Interview with Anita, General Manager
Some routines feel so natural that you don't even realize how much time they take. Such was the case at ibis Styles Delft City Centre. "We had been doing group reservations the same way for years," says General Manager Anita. "Quotations in Word, proformas in Excel, emails back and forth. That worked, but secretly cost a lot of time and felt cluttered."
When group requests after corona increased again, so did the pressure. "We wanted to organize it better, but didn't really know how. It wasn't until we started working with Groupz that I saw how woody the process before that actually was." Meanwhile, the hotel has not only gained a lot of time, but also peace of mind, grip and confidence in the process.
For Groupz: a familiar way of working
Since opening in 2021, Anita and her team have been building a young and energetic hotel in the heart of Delft. Anita arranged the group reservations herself, together with Operations Manager Nina. "The two of us did everything," Anita says. "Requests came in through reception or in the mailbox, quotations we made in Word and proformas in Excel. We kept track of tasks in our diaries so as not to forget anything. That worked fine, but it was laborious and error-prone."
When Thijs Merks, owner of ibis Styles Delft City Centre, brought Groupz to her attention, she was immediately curious. "During the demo with Jenneke, I immediately saw the potential. Everything together in one system, tasks automatic, communication secured. That immediately sounded like something we needed."
The switch: from habit to convenience
In early 2025, ibis Styles Delft City Centre decided to start with Groupz. Nina took charge of the implementation together with Jenneke; Anita supported and watched along from her management role. "We were honestly a bit hesitant in the beginning. You've been doing something the same way for a long time, so a change is exciting. Especially for employees. What really helped us in this is Jenneke's guidance. She took her time, checked in regularly and helped us understand the guest's side of things. That gave confidence."
Anita calls the cooperation with Groupz exceptionally good. "I really appreciate Jenneke's patience and input. We could always call with questions, even about things outside of technology. Consideration was also given to including our employees in this change. For example, I really liked that Jenneke showed us the whole process from the booker's perspective, which made it even clearer what it would bring us. It felt like they were really beside us. That we were doing it together."
"We had been doing group reservations on our own for years and thought it was running fine. Until we started working with Groupz. Only then did we see how easy, clear and professional it can be. That gives so much peace of mind."
More overview, more time, more peace of mind
The biggest gain? Peace, time and overview. "Before, you sometimes got twenty emails for one group. Now everything is neatly together in Groupz. You can see exactly what the status of requests is, what is still open and when something has to be done. Communication is guaranteed and you are automatically reminded of outstanding tasks. As a result, you no longer forget anything. That really saves an enormous amount of time."
The quality of the work also went up. "The quotations look professional, proformas are created automatically and error-free. In the past, this was error-prone and cost time and sometimes money. That kind of error is now a thing of the past."
Those time savings are now put to use where it really matters: the guest. "We have more time for personal contact, better follow-up and support in the team. Our group reservations employee also works in other departments, so that efficiency is worth its weight in gold."
Results that make an impact
Groupz has brought ibis Styles Delft City Centre structure, grip and peace of mind. "It's clear, predictable and professional. For me as a manager, it's reassuring that I always have insight into what's going on. And it is more pleasant to work with. There is less noise, less stress and more time for quality."
The bookers themselves are also getting used to the system. "In the beginning it took some getting used to, but now they use the portal well. The chat function works very nicely and changes can be made easily. That makes it more efficient for everyone."
"Just do it!"
For Anita, the conclusion is clear: "Groupz brings structure, overview and calm to the whole process: from request to after-sales. It saves time, prevents mistakes and leaves you time for what really matters: hospitality." Her advice to other hoteliers is also short and sweet: "Just do it. Take some time for it in the beginning. You have to get to know the system and transfer your processes properly. But once that's in place, you'll never want to go back."
