Case Study: Troutbeck

Case Study
Written By Jason Shames

Optimized Hotel Distribution
& Reduced Costs

1. Executive Summary

Troutbeck is a beautiful resort in upstate New York with 37 rooms and a 250-year legacy of hospitality. The fantastic service, thoughtful design, and strong brand have put the resort in a fortunate position to operate at a high RevPar with significant direct guest reservations. 

While the rooms were recently updated, Troutbeck’s room distribution technology apparatus was antiquated. Their Oracle Opera V5 Property Management System sent data to and from Sabre’s Synxis Central Reservation System, creating room availability, rates, and inventory redundancy. While their distribution mix was efficient, costs were high. 

Troutbeck saved 55% distribution costs by shifting to Opera Cloud Distribution with Skipper as the unified direct Booking Engine. The Central Reservation System has become redundant and thus was eliminated, decreasing cost and operational complexity for the property. 


2. Background

Before Cloud Distribution, it was cost-prohibitive for hotels to connect their
Property Management Systems to distribution channels. Central Reservation Systems and/or Channel Managers developed connectivity to fill this hole and support their distribution needs to satisfy direct (website/app) and indirect (OTA, wholesale) demand. 

3. Challenges with Traditional Distribution Systems

  • High Costs: Licensing multiple systems to manage room inventory and channel management increases distribution costs. 

  • Operational Overhead: New rates & promotions require management in multiple locations, and manual reconciliation is sometimes needed. 

  • Lagging Booking Engines: Guests are sent to another tab to book, the customizability of brand style is limited, and there is a lack of one-click payment methods. 


4. Introducing An Innovation 

In the summer of 2022, Skipper launched a Booking Engine that improved direct conversions by unifying the commerce experience on the hotel’s website. In early 2023, Troutbeck licensed Skipper’s Custom Booking Engine on top of Sabre Synxis and improved guest experience, direct booking conversions, and cross-selling of dining reservations. 

Skipper had worked closely with the Opera team to develop shopping for rooms directly from the Property Management System, simplifying the systems required to enable room distribution. Troutbeck became the first resort to use Opera’s new Cloud Distribution API to power direct reservations via Skipper. 



5. Troutbeck: A Case Study

Since its launch, Troutbeck has maintained its direct and indirect distribution. Rates and offers are managed directly on the Opera Property Management System interface.

  • 55% Cost Reduction: Troutbeck realized immediate cost savings, positively impacting the bottom line. 

  • Improved Booking Experience: Guests of Troutbeck enjoy a faster, smoother, and more intuitive booking journey.

  • Maintained Distribution: Transitioning did not impact distribution channels, ensuring continued visibility and booking opportunities.

  • Process Improvements: Time is saved because rates & offers only need to be updated in one location, the Property Management System. 




6. Testimonials

“We've been thrilled to consolidate distribution at Troutbeck under Opera and Skipper through OHIP. It has helped us simplify our tech stack and reduce costs, while Skipper's booking engine has delivered a better online reservation experience to our guests."
- John Sheedy, Managing Director, Troutbeck 

7. Conclusion

The shift away from a legacy architecture is possible due to recent innovations.
Troutbeck’s success has demonstrated how technology can simplify a complicated process. 

Skipper, paired with Opera Cloud Distribution, is positively influencing how rooms are sold.

Jason Shames
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