With 36 hotels in 26 European cities, MEININGER Hotels has built a reputation for blending hotel comfort with a sociable atmosphere. Their hybrid concept attracts modern, digitally savvy travelers who expect flexibility, convenience, and a seamless stay from booking to check-out.
To digitalize the guest experience and elevate stays, while generating ancillary revenue, the team at MEININGER Hotels implemented Oaky back in 2019. We spoke with Celine Mamane, Head of Digital Marketing, about their journey — from early adoption of Oaky, to their switch to the 2-way Oaky x SIHOT integration in November 2024, which made upselling more guest-centric and effortless for teams.
The challenge before Oaky: Manual and inconsistent upselling
Before Oaky, the team tried upselling manually. But the process was laborious. Customer care teams had to respond to guest requests individually while front desk staff offered extras at check-in, leaving little time to present the full range of offers. Without automation, neither method was scalable. It placed strain on teams and often resulted in missed opportunities.
We wanted to digitalize the process, reduce the back-and-forth, and offer our guests a smoother, more modern experience.
Céline Mamane
Head of Digital Marketing
In 2019, Meininger Hotels opted for Oaky to upsell OTA bookers via a connection with a channel manager. However, direct bookers remained out of reach, and staff still had to manually enter add-ons into the PMS, a gap that the 2-way Oaky x SIHOT integration would later close.
Taking upselling to the next level: Switching to the 2-way Oaky x SIHOT integration
To reach all guests and further minimize manual work, MEININGER Hotels took a strategic step to explore a deeper connection between their PMS, SIHOT, and Oaky. The Oaky and SIHOT teams worked closely to develop a 2-way integration, ensuring upsells could be automatically approved and synced directly into reservations.
The rollout began in November 2024 with one pilot property, followed by a phased expansion. By March 2025, all 36 hotels were live on the integration.
The new setup enabled:
Upselling to both OTA and direct bookers.
Automatic syncing of add-ons and services into the PMS
A more frictionless and digital guest journey
Consistency across properties, while allowing local flexibility.
“The 2-way Oaky x SIHOT integration significantly reduced manual work for our teams, as they no longer need to enter services into the PMS, which saves them a huge amount of time,” Céline explains.
Results: Faster, more consistent and profitable upselling
1. Frictionless upselling and revenue growth
Though the 2-way integration was rolled out in early 2025, MEININGER Hotels already sees clear benefits from using it:
Operational efficiency: Teams spend far less time on admin and can focus more on the guest experience.
Faster processing: Most upsell requests are now automatically approved and synced, reducing delays.
High engagement with pre-arrival emails: Email open rate: 78.61%
The ability to sell a wide range of services and add-ons: F&B generates 64%, followed by Transportation: 25% and Early check-in/Late check-out: 9%, Other services: 2%.
We can already see a revenue uplift, and it’s clear that processes are faster and smoother. The big win is that our colleagues at the hotels have more time to spend on what matters most—our guests.
Céline Mamane
Head of Digital Marketing
2. Driving brand and communication consistency thanks to Oaky’s chain-level options
From a marketing perspective, Oaky also supports MEININGER’s digital communication strategy. Chain-level templates ensure a unified brand voice across all 36 properties, while allowing local flexibility for each hotel to introduce unique experiences like canal tours in Amsterdam.
“For us, Oaky is part of the guest communication journey. It’s integrated into our email touchpoints. With chain options, we can ensure brand consistency across properties, while still giving each hotel the flexibility to add local flavor,” notes Céline.
Final thoughts
With Oaky’s 2-way integration with SIHOT, MEININGER Hotels transformed upselling into an automated, guest-centric process, unlocking new revenue opportunities while giving their teams more time to focus on hospitality. Celine and the team are excited for the future and eager to experiment with email timing, testing new messaging approaches, and preparing to roll out Oaky across new openings like Barcelona. Céline concludes:
Since the very beginning, Oaky has been proactive and innovative, from supporting our first digital upselling initiatives to pioneering the 2-way integration with SIHOT. Now, we have a scalable setup that boosts revenue, reduces manual work, and delivers a smoother journey for our guests.
Céline Mamane
Head of Digital Marketing
