‍

‍

How an Independent Motel Replaced Its Legacy Phone System with a Complete Communication Service

‍

A Think Simplicity + Cloudbeds Case Study 
‍

This independent motel case study demonstrates how replacing a legacy phone system with a complete communication service for independent hotels—integrated with a cloud-based PMS — can dramatically reduce labor costs and improve hotel operations efficiency. 
‍

A Classic Motel with a Growing Problem 

‍

Running a hotel should not feel like fighting your own technology. 
‍

But for Park Motel & Cabins, it did. 
‍

Day-to-day operations were slowed by disconnected tools and outdated processes — but one issue caused more friction than anything else: unreliable communication.  
‍

Phones didn’t always work. 

‍

Systems didn’t talk to each other. 

‍

Simple tasks took far too long. 

‍

‍And when something broke, getting help often meant waiting days — sometimes weeks. 
‍

This was a 1960s coastal motel with charm that guests loved, but operations were stuck in the past. 

‍

Behind the scenes, communication failures quietly drove up labor costs, slowed reservations, and made it harder for staff to do their jobs with confidence. 
‍

To move forward without losing what made the property special, the owners needed more than just new software.

‍

They had to rebuild how the motel operated behind the scenes — starting with systems that worked together reliably, without adding complexity, staff stress, or risk.  
‍

This is how they did it.  
‍

‍

What Makes Park Motel & Cabins Different 

‍

Park Motel & Cabins is an independent retro-style coastal motel originally built in 1965, located along the Oregon coast.

‍

What began as a small, seven-room, mom-and-pop property has grown into a 15-room motel with five standalone cabins, spread across a forested, beach-adjacent property. 
‍

The owners intentionally preserved the motel’s classic charm — pine-plank walls, drive-up rooms, cabins with fire pits — creating what international travelers have described as the “quintessential American motel experience.” 
‍

But behind the scenes, the systems running the business had not kept up.  
‍

‍

What Was Holding the Motel Back 

When the current owners took over, nearly everything was manual. Reservations were tracked with paper calendars and handwritten notes.

‍

Pricing changes were slow and inconsistent. Housekeeping workflows lacked structure. 
‍

There was no modern PMS — and no reliable way for systems or staff to stay in sync. 
‍

Everything required extra time and workarounds: 

‍

• Phone reservations often took 20 minutes 
• Housekeeping workflows were unstructured 
• Pricing adjustments relied on guesswork 
• Staff time was consumed by manual fixes and workarounds 

The phone system was one of the biggest pain points. 
‍

“Support and maintenance just sucked.” 
‍

“It was literally a brick sitting on the desk.”  
‍

Phones were unreliable. Voicemail frequently failed. Even basic tasks like transferring a call were so confusing that most staff avoided the system altogether. 
‍

On top of that, the motel was paying nearly $1,000 per month for phone and TV services, plus $1,000 per technician visit whenever something broke. Repairs often took weeks. 
‍

For a small, independent property, these communication failures didn’t just slow operations — they quietly increased labor costs, frustrated guests, and limited growth. 
‍

‍

Why the Old Way Couldn’t Continue 

‍

Labor was already the motel’s biggest expense. Without automation, every inefficiency added pressure to a small team. 
‍

“If it takes half an hour to make a reservation, that turns into a lot of money real fast.” 
‍

Broken phones affected guest communication. Manual processes slowed staff down. Rising costs limited growth. 
‍

Doing nothing was no longer an option. 
‍

To modernize the business without losing its soul, everything behind the scenes had to change — without adding complexity. 

‍

‍

‍A Simpler Way to Run an Independent Motel 

‍

Rather than stacking new tools on top of old problems, the owners made a clean break. 

‍

They rebuilt operations using systems designed for how independent hotels and motels actually operate. 
 

Why Cloudbeds 

‍

Cloudbeds was selected as the property’s first modern PMS, providing: 

‍

• Faster reservations 
• Automated housekeeping workflows 
• Dynamic pricing tools 
• Cloud-based reliability 
• Strong integrations with other hotel systems 

Just as important, Cloudbeds removed the need for on-site servers — a critical factor on the Oregon coast. 
‍

Power and internet outages are common in the area, sometimes lasting for hours.

‍

Any system hosted on-site created real risk.

‍

A cloud-based PMS ensured the business could keep running even when local infrastructure failed.  
‍

Cloudbeds gave the owners a modern operational foundation — but running a smooth property still depended on how staff and guests communicated day to day. 
‍

Without reliable, hotel-built communication, even the best PMS can’t prevent missed calls, slow reservations, or staff confusion. 

‍

Why Think Simplicity 

‍

For communication, reliability mattered just as much. 
‍

The old phone system relied on equipment that failed often and required outside technicians to repair. 

‍

The owners needed a hotel communication system designed specifically for independent hotels — one that worked seamlessly with their PMS and didn’t require staff to manage or troubleshoot it. 
‍

Think Simplicity stood out for several reasons: 

‍

• Built specifically for hotel and motel operations 
• Direct integration with Cloudbeds 
• No on-site servers to maintain 
• Simple for staff to use without training overhead 
• Responsive support from specialists who understand hotel operations 

“It was designed specifically for hotels.” 
‍

“Simplicity was a big thing.” 
‍

More importantly, Think Simplicity wasn’t just another vendor to manage.

‍

It became a service and a partner the team could rely on — removing communication as a daily concern instead of adding another tool to the stack. 
‍

The goal was clear: fewer moving parts, fewer mistakes, and fewer things for staff to worry about. 
‍

Together, Think Simplicity and Cloudbeds created a connected operational backbone — with communication finally becoming reliable instead of reactive. 
‍

‍

How the Transition Actually Worked 

‍

Despite the property’s mix of analog and IP wiring, implementation was fast and smooth: 
‍

• Think Simplicity’s system was fully operational within three days 
• Legacy wiring challenges were handled without disrupting guests 
• Cloudbeds integration was immediate and straightforward 

“Just log in, click, and turn it on.” 
‍

The integration unlocked a critical automation: 

‍

• When a guest checks in, the room phone turns on 
• When they check out, it turns off automatically 

“That’s a big deal.” 
‍

What had once been a daily, manual, and error-prone task disappeared overnight. 

‍

What Changed After the Switch 

‍

The impact of the Think Simplicity and Cloudbeds integration was immediate and measurable. 
‍

Before:

‍

• 20-minute phone reservations 
• Five full-time housekeepers 
• Manual phone management 
• ~$1,000/month telecom bills 
• Frequent system failures 
• Staff dependent on one “tech person” to fix problems 

After:

‍

• 5-minute reservations 
• Two full-time housekeepers 
• Phones tied directly to check-in and check-out 
• ~$400/month savings on phone service 
• Reliable systems that just work 
• Confident staff 
• Responsive support specialists who understand your unique property  

“I don’t have to think about it anymore.”  
‍

The Results That Made the Difference 

‍

With communication no longer fragile or manual, the entire operation began moving faster — from reservations to housekeeping to guest experience. 

‍

• Revenue doubled over time through dynamic pricing and efficiency 
• ~$20,000 per year saved through time and labor efficiencies 
• ~$400/month saved on phone and telecom costs 
• 60% reduction in housekeeping staff, without sacrificing cleanliness 
• Eliminated $1,000 technician visits 
• Improved guest experience and consistency 

Staff no longer depended on a single “tech-savvy” person to fix problems.

‍

Reservations moved faster.

‍

Housekeeping workflows became more predictable.

‍

And communication simply worked — without staff having to think about it. 
‍

Today, Park Motels & Cabins holds a strong 4.3 rating across more than 5,000 online reviews. 
 

“We’re known as one of the cleanest hotels in town.” 
 

‍

What Matters Most Now 

‍

Today, the biggest win isn’t a feature — it’s peace of mind. 
‍

When something goes wrong, the motel knows they can reach a knowledgeable support team that understands hotel operations and can resolve issues quickly. 
‍

“Support takes over and gets it handled.” 
‍

Instead of fighting systems, the team focuses on guests, pricing, and running the business.  
‍

‍

A Retro Motel with a Complete, Modern Communication Service 

‍

Park Motel & Cabins didn’t modernize to become something else.

‍

They modernized so their systems could finally support how the property already operated. 
‍

By pairing a cloud-based PMS with Think Simplicity’s complete hotel communication service, the motel gained clarity, control, and confidence — without adding complexity behind the scenes. 
‍

‍

Final Takeaway 

‍

If you’re running an independent hotel or motel and still juggling fragmented vendors, manual workarounds, or unreliable phone service, this is what simple can actually look like: 

‍

• Fewer headaches
• Lower costs
• Real, timely support
• More time to focus on guests 

‍

See What Replacing Your Legacy Phone System Could Look Like 

‍

If this sounds familiar, see how a complete communication service built for independent hotels and motels can support your property — without on-site systems or hidden complexity. 

No sales pitch. Just answers. 

‍
👉 See What It Would Look Like for Your Property 

‍