Escapia vacation rental software and Whimstay optimize last-minute bookings and revenue for Elk Springs Resort

Elk Springs Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, under the leadership of Managing Partner Andy Gladstein, has significantly improved its last-minute booking strategy through a strategic partnership with Escapia and Whimstay. This case study examines how this established property management company with 19 years of experience using Escapia was able to address specific distribution challenges and achieve measurable revenue growth through this partnership.

Elk Springs Resort is a well-established property management company with nearly two decades of experience in the vacation rental industry. As an early adopter of the Escapia property management system, the resort has built its operations on a solid technological foundation, allowing it to focus on strategic growth and optimization opportunities.

Despite having a robust property management infrastructure and established distribution channels, Elk Springs Resort identified a critical gap in their strategy:

This challenge represented a significant opportunity cost, as properties that remained vacant on short notice constituted potential revenue that was consistently being left unrealized.

Seeking to address this specific distribution gap, Elk Springs Resort used Escapia’s robust direct integration channels and partnered with Whimstay, a platform specializing in last-minute vacation rental bookings. Gladstein described this integration as “tight and flawless”, facilitating a seamless implementation process for growing bookings.

The integration between Escapia and Whimstay played a crucial role in the success of this partnership. As Gladstein notes, Escapia has been fundamental to their business operations:

The integration between Escapia and Whimstay meant that Elk Springs Resort could implement this new last-minute booking strategy without disrupting their established workflows or creating additional operational complexity.

The partnership with Escapia and Whimstay delivered concrete, measurable improvements:

1. Increased Booking Volume: Approximately 51 additional reservations were secured that would have otherwise remained vacant
2. Revenue Growth: Over $25,000 in incremental revenue was generated
3. Enhanced Distribution: Improved visibility on Google Maps, expanding the resort’s digital footprint
4. Complementary Channel Strategy: Successfully augmented existing distribution channels without cannibalization

As an Escapia user of over 19 years, Elk Springs Resort has been able to grow and scale in their business, taking advantage of integration channels like Whimstay to expand their bookings. Vacation Rental Trust Accounting software and battle-tested compliance tools meet powerful property rental management software like the Owner Portal and Flex Reporting to create the ultimate solution to grow your vacation rental business, leading to “an elite property management software” that empowers your team to do more! Using Escapia’s connection to Whimstay to implement a new last-miute booking strategy without disrupting established workflows is just one of many ways Escapia can help support your business as it did Elk Springs Resort.

Whimstay is just one of the many tools that showcase the Escapia advantage! If you’re curious about Escapia can help grow your business, sign up for a demo today.