What happens when you remove the front desk from a hotel? For Andreas Sparsis, owner of SLEEP Eco Hotel in Worthing, the answer is a fully automated, carbon-neutral guest experience that feels surprisingly more personal.
In this episode of BOLD, host Nadja Buckenberger sits down with Andreas to explore how he turned a historic 1910 wash house into one of the UK’s most innovative eco hotels—run through automation, local partnerships, and design thinking.
Discover how SLEEP:
• Operates without a single full-time front-desk staff member
• Uses automation to anticipate guest needs
• Delivers an effortless, “two-touch” digital check-in journey
• Overdelivers on comfort by investing savings back into constant room renewal
🔔 Subscribe to BOLD for more stories from hoteliers rewriting the rules of hospitality: https://roomraccoon.com/more/bold/andreas-sparsis/
#BOLDbyRoomRaccoon #HotelAutomation #IndependentHoteliers #SleepEcoHotel #HospitalityInnovation
What happens when you build a boutique hotel inside a football stadium? In this episode of BOLD, RoomRaccoon founder Nadja Buckenberger sits down with Pauline Boyle, Hotel Operations Manager at Tynecastle Park Hotel — a 25-room property built within Edinburgh’s Tynecastle Park, home of Heart of Midlothian Football Club.
Pauline shares how she transitioned from a decade at Hilton to helping open the UK’s first hotel within a live stadium, and how this bold idea helped balance the seasonality of football with year-round hospitality.
Discover how the team:
– Uses RoomRaccoon Upsell to enhance operations and boost revenue
– Turned the club’s off-season into an opportunity for hotel growth
– Transformed a windowless room into a fan favorite
This is a story of creativity, adaptability, and redefining what it means to host in a truly unique space.
👉 Subscribe to BOLD for more inspiring stories from hoteliers rewriting the rules of hospitality: https://roomraccoon.com/more/bold/
#IndependentHoteliers #BOLDbyRoomRaccoon #HospitalityInnovation #TynecastleParkHotel #HeartofMidlothian #RoomRaccoon
What happens when a historic castle meets modern hospitality thinking?
In this episode of BOLD, Philipp Skaar shares how he and his partner reclaimed his 19th-century family estate, Schloss Neetzow, and turned it into a 29-room boutique hotel rooted in peace, authenticity, and smart simplicity.
Discover how they run a 29-room castle with just five full-time staff by:
Philipp shows that with the right systems — and the right spirit — hospitality can be both modern and meaningful.
Watch now to see how bold hoteliers are redefining what heritage hospitality means today.
👉 Subscribe to BOLD for more inspiring conversations with hoteliers who dare to do things differently: https://roomraccoon.com/more/bold
About BOLD
BOLD is a showcase series by RoomRaccoon featuring independent hoteliers who aren’t afraid to shake things up. Hosted by RoomRaccoon founder Nadja Buckenberger, BOLD takes you inside the stories of independent hotel owners who are redefining what hospitality can be through creativity and technology.
How do you run a 21-room hotel with fewer staff, more automation and still create an unforgettable guest experience?
In this episode of BOLD, Arlette Ventevogel shares how she transformed the historic Hotel Truida into the Beachfront Boutique Hotel in Vlissingen. From selling breakfast slots as add-ons to closing reception at 6PM and letting tech take over, she’s built a hotel that’s both efficient and deeply personal.
Discover how RoomRaccoon helps Arlette blend automation with hospitality soul and why being bold is the best way forward in independent hospitality.
👉 Subscribe to BOLD for more inspiring conversations with hoteliers who dare to do things differently: https://roomraccoon.com/more/bold
About BOLD
BOLD is a showcase series by RoomRaccoon featuring independent hoteliers who aren’t afraid to shake things up. Hosted by RoomRaccoon founder Nadja Buckenberger, BOLD takes you inside the stories of independent hotel owners who are redefining what hospitality can be through creativity and technology.
What does it take to build a boutique hotel brand that guests remember — and return to?
In this episode of BOLD, Lesley and Rupert Sykes share how they built Pineapple House into one of Cape Town’s most sought-after stays. From personalised guest journeys to brand-driven design choices, they’ve created an experience that lingers long after checkout.
Learn how embracing RoomRaccoon’s tech tools allowed them to focus on what matters most: crafting a seamless, unforgettable stay that keeps guests coming back.
👉 Subscribe to BOLD for more inspiring conversations with hoteliers who dare to do things differently: https://roomraccoon.com/more/bold
About BOLD
BOLD is a showcase series by RoomRaccoon featuring independent hoteliers who aren’t afraid to shake things up. Hosted by RoomRaccoon founder Nadja Buckenberger, BOLD takes you inside the stories of independent hotel owners who are redefining what hospitality can be through creativity and technology.
In the very first episode of BOLD, we meet José Gonçalves, who left behind a 30-year career in IT to build not one, but two stunning boutique hotels operating 35 rooms in Portugal’s Algarve.
What began as a family dream is now a thriving hospitality brand defined by local partnerships, sustainable values, and tech-powered service.
Tune in to hear how José:
Whether you're running a boutique property or dreaming of opening one, José’s story is a masterclass in bold reinvention.
👉 Subscribe to BOLD for more inspiring conversations with hoteliers who dare to do things differently: https://roomraccoon.com/more/bold
About BOLD
BOLD is a showcase series by RoomRaccoon featuring independent hoteliers who aren’t afraid to shake things up. Hosted by RoomRaccoon founder Nadja Buckenberger, BOLD takes you inside the stories of independent hotel owners who are redefining what hospitality can be through creativity and technology.
“Hospitality is hard work, but when you love it, it loves you back.”
The final entry. Saying goodbye to The Bliss wasn’t easy, but some things never fade. Once a hotelier, always a hotelier. Nadja reflects on how running her hotel shaped her, the lessons that stayed with her, and how they now help her build smarter solutions for hoteliers.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
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“Guests don’t just book a room—they book an experience. The right upsell makes it unforgettable (yes, even a goldfish!).”
The secret to successful upselling? Making it feel effortless. Nadja figured out how—and it’s not about having a smooth-talking receptionist. Nope, it’s all about personalization and catching guests at just the right moment before they arrive.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
“It’s not always about the weather—it’s about knowing your guests.”
Every hotel feels the seasons differently. It’s one thing to know when demand changes—but figuring out why is what really helps you plan ahead. In this episode, Nadja shares how she handled the summer slump when her corporate guests disappeared.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
“You operate in a dynamic industry—let your prices reflect it.”
Setting the right room prices is one of the trickiest parts of running a hotel. Nadja shares how a well-intended Sunday rate drop ended up costing her big time. She dives into dynamic pricing and other revenue strategies—like focusing on guest loyalty—that can be a total game changer.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📖 Read the full diary entry
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
🛜 Instagram
🛜 LinkedIn
🎥 Watch on YouTube
“Mistakes are part of the journey—fail fast, learn faster, and keep pushing forward.”
Nadja may no longer greet guests at the front desk, but she’s still serving them—this time through RoomRaccoon’s innovative solutions. Tune in to hear how she embraced her role as CPO and how Tymen transitioned from engineer to CEO.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
“Staying lean and scaling fast isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”
Building a SaaS business takes serious funding—unless you get creative. In this entry, Nadja and Tymen share how they stayed bootstrapped and launched their Minimal Viable Product (MVP) in just one year. Discover their resourceful journey and how they turned constraints into opportunities!
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📖 Read the full diary entry
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
🛜 Instagram
🛜 LinkedIn
🎥 Watch on YouTube
“Furry, clever, and just a little daring—just like us.”
The animal kingdom is full of choices—lions, elephants, all kinds of majestic deer. But Nadja and Tymen? They went for the scrappy, resourceful raccoon.
Curious why? They’re finally spilling the beans, and it’s a story worth hearing!
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
“Dreaming out loud could be game-changing.”
Chapter 4 is here! Nadja sits down with Tymen Van Dyl, RoomRaccoon's CEO and Co-Founder, to explore how being 'outsiders' in the hotel tech industry turned into their greatest strength. Tymen calls it 'a positive kind of being naive,' explaining how they skipped copying existing solutions and focused on creating something better from the ground up. Don't miss this inspiring conversation!
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
“I couldn’t find a solution that fit my budget and offered the operational flexibility a boutique hotel needs.”
Nadja recounts her search for the perfect hotel software and how it led to the creation of RoomRaccoon. She shares a practical checklist for choosing the right hotel software, so you don’t make the same mistakes. Tune in for real talk, helpful tips, and a story that could change your approach to operations.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
“It will cost you a lot of time and money if you don’t think about payments when you start running your hotel.”
Nadja shares 5 things she wish she knew about hotel payments as a new hotelier. Learn how to avoid costly mistakes and set up smarter payment solutions from the start.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
“Guests expect something extra when they make the effort to check out your website instead of booking through an OTA — don’t disappoint them.”
Your distribution strategy is the backbone of how you sell those rooms effectively, ensuring you reach the right guests through the right channels. In this episode, Nadja shares 5 tips she used to build the ideal booking channel mix—helping The Bliss achieve an impressive 50% direct bookings.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
"The mistake that made my hotelier's heart bleed."
Navigating those “oops” and “oh no” moments is part of every hotelier’s journey. In this episode, Nadja shares 5 lessons on handling unexpected challenges—and reveals the one mistake that truly made her "hotelier's heart bleed."
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
Chapter 2: Entry 8
“From 6.0 to 9.7: How I revived The Bliss’ reputation with repairs and stellar service.”
In Nadja's words: "Positive guest reviews are currency for attracting more bookings." But how do you build a strong online reputation? Nadja shares the strategies that helped grow The Bliss' reputation—through much-needed maintenance repairs and exceptional guest service.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
Chapter 2: Entry 7
“At The Bliss, we didn’t just serve guests—we became them.”
This entry explores what it takes to create a guest experience that makes guests feel welcome before they even arrive and remembered long after they’ve left. From honesty bars to online check-ins, Nadja’s fresh perspective as a first-time hotelier highlighted simple yet impactful ways to enhance every step of the Bliss' guest experience journey.
About this series: Diary of a Hotelier: From Suites to Software.
An authentic, behind-the-front-desk look into the world of hospitality through the eyes of Nadja Buckenberger, a first-time hotel owner. After an unexpected opportunity led her to buy The Bliss Boutique Hotel in Breda, the Netherlands, Nadja shares the thrills, challenges, and unexpected joys of running a hotel.
Each episode dives into her journey—from her first days as a hotelier to the operational hurdles that inspired RoomRaccoon, now empowering hoteliers worldwide. Whether you're a seasoned professional, an aspiring hotelier, or simply curious about the realities of running a hotel, Diary of a Hotelier provides an honest, insightful, and relatable perspective on running a successful hotel business.
🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📖 Read the full diary entry
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
🛜 Instagram
🛜 LinkedIn
🎥 Watch on YouTube