Given their long-standing interest in innovative and productive uses of technology, it’s no surprise that Carlson Hospitality Worldwide has implemented Revenue Management systems at several of its Radisson properties.

“At present we’re evaluating two different vendors,” reports David Sjolander, Carlson’s Director of Hotel Systems. “The Optims user interface was actually developed in collaboration with our Radisson SAS properties in Europe, and we have nineteen installations of that system over there. But we’re also using IDeaS in some of our US properties. Both are interfaced to our Harmony PMS.”

So what are some of the main factors in ensuring the systems’ success? “ One of the biggest is the speed with which the property learns to accept the systems forecasts, and that can be hard on the nerves at first.

For example, at the 570-room Radisson in Bloomington, Minnesota, about two months after going live with the system, two major groups were booked back-to-back over a Saturday night. The individual pick-ups came in strongly, when they reached 70 rooms overbooked the management checked with the system – and it told them to overbook to 140 rooms!"

"They checked possible walk availability at other local properties and went for it. In the event, the first group had a major “wash” the day before check-out, and the hotel came in on the nose at 100%, a perfect fill, no walks. That kind of experience really helps make them believers in the system.”

You gotta have faith.

Back to Main Article