24-hour implementation: How Première Advisory Group and Cloudbeds redefine hotel technology deployment

Contributing to its “fix-it” reputation, PAG recently helped The Troubadour Hotel with deflagging from a major hotel chain in order to operate independently. With the Super Bowl just weeks away — a period with contracted bookings and limited flexibility for moving things around — the pressure was on to make the process as quick and seamless as possible.

Hotel deflagging frequently involves many moving parts and challenges, from critical time sensitivity requiring immediate system implementation to potential resistance from the outgoing brand in sharing information and the need for seamless OTA connectivity. “Quite often, the people involved have never gone through it before,” shares Jason Edwards, Director of Hospitality and Advisory Services at PAG.

This is where PAG’s expertise becomes crucial; ensuring that clients know what to expect during the deflagging process, educating clients on the deflagging timeline and aiding in speeding up the transition, and providing legal and transitional assistance that can help expedite the entire process. He continues, “Usually when we do deflagging, it’s one week and it’s like a fire drill.”

Luckily, PAG and Cloudbeds delivered. “It took about 72 hours from engaging with Cloudbeds to going semi-live”, explains Arjun Kashyup, Operations Consultant at Scarlett Hotels Group, the hotel management company managing The Troubadour. 

He continues, “The transition was very smooth, especially regarding checking guests in and out, folios, and credit card processing.”

Particularly impressive was Cloudbeds’ seamless, up-and-running connectivity with OTAs, especially Booking.com. This was backed up by the collaborative efforts of Cloudbeds’ Onboarding and Account Management teams and its detailed step-by-step Booking.com connection guide that makes it easy for virtually anyone.

“The OTA connectivity is very streamlined,” says Jason. “I’ve worked with other systems where it could take two to three weeks to make that all happen because you get put into a queue. Working with Cloudbeds has been very unique and cooperative.”

Cloudbeds University and Knowledge Base also proved incredibly useful for the PAG team, offering an extensive range of educational tools and resources that cover every aspect of Cloudbeds. “I can’t readily think of any other PMS system that has the information to the level that Cloudbeds does,” remarks Jason. 

On top of robust project management capabilities, PAG also leveraged its global team structure. The implementation began with team members in London starting work at 3:00 AM EST, creating a round-the-clock workflow that maximized the 24-hour window.

“We started work in Eastern time, then used our resources,” explains Anthony. “Sophie is in London. There is a five-hour time difference with us, so at 3:00 AM Eastern time she was already working. By the time we went to the office, there was a ton of work already done.” PAG has continued to assist with integrating different OTA platforms and has been working closely with The Troubadour hotel’s revenue manager.

Also key in the deflagging’s success was PAG’s certified consultant partnership with Cloudbeds and the software’s efficient platform structure and ease of use. “The system is really user-friendly, good for beginners, and straightforward”, explains Arjun. “Add this to the PAG-conducted staff training through Cloudbeds University and the solutions’ knowledge base, and direct assistance from PAG to address any questions hotel staff might have, getting the team up to speed has been relatively easy.”

The successful implementation at The Troubadour Hotel demonstrates the evolving landscape of hotel technology deployment. Première Advisory Group continues to leverage Cloudbeds’ platform for The Troubadour hotel, mandating team certification and staying current with new releases to maintain their edge in rapid implementations.

The partnership between Première Advisory Group and Cloudbeds exemplifies how modern hospitality solutions, combined with expert implementation partners, can transform traditional industry timelines and create new standards for hotel technology deployment.