Before Thrive, the business was busy year-round and delivered an excellent guest experience - but almost all bookings came through OTAs, quietly eroding profits through commission fees.
 

Despite glowing reviews, short stays dominated the diary and occupancy felt unpredictable.
Pricing decisions were reactive, confidence was low and the business lacked the structure needed for sustainable, long-term growth. 

By repositioning the business, focusing on the right guests and building a direct booking strategy that supported longer stays, everything began to change.
 

The result:

• Direct bookings increased from 10% to 60% within six months.

• By the end of the year, the business achieved 100% direct bookings.

• Profits increased by over 50%.

• Rates increased with confidence - without harming occupancy.

• Guests now stay longer, spend more and return often.

• The owners have reclaimed real time off, without sacrificing income.

What once felt reactive and uncertain is now calm, profitable and genuinely enjoyable to run.

“Having Stephanie by our side has been invaluable. We’re now confidently charging what we’re worth, every booking is direct, and the business finally feels sustainable.
Thrive didn’t just make us more profitable - it gave us back control.”

Before Thrive, the business was shaped almost entirely around short, one-night stays. The constant cycle of arrivals and departures created relentless changeovers, stretched the team thin and left little space to step back or run the business with intention. 

Day-to-day operations felt reactive, with the business demanding constant attention just to keep everything moving.
 

By following the Thrive Method step by step, the foundations of the business were rebuilt around the right guests, longer stays and clearer systems that supported how the business actually needed to operate.

The result:

• Average length of stay has increased from just one night to nearly six nights.

• Longer stays have dramatically reduced daily work and changeovers.

• Direct bookings are the primary source of reservations.

• Rates have increased without resistance from guests.

• The business now runs with a far calmer operation and a more balanced, motivated team.

2025 has been the most stable and successful year the business has experienced - with fewer turnarounds, less pressure and far more control. The business has also received industry recognition for both guest experience and team culture, reflecting a business that now works for everyone involved.

“The biggest change isn’t just the numbers - it’s how much easier everything feels.
We’re attracting guests who stay longer, spend more, and genuinely value what we offer.
The business finally works for our guests, our team, and our bottom line.”

After more than 30 years running their eco-lodges within a conservation sanctuary, the business had become draining rather than rewarding. What had once felt purposeful now felt heavy, with increasing pressure and diminishing returns despite decades of effort.

The day-to-day demands left the owners exhausted and they began seriously questioning whether they wanted - or were even able - to keep going.

By stepping back, simplifying how the business operated and rebuilding the foundations around profitability and the right guests, everything began to shift.

The result:

• Income increased by $90,000 in the first year, with continued growth year on year.

• A simpler, more streamlined way of running the business.

• A noticeably lighter daily workload and fewer operational pressures.

• More time, energy and enjoyment, without sacrificing profitability.

• A business that finally feels sustainable again, financially and personally.

After three decades in business, it has become the most rewarding and easiest it has ever been to run.

“We were genuinely ready to sell because running the business had become such a struggle. That all changed. Within a year, our income increased by $90,000 - but more importantly, the business now feels manageable and rewarding again. We finally feel confident about the future.”

When the owners first joined Thrive, they had a clear goal: to retire within three years. At the time, the business didn't yet support that ambition in a realistic way.

Only around 30% of bookings were direct, repeat guests were limited, and short stays kept the owners closely tied to the day-to-day running of the business, with little room to step back. Despite working hard, the rewards didn't yet match the effort.

By rebuilding the business around the right guests, longer stays and a strong direct booking strategy, everything began to change.
 

The result:

• Direct bookings increased from 30% to 100%.

• Nearly half of all bookings came from repeat guests.

• Longer stays reduced day-to-day pressure and created more breathing space.

• The business became more profitable, more enjoyable and far more rewarding to run.

• The owners gained the freedom to close for four months each year.

With stronger bookings, healthier profits and a business that truly worked for them, they had real options. When the time felt right, they sold the business for a premium price and retired ahead of schedule - exactly as they had planned.

“We set a clear goal for our future - and with the right structure and support, we achieved it.
Thrive didn’t just help us build a profitable business; it gave us freedom, confidence, and choice.”