Find out how Wildwood Camping automates processes, reduces booking effort and retains regular guests thanks to Booking Experts - right in the middle of the peak season.
We visited Wildwood Camping in the Lüneburg Heath and spoke to Franziska Salzmann, the camp manager. Find out how the company has successfully made the leap into the digital future.
- Wildwood Camping
- South Heath, Lüneburg Heath
- Nature campsite with tent sites, pitches and cabins
- BEX PMS
A new, innovative camping brand is created
In 2023, Wildwood Camping took over an idyllic campsite in the Lüneburg Heath and has been inspiring the "new camping generation" witha fresh, modern concept and a clear vision ever since. "We are rethinking camping and combining the original wild camping experience with modern comfort and warm hospitality," explains Franziska, the camp manager.
However, a modern concept also requires contemporary implementation. With the takeover, Wildwood Camping immediately began to digitize processes and implement a booking system that enables online bookings via the website.
Challenges and the switch to Booking Experts
After just one year, it became clear that the previous booking system no longer met the increasing requirements. Processes were too slow and there was too little flexibility. Wildwood Camping has big plans and is opening two more sites in the Harz Mountains and on the island of Rügen in spring 2025. Wildwood Camping's administration is based in Hamburg. They therefore needed a booking system that was cloud-based, multi-property capable and scalable - and could also easily handle complex tasks such as central availability and price control for multiple locations. This is exactly where Booking Experts came into play.
Franziska explains: "We want to continue to develop and needed a partner who could support us in this and always act and react in line with the latest technology. Booking Experts seemed to us to be a very dynamic booking system that pursues similar values to our own."
A major advantage of Booking Experts was the BEX App Store, which offers a wide range of interfaces. For example, the existing barrier system from schranken.de could be seamlessly integrated. The system automatically sends guests a request to transmit their license plate number before they arrive, so that they can drive directly to their parking space on arrival - and check in to the system at the same time.
The seamless transition to automation
The management decided to switch to Booking Experts as quickly as possible and took the step from digitalization to automation with the acceptance of the BEX PMS.
"Everything that can be optimized, where work processes or work steps can be simplified or made easier, especially for the staff, has the effect that we can concentrate on what we want to stand for. And that is guest contact," says Franziska.
Despite the peak season and the ongoing day-to-day business, the change was carried out - a challenge that the team mastered thanks to the practical onboarding checklist from Booking Experts. "Thanks to the checklist, we were able to set up the system in parallel with our day-to-day business and complete all the steps independently, regardless of location and time."
How Wildwood Camping benefits from Booking Experts
The initial focus was on online bookability, and Wildwood Camping is now benefiting from the BEX IBE, which offersan intuitive booking route. "We receive far fewer calls or queries. The booking route is so self-explanatory that our guests understand our offer directly and we have to provide much less support."
Despite the automation, personal contact with guests remains a priority. "We don't want to become an anonymous accommodation provider. Our team remains available at reception for questions and tips and we surprise our guests with small gestures such as handwritten notes on sandwich bags," explains Franziska.
And Wildwood Camping can see from the evaluation forms in the BEX PMS that this is well received by the camping guests. "Our guests all receive the form automatically by email after departure. We get a lot of feedback and tips on what we can do even better to further increase our guest satisfaction. It's a very important tool for us," says Franziska.
A look into the future
The first automation measures have been implemented, but what happens next? "In the low season, we want to implement the to-do module, i.e. the to-do lists, so that we can work even more efficiently for the next high season and concentrate on what we do best: offering hospitality and good service."
Thanks to the automation solutions from Booking Experts, many things now run in the background at Wildwood Camping: from automatic barrier control to the digital management of guest data. This saves the team time and allows them to concentrate on looking after guests personally - a decisive advantage in the peak season.
"We would recommend Booking Experts without exception, as the switch from the old booking system to the new system went very smoothly and the handling of the back office is so intuitive that even new employees are quickly on board and can use the system straight away."
Would you also like to optimize your processes and increase your direct online bookings? Try Booking Experts for free and experience for yourself how easy it is to integrate digitalization and automation into your day-to-day work.
