Hopefield BnB, a charming bed and breakfast near Addo Elephant National Park, has an exciting story of revival and growth. The owners, Scott and Nicky Botha, purchased the property in 2022, breathing new life into what was previously called Hopefield Country House.
“We live on a farm next door, and we bought Hopefield in 2022,” Nicky says. “If we ever decide to sell, having extra land right next door is a big plus. Originally, it was all one big farm called Hopefield, but they subdivided it years ago.”
This strategic acquisition has let the owners expand their hospitality offerings beyond their current self-catering accommodation – their guesthouse on their farm.
Its setting is unique – it lies slightly elevated on a private citrus farm near the Addo Elephant National Park, just an hour’s drive from Port Elizabeth/Gqeberha. It’s a savvy move that takes advantage of the area’s growing tourism scene, especially being so close to Addo Elephant National Park.
With nine spacious rooms and stunning scenery all around, it’s a real gem. Under Nicky’s leadership, Hopefield goes beyond comfy stays to offer conference facilities, picnics and bespoke events.
Transforming Hopefield from a dormant property into a modern bed and breakfast was no small feat. “We gave it a complete refresh,” Nicky says. “We repainted and fixed a lot at the establishment and redid the previous dining room area to simplify it. It is now our breakfast area. We’re proud of our accomplishments with Hopefield BnB because it was left rundown after COVID.”
Throughout this journey of expansion and transformation, NightsBridge has been an invaluable partner, says Nicky. “I’ve been using NightsBridge for years and am very happy with it. When we started with Hopefield BnB, it was just a given that we’d use NightsBridge there too,” she explains. This continuity across both properties has streamlined their management processes significantly.
When it comes to their target market, the owners are casting a wide net while focusing on key demographics. “We are perfectly located for anybody who wants to travel to Addo, and many of our guests are from overseas. We want to grow our relationships with tour operators, too,” Nicky says.
NightsBridge has become essential for managing day-to-day operations at Hopefield BnB. Nicky finds the system’s mobile notifications particularly valuable: “Every day I am able to check any bookings. It lets me quickly see bookings for both establishments at a glance.”
Given her busy schedule, juggling farm work, family responsibilities, and running a small deli from home, this feature is handy. NightsBridge’s flexibility allows Nicky to stay on top of bookings for Hopefield BnB and Klein Plekkie Self-Catering accommodation without being tied to a computer.
“The payment solution provided by NightsBridge has been particularly beneficial,” Nicky explains. “It streamlines the often complex process of managing payments, refunds, and credit notes. Processing payments efficiently has been a significant advantage for our operations.”
Challenges:
- Reviving and rebranding a previously dormant property.
- Balancing management of multiple properties.
Solutions:
- Strategic property acquisition to expand hospitality portfolio.
- Complete property refresh to appeal to the target market.
- Leveraging NightsBridge for efficient multi-property management.
- Utilising mobile notifications for real-time booking updates across properties.
- Streamlining payment processing and refunds with NightsBridge’s payment solution.
Key takeaways:
- Strategic property acquisition can lead to a stronger overall hospitality offering
- A well-executed refresh can transform a property’s appeal
- NightsBridge offers flexibility for entrepreneurs managing multiple properties
- Mobile notifications keep owners informed without being tied to a computer
- Integrated payment solutions simplify financial management across properties
- The right property management system is crucial for growth in the hospitality sector