Good Hospitality Begins Long Before the Visit: Success Story
Why the answer to labor shortages and rising costs is not more effort – but smarter processes. Manuel Hofer explains the digital foundation of hospitality.
Good Hospitality Begins Long Before the Visit: Success Story
Why the answer to labor shortages and rising costs is not more effort – but smarter processes.
We talk to restaurateurs every day and know the burning issues of the industry: personnel costs are rising, skilled workers are becoming scarcer, and at the same time guests expect increasingly personalized experiences. Often, attempts are made to fill this gap with even more manual effort, endless Excel lists, and countless phone calls. But this system is reaching its limits.
Manuel Hofer, Strategic Advisor & Creator of Gustaio Experience, Managing Director of Sonnleiten KG & Owner of STOCHAS food & drinks | Hotel Sonnleiten and operator of Thara Seelounge, knows this pain from his own daily business. He wrote down for us why a modern reservation system today must do far more than just manage tables, and what the digital foundation for the next generation of hospitality looks like.
Success Story by Manuel Hofer
Good hospitality does not begin when the guest comes through the door. It begins long before.
As a Strategic Advisor and one of the creators behind Gustaio Experience, it all started for me with a simple question: Why do we in gastronomy know so little about our guests before they even arrive?
While other industries have been working for years with customer data, personalization, and intelligent processes, we often don't even know what our guests are really looking forward to. Is our guest in the mood for a big steak today? Are they interested in a wine pairing? Are there allergies or special requests? Or is there a special occasion behind the evening?
And yet, we want to be hosts.
💬 Success Story
“The more we know about our guests, the better we can prepare. The more personally we can care for them. And the better the experience will be.”
— Manuel Hofer
This is exactly where Gustaio Experience comes in. For me, Gustaio Experience is not just a reservation system. It is the digital foundation for the next generation of hospitality.
Guests can customize their experience even before their visit. They can select menus, book additional services, communicate allergies, leave special requests, or pay directly. At the same time, the business receives all relevant information to plan better, use resources efficiently, and prepare the service in a targeted manner.
At STOCHAS, we don't just want to serve food. We want to create special evenings. That's why it makes a difference whether we know before the visit what our guests are looking forward to. The better prepared we are, the better hosts we can be.
Creating Commitment, Eliminating No-Shows
Gustaio Experience is far more than a classic reservation platform. Guests can easily book a table or plan their entire evening in advance. From ticket-based menus to additional services and wine pairings, to flexible payment options and special experiences, a personal experience is created long before the actual visit.
At the same time, we hosts also benefit. No-shows, short-term cancellations, or poorly plannable events cost time, money, and nerves every year. For exclusive events, guests can deposit their credit card or pay for services in advance. This creates commitment for the guest and security for the business.
The End of Paperwork for Group Reservations
I also see particularly great potential for group trips, bus companies, corporate events, and functions. Instead of countless emails, phone calls, and Excel lists, the organizer receives a personal link. The participants register themselves, select their meals, enter allergies, and can pay for their services directly.
Planning in a heartbeat
“What used to cause hours of administrative effort is now done almost automatically.”
Another crucial building block is the digital guest card. For the first time, we can truly recognize guests. We know which experiences they have already enjoyed, what preferences they have, which allergies must be considered, or which offers interest them the most.
This doesn't make hospitality more impersonal. It makes it more personal.
The Gustaio Dashboard in use at the pass – all guest preferences and bookings at a glance.
The Future Belongs to the Prepared
The challenges of our industry will not get smaller in the coming years. The answer to this cannot be to put in even more effort. The answer lies in smarter processes.
That is why I am convinced that Gustaio Experience is far more than software. It is a tool that gives hosts time back, creates predictability, and allows guests to actively co-shape their experience before they even arrive.
The future belongs to businesses that know, understand, and can individually care for their guests. Gustaio Experience creates the foundation for this.
Because good hospitality does not begin when the guest comes through the door. It begins long before.
– Manuel Hofer
Time for Smarter Processes in Your Business?
Do you recognize your own daily business routine in these lines? If you also want to drastically reduce administrative effort, minimize no-shows, and offer your guests an even more personal experience, let's talk.
We will show you in a very straightforward way how Gustaio Experience takes the pressure off your service team and allows you to be 100% host again.