Cavallino Bianco: Pioneer of luxury family vacations focuses on modern revenue management

Revenue management is a necessity for hoteliers today. But what if your hotel is so unique that traditional models reach their limits? This is precisely the challenge faced by the renowned Cavallino Bianco family hotel in South Tyrol. In an inspiring interview, Ralph A. Riffeser, the CEO and visionary behind the concept, provides deep insights into the special features of his hotel.

This article highlights how he combines the distinctive 5-star approach with dynamic pricing and the role that RateBoard revenue management software plays in securing the value of the product while entering new markets.

Ralph A. Riffeser - Host, Cavallino Bianco

The Cavallino Bianco: Honeymoon vacation for families

As a hotelier and father, Ralph A. Riffeser recognized a gap in the market over 20 years ago: “As a young family, we noticed that there was nowhere where parents could really relax and children could enjoy their vacation at the same time.” His vision was a place where both children and adults would feel equally at home – a luxury family hotel of the highest standard.

With spacious suites, separate bathrooms, high-class wellness facilities, and childcare without compromise, the hotel meets the highest standards. A concept that has been a pioneer in the hotel industry and a global benchmark for family vacations for 20 years.

“It's Family Time, Live It Now” – A concept that inspires

In addition to its luxurious amenities, Cavallino Bianco defines the vacation experience through its unique philosophy: “It's Family Time, Live It Now." The goal is to help families consciously arrive in the here and now and enjoy their vacation time in balance. At the heart of this are four elements of time: Family Time, Two Time, My Time and Kids Time. A game-based system, based on the “family tree” and photo documentation, encourages guests to savor all these dimensions. This way, the vacation becomes not only an experience on site, but also a conscious way of shaping family time in everyday life.

Taking the plunge: Why a pioneer is focusing on revenue management

Ralph A. Riffeser first became involved with revenue management over 20 years ago. At that time, experts advised him against using it: traditional RM systems were designed for a wide range of segments. The products available at the time simply could not meet the needs of the specialized family and vacation hotel Cavallino Bianco.

Although the Cavallino Bianco had long relied successfully on a traditional annual price list, a new pilot project led to a rethink: the planned opening in 2026 of a high-end hotel on the Italian Adriatic coast in Caorle. Ralph A. Riffeser realized that he needed a tool for this new market to measure demand and price thresholds.

The new Hotel Cavallino Bianco in Caorle

“We are certainly one of the last to switch to dynamic pricing. For new projects such as Caorle, we now need a system that helps us understand demand and conversion without having to immediately implement radical dynamic pricing”, explains Riffeser.

Despite his historical doubts, Riffeser made a conscious decision: “I believe now is the time to take the leap.” He was convinced: “Price is part of quality.” Cavallino Bianco is a brand that does not play with price, but needs to reflect the dynamics of demand in order to achieve the best possible operating result. 

The choice fell on RateBoard because Riffeser always looks for the best product and, in this case, oriented himself towards the market. "If the large companies, big names, and brands in South Tyrol rely on RateBoard, then it will be fine for the Cavallino Bianco as well", explains Riffeser.

RateBoard as a partner for data-driven decisions

An important reason for the decision was the long-term goal of ensuring continuity in revenue management and basing revenue strategies more strongly on data in the future. Ralph A. Riffeser wants to anchor the experience and knowledge he has built up over decades in artificial intelligence (AI) that will continue to work in the future. “The program is now learning and will support me and my team in the future.”

Working with the Revenue Management System RateBoard enables Cavallino Bianco to make even more data-driven decisions and find the right prices to achieve revenue targets while optimizing occupancy. It is particularly important that the system also provides valuable guidance and highlights trends for unique properties such as Cavallino Bianco. At the same time, it continuously learns, stores empirical values, and thus ensures reliability, regardless of personnel changes in the team.

Riffeser's open dialogue with the RateBoard team shows that the best partnerships are based on trust and a shared goal of improving the product.