"More clarity. More efficiency. More future."

Being a host is more than a profession for the Balz family – it is a lived tradition. Hotel Jardin Bern has been family-run for generations and stands for personal hospitality, quality, and continuity.

With Fabian Balz, a new generation takes on responsibility today – with a clear focus: actively driving digitalisation, automation, and efficient processes forward. He not only brings fresh impulses but has also engaged intensively with the various technologies and possibilities, developing a very concrete idea of how the future operation should be structured.

However, this is where a challenge arises that many city hotels know.

At the same time, significant changes are on the horizon:

• Rebuilding and automating the software environment (tech stack)

• Generational change with a reorientation of work hours and responsibilities

• Expansion and automation of self-check-in

• Implementation of an independent pre-check-in and pre-payment

"The challenge is not a single tool – but the interaction of all systems."

The existing system landscape was functional, but:

• Little integrated due to missing interfaces

• Guest journey limited to a pre-stay and a post-stay email

• partly local (e.g. locking system without PMS connection)

• limited scalability for future growth

The Decision: Rethinking Technology Strategically

Together, a hotel technology check was carried out – with a clear goal:

A future-proof, integrated tech stack that simplifies processes and enables growth.

The focus was on:

• Analysing the system landscape

• Understanding interfaces and dependencies

• Defining future requirements (scalability, automation)

• develop a concrete technology strategy

Target Image: A Connected, Automated System

The goal of the new tech stack is clearly defined:

A seamless system that makes operations more efficient – without losing personal hospitality.

Specifically, this means:

• Digital key via smartphone

• Classic keycard still possible

• Self-check-in (kiosk) for late arrivals

• Rule-based communication before, during and after the stay

• Integration of all systems along the guest journey

"The guest decides for themselves how digital their journey should be – we ensure that everything runs smoothly."

From isolated solutions to an integrated ecosystem

Current Situation (Existing):

The existing system landscape had grown over the years and consisted of several individual solutions in the areas of:

• Property management

• Distribution

• Online booking

• Access system (not integrated)

• Payment processing (separate systems for on-site and online)

• Revenue Management

While these systems fulfilled their respective tasks, they were only limitedly interconnected and thus cumbersome and not very scalable in daily use.

Target image (in implementation):

As part of the technology check, a clear target architecture was defined:

• New, modern system base for property management

• Unified distribution through central interfaces

• Integrated solution for booking, guest journey and self-check-in

• Fully connected access system

• Seamless and automated payment processes

• Continuation of data-driven revenue management

Focus of the new system landscape:

• Cloud-based solutions

• Open interfaces for maximum flexibility

• End-to-end integration along the entire guest journey

• Reduction of manual processes through automation

Moving away from individual tools towards an interconnected system that works efficiently together and sustainably simplifies operations.

A central part of the technology check was not only the selection of tools – but the question:

What should processes look like in the future for technology to really add value?

Examples:

• Automated payment processes (including upsells & extras)

• Connection of kiosk, PMS and payment

• Energy optimisation through presence detection (KNX)

• Use of Automation Tools

The challenge: reduce complexity – not increase it

Especially in the selection of guest experience tools, it became clear:

• Many specialised solutions offer depth

• All-in-One solutions offer simplicity

The decision was made consciously with strategic consideration:

What brings more long-term efficiency – not just more features?

The greatest added value: clarity before the investment

The technology check brought mainly one thing:

Structure and decision-making foundations

• Clear prioritisation of systems

• Understanding of dependencies

• Security in investments (e.g. locking system)

• Avoidance of wrong decisions

“We do not simply invest in tools – we build a system that works together.”

The collaboration between Hotel Jardin Bern, Salto and Hotel Boost shows:

Modern hospitality today means:

• Thinking about technology holistically

• Linking systems together

• Consistently simplifying processes

• while preserving the personality of the establishment

And in the end, above all one thing:

“Our goal was not more tools – but better processes. The technology check showed us how we can simplify workflows while simultaneously improving the guest experience.”