Challenge
Running an 8-room bed & breakfast without a front desk meant constant interruptions for the owner. Guests were constantly asking if they could check in early or check out late, but since it wasn’t offered as a purchase option, every request required a manual response. Over time, those back-and-forth messages disrupted the schedule and the cleaners’ flow. Managing these requests one by one wasn’t sustainable.
Solution
Ashley used Akia to turn recurring requests into upsells. Instead of messaging back and forth, guests now see early check-in, late checkout, cleaning, parking, and cashless tipping options directly in their registration card, check-in instructions, and checkout flows.
Upsells become orders, not messages
Previously, The Villa Toscana had to respond to nearly every guest asking, “Can I check in early?” With Akia, those questions disappear and are automatically offered. Guests simply choose early check-in (or opt-in options) themselves, and the request appears in the Orders dashboard.
Review and approve orders immediately
They can review all incoming orders with room details, timing, and payment in one place, then approve them with a single click. Once approved, a confirmation is automatically sent to the guest with the details they need, eliminating the back-and-forth of guests asking if something is available or not.
Example: After purchasing parking, the guest is sent an automated message for parking instructions.
Tiered pricing
Early check-in can be sold in increments ($10 for 1 hour, doubling each hour).
Same-day arrivals
If a guest didn’t pre-purchase early check-in, but their room happens to be cleaned and ready earlier than expected, Villa Toscana would send a message that their room is ready to capture last-minute requests.
Housekeeping stays in flow
Because orders are tracked in one dashboard, housekeeping can prioritize rooms that need early turnover without disrupting cleaning routine.
