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:

• Setting clear guest expectations with automated communication

• Using digital tools to keep the whole team perfectly aligned

• Balancing efficiency with a soulful, personal touch

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:

• Built unique guest experiences using RoomRaccoon
• Removed rigid rules like breakfast hours
• Supports local producers to drive community sustainability
• Scales with systems that empower his team, not complicate it

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.

🔔 Don't forget to turn on all notifications.
📖 Read the full diary entry
📧 Sign up to get weekly emails
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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.

📖 Read the full diary entry

📧 Sign up to get weekly emails

🛜 Instagram

🛜 LinkedIn

🎥 Watch on YouTube

“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.

📖 ⁠Read the full diary entry⁠

📧 ⁠Sign up to get weekly emails⁠

🛜 ⁠Instagram

⁠🛜⁠ LinkedIn⁠

🎥 ⁠Watch on YouTube

“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