6 Rentals
9 Booking.com Rating
Countless Happy Guests
Meet Heike and Jörg, Smoobu Hosts
Heike and Jörg symbolize what it means to be a team. Back in 2006, they dreamed of a life in the countryside and were in search of a special place to escape from Berlin on the weekend. After visiting several places in the nearby region of Brandenburg, they “discovered this farm and instantly found it beautiful because it was still very original.”
This site and this dream would grow to become Thomashof.
Heaven is a Place on Earth
Once all the administrative formalities were completed, Heike and Jörg used the farm as their own private countryside weekend getaway. Jörg tells us that following a number of trips,
“From 2013, we started to develop seasonal rentals. And that's how it all began, and now it's 2024, and we've just finished the last of the six seasonal rentals.”
At Thomashof, everything is well thought out, and the two hosts are a perfect pair, as Heike explains:
I am a designer, and Jörg is an engineer. We make a great team. I think of something, and Jörg makes it happen.”
Heike and Jörg's Vision of Hospitality
Centred around their beautiful former grain farm, the two hosts have created a community that truly brings their vision of hospitality to life. From Marco, who takes care of the organic garden, to Franziska, who helps with the day-to-day operations, and others, Jörg, Heik, and the team do their utmost to ensure their guests want for absolutely nothing.
Heik describes her travelers and target audience as:
Families with children from the city, mainly Berlin, looking for an authentic experience out here in the countryside.”
The Challenges They Face as Hosts
Their operation has quickly expanded from a single vacation rental to several. This growth, while welcome, can become complicated, and keeping a keen eye on everything and ensuring everything is up to date can be time-consuming. Updating booking calendars across each and every platform, collecting traveler information, drafting and sending prompt and personalized communication to guests, or generating invoices are just a few of the day-to-day tasks they face.
As Heike told us:
“At first, it's easy to think you can manage everything yourself. We opted for Smoobu fairly quickly, and it worked very well”.
Listen to Heike and Jörg's Story in Their Own Words
See precisely how Thomashof and Smoobu partner together to form an unbeatable combination.
How Does Smoobu Support Thomashof?
Heike and Jörg have used Smoobu since 2021 to help in every aspect of their vacation rental management operations.
Simplified Day-to-Day Management
Choosing software to help you manage your vacation rental business can be complex, and it's important to consider a multitude of different criteria. For Heike and Jörg, one was ease of use:
“It is essential to us that the software is easy to use, for us as hosts, but also for travelers.”
No More Double Bookings
Keeping an eye on multiple booking calendars in a seasonal rental business is not always easy. Manually updating calendars is very demanding and time-consuming and requires constant attention. A momentary lapse or something slipping one's mind can lead to double bookings and unhappy guests. On this, Jörg says:
“The great thing about Smoobu is that there are no double bookings”.
In the case of Thomashof, having their booking calendar sync automatically across all the different sites they list their property was and is paramount. This allows them to diversify their points of contact with future travelers. Indeed, Thomashof's vacation rentals are promoted on multiple booking platforms that are integrated with Smoobu, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, and Charming Hideaways.
In Complete Control
By using Smoobu, Heike and Jörg have complete control over the management of their vacation rentals. Thanks to features such as a Channel Manager, a Guest Guide, automated communication, and a Booking Engine, Jörg says,
“The platform is well organized. It helps us to be in control and is vital in our daily life as vacation rental hosts.”
Track Income and Occupancy Rate
Checking occupancy rate is a good indicator of whether your vacation rental business's performance is on track or if adjustments need to be made to achieve your goals. What Heike likes about Smoobu is that you can easily check the occupancy rate of your vacation rentals and the amount of revenue we will generate.
In addition, you can see the performance of your various connected booking platforms, including revenue generated and occupancy rates.
Thomashof: The Synopsis
- Managing 5 (soon to be 6) vacation rentals with Smoobu.
- Easy for guests to use.
- No more double bookings, thanks to synchronized calendars.
- Integrations with booking platforms include Airbnb, Booking.com, and Charming Hideaways.
- You stay in control of your vacation rental business.
- Access to occupancy rate and income evaluation.
When asked if she has any advice for hosts or future hosts, Heike shares:
“Some people fear digitalization, but I think it's easy to manage. Now we can't do without it. It makes our work easier.”
Simplify Your Life Like Heike and Jörg
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