Branson, Mo. is a booming vacation destination that attracts hundreds of thousands of families annually to its award-winning entertainment, theme parks and golf courses.
It is a favorite location for conferences and military and family reunions, and one of the largest spaces for conventions in Branson is operated by the Lodge of the Ozarks. The property installed a new, single-image database technology from NORTHWIND-Maestro PMS to automate its resort, convention center, club, spa and food services operations.
"Lodge of the Ozarks is among the busiest conference center hotels in Branson," said Randy Park, business agent for Morrell Hospitality, the property's owner. "Our property operates its own club, similar to a Las Vegas supper club, and Timber Creek restaurant. Today we are in the midst of upgrading the entire property to attract a new, higher-rated guest segment. To make our operation as efficient as possible, we installed the Maestro Enterprise Suite of hotel software to automate and integrate our entire operation on one database for greater staff productivity, stronger financial management and better guest tracking."
In June 2007 the property implemented Maestro PMS to automate hotel management operations and Maestro Sales and Catering to computerize its conference sales management and catering business. The hotel also installed Maestro POS on the same database for guest charge posting and uses Maestro Work Order Scheduling to oversee its upgrade projects. When the property's new spa is completed, Lodge of the Ozarks will install Maestro's Spa system to automate client scheduling, billing and reservations.
"The Maestro single-image database technology is ideal for any complex conference center property because every module is integrated to give a 360-degree picture of each guest," said Park.
The system tracks guests' activities, whether in the hotel, convention center or dining areas to capture charges at every touch point. The property will use Maestro Analytics business intelligence solution to mine guest information to create effective marketing campaigns based on each guest's historical preferences.
"The Maestro installation team is excellent," said Park. "The system is so intuitive that our staff and management learned to use it quickly. NORTHWIND understands the hotel business and its team took time to see how we do business, then applied their system to optimize our property's operation."
Park is also impressed with Maestro's financial and operations reporting, "As business manager for Morrell Hospitality, I appreciate solid reporting. We never looked for a report that the system did not already provide." Park said that when the property's renovation is completed he expects the Lodge of the Ozarks will attract a more highly rated guest segment. "The Maestro system has an integrated yield management program that will enable us to optimize our rates when we finish upgrading all areas of the hotel, conference center, dining outlets and club."
"Branson is a family destination that understands the importance of caring for every guest during their stay," said Park. "The primary reason we selected the Maestro Suite was the company's great service. NORTHWIND-Maestro is a client-focused technology partner that delivered on every part of our agreement."