When Ernie Slatinsky retired from a career in federal law enforcement, he wasn’t looking to run a hotel. He and his wife, Cara, had long dreamed about finding an old building to restore; maybe a bed and breakfast, maybe a retreat for artists. That dream became real when Hotel Giles, a landmark property dating back to the 1880s, came up for sale right across the street from Cara’s art gallery in the Texas Hill Country.
At first, Ernie expected to play a supporting role. “The original arrangement was that I was going to be the maintenance guy,” he explained. “I didn’t want anything to do with management after leaving federal service.”
But life had other plans. After challenges with operations, Ernie stepped in. “At that point, I just kind of stepped into the GM role. And I’ve just been doing that since — maintenance guy, contract writer, event coordinator, concert organizer, and entertainer on Friday nights.”
What started as a retirement project turned into a second career. One that demanded Ernie balance the weight of history with the realities of running a modern hotel.
Hotel Giles was already equipped with Innkeeper’s Advantage when Ernie and his partners bought the hotel in March 2022. The team decided to keep it simple, managing pricing through the PMS Seasonal Rate Management system.
“We limited it to Sunday through Wednesday at one rate, then Thursday we bumped it a little bit, and Friday, Saturday it was bumped a little bit more. And that’s just what the rates were. Not very often did we change rates. It was sort of a set it and forget it.”
That predictability worked, but it also meant the hotel was missing opportunities. On slow weekends, they might lower prices to spark demand, but on busy weekends, they hesitated to push rates higher. The result was money left on the table.
Cindy from Innkeeper’s Advantage suggested TakeUp for its ability to quickly adapt to rate competition and travel market conditions rather than personal intuition or standard rules-based yield management. Ernie was cautious at first.
His hesitation was natural — after all, none of the owners had prior hotel experience, and the thought of letting AI take over pricing felt like a big leap. What helped tip the scales was hearing from peers. “I did call one of Cindy’s other owners who owns two properties that used y’all. And he was very positive about his experience.”
That reassurance gave Ernie and his partners the confidence to give TakeUp a try.
The transition to TakeUp was straightforward, with Ernie’s partners handling most of the initial setup. What stood out most was the balance between automation and control.
“I like the fact that I can lock the rates in Innkeepers [Advantage], and TakeUp recognizes that. It goes, okay, that’s yours. Whether we think it’s right or wrong, that’s yours.”
That flexibility meant Ernie could protect contracted rates for weddings or special events while letting TakeUp optimize everything else.
“We probably would not have attempted some of these rates. It certainly gives me some more confidence in the product that I’m offering because people are willing to pay these rates.”
Ernie Slatinsky, Co-Owner of Hotel Giles
Since adopting TakeUp in March 2024, the impact has been striking. “I am often flabbergasted by what people are actually willing to pay for my property,” Ernie said. “We probably would not have attempted some of these rates. It certainly gives me some more confidence in the product that I’m offering because people are willing to pay these rates.”
The numbers tell the story:
In the summer of 2024, devastating floods swept through the Texas Hill Country. Search and rescue teams filled the town, and Hotel Giles became a hub for responders who needed a place to rest.
Ernie did not hesitate. “I cut rates dramatically and then offered 25 percent discounts for search and rescue folks,” he said. He even emailed regular guests, many of whom donated to cover rooms for responders. “I’ve got a list of like a dozen people that were willing to pay for rooms for search and rescue folks.”
For Ernie, the decision was about community, not business. “They weren’t here to stay in a boutique hotel. They were here to save lives. I wasn’t about to put a financial burden on that.”
What made this generosity possible was the stability that TakeUp provided throughout the year. By driving strong performance during normal operations, TakeUp gave Hotel Giles the financial cushion to step up during a crisis. Even with steep discounts, occupancy surged, and the hotel emerged from the summer stronger than ever.
TakeUp was not the hero of that week. Ernie and his community were. But the platform played a crucial supporting role by ensuring Hotel Giles could give back in the short term while staying healthy in the long term.
For Ernie, the takeaway is simple.
“Do it. Don’t try to manage it yourself, especially if you’re dealing with multiple rooms. Set some reasonable boundaries, upper and lower, and then see what it does.”
Hotel Giles is more than a place to stay. It is a restored piece of Texas history, a gathering place for the community, and a symbol of what happens when someone reinvents their career with heart and purpose.
TakeUp has helped Ernie move from reactive, gut-feel pricing to confident, data-backed strategy. That shift allows him to focus on what he loves most: preserving the character of Hotel Giles and welcoming every guest with true Texas hospitality.
Subscribe for news
Get the tea with our monthly newsletter Innsider Stories
