Keydesk Blog.
Notes from the build, thoughts on accommodation software, and ideas to help operators grow.
Keydesk in September 2026: what works, what does not, and who should wait
An honest readiness update. The eight things Keydesk does well today, the eight it does not do at all, the four kinds of operator who should not buy it this autumn, and who it genuinely fits.
Six numbers worth working out before you price next season
Most operators review the season by feeling. These six numbers turn a good year or a difficult one into specific decisions about rates, channels and where next season's growth actually comes from.
Your booking system knows the payment is late. Why are you the one chasing it?
Most booking systems are systems of record. They know the balance is overdue, know who owes it and know the arrival date, and their entire contribution is a red badge on a screen nobody opened. Here is the standard I think the category should be held to instead.
I launched Keydesk at the worst possible time of year
I opened Keydesk to its first operators in the third week of July, sent 140 emails and got 7 genuine replies. Here is what the silence taught me about building for a seasonal industry, and why I am glad it happened.
We built a commission-free booking system, then connected an OTA
Pitchup is now live in Keydesk as a two-way API integration. Here is why our first OTA connection is not a contradiction of a direct-first product, what it actually does, and what it deliberately does not.
When is the least disruptive time to switch booking systems?
Most advice says switch in the off-season. That is only half an answer. A practical method for finding the least disruptive window using your own forward booking data, with four windows compared and a realistic timeline.
Deposits, balance dates and cancellations: designing a calmer payment workflow
A practical guide to setting booking deposits, balance due dates, reminders and cancellation steps for campsites, holiday parks and glamping sites.
What should a booking system automate, and what should stay human?
A practical framework for deciding which campsite and holiday park booking tasks to automate, which decisions need a person, and how to handle exceptions.
The Shopify Lesson Accommodation Software Still Hasn’t Learned
Accommodation software has spent years getting better at recording bookings, while platforms like Shopify focused on helping their customers grow. What would change if booking systems were built around the operator’s entire commercial journey - not just the moment a reservation is made?
We’re Building the Booking System We Wish We’d Had Years Ago
Most accommodation booking systems still feel stuck in another era - slow, clunky, and built around outdated workflows. Here’s why we’re building Keydesk, what’s broken in the industry, and why better software should help operators grow, not just manage bookings.
A note from the founder
Accommodation software should be one of the most commercially useful tools in the business.
Too often, it's one of the most tolerated.
We're trying to change that.
Build a better booking operation.