Recent Bend transplant Kent Schnepp wants to give independent hotels, or ones with less than 50 rooms, an equal footing when competing with the major chains. So he, and his company, Odysys, are hard at work perfecting a full digital marketing platform aimed at leveling the playing field. The goal of the software service is to reduce guest acquisition costs, increase revenue and encourage repeat guests.
Schnepp is no stranger to internet marketing platforms. In 2006, he co-founded EngineWorks, a data-driven search marketing agency in Portland. He sold the company to Ethology in 2011, but stayed on to help run the company. By 2014, he had cashed out his holdings, and looked for a change. Schnepp and his wife researched some smaller cities to move to and settled on their childhood vacation town of Bend.
Schnepp, who was a ski racer in his youth, knew Bend, and Mount Bachelor, very well so he packed his family, and an idea, and headed east to Central Oregon.
While working with EngineWorks, Schnepp noticed familiar patterns in their biggest clientele, the travel and hospitality industry.
“I realized that most of the smaller hotels didn’t understand digital marketing or have the money to compete,” explains Schnepp.
After Ethology bought EngineWorks, they shifted the focus to larger companies in different industries, such as insurance. The move immediately left a marketing gap amongst the independent hotels. Schnepp was also concerned with the business model dominated by the high fees of online booking sites, such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia.
“While the hospitality industry is a complex one, it was relatively close to what I was already doing,” says Schnepp.
Schnepp set out to create a platform to provide the tools and direction to the little guys. He found a financial backer and started Odysys in August 2014. Within a month, Odysys hired a senior software engineer and was well on his way to perfecting a new model of digital marketing for independent hotels.
The first goal of Odysys is to provide self-service software platform that is simple to manage. To accomplish this, they are creating a cutting edge, future-proof website aiming to rapidly deploy mobile response in minutes. The website will also immediately transfer inventory to Trip Advisor, but send the booking information to the hotel’s website, instead of a high-fee site like Expedia.
In an effort to attract repeat customers, Odysys focuses on customer relationship marketing. The service automates 80 percent of the process of digital marketing. It triggers immediate response to such parameters as upcoming birthdays, or hobbies and events. There is even a concierge service if needed.
Odysys works as a subscription service with no upfront fees and reasonably priced monthly costs. The varying levels of subscriptions allow each independent hotel to choose their cost based upon their needs. Affordability is their goal, while stressing the maintenance and upkeep of each website.
While Odysys is currently Beta testing their product, they hope to go to market at the end of March. Odysys is counting on the uniqueness of their product to sell itself. They have the power of a close-knit community of independent hotels well-equipped in spreading the word through social media as well. Odysys is interested in becoming a resource for the industry, and being available to everyone.
“We are concerned with smart growth, not fast growth,” says Schnepp.
An avid fly-fisherman, bicyclist and skier, Schnepp feels he definitely chose the right town for his business venture. He is very interested in helping our local economy and is trying to have an all-local team.
“Central Oregon’s economy is very tourism and hospitality-based,” explains Schnepp. “I believe Bend, with its amazing amount of tech talent, is in a good position for economic growth.”
1000 NW Wall St., Ste 270, Bend, OR 97701, 971-235-7229, www.odysys.com
