Fireside Chat with Wine Way Inn

Welcome to another edition of our Fireside Chat series, where we spotlight the voices and stories of real rezStream customers. In this innkeeper success story, we caught up with Nick Kite, owner of the Wine Way Inn and Craftsman Inn in Calistoga, California. With 13 rooms across two properties, Nick blends hands-on hospitality with smart tech and automation—sharing how he’s adapted to evolving guest expectations and returned to rezStream after trying a competitor.

Front view of the Craftsman Inn in Calistoga, California, showcasing a charming white two-story house with dark trim, a wraparound porch, and a wooden sign reading “Craftsman Inn” near the driveway entrance.

About Wine Way Inn & Craftsman Inn

Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, the Wine Way Inn and Craftsman Inn offer a unique blend of comfort and charm, with 13 rooms thoughtfully distributed across the two neighboring properties. Designed to serve the “middle of the market” segment, the property stands out in a region where ultra-luxury and budget lodging dominate.

Nick and his wife have positioned their B&B as an affordable yet thoughtfully curated experience in a high-end destination. Their focus: offering clean aesthetics, updated amenities, and operational efficiency—all without compromising character.

A little about Nick

Nick’s journey to innkeeping is anything but typical. With a background in management consulting and high-tech roles at AT&T and Sun Microsystems, he describes himself as having spent time on the “dark side.” After the dot-com bust in March 2000 when the Nasdaq dropped over 75%, what looked like early retirement evaporated, prompting a move and a mindset shift.

“I’ve consistently been a bad employee,” Nick laughs. “So, owning a business just made sense.”

He and his wife, who has a background in catering and hospitality, purchased the Wine Way Inn in 2003. A few years later, they added the Craftsman Inn to their portfolio and embarked on a therapeutic, hands-on renovation journey. Now, two decades later, they run a thriving independent lodging business with an eye on both guest satisfaction and technological evolution.

Challenges: We all have them.

As guest expectations have shifted—especially in the wake of the pandemic—so too has Nick’s approach. COVID-19 was a "watershed moment" that accelerated automation and reshaped how the property operated.

  • Breakfast moved from in-person meals to coffee shop vouchers.
  • Check-ins became self-service via rezStream’s connection to Akia.
  • Most communication transitioned to SMS or WhatsApp.

Another major pain point? Visibility.

"If people knew about us, we'd be full all the time," Nick shared. But breaking through the Google monopoly (and his frustrations with Bing) has been an uphill climb.

He also spoke candidly about leaving rezStream temporarily for another platform, which promised advanced features but ultimately couldn't deliver. "I lost channels, couldn’t do Google Hotel Ads, and gave up over $100,000 in marketing coverage."

Solutions with rezStream

  • Inventory Management: rezStream could split his two inns on the back end while maintaining a unified booking engine.
  • SMS Guest Messaging: Pre-arrival texts, mini apps for directions, and signed registration forms made communication seamless with the Akia Guest Messaging integration. He gave a special shout-out to George from Akia for implementing tailored automations.
  • Rate Management: Though challenging, rezStream’s Quick Rate Editor made rebuilding 12+ rate structures manageable.
  • Reliable Support: Nick praised rezStream’s transparency and responsiveness. He values the honest communication and follow-through from the support team.

Results & Growth

In the past year alone, Nick and his wife invested heavily in aesthetic upgrades: new windows, shutters, beds, and artwork. But operationally, the biggest wins have come from:

  • 80–90% guest engagement through Akia.
  • More actionable insights via manual pace reporting.
  • Faster check-ins and fewer chargebacks due to digital signatures.

"I rarely see guests now," Nick admits. "But young travelers love it. They just want to get in their damn room."

Looking Ahead

When it comes to 2025, Nick has one word: rates.

He advocates for AI-driven rate setting and believes it will soon be table stakes.

"It should work like a spreadsheet," he said. "Let me build derived rate structures based on simple math—and give AI the freedom to evolve with my trust over time."

Nick also emphasized the importance of open APIs and partnering with preferred rate vendors.

And he's optimistic about where things are headed:

"I think within five years, if you're not using AI to set your rates, you'll be at a competitive disadvantage."

Join the Conversation

Nick’s blend of tech-savvy, humor, and candor made this Fireside Chat one of our favorites. Want to be featured in a future Fireside Chat? Reach out—we’d love to tell your story.

After all, it’s not every day you hear a former Sun Microsystems exec wax poetic about OTA commissions and derived rate structures – while still making time for breakfast vouchers and French lessons.

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Published: May 3, 2025