With 190 stylish bedrooms and the capacity to host conferences and banquets for up to 350 delegates, it’s a versatile venue that caters to leisure, business and events guests alike.

As a busy hotel with multiple revenue streams, including weddings, corporate events, leisure stays and gift voucher sales – Castleknock needed a digital partner who could support the full scope of their operations.

From the start, our team at Net Affinity worked closely with the hotel team to enhance their direct booking capabilities, boost online voucher sales and ensure all of Castleknock’s facilities are promoted effectively across their digital presence.

Through our booking engine, Castleknock Hotel has been able to offer a seamless and user-friendly booking journey for guests, resulting in a significant uplift in performance. In the past two years alone, the hotel has seen a 23% increase in bookings and a 13.5% growth in online voucher sales.

But our support doesn’t stop at technology. We’ve built a strong working relationship with Castleknock’s team through regular communication, strategic monthly meetings and hands-on support.

“We’ve worked with Net Affinity for ten years,” says John Havel, Senior Marketing Manager at Castleknock Hotel.

“They’re attentive, extremely helpful, and feel like part of the team. They’re a huge part of the revenue that this hotel generates. I would definitely recommend Net Affinity to all hotels.”

We also manage Castleknock’s ad spend and website, ensuring their digital presence works hard for them, converting interest into bookings and helping the hotel stand out in a competitive Dublin market.

Annemarie Hayes, Director of Sales and Marketing, highlights how we’ve become more than just a booking engine provider. “Net Affinity promotes all of our facilities – from leisure stays to weddings and conferences and we’ve seen fantastic results since partnering with them.”

With a future-focused strategy and a collaborative approach, Castleknock Hotel continues to thrive and we’re proud to be part of their success story.

If you’re interested in working together, get in touch today.

They needed a high-performing booking engine and website that could help drive direct bookings and support their new business model, but they also knew gift vouchers were a key revenue stream, especially during peak seasons.

When Barberstown Castle partnered with us we introduced a booking engine that provided a smooth and user-friendly experience, making it easier for guests to book directly – something critical for a hotel aiming for the converted title of ‘Ireland’s most friendly hotel’.

To help them boost their voucher sales, we implemented a fully branded voucher system that improved the customer journey and made purchasing vouchers a more seamless experience.

On top of that, we optimised their website to attract and convert more direct bookings, ensuring Barberstown Castle had a strong digital presence that worked just as hard as they did.

Since partnering with us, the hotel has seen growth in its direct revenue channels. One of the biggest wins has been a 30% increase in voucher sales, thanks to the streamlined and fully branded voucher system.

Their direct booking performance has also improved significantly, with a more intuitive and optimised website helping to create a smoother booking journey for guests.

Beyond the technology, our hands-on support and ongoing collaboration have ensured that the hotel continues to evolve with new trends and innovations in the hospitality industry.

“For us, Net Affinity was the obvious choice. The website, the booking engine and the continuous support have been invaluable in growing our business.”

– Ted Robinson, Managing Director, Barberstown Castle.

With the addition of The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat and The Old Inn to its portfolio, Galgorm Collection successfully established itself as a unique and innovative hospitality group.

Colin Johnston, Managing Director at the Galgorm Collection: “We’ve been working with them for 10 years now, and they’ve been instrumental to our growth journey so far. We still have huge growth plans and we really feel that Net Affinity is the partner we want to work with to achieve those.”

Galgorm’s focus on building a strong direct booking strategy has been a key pillar of this partnership, with impressive results. Their OTA dependency is now less than 1% and within the first seven years of working together, Galgorm’s average room rate had increased by 62% and room nights sold had increased by 96%.

Elaine Kelly, Group Projects & Systems Manager at Galgorm Collection, said: “The main thing we really love about Net Affinity is that they continuously evolve their product with us in mind. It really feels like a collaboration as opposed to a client-and-provider relationship.”

Net Affinity provided Galgorm Collection with a bespoke website design, an advanced booking engine, and tailored digital marketing strategies. Weekly communication and quarterly meetings have created a partnership built on transparency and innovation.

Megan Wright, Group Revenue Manager at Galgorm Collection, said: “My favourite feature is the business intelligence model, it provides us with live data. We’re able to do very easy comparisons year on year and also the booking engine which provides a very seamless journey for our guests. As Galgorm Collection continues to grow, we hope to maintain the relationships we currently have, working together and growing together.”

Watch the full case study below:

For more information about Galgorm Collection visit galgorm.com.
For more information on Net Affinity, please visit netaffinity.com and for further examples of how its technology has impacted hotels, visit netaffinity.com/casestudies.

Managed by a dedicated family team, the hotel has evolved from a 3-star establishment in 2016 to a prestigious 4-star hotel, reflecting the vibrant spirit of Dublin city centre.

At Mespil Hotel, guests experience a unique blend of modern amenities and traditional Irish hospitality. Its recent upgrade to 75 premium executive rooms enhances its commitment to quality and comfort, positioning Mespil as a leader in sustainable urban accommodation.

Why did Mespil Hotel choose us?

Mespil Hotel’s decision to partner with Net Affinity in 2016 was driven by our strong market presence and the professionalism of our team.

Recognised through industry connections, our senior staff’s professionalism and our approach during the tender process made for a persuasive pitch.

The decisive factor was our dedicated digital marketing specialist, who presented a unique selling proposition that perfectly aligned with Mespil’s vision for growth and modernisation.

What goals did Mespil Hotel want to achieve?

Seeking to elevate its 4-star brand and expand its market reach, Mespil Hotel was at a crucial juncture.

The goals were clear: enhance the online booking experience, maximise direct bookings, and leverage digital marketing to target new customer segments effectively.

Additionally, Mespil aimed to integrate sustainability into its operations, aspiring to set new standards in environmentally responsible hospitality.

The results since have been significant. From the start of our partnership in 2016, Mespil Hotel has consistently seen year-on-year growth in both bookings and revenue.

In the first quarter of 2024, for example, the hotel achieved an impressive 48.2% increase in bookings and a 41.8% increase in revenue compared to the same period in 2019. These figures not only highlight the successful upgrade in service and branding but also the effective capture of new market segments through strategic digital marketing initiatives.

Targeted segmentation and bespoke messaging have been instrumental for Mespil Hotel. This refined approach to their digital marketing has resulted in a notable uptake in impressions and sales, demonstrating the effectiveness of a tailored strategy. The style and messaging of their new advertising campaigns have yielded impressive results, significantly boosting direct online sales.

Promotional activities have been optimised too, with Mespil Hotel developing a keen understanding of what resonates best at different times of the year. Over the last 12 to 18 months, they have placed a focused emphasis on direct sales, a strategy that has seen them surpass Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) in terms of revenue generation.

Mespil Hotel is keen to maintain this momentum, continuing to prioritise direct engagement with its customer base.

How easy have Mespil Hotel found working with us?

From the outset, Mespil Hotel has felt fully supported by our bespoke advice and strong reporting.

Describing Net Affinity as an extension of their team, the hotel values our proactive communication and the regular, insightful meetings that drive their marketing and sales strategies forward.

Our comprehensive support system and the ease of managing bookings and digital campaigns have made the operational aspects straightforward, allowing Mespil to focus on guest experience and service excellence.

What sets us apart from our competitors?

We asked Emma Allen, Group Sales and Marketing Manager at Mespil Hotel, to describe Net Affinity in a few words. Her answer? ‘Professional, positive, and proactive.‘

Emma highlights how our relationship management sets us apart from the competition. She sees Net Affinity as an essential part of their extended team, not just as a service provider, emphasising our collaborative approach.

She and her team trust us for our clear communication and honest advice, which are always aligned with their best interests. This makes us a dependable partner, continuously advancing their strategy with innovative solutions tailored to their evolving needs.

For more information about the Mespil Hotel, visit the official website. 

In recent years, the hotel has come under new management and been given a refreshing new rebrand — the first in its 30-year history — renewing its commitment to excellence.

With its transformation appealing to new audiences, The K Club decided that a huge part of its progression needed to be its online presence.

Bringing in the knowledge, experience, and expertise of Net Affinity, The K Club has seen exponential results (including an 88% increase in direct bookings), and is looking forward to a fruitful future with this successful partnership.

About The K Club

The K Club is more than just a luxury hotel. The resort offers guests an immersive experience, and boasts an array of stunning facilities in the heart of Ireland. These include:

• 128 luxury bedrooms;
• A serene spa;
• Two championship golf courses;
• Exquisite dining options.

It’s also hailed as a premier wedding venue, and a haven for leisure and business travellers alike.

And, with its now-improved online presence, it’s reaching unprecedented direct booking rates — and increased revenue.

The K Club and Net Affinity

In late 2022, The K Club decided it needed to enhance its online presence and drive growth. Their existing methods felt disjointed across different companies, and the website was not working for the company.

So, in November 2022, they aligned with Net Affinity, embarking on a journey of digital transformation.

Implementing a new booking engine, marketing, and website design services, The K Club was able to form a cohesive digital strategy, aligning with their vision of elevating the guest experience and expanding their market reach.

Orla Canavan, Marketing Manager at The K Club, said: “Net Affinity built a bespoke site for us to enable us to deliver what we need. The process was good, the team was very helpful and responsive.

We have monthly calls to help keep everything on track, as well as on-site meetings, but the support team comes back very quickly on smaller issues, too.

We get on with the team so well and feel that they do genuinely care!”

So, what has The K Club found to be the key benefits of using Net Affinity?

Strategic Audience Targeting

Net Affinity’s expertise in audience segmentation allowed The K Club to tailor their marketing efforts effectively, resulting in remarkable success in both domestic and overseas markets.

Comprehensive Support

From the initial onboarding process to ongoing support, The K Club experienced unparalleled customer service from the Net Affinity team. Their responsiveness and dedication ensured a smooth transition and continuous optimisation of digital assets.

Innovative Campaigns

Net Affinity’s innovative approach to marketing campaigns enabled The K Club to stay ahead of the curve, driving both engagement and revenue growth.

Digital Dominance

Embracing digital marketing as a primary focus, The K Club witnessed a shift in their marketing strategy, with Net Affinity playing a pivotal role in shaping their online presence. Traditional advertising gave way to targeted digital campaigns, driving substantial returns on investment.

Future Growth

As The K Club continues its journey, the partnership with Net Affinity remains integral to their long-term success. Together, they’re working on innovative strategies to further elevate the guest experience and drive sustainable growth.

When asked to describe Net Affinity, Orla said: “Determination and drive. They’re determined to show what they can do, and they want to continue to drive growth for us.”

Notable Increases in Revenue and Growth

The collaboration between The K Club and Net Affinity exemplifies the transformative power of strategic digital marketing in the luxury hospitality sector.

By leveraging Net Affinity’s expertise, The K Club has not only strengthened its online presence but also unlocked new opportunities for growth and innovation.

For example, bookings made on the brand website have increased by an incredible 88%, while room nights booked have increased by 78%.

Revenue booked on the brand website is up by 42%, and stayed revenue from the brand website increased by 5%.

These figures show that the new website, booking engine, and online strategy is working overtime for The K Club — and shows no sign of slowing down!

The Future of The K Club

Orla said that they have very little traditional advertising now, and the majority is the digital strategy they have with Net Affinity.

She said: “We’re working on future activity with Net Affinity, and very much see it that they can help us get there.

“To other hotels considering a digital shake-up, we’d 100% recommend Net Affinity’s services!”

If you’d like to know more about how Net Affinity can help you, please contact a member of the team or book a demo.

Alternatively, to find out more about The K Club, please visit their website.

We recently sat down with Karim Kassam and Caroline Morrone from Horwood House Hotel, in Milton Keynes, UK to ask them about what it’s been like to work with us. 

Karim, Hotel Owner, said; “It’s been fantastic, we have regular calls with them, so if there are any issues or questions, or we need clarification, Julie is our first port of contact. It doesn’t feel like you are talking to customer services, it’s someone who is part of the team “

He continues; “Our online bookings have doubled in quantity, the number of room nights has doubled, revenue has probably gone up a bit more than double because our average room rate has gone up over the same period.“

Caroline, General Manager at Horwood House said; “They are real experts in their field. They really know our business, they understand it and they understand where we are coming from.“

Watch the full video case study below for more information.

Voted as one of Ireland’s Best Family Friendly Hotels, its charm lies in its warmth and friendliness. It has spacious rooms available for singles, couples and families.

Delicious farm-to-fork produce is served in their multiple dining outlets, of which much is grown on their own nearby Redmond Family Farm.

Why Did Amber Springs Hotel Choose Us?

Here at Net Affinity, we’ve been working with Amber Springs Hotel since March 2022.

The team first chose to switch to us when their previous provider wasn’t as proactive as they’d hoped. The General Manager was left to come up with most of the ideas and solutions.

We made sure to take the time to visit the hotel, speak with the team, and truly understand the solution-led, proactive approach Amber Springs was looking for.

From the outset, our relationship has been positive and uplifting. With scheduled regular contact, we’ve both been kept on track with our strategies and action plans. 

What goals did Amber Springs Hotel want to achieve?

The team had some very clear goals that they wanted to achieve through working with us, which we’re proud to say have been successful.

The Amber Springs Hotel website now looks and feels more chic, with easier navigation and faster checkout for guests.

In our first year together, bookings increased by 46% and booked revenue grew by 44%. For the current year-to-date (first quarter 2024 vs first quarter 2023), both bookings and booked revenue have already seen 9% growth. Momentum has been maintained even in the face of recent VAT changes from the Irish government.

The team also appreciates the leadership, experience, and knowledge we’ve brought. With the introduction of new ideas such as Black Friday vouchers, we’ve taken the time to dive deeper into what could be working better for the hotel.

How easy have Amber Springs Hotel found working with us?

Nessa O’Brien, Revenue Manager at Amber Springs Hotel, describes her account manager, Julie, as exceptional. High praise indeed!

On a serious note, Nessa is extremely satisfied with how easy it has been to work with us. She notes that calls are flexible, communication is strong, and reporting is detailed.

She also values that we aren’t afraid to critique the hotel’s website and current performance when necessary. This is always accompanied, of course, by suggesting proactive solutions to address the concerns raised.

What sets us apart from our competitors?

We asked Nessa to describe us in one word. Her answer? “Innovative.”

We take the lead and drive the client relationship, something Nessa believes sets us apart from our competitors.

She and her team feel we can be relied upon to be dynamic, relevant, and efficient, constantly evolving and implementing improvements.

Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa is perched in the idyllic Irish version of paradise, West Cork, overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean. Just 3km from Clonakilty, the 4 star property was voted ‘Best Place to Stay in Munster’ and is steeped in rugged natural beauty. It’s an irresistible spot for staycations, weddings and spa breaks.

The evolution of our partnership

We began our long working relationship with Inchydoney in 2011 and after a period of time with another provider, they returned to us in March of 2019.

Like any property, one of the biggest challenges faced by Inchydoney is the competitive market itself. Using our feature-rich booking engine (the newest technology on the market), alongside a beautiful bespoke designed website and award-winning marketing services, Inchydoney’s direct business has been going from strength to strength, with their team repeatedly facing increased demand for the property.

The new booking engine Inchydoney are using is a piece of technology that has been built from the ground up, with years’ worth of our knowledge and learnings applied. Hosted using the most modern cloud infrastructure and built around APIs, it enables us to artfully link all of a hotel’s tech together, propelling their systems toward extraordinary heights.

With the support of excellently enthusiastic clients, we developed a strategy to increase direct bookings, including the refinement of audience targeting and digital marketing messaging. This, along with our award winning booking engine and bespoke website design, has helped create a seamless booking experience for the guests of Inchydoney Lodge & Spa.

Net Affinity rank #2 Best Hospitality Digital Marketing Agency Globally in the 2023 HotelTechAwards

Solid performance and teamwork make property thrive

As well as streamlining their booking process, we have tried to ensure Inchydoney’s digital marketing message encouraged potential guests to book direct. Our digital marketing team have perfected the hotel’s Google Ads activity, tailoring campaigns to ensure the message is consistently book direct. Alongside this more consistent book direct messaging, we have specified our audiences and supported the primary message with relevant seasonal offers throughout the year.

What are the results?

Inchydoney undertook a fabulous refurbishment of their bedrooms in Q1 of 2023. Even with many rooms out of action for a month, we still collectively grew booked revenue by 7%.

Comparing 2022 with 2019, Inchydoney grew their bookings by 57%, room nights by 54% and booked revenue by 61%.

We’re excited to continue innovatively working with Inchydoney on their book direct strategy.

This stunning property has a bright future ahead.

Here’s what the client thinks

“We have been extremely happy with our changeover to Net Affinity. We feel we have a common goal of increasing direct bookings to the hotel. We pride ourselves on our commitment to our very loyal guests and feel that this is also shared with Net Affinity, which is very important to us.

We have enjoyed an increase in our direct bookings as well as very positive results to our digital marketing strategy which has been implemented by Net Affinity – this has been very encouraging for us.

We are very proud of our new website design and feel that it captures the very essence of Inchydoney, our location and what we offer. Overall, we are delighted to work with Julie, Niamh and the wider Net Affinity Team. We feel our values and commitments are very much aligned and this gives us great confidence that Net Affinity is an extension of our inhouse team.”

Ruth McCarthy – Director of Sales & Marketing at Inchydoney Island Lodge & Spa.

Interested in learning more about any of our products or services? Book a demo!

Amber Springs Hotel is a beautiful family-run 4 star property located in gloriously sprawling Wexford, just a 5 minute walk from the main street of charming town, Gorey. Full of the warmth and friendliness you only get in a family-run hotel, it’s no wonder they were voted as one of Ireland’s Best Family Friendly Hotels. Amber Springs is only a short drive from miles and miles of sandy beaches.

Spacious, comfortable rooms are built for singles, couples and families. Award-winning cuisine is served from their multiple restaurants, dishes are prepared using organic and locally sourced produce where possible, some of which is grown naturally and nurtured on their own Redmond Family Farm not far from the hotel.

Our relationship so far

We have worked with Amber Springs Hotel since March 2022. From the beginning, the relationship between ourselves and the team in Amber Springs has been so positive and intuitive, given our shared love for the hotel, understanding of the objectives at hand, and the determination to reach our set goals. Organized and regular contact mean strategies and action plans are always on track.

Maeve Walls, Senior e-Commerce Manager at Net Affinity says: “Since coming on board with Net Affinity, it has very much been a collaboration between the two teams, a great openness to ideas and sharing information. There’s been a clear and simple goal of growing the website business from the start. The results to date speak for themselves, and for myself, I am lucky to work with such a hotel. Onward and upwards we go.”

Our shared goals and objectives

Our booking engine is the newest technology on the market. Using this feature-rich, lightning fast piece of technology, alongside our award-winning website and marketing services, the collective objective was to grow Amber Springs Hotel’s direct business as much as possible, and to increase their marketing activity – which in turn would increase general brand awareness.

Net Affinity rank #2 Best Hospitality Digital Marketing Agency Globally in the 2023 HotelTechAwards

What are the results?

Since March 2022, Amber Springs Hotel have seen strong and consistent growth in their direct revenue and transaction volume:

• 38% increase in revenue
• 29% increase in transactions

Their multi-channel marketing campaigns have also consistently performed very well – which may come as no surprise given our marketing team recently ranked #2 Best Hospitality Digital Marketing Agency Globally in the 2023 HotelTechAwards!

Eibhear Coyle, General Manager at Amber Springs Hotel says: “Since we’ve joined Net Affinity, we are delighted with the growth we’ve seen in our business. We have been delighted overall with our switch to Net Affinity – our on-boarding and transition process was smart, competent and seamless. We had support throughout the whole process – through the design and build of the website, and we received valuable advice on our journey since March 2022. The partnership with Net Affinity has been fantastic, with all invested parties working towards the same goal.”

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With the support of excellently enthusiastic clients, we developed a strategy to increase direct bookings, including the refinement of audience targeting and digital marketing messaging. This, along with our award winning booking engine and bespoke website design, has helped create a seamless booking experience for the guests of Inchydoney Lodge & Spa.