Mare e Vento di Favignana

Mare e Vento di Favignana is a tour operator offering boat and dinghy excursions around Favignana in the Aegadian Islands, just off the west coast of Sicily. With a name that means “Sea and Wind of Favignana,” they aim to offer customers a maritime adventure full of discovery and relaxation, taking them to secret bays and coves for a unique, authentic experience.

The company has recently received considerable PR in the Italian media. As demand grew, they needed a way to scale their operations smoothly. They joined Bókun three months ago, aiming to stay competitive and reduce friction. They’ve primarily worked with Bókun’s Channel Manager API, which has helped streamline their sales and boost bookings.

Key results:

• Earned tens of thousands in sales since joining Bókun Channel Manager 3 months ago – split between Viator, GetYourGuide and Direct Online
• Connected to 7 partners via Marketplace
• Now, they get 87.69% of their bookings through the Channel Manager API after joining Bókun

As Mare e Vento di Favignana began exploring connections with other OTAs, they were overwhelmed by the number of platforms and integration requirements.

“At the beginning, we built our own systems to handle bookings, but as we started to grow, we wanted to list our tours on major travel platforms like Viator, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, and so on. The problem is that each platform has different technical setups and requirements. Trying to connect to all of them separately was complicated and time-consuming,” shares Jolynn Ong, Chief Marketing Officer from Mare e Vento di Favignana

They needed a simpler alternative: a single platform to connect with multiple OTAs and enhance their booking process.

“At the beginning, we built our own systems to handle bookings, but as we started to grow, we wanted to list our tours on major travel platforms like Viator, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, and so on. The problem is that each platform has different technical setups and requirements. Trying to connect to all of them separately was complicated and time-consuming.” –Jolynn Ong, Chief Marketing Officer from Mare e Vento di Favignana

They needed a simpler alternative: a single platform to connect with multiple OTAs and enhance their booking process.

In this case study, we dive deep into Mare e Vento di Favignana’s experience and growth following their partnership with Bókun.

The tour operator received strong support from the Bókun team to ensure a smooth transition, as Mare e Vento di Favignana had their own on site booking platform.

“Having a dedicated account manager made a big difference. During the integration, the IT team helped us with the technical setup,” says Jolynn. “It wasn’t always straightforward, but with thoroughness and support, we ended up with a reliable system that can scale with us.”

The integration led to a more efficient way to manage bookings across platforms and made the administrative workload much more manageable.

“Everything is very straightforward, and updates happen in real-time. Everyone is aligned on booking status and availability. It’s all very organised now. We no longer manage things manually—the Channel Manager just merged seamlessly with our backend.”- Jolynn Ong, Chief Marketing Officer at Mare e Vento di Favignana

With this new system in place, they could shift focus to marketing, customer experience, and long-term growth.

The booking process is now faster and more efficient, with live OTA connections and automated updates that help prevent overbookings.

“Our day-to-day operations are much smoother,” says Jolynn. “Bókun helped directly by bringing in OTA bookings, and indirectly by saving us time. We can now focus on creating new products, improving customer experiences, and planning for future growth—even with a high volume of bookings.” 

In just three months, they’ve earned $13,000 in sales, connected with seven Marketplace partners, and gained breathing room to focus on expansion.

“Bókun has taken a lot of the work off our plate. Now that bookings are automated, orders keep coming in, and we can concentrate on growing the business.”- Jolynn Ong, Chief Marketing Officer at Mare e Vento di Favignana

Other Key Operational Improvements: 

• The Bókun platform has helped the tour operator boost sales by integrating the API into their website. 
• It’s helped streamline the backend booking processes so they can focus more on growing the business.
• Even with multiple bookings, everything is manageable, and they can work with several OTAs without the risk of overbooking.

Mare e Vento di Favignana currently uses Bókun’s Channel Manager and Marketplace, and they’re already seeing major advantages.

“It goes beyond just the Channel Manager. The platform gives us flexibility. We can manage products, schedules, and pricing easily, all from one place. Quick changes are hassle-free because everything is centralised,” says Jolynn. “We no longer manage each OTA manually, so we don’t miss out on opportunities.”

Automation has eased their day-to-day work:

“Automating notifications and syncing availability across platforms made our work much easier.” – Jolynn Ong, Chief Marketing Officer at Mare e Vento di Favignana

Channel Manager API

Helped increase online bookings by consolidating OTA connections into one platform.

Automated syncing and notifications

Reduced manual processes, prevented double bookings, and improved team efficiency.

Bókun eliminates manual errors and makes everything behind the scenes a lot smoother. It might not be visible on the front end, but the benefits are clear.” –  Jolynn Ong, Chief Marketing Officer at Mare e Vento di Favignana

Despite initial challenges during integration, Mare e Vento di Favignana found the effort worthwhile.

“After a few months with Bókun, our experience has been very positive. The platform is flexible, reliable, and fits our growth plans. I believe it will continue to be an asset as we expand,” says Jolynn.

They also valued the human element of the partnership:

The right tech is just part of the equation. The people behind it matter just as much,” adds Jolynn. “With Bókun, we didn’t just get a solid platform, we got a team we can rely on. That human element has made a big difference and reminded us that we’re building something that’s meant to last.”

Mare e Vento di Favignana may be new to Bókun, but in just three months, they’ve seen meaningful growth, streamlined operations, and forged valuable OTA connections. With automation taking care of the backend and strong human support throughout, they’re well-positioned for the next chapter of growth.

Bókun’s mission is to help your tour and activity business generate more bookings with less work. Start your free 14-day trial today to explore our software can help you save time and grow your business.