Case Study: Transforming a Traditional Guesthouse into a Digital Hospitality Hub

The Challenge: Modernizing Guest Experience for a Boutique Apartment Complex

Werwein Stay, a boutique apartment complex in the historic city of Bayreuth, Germany, faced a common dilemma in the hospitality industry. While offering modern amenities like EV charging stations and digital access, their booking process remained analog and fragmented. Potential guests had to call or email to check availability, creating friction and lost opportunities. The owner needed a digital presence that would not only showcase the apartments’ unique advantages but also streamline operations and capture bookings 24/7, competing effectively in the online travel market.

Our Approach: Creating a Seamless Journey from Discovery to Booking

We focused on building a website that would act as a virtual concierge and a powerful booking engine. Our strategy was to merge compelling storytelling about the location (proximity to the Bayreuth Festival Theatre) with ultimate booking convenience, turning casual browsers into confirmed guests.

Core Innovation: An Integrated, User-Friendly Booking System

The heart of the new website is a custom-built booking engine that we seamlessly integrated into the design. We moved beyond basic contact forms to provide real-time functionality:

• Intuitive Date & Guest Selector: A clear, visual calendar interface for selecting check-in/out dates and number of guests.

• Dynamic Apartment Showcase: Direct connection between the “Room Selection” page and the booking widget, allowing users to see details and book their chosen apartment in a few clicks.

• Streamlined Inquiry Conversion: For users not ready to book instantly, the system captures structured inquiries (“Objektauswahl” form) with pre-filled dates, qualifying leads for the owner.

The Impact: This system transformed the website from a passive brochure into the business’s primary revenue channel. It reduced administrative overhead by automating availability checks and reservation management, allowing the owner to focus on guest service.

Complementary Features for a Premium Experience:

To support the booking engine and justify the value proposition, we highlighted unique selling points through dedicated content sections:

• Interactive Location Map: Showcasing the walking distance to key landmarks like the Festspielhaus (3.3 km, 29 min walk) to emphasize the perfect cultural getaway location.

• Amenities Hub: Visually presenting competitive advantages — private EV parking, e-scooter rental, digital access — as part of the premium package, not just a list.

• Apartment Gallery & Details: Clear, standardized presentation for each apartment (size, amenities, capacity) to help guests make informed decisions confidently.

The Results: A Digital Front Desk That Never Closes

The launch of the new platform with its integrated booking system led to immediate and measurable improvements in business operations and marketing effectiveness.

• Direct Booking Uplift: Over 60% of all new reservations now come directly through the website’s booking system, reducing reliance on third-party platforms and their associated commissions. Let us help you develop complex web solutions.

• Lead Qualification Efficiency: The structured booking and inquiry forms increased the quality of leads, with over 90% of inquiries being actionable (containing clear dates and apartment preferences).

• Enhanced User Engagement: The clear path from discovery to booking resulted in a 35% decrease in bounce rate and a 50% increase in average session duration on key pages like “Zimmer” and “Buchung”.

• Local SEO Foundation: The content-rich pages focused on location, amenities, and local attractions (Festspielhaus) helped the site gain strong visibility for mid-funnel search terms like “apartments Bayreuth with parking” or “stay near Bayreuth Festival“.

Conclusion: From Invisible to Instantly Bookable

We transformed Werwein Stay’s online presence into a sophisticated hospitality platform. The website now effectively markets the unique experience, handles inquiries, and secures bookings autonomously. It gives potential guests the clarity and convenience they expect, translating directly into higher occupancy rates and a stronger, more modern brand identity in the competitive local market.

Client Feedback

“After launching our own website, the results were impressive — calls started coming in constantly, even when all apartments were fully booked. Within first three months, we started receiving long-term rental requests directly from companies looking for housing for their employees, something that platforms like Airbnb never brought us. The site helped us cut platform fees and build a steady flow of direct clients.”

Technologies & Services Applied

Tech Stack: Custom WordPress Development | Integration with Booking API/Plugin | Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) | Responsive Design | Performance-Optimized Hosting

Our Services: Conversion-Centered Web Design for Hospitality | Custom Booking System Integration | Local SEO Strategy & Content Optimization | Digital Branding & UX Design