Located in the heart of Istanbul, Hammamhane is a boutique hotel known for its unique charm, warm service, and historic atmosphere. Since opening in 2014, the hotel has evolved through changing times, yet one thing has remained constant: the team’s dedication to superior guest experience.
For Bülent, the hotel’s owner, Hammamhane was his first venture into the hospitality world. Without any prior experience in hotel management, he relied heavily on tools that were intuitive and dependable. That’s how SabeeApp came into the picture; with its user-friendly interface and modern solutions that can reduce admin time and support the team in the delivery of an unforgettable guest experience.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Bülent about the daily operations of his hotel and the steps he’s taking to establish Hammamhane as a standout property in Istanbul. He offered insightful perspectives on how SabeeApp plays an integral role in their everyday operation from handling online reservations to making sure every guests get the best service possible.
“Our staff! They are the most important part of our business. When it comes to choosing the right team, I’m very mindful, especially about their English skills, as most of our guests communicate in English. This way we can connect with guests, greet them warmly, so they have a great first impression from the moment they arrive. Also, handling reservation changes and special guest requests got 50% faster thanks to SabeeApp’s drag-and-drop function and user-friendly Calendar view.
We also pay attention to the small details because they matter: breakfast is carefully prepared and served to please our guests and give them a great start to the day, and we always have free coffee and tea available.
The hotel’s location is also great, and the atmosphere is something special. Every detail is decorated with style and a sense of history, and our guests usually appreciate the beauty of it.”
“SabeeApp was the very first property management system and booking engine I used, and it quickly became essential to my daily operations. Since we started 11 years ago, we have had many colleagues at the reception, as most of them are university students or only working part-time. So we needed a PMS that is user-friendly because we need to be able to train new staff members fast. With SabeeApp, I’d say we save around 70% time in training time for new reception staff because it can be trained in under a day, compared to other hotel management systems.”
“Over the years, the hotel has seen many team members come and go, especially at the reception desk. As I mentioned, training new staff has become simple and smooth thanks to SabeeApp’s user-friendly design. It makes our job easier, and we can maintain high standards of guest service, even with a constantly rotating team.
On the other hand, there are hotels in the area where they don’t use such modern systems, and it takes a lot of time for them to speak with guests on the phone and create the reservation manually. So I keep telling myself how we are lucky to have the Booking Engine because reservations can be made on our website without any manual work. That means that on average, we save up to 10-12 hours/week on administrative tasks while reducing manual errors by 90%.
You know, running a hotel brings daily challenges, and for us SabeeApp has become an essential tool in managing bookings and maximising occupancy. With various guest requests, we can easily move reservations and extend stays if necessary, it’s like a puzzle. That’s where reliable tools make a real impact.”
“We have a WhatsApp group and I check it regularly. I appreciate the responsiveness and quality of SabeeApp’s support, and the ability to reach out directly when needed.
I think in this industry, feedback is valuable as it helps us grow and improve. I, as a hotelier, always learn from our guests’ feedback. Some guests don’t leave reviews, but many do, and I make sure to read each one. If something isn’t right, I take note of it. Fortunately, we’re lucky to receive a lot of positive feedback, but when there’s a problem, I see it as an opportunity to learn. As for SabeeApp, they are always open to feedback and I think that shows their commitment to excellence.”
“If you don't love the people, you cannot succeed in this business. This is the most important thing, and I think success largely depends on the people in hospitality.
Another crucial thing is, as I said earlier, you have to solve all kinds of problems. Because you are dealing with people, and usually issues need to be solved quickly. Thanks to SabeeApp, our receptionists can handle reservation changes and special guest requests 50% faster, leaving no room for dissatisfaction and bad reviews.
That’s why SabeeApp’s ease of use, flexibility, and responsive support have made it a key part of our operations.”
Thank you, Bülent, for sharing your story and offering a glimpse into the success of this remarkable property. If you’re a hospitality professional looking to elevate your operations, we’d love to show you how SabeeApp can make a difference. Ready to start? Book a free demo today!