Marius Donhauser is a hotelier and co-founder and CEO of the software company hotelkit. He studied International Economics in Innsbruck and Prague, and founded his first web and software companies during his academic studies. The idea for the now multi-award-winning collaboration platform originally emerged from his own needs for his hotel and now simplifies daily collaboration between teams at more than 3,100 businesses around the world.
—When was hotelkit born? What is your story?
―The idea for hotelkit came from my own experiences managing our family hotel in Salzburg. I quickly realized that communication and collaboration within the team was not as fluid as it should be. I was looking for a solution to simplify daily workflows, but nothing available at the time fit our needs. So, I decided to create my own software to improve team collaboration and digitize internal processes. With the help of three tech-savvy friends, we started working on the project. We spent months in hotel room 404—a funny coincidence for a tech company—working tirelessly. Finally, in 2012, hotelkit was born.
hotelkit services and integrations
―What services and solutions do you offer to hoteliers?
―It allows hotel teams to manage, supervise and delegate tasks through a central point of communication, accessible at any time and from any device. This makes internal processes faster, easier and more efficient. More than 150,000 employees in more than 75 countries around the world use hotelkit to optimize their daily workflows.
With hotelkit’s collaboration tools, we simplify tasks such as shift changes, repair orders and work checklists, providing digital documentation and tracking capabilities. We store standard operating procedures in an easy-to-access digital manual. Our housekeeping tool digitizes all cleaning processes, improving team collaboration.
-How many companies are you integrated with?
―We have over 55 integrations with various service providers, including PMS, guest experience, human resources, information and data management, and reputation management.
―What are the main problems you encounter when starting to work with a hotel that hires your services?
―Often, we find that changing traditional and conservative mindsets is an obstacle. Some staff may resist adopting new technology because they are comfortable with the way things have always been done. Our job is to show them how technology can make their jobs easier and more efficient.
Comprehensive training for staff is also essential. We provide full onboarding and ongoing support to help everyone get familiar with hotelkit features. Our goal is to make the transition as seamless as possible, showing the team how our platform can simplify their workflows and improve their efficiency.
―Your products and services are in different languages to reach more customers. In which languages and in which country do you work most?
―Our platform is available in more than 30 languages, serving customers from all over the world. Our largest customer base is in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but we continue to expand globally.
―How do you support your clients when they hire your services? Do you offer training?
―We provide comprehensive support from the beginning. We present hotelkit to potential clients and adjust a budget to their needs. We set up a 30-day trial with personalized training so you can make the most of the free period. During this phase, our team works closely with them, configuring the system to their specific needs and providing extensive training.
Once the trial is complete and the decision to continue with our services is made, we continue to support our clients with additional training and other resources. We offer webinars, tutorials, FAQs, and customer support in multiple languages to ensure effective use of hotelkit. Our goal is to make the transition as smooth and beneficial as possible, equipping our clients to improve their hotel operations.
Award for the Best Solution in the Sector for four consecutive years at the Hotel Tech Awards
―For the fourth consecutive year you have received the award for the best solution in the sector at the international Hotel Tech Awards. How do you work year after year to be awarded again? Do you feel more pressure because of this? Does recognition make you get more clients?
―We are happy and proud to receive this recognition for the fourth consecutive year. This achievement reflects the hard work of our team and the trust of our customers. We focus on providing a platform that simplifies daily operations for hoteliers, allowing them to focus on making their guests happy and planning for business growth. Innovation and continuous improvement are at the core of our work, ensuring our services remain cutting-edge.
Winning this award year after year demonstrates our loyalty to the original vision of our software. We feel no additional pressure for these awards, as they are a natural result of our daily mission. This recognition helps spread our platform and attract more customers globally. Our dedication to excellence and customer-centric approach are the reasons for our continued success in the industry.
Success story and the future of hospitality
―Tell us a success story that you are really proud of.
―A success story we are proud of is our partnership with Radisson Hotel Group (RHG). In 2018, they began working with us to improve communication and task management across their extensive portfolio. We developed a platform that has revolutionized their operations, enabling seamless communication and optimized workflows across more than 350 RHG properties in 44 countries, connecting more than 40,000 users in more than 95 countries.
Success lies in the creation of a connected and sustainable ecosystem, integrating tools for housekeeping, maintenance management and guest request management. This consolidation has simplified and unified their daily operations, saving time and resources. Radisson was the first hotel chain to adopt hotelkit on a large scale, and they plan to expand its use in APAC and China. This collaboration highlights how hotelkit can support digital transformation and foster a culture of efficiency and collaboration in the hospitality industry.
―What does the hotel world need to continue improving? Do you think hoteliers need to change their mentality? Where does the future lie?
―The hotel industry has shown great resilience, especially after the global pandemic that changed the way we travel and live. Innovation and technology have been key in this adaptation, helping us face new challenges and prepare for the future. Finding the right balance between technology and the human touch is crucial, using technology to handle administrative and back-office tasks, allowing staff to focus on providing warm, personalized service to guests.
Another big challenge is attracting and maintaining talent. With labor shortages becoming a real problem, we need to offer environments that attract new generations, offering diversity, flexibility and a sense of fulfillment. At hotelkit, we see technology as a tool to enhance, not replace, the human element of hospitality. Our platform helps simplify and streamline operations, making it easier for staff to work efficiently, improving the guest experience, and making the workplace more attractive to young talent.
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