reservation system for a self-service sauna

Self-service saunas have become increasingly popular around the world in recent years – they offer privacy, flexibility, and the opportunity to relax whenever it suits the customer. However, operating entirely without staff places high demands on the reliability of the supporting infrastructure, particularly on how customers book the space, pay, gain access, and how the entire operation runs without manual supervision. An online booking system is not merely a practical addition here – it is the cornerstone of the entire concept.

What needs to be addressed ...
  • Providing access to the sauna without staff being physically present – at any time of the day or evening.
  • Managing the duration and start times of bookings so that customers do not encounter one another at all.
  • Automatically sending access information (PIN, operating instructions) to customers before arrival.
  • Selling gift vouchers that make an original and popular gift.
  • Setting different pricing options – for couples, groups, or discounted packages.
  • Managing the technical infrastructure – turning on the sauna heating before the customer arrives.

A self-service sauna operates as a service where, ideally, the customer does not need to communicate with any staff – from selecting a time slot and making payment to gaining access. The customer arrives at the specified time, knows the access code, and knows what to expect. The booking system must handle this entire process automatically, reliably, and without unnecessary complications. For operators, this also means setting fixed time slots that account for the time needed to prepare the space – cleaning, ventilation, or heating. A system that automatically closes bookings sufficiently in advance and sends customers everything they need before arrival significantly reduces the operational burden and the risk of misunderstandings. This allows the operator to focus on growing the business instead of dealing with day-to-day operations. Integration with smart locks then completes the entire cycle – booking, payment, and door access all take place as one seamless process, without anyone having to be physically present.

The economics of a self-service sauna are also attractive in this respect – without unnecessary staffing costs, operators can provide an appealing wellness experience with high margins while keeping prices affordable for customers. The key to fully utilizing capacity lies in thoughtful pricing and active customer engagement. Gift vouchers attract new customers and increase revenue even outside the peak season – after all, a sauna experience is one of the most popular gifts for couples and friends alike. Loyalty programs or discounted credit, in turn, encourage regular visits and strengthen relationships with returning customers. A well-configured booking system is therefore an active tool for business growth, not merely an administrative solution for managing time slots.

Key features for a self-service sauna

Operating a self-service sauna brings together access automation, flexible schedule management, and active customer communication into one functional solution. The selected features cover the entire booking lifecycle – from the initial selection of a time slot through payment and access to loyalty programs and gift voucher sales.

Gift coupons

A discount for new and loyal customers, a gift for using a specific service, or a gift of a certain value? The gift coupon feature can handle all of this, offering not only flexible coupon types but also direct online sales of them.

Offer your customers gift coupons for your services, and at the same time let them buy gift coupons online – the customer immediately receives their coupon by e-mail and can give it as a gift or use it right away.

Gift coupons are part of the broader discount coupon and punch card functionality, with a similar approach and possible uses for all these tools. You create a coupon with predefined parameters – a set validity period, discount amount, or value – and assign it to specific events it can be applied to (so you can have different coupons for different service offerings, or events that don't accept coupons at all). The customer then receives a coupon code, either directly from you or through an online purchase.

  • One-off redeemable amount

    A classic coupon with a fixed monetary value, typically for one-off use as a gift.

  • Percentage discount

    A discount coupon for a proportional amount, typically suitable for giving to new customers or as a punch card, etc.

  • Gradually redeemable amount

    The coupon has a certain monetary value which is used up gradually – a form of virtual wallet.

  • No discount

    A type of coupon that doesn't adjust the price at all, but can be used, for example, to restrict reservations to a limited group of customers.

For genuine gift coupons, the ability to create your own design (PDF) is important, reflecting not just your visual style and intended use, but also allowing space for a dedication and so on.

Event: Interval

This event type allows opening hours to be split into regular time slots. Customers book one or more consecutive time slots according to their own needs. One of the most widely used and most efficient event types.

Interval event type

more in the documentation

If you offer services in regular time slots (60 minutes, 90 minutes, etc.), this is the ideal event type, offering a simple and clear booking process.

The Interval event type lets you define a time range within a single day and split it into smaller, regular chunks. On the reservation page, a customer chooses these specific time slots, which can also follow on from one another, extending their reservation according to the defined rules.

This event type is typically suitable for sports facilities and sports complexes, consulting and advisory services, wellness, or a sauna.

Smart lock integration

Connecting reservations with smart locks from Igloohome, Nuki, or the Unifi Access system allows customer access to be automated with PIN codes – without any need for personal contact or handing over keys.

Smart lock integration

more in the documentation

You can connect reservations in the reenio system directly with supported smart locks and thus automatically control customer access.

Supported locks include Igloohome (offline operation is also possible thanks to algoPIN technology), Nuki, and the Unifi Access system from Ubiquiti. Each has its own specifics and is an ideal solution for different types of operation and scenarios.

  • Igloohome

    Not just online operation via an internet gateway, but also a standard offline mode using the algoPIN algorithm.

  • Nuki

    A well-known and proven smart lock brand with an online cloud solution.

  • Unifi Access

    A professional solution for demanding operations, enabling full access control and integration with, for example, a camera system.

The whole process can work according to your specific settings, but typically, for example 1 hour before a paid reservation begins, a unique PIN code valid only for that customer and for the duration of their reservation is automatically generated and sent to them. With Igloohome there is an option where the lock doesn't need to be connected to the internet and the customer still receives a unique PIN code. However, an online connection offers greater flexibility and control over access.

To use this integration, you need to have the REENIO Connect feature active in the administration and the ability to use Custom messages, through which the automation itself takes place. The unique PIN code is then sent to the customer via e-mail or SMS.

Custom messages

Automating communication with customers based on specific requirements and events brings a powerful tool that supports and improves how well informed your customers are, simplifies processes, and also improves your marketing work and how you gather feedback.

Custom messages

more in the documentation

Automate communication with customers exactly to your needs – from reminders, through satisfaction surveys, to marketing offers, in the form of e-mails or SMS messages. The possibilities of custom messages are, however, far broader. Custom messages can also be used to notify an external system or device, or to inform administrators or employees.

Custom messages allow you to set up sending of messages tied to a specific event in the reservation process and a corresponding moment in time. The event can be automatic (creation of a reservation, end of an event, etc.) or tied to a manual change of a reservation's status in the administration or mobile app.

  • E-mail

    The basic type of custom message, where a text e-mail message with your own content is sent.

  • SMS

    A popular message type which, although limited in size and format, offers greater delivery certainty.

  • Webhook

    A technical solution for notifying an external system that some event has occurred. Typically used for various automations.

  • Mobile app

    A quick way to send a notification directly into a specific reenio mobile app.

  • Smartemailing

    If simple text content for an e-mail isn't enough, you can use templates and sending via the Smartemailing tool.

Unlike system notifications, which have a fixed structure and content, with custom messages you decide the content and purpose yourself – typically these are used for a thank-you or a request for feedback after an event ends, a reminder before an upcoming event, a marketing offer, booking instructions, birthday or name-day wishes (even with a gift coupon), or a reminder to a customer who hasn't booked for a while.

The content of custom messages can also contain so-called placeholder variables, which are replaced with the corresponding value when the message is actually sent, e.g. the customer's name or the reservation's start time. Custom messages are assigned to events via message groups, so there's no need to set up rules for every event separately, while still keeping flexibility for different situations and needs.

A special feature of certain message types and specific events is the ability to add dynamic elements to a custom message – a satisfaction survey or a generated coupon code. It's entirely up to you how you integrate these options into your marketing activities.

Online payments

Being able to pay for a reserved service through an online payment gateway is now the standard. Customers today are used to paying quickly and securely in online shops and expect the same comfort when booking or ordering services online.

Online payments

more in the documentation

Let customers pay for their reservation or tickets online right away, before the service is provided – faster, more convenient, and with the certainty that the reservation will be paid, and therefore used.

The reenio system allows you to require prepayment as part of the booking process, so a customer's reservation only becomes valid once paid. You decide yourself whether online payment is mandatory, or whether you leave it up to the customer to pay on site. With mandatory payment, you can set a deadline by which a new reservation must be paid, otherwise it is automatically cancelled and the slot is released for another customer.

For online payments you can choose from several supported payment gateways. The reservation system then handles the technical connection and communication with the chosen gateway, but all business and formal matters are handled directly with the payment gateway provider – you keep the money you receive under your own control, in your own merchant account.

  • GoPay

    An online payment gateway offering a wide range of payment methods, from card payments to fast bank transfers, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

  • Comgate

    Another Czech payment gateway that also operates in other European countries. Its payment methods vary and cover common needs.

  • Stripe

    A global payment gateway that is becoming increasingly popular. It offers fast integration and approval, so you can start accepting payments within minutes.

  • Bank transfer

    A special type of payment method where the reservation system itself can generate a QR code for payment and then automatically verify and match received payments.

After a successful payment, the system automatically marks the reservation as paid and generates and sends the customer a payment document. The reenio system offers a wide range of options and features for working with payments, including exports, refunds, and more. However, it should be noted that reenio itself is not an accounting system.

Customer database

An overview of your customers, their details, and history is key to any business. The customer database not only records this data but also provides tools for communication, data export, and meeting GDPR requirements.

Customer database

more in the documentation

Keep a clear customer database with a reservation history and a whole range of related tools. The reenio system automatically builds the customer database based on reservations made or direct registration. A registered customer gains the ability to log in and manage their reservations directly within the reservation page. If customer credit is used, they can see their balance within their account and top it up online.

Depending on your settings, a reservation can also be allowed without registration, simply by entering an e-mail address or phone number, which is especially suitable where you don't expect one specific customer to use the reservation system regularly and often.

A well-maintained, extensive customer database is an important marketing tool. The system offers the option of bulk sending e-mail or SMS messages, which is useful for reaching customers with a new offer, a discount campaign, but also operational information or as part of crisis management.

The customer database naturally contains personal data, which today requires a certain approach to how it's handled and protected. The reservation system allows you to set up automatic deletion of personal data after a chosen period, and also keeps track of customer requests to have their data deleted. This makes it easier to meet GDPR requirements in line with the rules defined for your particular business.

If you need to import a customer database from another system or a manually maintained spreadsheet, that's no problem – an existing customer list can be easily and smartly imported into the reenio system.

Multi-language support

The system supports several languages, both in the administration and on the reservation page. This lets you tailor the booking process for customers from different countries, in different languages at the same time.

Multi-language support

more in the documentation

Reach and communicate with your customers in their own language, whether they're booking from your home country or from abroad – the reservation page and the entire administration can run in multiple language versions at the same time. 4 supported languages are available for the administration, and 7 languages are available for localizing the reservation page.

Custom content that you enter into the system yourself (terms and conditions, resource descriptions, event names, homepage information, etc.) needs to be translated and provided by you. The system offers a clear way to manage information across multiple languages.

Dynamic pricing

Conditional prices, price variants, discount codes, and so on – this is all part of the extensive options for how the price of a reservation is calculated. Combined with online payment, it's a significant business and marketing tool.

Dynamic pricing

more in the documentation

Set prices for customers exactly to match your offering – different customer categories, discounts for longer bookings or bookings made well in advance, discount coupons, and any combination of all of these.

The price of a reservation in the reenio system doesn't have to be just a single fixed number – the system provides tools to price your offering intelligently and precisely, in line with how your business works. You can set different pricing categories, for example admission for an individual or a family, which are then automatically factored into the reservation based on the customer's choice.

On top of that, you can tailor the price to the specific circumstances of the reservation – for example, giving a discount to customers who book well in advance, or setting a different rate for a longer stay or rental. Thanks to a custom booking form, you can then easily offer add-on services or a discount for a selected group of customers.

For marketing campaigns and controlled access to selected events, discount coupons are useful, with their own settings for validity and number of uses – whether it's a one-off promotion, a loyalty discount, or a closed group for whom you only open up an event when the corresponding code is used.

The power of this pricing approach lies in the fact that all these tools can be combined and used together as needed. The final price always reflects exactly how you want to offer your services and what the customer themselves chooses.

Punch cards and customer credit

Customers who use your services repeatedly and regularly will welcome an efficient way to pay for them, including a discount. Whether it's a punch card for a certain number of visits or a set value, or top-up credit that customers draw down, this feature has you covered.

Punch cards and customer credit

more in the documentation

Offer loyal customers a more convenient way to pay for repeat visits – a punch card for a set number of visits or value, or top-up customer credit.

The reenio system offers several ways to let customers pay for reservations based on a previously prepaid value, instead of individual direct payments.

Punch cards work as a special type of coupon with a set number of visits or a gradually drawn-down amount (credit-based punch card). Applying the punch card code adjusts the reservation price accordingly, either by subtracting a defined amount or applying a discount of up to 100%. These codes don't have to be tied to a specific registered customer account, so they can be used easily and flexibly. They can also be restricted to specific events, so you clearly define which offered activities a punch card can be used for and which not.

Customer credit, on the other hand, works as a virtual wallet linked to a registered and logged-in customer account. A customer can top up their credit themselves online via a payment gateway (potentially with a bonus), or you can top it up manually in the administration, for example when paying in cash at reception. A credit wallet can in principle also have an expiration set.

Both solutions can be used effectively together with online payments, where the whole process of purchasing punch cards or credit can be fully automated. There are many possibilities, and it always depends on your specific settings and how you think through how and under what rules these customer-loyalty tools will work for your particular type of business.

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Are you wondering if an online reservation system is right for you? Check out the FREQUENT QUESTIONS or the DOCUMENTATION pages and try out the reenio system.