What operators say after working with Tayrona
These are honest accounts from hotel and tour operation owners in Magdalena — what prompted them to reach out, what the engagement was like, and what they took away from it.
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Businesses supported
4.8
Average satisfaction
6
Years of practice
3
Professional affiliations
In their own words
Camila Rincón
Owner, boutique hotel · Taganga
"We had Laura walk through the property in June and the list she sent us was short — only eight points — but two of them were things we'd genuinely never thought about from a guest's perspective. We changed the check-in flow and haven't had a complaint about it since. For the price, it was absolutely worth it."
June 2025Martín Peñaloza
Tour operator director · Santa Marta
"The Season Companion helped us prepare for December in a way we hadn't done before — structured, calm, with someone checking in once a month rather than overwhelming us with a report we'd never read. The staffing checklist alone saved us from two or three decisions we'd usually make in a rush."
May 2025Sofía Ortega
Manager, eco-lodge · Sierra Nevada foothills
"We did the Operations Study last year and the roadmap was probably the most useful document we've produced internally. Not because it was long — it wasn't — but because it was clear about what mattered most and honest about what wasn't urgent. We worked through it over about five months."
June 2025Julio González
Owner, hostel group · Santa Marta centre
"I was sceptical about whether a short review would tell me anything I didn't already know. It told me three things I didn't know. The follow-up call was also useful — I had questions about two of the points and Jorge was straightforward about what was significant and what wasn't."
May 2025Alejandra Calderón
Operations manager, boutique hotel · Minca
"What I appreciated most was that they didn't arrive with a theory about what was wrong. They came in, looked carefully, asked good questions, and gave us something we could actually use. Our front desk team responded well to the team session too — they felt heard, which doesn't always happen when someone comes in to 'assess' the operation."
June 2025Ricardo Molina
Co-owner, guesthouse · La Tagua, Magdalena
"We used the Season Companion ahead of Semana Santa. The monthly sessions kept us on track without taking up too much of our time, and the person we worked with clearly understood the pressures of a small property heading into high season. It was supportive rather than prescriptive, which is what we needed."
April 2025A closer look at three engagements
Challenge
The property was receiving positive reviews overall, but guests occasionally commented on a vague sense of disorganisation at arrival — nothing specific, but enough to appear in three or four reviews over the previous season.
What we did
We walked the arrival process as a guest would — approaching from the street, entering the reception, and moving through the first hour of a stay. The written summary identified two specific moments where information wasn't available at the right time.
Outcome
The hotel made two small adjustments to its reception workflow and added a short welcome card to rooms. The vague arrival comments disappeared in the following season's reviews. Duration: 10 days from visit to delivery.
Challenge
The business had grown quickly and the owner was finding that each high season began in a reactive scramble — hiring decisions made late, pricing not revised until enquiries came in, guides not briefed until the week before peak demand.
What we did
Three monthly sessions starting in September, working through a shared checklist that covered guide contracts, pricing tiers for December, and a guest communications calendar. Between sessions, the team used the checklist independently.
Outcome
By the start of December, staffing was confirmed, pricing was in place, and the team was briefed two weeks ahead of peak season rather than two days. The owner described the December period as noticeably less stressful than previous years.
Challenge
A well-established property that felt it had reached a plateau. Occupancy was consistent but margins hadn't improved in two years. The team sensed there were inefficiencies but didn't know where to look without disrupting what was working.
What we did
Four-week assessment: booking channel analysis, service flow observation, review of cost categories, and a structured conversation with four staff members. The roadmap identified six areas with potential for improvement, ranked by ease and impact.
Outcome
The property adopted three of the six roadmap recommendations in the first five months. A shift in booking channel emphasis improved direct bookings by approximately 18%. Two staffing adjustments reduced overtime costs noticeably by the following quarter.
Reach us directly
We're available Monday through Saturday and aim to respond to all enquiries within one business day.
Address
Calle 22 #3-45,Santa Marta
Hours
Mon–Fri: 8am–5pmSat: 9am–1pm
Would you like to speak with someone who has worked with us?
We're happy to share references on request. Or simply reach out and tell us about your business — we'll take it from there.
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