multiple properties doesn’t have to be a headache. Book your free demo, and learn how Sirvoy can do the same for you.
