ALaCarte.Direct
Discover how the Okko Hôtels hotel group rolled out the ALaCarte.Direct digital menu across its 10 properties in France. Full testimonial, success metrics, and best practices for the hospitality industry.
About the Okko Hôtels Group
Okko Hôtels is an innovative French hotel group reimagining the urban hospitality experience. Positioned as an accessible 4-star brand, the group stands out through:
- 10 properties across France (Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Strasbourg, Bayonne, and more)
- Unique concept: The Club, an open-plan living space featuring a bar, dining area, and coworking facilities
- Target guests: Connected business and leisure travellers
- Values: Simplicity, generosity, modernity
The Context: A Clear Need for Digitalisation
Pre-Covid challenges
Before the pandemic, Okko Hôtels was already facing challenges with printed menus:
- Recurring printing costs across 10 properties
- Difficulty maintaining menu consistency between hotels
- Time-consuming updates for seasonal menu changes
- Managing translations (40% international clientele)
Covid as a catalyst
The health crisis made digitalisation essential:
- Strict hygiene standards for shared items
- Need for a contactless alternative
- Opportunity to modernise the guest experience
The Solution: ALaCarte.Direct
Why this choice?
Vincent Lejeune, F&B Project Manager, explains the selection criteria:
"We evaluated several solutions. ALaCarte.Direct stood out for its ease of use, interface quality, and above all the responsiveness of the support team. For a rollout across 10 properties, support was crucial."
Key selection criteria
| Criterion | Okko's Requirement | ALaCarte's Response |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-property | Centralised management of 10 hotels | ✅ Group dashboard |
| Multilingual | FR, EN, DE minimum | ✅ 15+ languages |
| Customisable design | Aligned with Okko branding | ✅ Full customisation |
| Responsive support | Response within 24h | ✅ Under 2h on average |
| Competitive pricing | Controlled budget | ✅ Group package |
The Rollout: Methodology and Timeline
Phase 1: Pilot (June 2020)
- Test property: Okko Hôtels Paris Gare de l'Est
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Objective: Validate guest and team adoption
Phase 2: Gradual rollout (July 2020)
- 7 hotels equipped at post-lockdown reopening
- Team training: 1 hour per property via video call
- Materials: Table tent cards + Club signage
Phase 3: Full rollout (August 2020)
- 10 properties fully equipped
- Harmonisation: Same menu, same presentation
Full timeline
| Week 1 | Group account setup |
| Week 2 | Import of existing menus |
| Week 3 | Pilot at Paris GDE |
| Week 4–5 | Adjustments and training |
| Week 6 | Rollout to 7 hotels |
| Week 10 | All 10 properties live |
The Results: Success Metrics
Guest adoption
- 78% of guests use the QR code (vs printed menu)
- 92% satisfaction rate with the digital experience
- Younger guests: Near-total adoption
Operational impact
- -100% in menu printing costs
- -80% in menu update time
- Simultaneous updates across all 10 properties in just 5 minutes
Team feedback
"The teams welcomed the introduction of a digital QR code. They find it modern and a great complement to the printed menu. Younger guests are particularly receptive to this innovation and scan the QR code instinctively."
Full Testimonial: The Interview
Question: How did your teams react?
"The teams were enthusiastic. Digital is part of Okko's DNA, so it was a natural evolution. What won them over most was the simplicity: updating a dish takes 30 seconds from their phone."
Question: And your guests?
"Business travellers, our core audience, are very receptive. They're used to digital tools and find it convenient. For leisure guests, especially families, we keep a few printed menus on hand just in case, but honestly, we rarely need them."
Question: Would you recommend ALaCarte.Direct?
"ALaCarte.Direct is an extremely user-friendly solution with a clean, elegant interface. Readability is excellent for guests. The ALaCarte.Direct team has been incredibly responsive and supportive throughout. Given the quality of service, I would absolutely recommend this solution to fellow hoteliers."
Best Practices: Lessons Learned from Okko
What worked
- Pilot before full rollout: Testing at one property first helps identify necessary adjustments
- Short but focused training: 1 hour is enough if the tool is intuitive
- Guest communication: Explain the reasoning (hygiene + modernity)
- Backup available: Keeping a few printed menus provides reassurance
- Responsive support: Critical for a multi-site rollout
Tips for the hospitality industry
- Include room service: A QR code in the room significantly boosts orders
- Think multilingual: International guests = automatic translation is a must
- Harmonise: Deliver the same experience across all your properties
Looking Ahead: The Future of Digital at Okko
The Okko group continues to innovate:
- Online ordering: Next step for The Club
- Mobile payment: Apple Pay integration underway
- Digital room service: Rollout planned for 2026
Conclusion: A Successful Partnership
The rollout of ALaCarte.Direct at Okko Hôtels showcases how a hotel group can successfully embrace digital transformation:
- Speed: 10 properties equipped in 10 weeks
- Adoption: 78% of guests use the digital menu
- Savings: 100% of printing costs eliminated
- Satisfaction: Enthusiastic teams and guests alike
Do you manage a hotel group or restaurant chain? Get in touch to discover our multi-property packages.
