Taking It Back to the Beginning: A Need for Efficiency and Flexibility 

In 2013, Stephan and his then business partner launched their first property, Dreamcatcher Guest House. At that time, reservations were handled through a manual calendar and Airbnb, which quickly became challenging to manage, and it was an evidently outdated process. As Stephan recalls, “It felt like operating in the 80s. I knew we needed something modern, something cloud-based and user-friendly. That’s when I discovered freetobook.” 

The initial attraction? Accessibility and affordability. Freetobook offered a channel management feature that allowed Dreamcatcher to streamline third-party and direct bookings without paying for excessive services they didn’t need. 

A Game-Changer: The Multi-Property Booking Feature 

As Dreamers Welcome have continued to grow over the years, adding additional properties and expanding from Puerto Rico to North Carolina, their requirements for a booking system have changed. For Dreamers Welcome, freetobook’s multi-property booking page has been the most impactful addition. Stephan highlights, “We have a diverse range of properties, and this feature lets guests easily see available options across all of them. It’s a really helpful way for us to upsell – if one property is full for their selected dates, guests can instantly view availability in our other locations.”  

This interconnectedness has been key to Dreamers Welcome’s growth and operational efficiency. The bloom booking page now offers alternatives if a specific property has no vacancy, guiding guests to similar options within the Dreamers Welcome group. “We can maximise occupancy and revenue without relying on external booking channels,” Stephan adds. The value of this freetobook feature is not lost on Stephan, he acknowledged “Other platforms just could not compete”.  

Navigating Challenges with a Flexible Provider 

One of the biggest challenges in hospitality is meeting the needs of a multi-property, multi-type model, and Dreamers Welcome’s success with freetobook is a testament to the platform’s flexibility. Stephan says, “We get so many calls from other systems claiming they’re the best fit, but none have matched the tailored functionality we get with freetobook. The freetobook team has even addressed specific requests and customisations that help our unique model thrive.” 

For Dreamers Welcome, this flexibility extends beyond accommodating the guest mix: self-check-in for independence, and boutique services for luxury, to customer service as well. “The freetobook team’s responsiveness is amazing,” Stephan says. “They understand that what works for us might work for other multi-property owners too.” 

Looking Forward 

With more properties in the pipeline and a Michelin Key award under their belt, Dreamers Welcome is entering an exciting new phase. Stephan is bringing on a new business partner to help expand the brand’s footprint and continue innovating in the boutique accommodation market. “We’re looking forward to what’s next with freetobook, I see a lot of changes happening and I have been following these”, Stephan says. 

Conclusion 

The Dreamers Welcome and freetobook partnership shows just how flexibility, the right support, and fresh ideas, can help a small guest house on its journey to transform into an award-winning, multi-property hospitality group. As Stephan put it, “There’s really nothing else like freetobook, and it’s a big reason why we’ve stayed with them for over 11 years.”