5.23.2025
Since its founding a decade ago, RealTime Reservation has grown from a cabana booking solution into a comprehensive guest journey platform used by some of the most prestigious names in hospitality, including The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and Baha Mar. At the helm is Shawn Tarter, the company’s founder and CEO, whose vision for a unified, pre-arrival-first booking experience has redefined how hotels manage and monetize ancillary services.
In this Spotlight Interview, Tarter shares the evolution of the platform, what makes it indispensable for luxury operators, and how RealTime Reservation is helping properties around the world drive non-room revenue, streamline operations, and elevate every guest interaction—from spa reservations and dining experiences to marina access and beyond.
When you founded Ipalapa Corporation in 2015, what was your original product vision, and how did that evolve into the broader RealTime Reservation platform we see today?
When we launched Ipalapa, the initial goal was simple: give guests a way to reserve poolside cabanas and amenities before they arrived. We saw a gap in the hospitality space because hotels were doing a great job on room bookings, but the ancillary experiences were still largely offline or managed manually. What started as a cabana reservation tool quickly revealed a broader opportunity. We realized the need for a single, integrated system that connects guests to everything a property offers before, during, and after their stay. That vision became RealTime Reservation.
RealTime Reservation is now used by top-tier hotels like The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons, and Baha Mar. What do you think has made the platform resonate so strongly with luxury hospitality operators?
Luxury properties are defined by their attention to detail and personalization. What makes RealTime Reservation appealing to these brands is our ability to support that standard of excellence with a seamless, branded guest experience. We give them the tools to elevate every touchpoint from spa to dining to beachside services while maintaining operational efficiency behind the scenes. That blend of high-end guest engagement and robust backend management is key.
How does RealTime Reservation integrate with property systems like OPERA and point-of-sale platforms to centralize and streamline ancillary service bookings?
Integration is fundamental. We have built deep, two-way connections with platforms like Oracle OPERA and a wide range of POS systems so that reservations, charges, and guest preferences all flow seamlessly. This ensures that hotel teams are not bouncing between systems and that guests experience one unified journey. These integrations also enable better forecasting, inventory controls, and real-time updates that directly impact service quality and revenue capture.
What is the biggest operational pain point for hotel teams that RealTime Reservation is solving today?
Managing ancillary services across departments such as spa, dining, marina, and parking can create operational silos and missed revenue. RealTime Reservation breaks down those silos. We centralize everything in one platform, which helps hotel teams reduce double-bookings, streamline communication, and gain actionable insights. The result is less chaos and more control.
The launch of RTR One is being called transformative. What are some of the key product features that make it a unified guest journey platform?
RTR One unifies the entire guest journey by allowing full itinerary creation pre-arrival, mobile modifications during the stay, and analytics post-departure. Key features include multi-service booking flows, dynamic packaging, inventory controls, QR-based mobile access, and real-time availability updates. What makes it powerful is not just the tech. It is how naturally it fits into the guest’s lifestyle and the hotel’s operations.
Can you walk us through how RTR One enables guests to reserve everything from spa treatments and kids’ club spots to food and beverage add-ons all before they arrive?
It starts with a branded interface that the guest receives after booking a room, typically via a confirmation email or mobile app. From there, they can view real-time availability across all on-property services and build out their itinerary. It is like having a digital concierge at your fingertips well before check-in. Every action they take syncs with the hotel’s systems, so staff are prepared to deliver on those requests the moment guests arrive.
What functionality does RTR One provide to help hotels manage inventory and avoid issues like double-bookings or last-minute cancellations?
We built robust rules-based logic into the system. Inventory is updated in real time across all channels, and staff can set parameters like lead times, blackout periods, cancellation policies, and capacity controls. For example, if a spa treatment is canceled within the penalty window, the system can automatically charge a fee and free up that slot for someone else. This flexibility is critical for high-volume or luxury properties where timing and availability are everything.
How have your partners used RealTime Reservation to cross-sell or bundle amenities to boost non-room revenue?
Many properties are using our platform to build dynamic packages, such as pairing a sunset cruise with champagne service and marina access. We also support upsells at key decision points, such as offering a beachside lunch when booking a cabana. These options are presented to guests in a personalized, non-intrusive way based on what they have already reserved. The result is higher spend-per-guest and a more curated experience.
How does the platform enable real-time updates for guests such as switching cabanas or modifying existing reservations from their personal device?
Everything is accessible via a mobile-optimized interface. Guests can view, modify, or cancel reservations, switch time slots, or even upgrade services directly from their phone. These updates trigger instant alerts to the hotel teams, which means there is no lag, no confusion, and no need to wait in line or make a call. It is a smoother process for everyone involved.
Can you share results or metrics from hotel clients that have significantly increased ancillary revenue after adopting RealTime Reservation?
Properties typically see a 20 to 40 percent increase in ancillary revenue within the first six months of using our platform. One of our resort clients in the Caribbean saw a 300 percent lift in cabana revenue alone, simply by making inventory available for pre-arrival booking. Another client increased recreation revenue by over one million dollars annually after implementing bundling and pre-arrival upsell features.
RealTime Reservation has been praised for its usability and speed to implement. How have you approached product design to reduce complexity for hotel teams?
Our design philosophy is powerful, yet simple. We know that hotel teams have enough on their plates, so we focus on intuitive interfaces, fast onboarding, and white-glove support. We also build in flexibility so that hotels can tailor the platform to their specific needs without needing to overhaul existing workflows.
What are the most common misconceptions hotels have about managing ancillary services and how does RealTime Reservation help reframe that thinking?
One common misconception is that ancillary services are too fragmented to centralize or automate effectively. We have proven that with the right tools, you can manage everything from restaurant reservations to parking from one system. Another is the idea that guests only decide on extras once they are on-site. In reality, guests want to plan ahead, especially for high-demand amenities. We help properties meet that demand while staying in control.
As guest expectations shift toward mobile-first experiences, how is RealTime Reservation evolving to meet demand for more personalized, frictionless bookings?
We are investing heavily in mobile-first user experience, AI-driven recommendations, and personalization tools. Our goal is to make every touchpoint from discovery to checkout feel effortless and hyper-relevant. And we are just getting started.
With so many solutions emerging in hospitality tech, what advice would you give hoteliers on evaluating platforms that promise increased ancillary revenue?
Look for platforms that do not just promise automation but deliver measurable outcomes. Ask about integrations, data visibility, and whether the system can actually support your team instead of adding complexity. Always request references from properties similar to yours. At the end of the day, the right platform should drive revenue, simplify operations, and enhance the guest journey all at once.
What is next for RealTime Reservation? Are there new verticals, features, or markets on the horizon?
We are expanding into wellness, day guest experiences, and even night club spaces. We are also enhancing our analytics and personalization engine to help hotels anticipate guest needs with greater precision. International expansion is another priority, especially as demand grows in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The core mission stays the same: give properties the power to connect every part of the guest journey before arrival, during the stay, and beyond.