HotelMinder Launches Lobby: the Hotelier Expert Network for On-Demand Support

For independent hoteliers, running a property can feel like juggling with fire. Between the OTAs chipping away at your margins, a flood of technology options that promise the world but often create more confusion than help, and guests with sky-high expectations, running a hotel is not for the faint of heart.

Big chains have whole teams to manage their operations, but if you're an individual owner, it's likely you wearing all the hats: revenue manager, tech whiz, marketing pro, etc. It's exhausting, overwhelming and it could be costing you bookings and revenue.

But if you have a limited budget, how can you improve your operations without hiring full-time staff?

HotelMinder has got your back!

Today, we’re proud to announce the launch of Lobby, a hotelier expert network that connects you with vetted hospitality pros for on-demand help.

Lobby makes top expertise accessible, affordable, and tailored to your needs, whether you need help boosting direct bookings or streamlining your operations. As a hotel consultant network, it's built to empower you with real solutions from long-time industry experts, who have helped support hotels all over the world with the same problems.

What is Lobby? A Trusted Hospitality Expert Network

Since its launch in 2013, HotelMinder has always aimed to level the playing field for smaller properties through its free hospitality knowledge platform and technology marketplace. Now, with Lobby, we’re taking it further.

"With tech evolving so fast and the market getting tougher, hoteliers need more than tools, they need smart strategies from experts," says Benjamin Verot, Founder and CEO. "Lobby fills that gap by connecting hoteliers with experts for actionable, affordable support."

Lobby isn't just another directory, it's an ecosystem designed to democratize access to world-class hospitality expertise. We curated a global network of seasoned professionals, all vetted by HotelMinder for their proven track records, giving you reliable connections without the guesswork.

It's free to join for both hoteliers and experts, with services on a commission-based model. Think of it as your go-to hotel operations consulting platform, helping you tackle challenges and spot opportunities.

Key Features of Lobby: Expert Help, Simplified

Lobby focuses on five core disciplines where property owners often struggle.

Our experts provide clear, actionable insights to streamline operations, enhance guest experiences, and boost profitability. They help solve immediate problems, uncover new revenue streams, refine strategies for direct bookings, optimize your tech stack for hotels, and more.

Here's how it works in each area:

1. Marketing Automation

In today's digital world, standing out online is tough. Many hoteliers juggle inconsistent branding and scattered social media efforts on top of everything else. The result? Lost direct bookings and a brand that doesn't quite click with guests.

A Lobby marketing expert can jump in as your fractional ally. They'll audit your online presence, craft a cohesive content strategy, and optimize your site for SEO to drive more traffic to your website. It's not about flashy campaigns; it's about practical steps that drive bookings and loyalty, all without overwhelming your team.

2. Technology & Digital Transformation

Tech overload is real: salespeople push fancy tools that sound amazing but often, they end up causing more harm than good. Choosing the wrong PMS or RMS can be a waste of money and cause months of frustration and lost efficiency.

Lobby's tech consultants act as unbiased guides. They start by pinpointing your exact needs, then shortlist the solutions that would be the best fit for your operational challenges and pre-existing tech stack. For big moves (like switching PMS vendors), they'll book demos with the best vendors, build an implementation plan, and manage a smooth rollout, saving you time and money while avoiding costly mistakes.

3. Operations & Guest Experience

Daily operations can feel like a never-ending fire drill with inefficient workflows, staff burnout, and service slips that ding reviews. Spotting fixes is hard when you're knee-deep in the day-to-day, leading to operational bottlenecks and unhappy guests.

Enter a Lobby operations specialist… they will audit all of your operational processes, from front desk to housekeeping, to identify areas of improvement. They'll refine SOPs, suggest cost-saving tweaks, and train staff to elevate service. The result: smoother operations that boost guest satisfaction and cut waste without the cost of hiring more staff.

4. Distribution

The real-time optimization of your distribution channels often has to take a backseat for independents who are already overburdened with their day-to-day operations, which can lead to an over-reliance on the OTAs (increasing your cost of acquisition) or an inability to properly manage your inventory across platforms (resulting in costly under- or overbooking).

Lobby distribution experts provide the big-picture view. They'll assess your current channels, identify opportunities for better partnerships and direct sales, and craft tailored plans to maximize visibility and ROI. Whether it's optimizing channel managers or negotiating with the OTAs on your behalf, they will ensure your decisions drive balanced growth and reduce dependency on high-commission platforms over the long-term, not just implement short-term fixes.

5. Revenue Management

Revenue management isn't just a task, it's a game-changer often overlooked by smaller properties. Many hoteliers continue to price their rooms manually, leaving money on the table due to inconsistent strategies, an over-dependence on OTAs, and an inability to make data-based strategic decisions.

A Lobby revenue management expert makes pricing straightforward. They'll analyze market data, implement dynamic pricing, and build strategies to boost direct bookings while configuring automated tools to maximize your profitability. They will implement practical, ongoing revenue management tactics that increase ADR and occupancy, turning potential revenue losses into steady gains, all aligned with your resources.

Proof in Action: A Revenue Management Win That Boosts the Bottom Line

Let's look at a real-life example of the impact that a Lobby revenue management expert can have on an independent hotel’s operations...

Before hiring an experienced revenue management expert, a 40-room independent property had an ADR of €120 EUR and 65% occupancy, resulting in monthly revenue of €93,600 EUR.

They hired a vetted revenue management consultant through Lobby who implemented a Revenue Management System (RMS) to automate the property’s pricing and spent a few hours a week executing pricing updates based on the RMS’ recommendations and updating their marketing strategies to drive more direct bookings.

Three months later, ADR reached €135 EUR, occupancy had climbed to 75%, and monthly revenue jumped to €121,500 EUR. That's a €27,900 EUR monthly revenue boost, or over €334,800 EUR yearly.

For a modest investment of €1,500/month, plus the price of the RMS, the hotel experienced firsthand that proper revenue management is not an expense; it's ROI that transforms your property’s operations and profitability!

How Lobby Connects Hoteliers with Experts for Real Results

Lobby makes high-level hospitality expertise accessible to every property, regardless of size or budget. Every expert on the network is vetted by HotelMinder, ensuring advice is actionable, relevant, and trustworthy. The commission-based model keeps costs transparent, while fractional engagements make expert support accessible even for properties with smaller budgets.

Getting started is simple:

1. Register & Describe Your Needs: Hoteliers can sign up for free and outline their project or challenge.
2. Connect with Experts: Lobby will recommend the best matches, or hoteliers can browse and invite experts to work with them on solving their problems directly.
3. Optimize Your Operations Without Lifting a Finger: Your expert will get to work right away, solving all of your most pressing operational problems.

Ready to Join Lobby?

Hoteliers: Sign-up for free for access to vetted experts in revenue, operations, technology consulting, and more → Sign Up for Lobby Today

Hospitality Experts: Get matched with hotels that need your specific skill set → Join the Expert Network

The HotelMinder Promise

Your trust is our top priority. Whether you're choosing technology or connecting with an expert, we're committed to transparency. Here’s how we ensure you get unbiased, reliable guidance. Learn more about our promise.