Ashford Castle Ireland
At a Glance
In 2024, Ashford Castle upgraded to Opera Cloud and seized the opportunity to implement Prommt for a more integrated solution to manage deposits. The previous system was entirely manual, requiring staff to create payment links, send emails, and post transactions into Opera, while also tracking unpaid deposits and following up with guests. This process was time-consuming and prone to errors.
Prommt streamlined these operations by automating real-time payment updates in Opera, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The onboarding process was efficient, and ongoing support from the Prommt team has ensured a smooth transition and continued success.
Making Impact with Prommt
- Increased advance deposits, securing bookings more effectively.
- Improved guest experience through branded, tailored payment journeys.
- Eliminated manual transaction processing, with real-time updates in Opera.
- Seamless daily transaction balancing for the Finance team.
- User-friendly Prommt reporting portal with detailed data on payments and refunds.
Trusted by industry-experts
“Since implementing Prommt, we’ve seen a significant increase in advance deposits, allowing us to secure bookings early. The ability to tailor payment requests and secure payment journeys to align with our brand has elevated the guest experience.
What truly stands out is the time we’ve saved – manual processing is a thing of the past, with payments now automatically updated in OPERA in real time.
The integration has also made daily transaction balancing effortless for our Finance team. And with the intuitive reporting dashboard, we now have valuable insights into payments and refunds, streamlining financial management like never before.”
Anne Wrigley
Group Director of Finance at Red Carnation Hotel Collection
About Ashford Castle
Nestled in the heart of County Mayo, Ireland, Ashford Castle & Lodge is a luxurious five-star estate that blends historic charm with modern elegance. Dating back to the 13th century, this iconic property has evolved from a medieval fortress into one of the world’s top luxury hotels. It is Ireland’s only Forbes Five-Star Hotel and was named Virtuoso’s ‘Best Hotel in the World’ in 2017. Under the Tollman family’s leadership, the estate has set the benchmark for exceptional guest experiences, combining outstanding service with innovation.
In 2013, Ashford Castle was acquired by The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, initiating a comprehensive five-year restoration led by skilled local artisans. Today, the castle stands as a symbol of luxury, Irish craftsmanship, and sustainability, offering a unique experience that blends the past, present, and future of hospitality.
In 2024, Ashford Castle transitioned to Oracle OPERA Cloud and integrated Prommt, an advanced paylink solution, to streamline operations. The previous system, which required manual creation of payment links, email communication, and transaction posting in OPERA, was time-consuming and labour-intensive. By adopting Prommt, these processes were automated, greatly improving operational efficiency and simplifying guest interactions.
The Challenge
Before implementing Prommt, Ashford Castle faced several operational challenges that impacted both guest service and internal processes. Although the estate’s reputation for luxury was firmly established, its back-end systems were inefficient, laborious, and susceptible to human error.
Key Pain Points
- Manual Payment Processing: The previous system required staff to manually generate payment links and emails, draining valuable time and resources.
- Deposit Tracking: Tracking paid and outstanding deposits proved difficult, resulting in frequent follow-ups and occasional guest dissatisfaction.
- Data Integration: Manually posting transactions into OPERA was slow and prone to errors, complicating financial management and reducing overall efficiency.
- Impact on Guest Experience: The manual payment process occasionally caused delays in confirmations and hindered the timely securing of advance deposits, affecting the smoothness of guests’ booking experiences.
Faced with these challenges, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection sought a more streamlined and integrated solution that would automate and simplify the deposit process, all while maintaining the high standards of service their guests expect at Ashford Castle.
The Solution
Prommt’s advanced paylink tools offer more than just basic functionality. Fully integrated with OPERA, they provide Ashford Castle with powerful and flexible options to manage payments quickly, securely and efficiently. The hotel can now send branded, secure payment requests via SMS, email, or embedded chat, without the need to switch systems or experience delays. Live status updates are instantly synced with OPERA, ensuring automated staff notifications and a mobile-first experience for guests.
Key Features
Branded Payment Requests
Prommt enables Ashford Castle to send secure, branded payment requests via SMS, email, or embedded chat. These requests align with the hotel’s luxury brand and provide a seamless, mobile-first experience for guests – no system switching or delays.
Upselling and Group Payments
Prommt simplifies upselling by enabling secure payment collection directly through OPERA. It also streamlines group bookings by allowing a single payment request for multiple reservations, fully integrated with OPERA.
Scheduled Payments and Reminders
Prommt allows Ashford Castle to schedule payments and set up automated reminders, reducing manual follow-ups and ensuring timely deposits.
Efficient Reporting
The Prommt reporting portal gives Ashford Castle’s finance team real-time insights into payments, refunds, and outstanding deposits, simplifying financial management and tracking.
Secure and Compliant
Prommt maintains the highest security standards, ensuring compliance with PCI-DSS, SCA, GDPR, and other global privacy regulations. Payments are tokenized and encrypted, safeguarding guest data and protecting the hotel’s reputation
Payment Automation
Prommt integrates directly with Oracle OPERA Cloud (OHIP) and OPERA V5, bringing secure, automated payment flows into their existing PMS.
No system switching. No manual entry.
No chasing payments. Prommt supports payment automation triggered by Rate Codes and Agent Profiles, turning Direct, OTA, and GDS bookings into secure, hands-free transactions.
Revenue is secured in real time with no phone calls, no emails, and no follow-ups.
Real-Time Updates
Payments are immediately reflected in OPERA, providing the team with instant updates and eliminating the need for manual follow-ups. This ensures continuous, accurate financial tracking.
Prommt Onboarding and Support
Prommt’s onboarding process is completed within two weeks, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition. The Prommt onboarding team provides comprehensive support throughout the implementation phase and offers ongoing account management to ensure continued success. Their hands-on approach guarantees that Ashford Castle’s team is fully equipped to utilise the system effectively.
Looking Ahead
Since integrating Prommt, Ashford Castle has seen measurable improvements in operational efficiency and the overall guest experience. Building on this success, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is now exploring a wider rollout of Prommt across its other properties.
Increased Deposits for Secure Bookings
By streamlining the deposit process, Ashford Castle has seen a marked increase in the number of deposits received from guests. This has helped secure bookings well in advance, improving cash flow and reducing last-minute cancellations, ultimately ensuring the castle operates at full capacity.
Better Guest Experience
The ability to customise payment requests with branded templates and provide personalised, streamlined payment journeys has elevated the guest experience. Payments now align with the castle’s luxury standards, fostering trust and reinforcing the brand’s commitment to exceptional service.
Time Savings and Operational Efficiency
By automating payment processes, Ashford Castle has eliminated the need for manual transaction reconciliation. Payments are automatically logged in OPERA, saving staff countless hours. This allows the team to dedicate more time to strategic initiatives and guest-facing activities, ultimately improving service levels across the board.
Actionable Insights
Prommt’s reporting dashboard offers valuable, real-time insights into payment and refund trends, allowing Ashford Castle’s management to make data-driven decisions. This feature has been particularly useful for tracking seasonal booking patterns and anticipating revenue fluctuations, helping the team adjust strategies for optimal results.
A Multi-Award Winning Iconic Hotel
Forbes Travel Guide
Retained Forbes Five-Star
award 2025
Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards
Voted No. 4 in Best Resorts in Europe – 2024
Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards
Voted No. 2 in The 5 Best Resorts in the UK and Ireland – 2024
Irish Independent’s Hot 100 Hotels List
Named Ireland’s No.1 Hotel