Technology
February 22, 2024

Optimising Short-Let Property Management Performance with AI & Data Analytics in the Hospitality Industry

Transform your business with a property data analytics platform using the latest technology software to increase the business valuation. Explore 8 years of insights and over 100TB of big data processed to drive success in the hospitality industry.

Optimising Short-Let Property Management Performance with AI & Data Analytics in the Hospitality Industry

Boosting Profits and Performance: Our Property Data Analytics in the Hospitality Industry Success Story

Key Metrics - Hospitality Data Business KPIs

Our property data analytics system delivers unprecedented transparency and efficiency. Here's a look at what we've achieved and how it can inspire your journey:

  • Robust Data Infrastructure: By investing in APIs, ETL processes, and modern data warehouse solutions with DBT, we've streamlined data flows and created a scalable foundation for analysis.
  • Real-Time Decision Making: Our single source of truth empowers timely, informed decisions that outpace the competition. Think data-driven room pricing, staffing optimization, and marketing spending, all grounded in real-world metrics.
  • Significant Cost Savings: Saving 20,000+ hours on reporting isn't just impressive – it represents serious ROI for resource allocation. This approach can optimize the budgets of property's large or small.
  • Financial Impact: Not having to develop a custom finance app through the power of DBT and GBQ saved £500,000 in potential development costs alone.

Looking Ahead: Our approach can serve as a blueprint for any property aiming to gain a competitive edge through data analytics. This investment sets the stage for continuous improvement and ongoing innovation.

Extract and Load Graphic Bar

Developing an Efficient Extract & Load (EL) Warehouse Layer for Data Management

Unlocking the Power of Property Data Analytics: Our Data-Driven Transformation

The hospitality industry is being reshaped by data. To thrive in this landscape, we're harnessing the full potential of property data analytics. Our approach centres on an integrated, technology-driven ecosystem that transforms data into insights and strategic advantage. We depend on an array of property software for operations, and now that software powers our decision-making.

Importance of Data: Streamlining Property Data Management with Connectors

Efficiency forms the foundation of our approach. We use powerful data connectors like Stitch and Airbyte for a seamless flow of data from our SaaS applications into our centralized data warehouse. This lays the groundwork for robust property analytics across all operations.

Custom Solutions for a Holistic Data Picture and Predictive Analytics

Beyond basic connectivity, we excel in managing unique data points. Leveraging Postman and the flexibility of tools like Django REST Framework or FastAPI, we craft custom API connections for those services with REST APIs but no pre-built connectors. With our tailored approach, we ensure a truly comprehensive property operational data platform.

BigQuery: Driving Property Business Intelligence, Data Governance and Big Data Predictive Analytics

Our collected data, all extracted sources using the data connectors, finds its true potential within Google BigQuery. It goes far beyond storage – this potent engine transforms data into the fuel that powers our property business intelligence strategy. This provides a single source of truth reporting and writing queries to find the true answers within all data sources especially when they are connected to increase the data valuation and strategic decision making

Dagster: The Maestro of Property Data Workflows and Data Sources

The skilled conductor of our data symphony is Dagster. This tool orchestrates workflows with precision, guaranteeing seamless data journeys from collection through to property data visualization. Think of it as our dedicated property data analyst, working tirelessly behind the scenes.

If you would like to find out how to extract and schedule your data using our AI Property Data Analyst. Learn more and schedule a free session here.

Extract & Load (“EL”) Warehouse Layer — Image
Extract & Load (“EL”) Warehouse Layer — Image

Data Transform Graphic Bar

Streamlining the Path to Powerful Insights for Data Analytics in Hospitality: Implementing the Transform Layer in Data Management

DBT: Your Property Data Transformation Powerhouse

Say goodbye to the frustration of messy data and missed opportunities. DBT (Data Build Tool) is our weapon of choice for taming and refining raw information. We use it to tirelessly model, transform, and validate hourly data updates, ensuring unmatched consistency and accuracy.

Unleash Your Metrics Superpower: Data That Knows What Matters

Imagine having a built-in, crystal-clear dashboard highlighting the KPIs and projects that truly drive your property's success. That's precisely what our custom metrics layer delivers. Think of it as a spotlight cutting through the noise, instantly revealing where to focus for maximum impact within your analytics strategy.

Embrace Variety, Conquer Complexity: Streamlining Property Data Management

The hospitality industry thrives on uniqueness and constant evolution. While that makes for an exciting environment, it can also wreak havoc on your data! DBT is a meta layer on the top of your database that keeps the single source of truth for your data code by executing the code and redirecting your data to location databases (like your Xero financial entries and Hubspot lead pipelines) with shared data (contacts, company information, etc.). No more struggling with fragmented information or siloed analysis.

The True Value: Informed Decisions Fuel Property Success

Why should a busy property manager care about any of this? Because this streamlined data foundation opens the door to smarter, faster, and more focused decision-making. With just a few clicks, you can:

  • Dive into real-time accounting metrics: Stay on top of financial health and profitability
  • Visualize sales performance: Identify patterns, maximize conversion rates, and fine-tune marketing
  • Analyze guest satisfaction (NPS): Understand what delights guests and address pain points
  • Enhanced Pricing Decisions: Maximize occupancy while boosting rates at peak periods.
  • Increased Profitability: Data-backed tactics for upselling, cross-selling, and targeted promotions with maximum effectiveness.
  • Improved Resource Allocation: Use demand forecasting to optimize staff schedules and manage inventory accurately.

...and that's just the beginning! This technology ETL process provides a powered foundation that paves the way for data-driven operations that enhance every aspect of your property.

Data Transform Layer — Warehouse Layer — Image
Data Transform Layer — Warehouse Layer — Image

Data Transform Graphic Bar

Data Warehouse Data Models: Building a data platform as a single source of truth for all property data

Harnessing the full potential of property data analytics is the key to outsmarting the competition and maximizing property revenue. But understanding where to start, and how to make that data work for you, can be overwhelming. That's where we come in...

From Chaos to Clarity: The Power of Data Warehousing and Big Data Analytics

Imagine having a centralized hub where all your valuable data sources converge. Think guest history, reservation trends, financial performance, and even industry data analytics. That's the foundation a well-structured data warehouse offers, and it's the backbone of our approach.

Our customized data warehouse model revolves around core subjects: property owners, properties, guest and reservation information, and dynamic calendar rates. Every data point connects within this system, ensuring seamless analysis and unprecedented insights.

The Revenue Growth Engine: Your Powerhouse Warehouse

At the heart of our model lies the Revenue Management Warehouse. This is where guest data interacts with property information and pricing trends, fueling strategic property revenue management decisions. Every aspect of your hospitality business intersects here!

But that's not all. Specialized warehouses streamline essential operations:

  • Finance and Invoicing: Our Xero, Timedoctor, and Stripe data flows directly in, powering crystal-clear P&L reporting.

The Big Picture: How data analytics can help transform your property?

Think of it as property analytics on steroids. With a few clicks, you can:

  • Tap into historical data: Spot trends to maximize room nights and boost guest loyalty
  • Leverage AI and predictive analytics: Forecast booking peaks and valleys with unmatched accuracy
  • Decipher Guest Preferences: Personalize offers through advanced analysis of guest data and behaviours
  • Unlock Market Insights: Compare against competitors, adapt pricing, and stay ahead of industry trends

But Wait, There's More!

While these insights are game-changers, this is just scratching the surface of what you can achieve by using data analytics in hospitality. Our next article will dive deeper into:

  • Data Privacy & Security: Safeguarding guest information while using big data analytics
  • Data Visualization Tools: Transforming complex data sets into intuitive dashboards
  • Empowering Staff: How even small property chains can instil a data-driven culture

Key Points to Remember:

  • The hospitality sector is awash in data, but most property's lack the strategy to leverage it.
  • Investing in a robust data management system that can consolidate your data puts you miles ahead of the competition.
  • Data science provides insights to boost both revenue and the guest experience.

Ready to turn your property data into a strategic asset? Stay tuned for more actionable tips and strategies!

Data Warehouse Model and ETL Data Diagram — Image
Data Warehouse Model and ETL Data Diagram — Image

Data Business Intelligence and Analytics Section Graph

Your Property Business Intelligence and Analytics Command Center: Unveiling the Power of Internal BI Software

Report Evolution: From Scattered Insights to a Single Source of Truth

Transforming 100+ reports over time takes commitment, and we've learned what works! Our journey saw us abandon the fragmented Power BI Query layer, replacing it with DBT modelling and measures. The result? A centralized "gold standard" for all your property analytics, with every decision now resting on reliable, shared data.

Ready to level up your property management with the transformational power of data analytics in hospitality? It's about more than just dashboards and reports; it's unlocking a strategic edge for even a small property chain. Here's how...

Unlocking Spreadsheets/ Google Sheets for Property Management-Wide Analytics

Imagine equipping every employee with access to the same data, drawn directly from your BigQuery powerhouse. This seemingly simple shift ignites a truly data-centric culture across your property operations. No more conflicting numbers, no more wasted hours tracking down a consistent base for analysis!

Harness the Right Software: Streamline Data for Maximum Impact and Types of Data Analytics

The ideal property tech stack needs powerful analytical tools for processing the wealth of data sources your property generates. The final and most critical layer is the Activation and Analysis Layer, which presents data for analysis through tools like Looker Studio, Apache Superset, and Power BI dashboards. This is where a skilled data analyst leverages dashboards, visualizations, and AI-powered insights to answer pivotal questions like:

  • How do we optimize pricing based on real-time data, historical data, and market trends?
  • Which marketing efforts drive analytics to identify booking patterns most effectively?
  • How do we personalize offers using data on customer preferences to truly delight guests?

From Insights to Growth: The Key Benefits to Your Property Business

Data analytics fuels actions to elevate operations and delight guests:

  • Boost Guest Satisfaction: Analyze feedback and pinpoint areas to improve the guest experience
  • Understand Guest Preferences: Analyze demographic data and feedback for tailor-made offers and targeted communication
  • Empower Staff: Easy-to-understand dashboards put real-time data into everyone's hands, from marketing to housekeeping
  • Maximize Revenue: Use predictive analytics to forecast peaks, and make strategic pricing changes.
  • Gain a Competitive Edge: Tap into industry trends and market data for an informed advantage

But Before We Dive Deeper... An Essential Step is Data Privacy and Security

Building a world-class property data analytics platform must center on a strong foundation: data governance. Regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) highlight the importance of handling customer information ethically and responsibly.

Data Studio and Power BI - Business Intelligence and Analytics images
Data Studio and Power BI - Business Intelligence and Analytics images

Data Business Intelligence and Analytics Section Graph

Data that Connects: Sharing Insights with Clients, Owners, and Stakeholders: Streamlining External BI Insights

In the hospitality industry, maximizing ROI means going beyond internal improvements. Leveraging data analytics for external applications builds trust and showcases your tech-forward approach for clients, landlords, and stakeholders alike.

The Heart of Efficient Data Sharing: A Single Source of Truth

Our commitment to a centralized data model, powered by DBT, has transformed backend efficiency. The result? An 80% reduction in troubleshooting tasks, freeing analyst time to drive innovation in our client engagement tools.

Data That Drives Results: External App Success

Imagine the impact of:

  • Lead Generation Tools: Fueled by analytics, targeted lead magnets increase booking conversions.
  • Revenue Projection Apps: Empower partners and owners with clear, interactive forecast dashboards.
  • Customizable Business Data Reports (Looker Studio and Power BI in our case): Deliver real-time data, with user-friendly filters for client needs.

The benefit? Not just streamlined communication, but a significant 65% boost in lead conversion rates! Stakeholders dashboards have saved 10,000s of hours for manual analysis reporting and provided proactive decision-making on almost real-time data intelligence.

Benefits of Data Analytics: Why External Data Investment Matters

A robust external analytics strategy benefits your property business by:

  • Increasing Client & Partner Trust: Demonstrate data maturity and transparency through accurate and reliable insights.
  • Improving Decision Making: Collaborate on strategies backed by market trends and historical data.
  • Enhancing Communication: Replace lengthy meetings with dynamic, personalized reports and visualizations that showcase real ROI.

Expanding Capabilities: Leverage Data Analytics and to Optimize Property Reports

Imagine pushing the boundaries of data innovation with:

  • Interactive Benchmarking: Help clients understand their performance within the wider hospitality sector.
  • API Integrations: Create direct data access points, further strengthening partner relationships.
  • Market Trend Reports: Position yourself as an industry expert by sharing data-fueled insights and analysis.
Data Studio Report - BI & Analytics images
Data Studio Report - BI & Analytics images

Data Business Intelligence and Analytics Section Graph

Beyond Dashboards: Building and Use Data Custom Apps to Solve Real-World Property Challenges

While BI dashboards give an overview, some problems require bespoke solutions. That's why we invest in data analysis tools tailored to very specific tasks, ensuring insights drive smarter decisions in all parts of your property operations.

Analytics to Optimize the Power of Data: Targeted Innovation with the Cutting-Edge Software

Here's just a glimpse at the power of specialized data apps:

  • Retool for Internal Efficiency: Build robust custom apps that streamline work for staff, from inventory to schedule management
  • Google Colab for Joint Problem-Solving: Collaborate across teams in real-time, analyzing data to make faster and smarter decisions
  • Jupyter-like Notebooks for Complex Analysis: Explore advanced algorithms for personalized pricing models, accurate guest demand forecasting, and optimized staffing levels

The Streamlit Advantage: Rapid Prototyping for Data-Driven Solutions and Data Analysis

In 2020, Streamlit revolutionized our internal app development. No longer bogged down by IT bottlenecks, analysts prototype new solutions and streamline decision-making processes. Prototypes built on Streamlit save an astonishing 70% in development time!

Success Stories: Where Data Apps Transform Property Operations

The proof is in the results. Data app prototypes initially built with Streamlit evolved into powerful platforms that:

  • Enhance Revenue Projection: Accurately forecast market shifts, and fine-tune pricing dynamically to capture demand with agility. Especially using open-source models such as python pandas package for time-series analysis and facebook prophet for out of the box model functionality.
  • Personalize Guest Experiences: Create data-driven targeting for offers and amenities, boosting guest satisfaction and direct sales.
  • Benchmark Against the Competition: Proprietary scraping tools, using python scrapy, uncover industry trends, giving you an edge in a dynamic marketplace.

Ways Data Analytics Apps Transform the Property Industry

The key to successful data usage is using the right tools for the job. Consider these advantages of data apps tailored for the hospitality industry :

  • Increased Efficiency: Automate time-consuming reporting, free up team time for higher-value work.
  • Agility in Decision-Making: Respond dynamically to market shifts with real-time data insights delivered with a user-friendly interface
  • Data-Driven Innovation: Empower employees to create custom solutions for recurring pain points in the property's operations.
Streamlit app and vs code - Plotly stacked chart - BI code image
Streamlit app and vs code - Plotly stacked chart - BI code image

Key Takeaways: Building a Data-Driven Property Strategy using Property Insights

Success in the dynamic hospitality industry demands more than just collecting data. Here's how to put your data analytics strategy into action for transformative change:

1. Problem First, Tech Second

The foundation of success lies in deep collaboration. Clearly communicate the specific business challenge (boosting occupancy, reducing food costs, etc.) before choosing tech tools. A roadmap ensures your data efforts support strategic goals, not the other way around. Agile development means getting insights incrementally, with ongoing course correction for maximum impact.

Remember: Property analytics isn't a quick fix - it's an ongoing conversation between management and your data teams.

2. Choosing a Future-Proof Platform

The pace of technological change is undeniable. Your hospitality industry analytics platform should adapt easily as needs evolve. A data transformation framework like DBT, combined with an adaptable BI layer, is ideal. For complex scenarios consider Headless BI – this ensures a single source of truth for both internal and external applications.

Pro Tip: Look for vendors specializing in property business data models if available for your tech stack – this saves significant setup time.

3. The Power of Centralization

Imagine a seamless flow of data from sources like your PMS, website booking engine, and guest reviews. A modern cloud data warehouse is the linchpin, transforming messy information into actionable insights. Investing in DBT helps create that reliable single source of truth. A dedicated semantic layer for data cataloguing further clarifies terms, simplifying analysis for various teams.

The Result: Easier reporting, a shared understanding of key metrics, and faster discovery of trends across the property and customer journey.

Key Concepts to Remember

  • Data Governance: Especially in light of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), have clear policies around data privacy and security from the outset.
  • Data Analysts are Strategic Partners: Invest in skilled analysts, or you can leverage Hospitality AI Data Analyst superpower with myDataValue, who understand both property operations and your data tools.
  • The Journey Not the Destination: The property data landscape evolves. Choose tech with room to grow for a long-term competitive advantage.

What not to do Power BI relationship diagram and DBT transformation layer
What not to do Power BI relationship diagram and DBT transformation layer

myDataValue can help you leverage data to improve your property’s performance, consolidate all your data and transform your analytics using the power of AI. You can subscribe to Learn more.

Miroslav Gospodinov

With 8 years of entrepreneurial expertise, Miro scaled a company to over 50 employees and achieved an annual revenue exceeding £2M. His background encompasses management, finance modeling, full-stack data, and analytics engineering, as well as substantial knowledge in the hospitality industry.