From Spreadsheets to Strategic Planning & Forecasting
By Katie Maw, Percipient
As operating costs climb, staffing remains unpredictable, and guest expectations continue to evolve, hotel finance teams face a constant balancing act. Traditional spreadsheets and disconnected systems can’t keep pace with the speed and complexity of modern hospitality.
At Percipient, we work with finance leaders across the sector who are redefining how their businesses plan, forecast, and grow. The key? Building a smarter budgeting culture supported by intelligent, cloud-based technology.
The Rising Complexity
of Hotel Finance
Hotels today are navigating a perfect storm of rising costs, changing demand patterns, and new sustainability and reporting mandates. Finance teams are under pressure to deliver not only accuracy but agility — to turn data into insight and insight into strategic action.
Yet, for many, planning and forecasting still depend on static spreadsheets. This slows down reporting, increases the risk of error, and limits visibility across multi-entity or multi-property portfolios. The result is a finance function that’s reactive, not proactive.
Why Spreadsheets Are Holding You Back
Spreadsheet-driven finance may have worked once, but it’s no longer fit for purpose in a data-driven world. Relying on manual processes can mean:
- Hours lost to reconciliation and report collation
- Delayed insights that hinder decision-making
- Increased risk of data gaps and inaccuracies
For hotel groups juggling multiple sites or brands, the lack of integration makes it even harder to see the bigger picture — and respond in real time.
Closing the Forecasting Gap
Annual or even quarterly planning is often out of date before it’s complete. In such a fast-moving market, finance leaders can’t afford to rely on static budgets that offer yesterday’s view of performance.
Dynamic forecasting, powered by real-time data, enables teams to adjust quickly to shifting occupancy rates, rising supplier costs, or unexpected demand spikes. It’s this agility that gives hotel CFOs a genuine strategic edge.
Smarter Budgeting Starts with Smarter Systems
Modern finance platforms like Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Planning (SIP) replace manual, disconnected workflows with one real-time source of truth. By eliminating multiple spreadsheets and automating consolidation, hotel finance teams can cut budgeting cycles by up to 50%.
This single, integrated view makes it easy to model “what-if” scenarios — from staffing levels and room rates to energy costs and guest demand — so finance leaders can make informed, confident decisions that drive growth.
With the seamless integration of Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Planning, The Other House now runs rolling forecasts weekly, using driver-based modelling across housekeeping, concierge, laundry and occupancy and dynamically updates forecasts as actuals flow in.
With just eight dashboards, we can see detailed performance of each hotel in real time. Inter-company reporting is now straightforward, whereas previously, management accounts would arrive two weeks after month-end.
5 Steps to Financial Planning Best Practice
1 Build a Modern Finance Culture
Shift from reactive reporting to proactive forecasting. Embrace data-driven decision-making as the foundation of your finance function.
2 Choose the Right Platform
Select a solution that automates consolidation, provides real-time visibility, and enables rolling forecasts. Tools like Sage Intacct Planning make it easy to test different scenarios and adjust on the fly.
3 Automate to Innovate
Automation frees finance teams from manual data manipulation so they can focus on strategy, analysis, and value creation.
4 Integrate Systems for Complete Visibility
Connect finance with PMS, POS, F&B, payroll, and revenue systems for a unified view of performance. Integration is the key to smarter, faster decisions.
5 Monitor KPIs in Real Time
Track key performance indicators continuously to spot risks and opportunities early — protecting margins and improving performance across every property.
Taking the Long View
Hospitality will always be a dynamic industry. Market shifts, supply chain challenges, and rising wage costs can change profitability overnight. That’s why modern financial planning isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.
A connected, agile finance function gives hotel CFOs the foresight to anticipate change, act quickly, and drive sustained growth. In a competitive landscape, the ability to plan smarter is what keeps your business ahead.
Ready to Elevate Your Financial Strategy?
At Percipient, we help hotel finance leaders transform the way they plan, forecast, and report. With our expertise in Sage Intacct and Sage Intacct Planning, you’ll gain the clarity and confidence to make faster, smarter decisions that fuel long-term growth.
Contact Percipient today to discover how we can help you build a smarter budgeting culture across your hotel business.