Gastfreund

What Gastfreund does

Gastfreund GmbH is a German software company headquartered in Kempten, Bavaria, that operates a modular Guest Experience Platform for the hospitality and healthcare sectors. Founded in 2012 and led by Managing Director Daniel Schulze, with Marc Münster as founder and Thomas Einsiedler as Head of Department, the company serves more than 7,000 properties across DACH, Benelux, Southern Europe, Western Europe, and Scandinavia. The platform is anchored by the Digitale Gästemappe (digital guest directory), described as the most-used guest app in the German-speaking market, delivered as native iOS/Android apps and a Progressive Web App and supported by Property Management System integrations with Casablanca, RoomRaccoon, 3RPMS, ASA Hotelsoftware, MEWS, ibelsa, SiteMinder, Oracle Hospitality, and 5 Stelle Cloud PMS. The technology stack is built on the Yii2 (PHP) framework with an AngularJS frontend, hosted on AWS in Frankfurt and Ireland under GDPR-compliant data processing agreements.

The product portfolio extends the core guest app through modular add-ons: Infokanal (digital signage for hotel TVs), Hotelzeitung (digital hotel newspaper), Hotelboard (guest-and-team communication with auto-translation), Digital Infopoints (iPad kiosks), white-label Hotel App, Experience Bundle (via Giggle.tips), and KI-Assistent (AI chatbot). A dedicated Health & Care vertical serves clinics, rehabilitation facilities, maternity wards, and senior residences through Klinik-App, Patientenportal, Patientenbegleiter Fachabteilungen, and Digitale Bewohnerbegleitung.

The business runs on a recurring SaaS subscription with custom annual pricing tailored to property size and selected modules, supplemented by white-label licensing and bundled professional services (consulting, content creation, training). Distribution combines direct sales with free demos and consultations, PMS partner integrations for channel reach, and content marketing through whitepapers, webinars, and DACH trade press coverage. The company remains privately held and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional shareholders.

Name

Gastfreund

Legal name

Gastfreund GmbH

Website

https://gastfreund.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gastfreund GmbH operates a modular Guest Experience SaaS platform for the hospitality and healthcare sectors, anchored by a digital guest directory app deployed across 7,000+ hotels, campsites, clinics, and senior residences in Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospitality Software

NAICS

Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services (5615)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Booking & Reservation Platforms (B2B/B2C) (THALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hotel & Accommodation Booking Platforms (THALAFAB), Central Reservation Systems (CRS) (THALACAB)

Keywords

• Guest experience platform
• Hospitality software
• Digital guest directory
• Hotel communication app
• Healthcare patient portal

Headquarters

HQ city

Kempten

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription - Core Platform: Modular SaaS platform subscription model where customers select products based on their needs. The platform bundles guest communication, information delivery, and add-ons like AI assistant or PMS integration. Customers choose building blocks that fit their property. Revenue is recurring based on property count and selected modules.
2. SaaS Subscription - Hotelboard Module: Additional module for hotel operations combining guest experience with internal team communication. Sold as an add-on to the core platform, contributing to subscription revenue expansion.
3. PMS Integration Add-ons: Premium integration capabilities with Property Management Systems enabling Journey Mail, Pre-Check-in, and Check-out features. Adds additional revenue through enhanced functionality tiers.
4. Whitelabel Solutions: According to AGB, certain SaaS solutions can be provided as whitelabel solutions upon customer request, enabling hotels to brand the platform as their own.
5. Professional Services: Consulting, content creation for guest app and info channel, product training for teams, and ongoing customer support included as part of customer success approach.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gastfreund provides a modular Guest Experience SaaS platform for the hospitality and healthcare sectors, centered on the most-used digital guest app in German-speaking markets. The platform bundles digital guest directories, info channels (digital signage for hotel TVs), hotel newspapers, and an internal team communication tool (Hotelboard), with PMS integrations for automated pre-check-in, check-out, and guest journey emails.

Product overview

Gastfreund is a Guest Experience Platform for hospitality and healthcare sectors, delivered as a modular SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) architecture. The core platform is the most-used guest app in German-speaking markets (Digitale Gästemappe / Gäste-App), which serves as the central hub for digital guest communication. This core product is complemented by add-on modules including Infokanal (Digital Signage for hotel TVs), Hotelzeitung (digital hotel newspaper), Hotelboard (internal team communication), Experience Bundle (activity distribution to 150+ channels via Giggle.tips partnership), Digital Infopoints (stationary hardware kiosks), and Hotel-App (white-label branded app). The platform also extends into healthcare with dedicated products for clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and senior residences including Klinik-App, Patientenportal, Infokanal for clinics, and Digitale Bewohnerbegleitung. All products share a central data pool enabling seamless integration, and the platform supports PMS (Property Management System) integrations for Journey Mail, Pre-Check-in, and Check-out automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digitale Gästemappe / Gäste-App (Digital Guest Directory / Guest App) Central digital guest folder for hotels, accessible via native app (iOS/Android) or Progressive Web App. Provides branded mobile platform for guest communication, service booking, concierge chat, and post-stay engagement.
• Infokanal (Digital Signage) Digital signage system for hotel TVs and screens that dynamically displays current information, offers, and announcements on guest room TVs and common area displays.
• Hotelzeitung (Hotel Newspaper) Digital hotel newspaper available in both printed and online formats. Allows hotels to create and distribute newspaper-style content to guests with updates on events, offers, and local information.
• Hotelboard Hotel operations platform combining guest communication and internal team communication in one system. Enables guest inquiry responses, task organization, and includes auto-translation for cross-language team collaboration.
• Experience Bundle

Quantifiable outcome

• 816 hours time savings per year per property
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration20 records

AI capability4 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Giggle.tipsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 February 2026New partnership announced in February 2026 for experience booking integration, enabling hotels to easily list and sell activities and experiences.
• SwisscomcoreTechnology or IntegrationSwisscom partnership for TV system integration, enabling hotels to display Gastfreund content through Swisscom TV solutions. Joint go-to-market for Swiss hospitality market.
• SiteMindercoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership enabling hotel distribution and booking optimization through SiteMinder's channel manager and booking engine platform.
• RoomRaccooncoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with RoomRaccoon PMS enabling Journey Mail, Pre-Check-in, and Check-out features through the Gastfreund platform.
• 3RPMS HotelsoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with 3RPMS hotel software enabling data synchronization and automated guest communication features.
• ASA HotelsoftwarecoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with ASA hotel software for streamlined hotel operations and guest data management.
• ibelsacoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration partnership with ibelsa PMS for hotel digitalization and guest communication automation.
• Oracle HospitalitycoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Oracle's hospitality property management systems for enterprise hotel chains.
• MEWScoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with cloud-based MEWS PMS enabling modern hotel operations and guest experience features.
• CasablancacoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Casablanca hotel software for Austrian and German market coverage.
• TrustYouminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for review and reputation management integration, helping hotels leverage guest feedback.
• HolidayCheckminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMarketing partnership with German travel review platform for guest engagement and visibility.
• Hotel Suisse (Hotelleriesuisse)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrusted Network partnership with Swiss Hotel Association for Switzerland market coverage.
• Customer AllianceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for review and guest satisfaction management integration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• TrustYou:

Direct peers

• SuitePad: SuitePad is a German competitor offering in-room tablets and a digital guest directory platform for hotels. It directly competes with Gastfreund's digital guest app and info channel in the DACH region, targeting the same hotel segments with similar tablet- and app-based guest experience tools.
• Canary Technologies: Canary Technologies provides a hotel guest experience management platform including mobile check-in, digital concierge, and guest messaging. It targets hotels and resorts with a comparable SaaS product set, making it a directly comparable US-anchored peer for guest journey tools.
• Whistle (by Cloudbeds): Whistle is a guest messaging and digital concierge platform for hotels, now part of Cloudbeds. It overlaps with Gastfreund's guest app, chat with reception, and pre-stay/post-stay communication features for independent and group hotels.
• Hotelkit: Hotelkit is an Austrian hotel operations and internal communication platform that overlaps with Gastfreund's Hotelboard module. It targets the same European hotel market with comparable task management, team communication, and guest inquiry workflows.
• Akia: Akia is a hotel guest messaging and automation platform used by independent hotels and chains. It competes with Gastfreund's chat, automation, and digital guest directory features, targeting similar hoteliers with mobile-first communication tools.

Emerging players

• MEWS: MEWS is a cloud-native PMS platform that integrates with Gastfreund but increasingly offers its own guest journey, messaging, and digital check-in features. It is both a key channel partner and an emerging competitor with substantial venture funding.

Broad incumbents

• Revinate: Revinate is an established guest experience platform focused on reputation, surveys, and email marketing for hotels. It operates broadly across the guest journey and overlaps with parts of Gastfreund's post-stay engagement and review-related features.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/meingastfreund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gastfreund
• Instagraminstagram.com/gastfreund
• Xx.com/gastfreund_

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gastfreund