From Seasonal Slowdowns to Year-Round Success: How Hotel Bergidyll Scaled with LIKE MAGIC
Hotel Bergidyll is a 22-room boutique hotel in Andermatt, nestled in the Swiss Alps. With a rich heritage — including an appearance in the James Bond classic Goldfinger— and a recent renovation, the hotel blends alpine charm with modern comfort. Managed by SUM Hospitality, the team sought to create a smooth, tech-driven experience that enhances both guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
Independent Hotels
Apr 18, 2025
Challenges
Seasonal occupancy gaps made year-round operation cost-inefficient
Staff shortages, especially in off-peak months
Restaurant staff overwhelmed with check-in duties
Late arrivals struggled with room access
Manual check-ins caused friction in the guest journey
Results
Enabled continuous, year-round hotel operation
Fully removed need for dedicated reception desk
Restaurant team now focuses entirely on F&B service
Automated check-in boosted guest satisfaction and reviews
Greater staffing flexibility with both seasonal and full-time contracts
Solution
To reduce operational overhead and enable profitable year-round business, Hotel Bergidyll introduced LIKE MAGIC — a hospitality automation platform designed for boutique hotels. The goal was to digitise the full guest journey and eliminate the need for a traditional front desk, without compromising on service quality or guest satisfaction.
LIKE MAGIC enabled digital check-in for hotels by integrating seamlessly with the existing Mews property management system. From booking to room access, the entire process is now automated. Guests receive payment reminders, complete online check-in, and get their personal room code automatically — all before arrival. This contactless guest journey removed friction and allowed guests to check in independently, even during off-hours.
To support this self-service model, the hotel upgraded to digital key locks using a retrofit-friendly solution from Burgwächter. These battery-powered PIN locks required no Wi-Fi or complex wiring — ideal for a property with limited infrastructure and a short-term lease. Installation was fast and cost-effective, avoiding major renovations.
LIKE MAGIC also streamlined pre-arrival communication, sending guests timely info about local activities, ski passes and dining recommendations. This not only enhanced the experience but reduced manual workload for staff.
As a result, Hotel Bergidyll now offers a fully automated, tech-enabled guest experience, freeing up staff to focus on service where it matters most — in the restaurant and guest interaction. The setup is scalable, cost-efficient, and perfectly suited for Swiss hospitality businesses looking to operate smarter, not harder.
Highlights
Digital check-in and key code access
Guest reviews improved by 2–3% in the first three months.
Seamless integration with Mews PMS
Low-cost lock retrofit with Burgwächter hardware
Payment collection automated before arrival
No manual interaction needed for late arrivals
Guests receive tailored pre-stay info (e.g., ski passes, dining tips)
“Guests get their door code, walk straight in, and head to their room – no front desk needed. Thanks to LIKE MAGIC, we can finally stay open all year round. Our review scores have gone up because the experience is smoother. Those little pain points are gone. It’s great for our guests, they still get that personal experience on-site, but everything else is super smooth thanks to the digital platform."
— Raphael Simcic, SUM Hospitality
Conclusion
LIKE MAGIC helped Hotel Bergidyll transform its operating model — enabling full-year availability, reducing staffing pressure, and improving the guest experience. With a leaner setup and digital-first approach, the hotel is now positioned to grow sustainably while staying personal where it matters most: in the restaurant and guest interaction.
Summary Box
How Hotel Bergidyll achieved operational agility with LIKE MAGIC:
Fully automated check-in/out with digital key codes
Reduced staffing complexity, especially in low season
Higher guest satisfaction and improved review scores
Smooth tech stack integration with existing tools
Cost-effective lock system with minimal retrofitting
Enabled year-round business despite seasonal challenges
Works
The operations & guest experience platform is all about modular and interface-open architecture. Its maximum flexibility allows the smooth integration of top-notch solutions: easy and seamless.