Situated in the tranquil heart of Carmarthenshire, Southwest Wales, amidst the beautiful Brechfa Forest, lies Glangwili Mansion Luxury Bed & Breakfast. This isn’t just a place to stay; it’s a secluded retreat, offering guests informal luxury, serenity, and stunning natural beauty.
With just three individually designed junior suites boasting quality furnishings and curated artwork, guests are treated to warm hospitality, bespoke concierge services, and unparalleled views. A unique offering, the Stargazer Cabin Dining Experience, allows guests to savour delicious grazing platters under a magical canopy of stars under the dark sky.
Their dedication to excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2025, Glangwili Mansion proudly received The Best B&B, Inn and Guesthouse Award at the National Tourism Awards for Wales… for the second time! A true testament to their enduring relevance and commitment to exceeding guest expectations, evidenced by hundreds of 5-star reviews. Their philosophy centres on continuous evolution, adapting to the changing needs and wants of their guests and creatively enhancing their offerings to surprise and delight their loyal clientele from around the world.
“Even after 17 years in the business, we’re still relevant and getting it right.”
For Glangwili Mansion B&B, freetobook is not just a booking system; it’s a vital component of their overall guest experience and crucial to how they manage their business. They value freetobook’s simplicity, effectiveness, and its role as an impactful communication channel with guests. Glangwili Mansion B&B appreciate freetobook’s focus on the needs of the property owner, noting, “We feel that freetobook is innovative and responsive in looking after our business needs, rather than focusing solely on guest interests, which is refreshing.”
Their proactive adoption of freetobook’s full suite of innovative features, including Messaging, tools for OTA surcharges, bloom, Google Zero and Tripadvisor Cost per Click, has been instrumental in reshaping how they run their business. No longer heavily reliant on online travel agents (OTAs), an impressive 93% of their bookings are secured directly or are commission-free, with only a small 7% coming from a leading OTA. This remarkable shift has translated into substantial annual savings, significantly increasing their profitability.
“Today, 93% of our bookings are commission-free. That saves us thousands of pounds every year.”
Glangwili Mansion B&B approaches the future with enthusiasm and a clear vision. They aim to maintain their position as market leaders by remaining adaptable, responsive to guest feedback, and committed to innovation. Their latest exciting venture, an outdoor cinema experience, exemplifies this forward-thinking approach and their love of adding a little magic to each stay. Linda and George, owners of Glangwili Mansion B&B, commented, “We love what we do and feel very positive about the future. We want to continue to achieve a high level of direct bookings to support greater profitability.”
George and Linda also run bespoke training courses for those aspiring to run a B&B and change their lifestyle. These can range from a three-day residential course for anyone starting from scratch in their B&B journey, to a one-day course on how to maximise Direct Bookings and become more profitable.
They always advocate incorporating freetobook into their website and show them how to use the software to achieve these goals. Their tagline for the mentorship is, “We have made all the mistakes, so you don’t have to”, said Linda.
Linda’s advice for other B&B owners who might be considering freetobook is clear: fully utilise the extensive range of tools the system offers. These features are invaluable for achieving high levels of guest satisfaction while simultaneously reducing commission to OTAs. However, they caution that success requires consistency and proactive effort: “It’s a mistake to think all this will happen magically overnight just by signing up to freetobook. They give you the tools, but you will have to make the changes, and it can take time. It will work if you keep making small changes to push the ‘BOOK DIRECT’ message.”
Glangwili Mansion B&B’s success story is a testament to the power of combining exceptional hospitality with a proactive approach to using the freetobook system. Their unwavering commitment to the guest experience, coupled with their savvy adoption of freetobook features, has not only earned them prestigious accolades but has also empowered them to build a thriving property grounded in strong direct bookings. Their story is an inspiring example for independent accommodation aspiring to flourish in today’s dynamic landscape.
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