Who are you and which hotel do you work for?
Michel: I am Michel, Hotel Manager at The Toren, Amsterdam. I have been working here since 2018, starting as Rooms Division Manager and as Hotel Manager since 2022. Before my Tower Career, I mainly gained my experience in business hotels in the Netherlands.
Annemieke: I am Annemieke, Operations Manager. I started as an intern in 1997, after my internship I stayed on as a receptionist then reservations officer and finally now as Operations Manager. It has been a very beautiful journey and I have grown in it.
What was the biggest challenge before you started working with The Fully Bookers?
The biggest challenge before we partnered with The Fully Bookers was getting a grip on our marketing and social media. This was already being fleshed out from the Asia headquarters, but our owners wanted much more emphasis on the hotel's unique story and rich history: a luxury boutique hotel housed in two seventeenth-century canal houses.
It was precisely by making that story more central that we wanted to better convey our identity. The guest experience and history are at the heart of who we are, and thanks to The Fully Bookers, that now comes across much more strongly.
During the kick-off meeting, we immediately noticed that they really listened. We could clearly explain what makes our hotel special and The Fully Bookers immediately understood what was needed. They then acted on it quickly and effectively. Immediate improvements were also made in the field of social media, as a result of which our story is now told much better and more consistently. That really makes a difference to us
“YOU GUYS UNDERSTOOD WHAT THE HOTEL NEEDED AND THEN ACTED!”
In what three components do our services differ from others?
- A Dutch company with a different view of the market. That really makes a difference in how you and the Dutch market understand, unlike agencies from abroad.
- The storytelling of our story. That really stood out at The Fully Bookers compared to other agencies. You guys understand how to tell and project a story.
- The personal touch. Obviously super important to us, what we offer our guests should also radiate online.
What do you find most valuable about our approach?
Michel: That we can switch back and forth with each other very quickly. Your communication is clear and you are very flexible.
Annemieke: I especially love the open communication. You really feel heard and things are handled quickly. We have worked with many different companies, but there communication was often difficult. With The Fully Bookers, on the contrary, it feels very fresh, fast and natural.
“IT IS YOUR STRENGTH THAT YOU HAVE LISTENED VERY CAREFULLY TO WHAT WE WANT TO PROJECT.”
What has the collaboration yielded in concrete terms?
Annemieke: Above all, what we see is that we are making real progress. Before we started working together, we were quite curious about this, and frankly a bit hesitant. That is precisely why it was so pleasant to notice that you handled it very well in the transition period. The transition from the old marketing approach to the new way of working went much more smoothly than we had expected beforehand.
Michel: The most important indicator for us is direct bookings, and we are seeing a steady increase in that. By now, that share is around 30% direct bookings. Of course, this is the result of a combination of various actions, including your efforts and optimisations on our social media channels. What matters most to us is that the result is clearly measurable and positive.
What would you say to someone considering working with The Fully Bookers?
Do!
It really is a very nice business relationship. It's easy to visit each other, the lines are short. And again: the communication is really great!
In addition, what is really your strength is that you have listened very carefully to what we want to convey. That is anything but obvious. You understand our story, know how to capture the essence and then translate that into concrete marketing and social media. That is what makes the difference for us.
