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Fewer mistakes, more room for hospitality: how the reservations team at ibis Tilburg found peace of mind with Groupz

Interview with Özge, Senior Reservations & Sales Representative at ibis Tilburg

In a hotel where group requests come in daily, having a clear overview isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. As Senior Reservations & Sales Representative, Özge plays a key role in that process. Together with her colleague, she ensures every group is warmly welcomed, all information is accurate, and the operations team knows exactly what’s needed.

Until recently, this process was still handled through scattered emails, Excel sheets, and a lot of manual work. That often led to errors, duplicate work, and unnecessary communication. Since switching to Groupz, everything has changed: there’s clarity, less pressure, and more room for personal attention to both the booker and the guest. Özge shares her experience with this shift and the benefits it brought.

Errors, frustration, and lots of loose ends

In her previous role as Teamleader Front Office, Özge wasn’t directly responsible for group bookings, but she did see the consequences. “The reservations team worked hard to keep everything running smoothly, but the process just wasn’t optimal. Everything happened via email, phone, and Excel. It was an error-prone approach. Sometimes names were wrong or updates hadn’t been processed. In some cases, I didn’t even know why a group was in Tilburg. That impacts not just workflow, but team morale and ultimately the guest experience.”

She also heard from the reservations team where things went wrong. Bookings were entered manually, changes had to be resent by email, and there was little grip on who had done what. “The information was scattered across inboxes and documents. That made it hard to quickly see whether a quote was approved or a name list was complete. You had to track everything yourself, and that took a lot of time. It was difficult to tell whether an error came from the booker or our team, because of all the manual steps and fragmented communication.”

Switching to Groupz

When Özge started as Senior Reservations & Sales Representative in January, she immediately began working with Groupz. “I was excited, but also nervous: a new role and new systems all at once. I asked my colleague, ‘If I manage everything through Groupz, can I still make mistakes?’ She said, ‘No.’ And she was right. The system is incredibly intuitive.”

The implementation went smoothly. “Jenneke guided us through everything step by step. Everything was explained clearly, and we could always ask questions. That made it feel less like a ‘new system’ and more like a tool that truly makes your work easier.”

“Thanks to Groupz, we receive 75% fewer emails and save an average of 80% time. No more overflowing inboxes — just clarity and calm. That means we can give our guests more time and attention.”

- Özge, Senior Reservations & Sales Representative at ibis Tilburg 
Özge

More time and less pressure

Since introducing Groupz, many tasks have been automated saving a huge amount of time. “Thanks to Groupz, we save an average of 80% time. Before, it took a team of four to handle all group bookings. Now we manage it with just two and we even have time left over. That allows us to support HR and pick up sales activities as well.”

Özge notices a big difference in email traffic. “We now receive over 75% fewer emails. Only the initial request comes in by email; after that, everything happens through the portal. If bookers have questions, they use the chat. That massively reduces email volume and brings calm. The pace of work has slowed down. In a good way. Now we have the space to do things properly, without the stress of a cluttered inbox or last-minute changes. That means less pressure and more enjoyment at work.”

The contact with bookers has also improved. “Because we spend less time on admin, we now have more time and headspace to connect with our bookers. That personal conversation is valuable — you learn why they’re coming to Tilburg and can add something special to their arrival. We call those heart moments: little surprises that leave a big impression. If you know the reason for their trip, you can get creative around it. I have some really creative colleagues, so we often brainstorm together. It’s a great way to go the extra mile. People don’t expect it — and that’s the personal touch you can offer when you’re not drowning in admin.”

Fewer mistakes and happier bookers

Since the switch in January, no errors have been made in the group booking process.“The system gives you tasks and notifications, and everything is visible in real time. So everyone is on the same page. That brings calm and confidence.”

Bookers are responding positively too. “Especially those who book groups more often immediately see the benefits: fewer mistakes, less back-and-forth, more control. They appreciate being able to see everything for themselves. And if someone struggles, we’re happy to help. Just recently, I entered the name list myself for a tour manager who didn’t have time. That kind of support really gets noticed.”

A recommendation for other hotels

Özge doesn’t hesitate when asked what she would recommend to colleagues in other hotels.
“I think it can be incredibly stressful when you have lots of manual tasks. It increases the chance of mistakes. We work in a hotel where it’s all about pampering the guest. So why would you spend that time buried in admin when you could use it to focus on the guest instead?”

She sees Groupz as a way to regain control and refocus on what really matters. “The system takes so much off your plate. You know what to do, when to do it, and what the status is. That helps you do your job better. with more calm, more focus. And in the end, that boosts your hospitality.”

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jenneke

Product & Operations Manager

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niek

Hotelier & Founder

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