The Stowe Village Inn is a family-owned boutique inn in the heart of Stowe, Vermont, known for its historic charm and welcoming atmosphere. When Mike and Lauren Soelch took over the property, they saw an opportunity to thoughtfully restore the inn while introducing modern upgrades that would elevate both the guest experience and day-to-day operations.

The team completed a full renovation across the historic inn and the neighboring modern motel on the same grounds. Rooms were refreshed, amenities were upgraded, and technology was integrated into operations to create a smoother, more efficient stay for guests.

Drawing on their background in short-term rental and property management, the owners already understood the value of keyless access and knew from the start it would be a core part of how they wanted the properties to operate.

The Challenge

As part of the renovation, The Stowe Village Inn initially installed smart locks from a well-known brand to support flexible arrivals and reduce reliance on the front desk, especially after hours. 

After a few years in place, the system began to show its limits. Lock failures became more frequent, and the way locks connected to the network created ongoing issues. Each lock relied on its own individual bridge, so when a bridge went down, that door lost communication entirely — access codes wouldn’t sync, and guests could be locked out.

For a boutique property without a 24/7 front desk, those disruptions often meant late-night calls and urgent troubleshooting.

The team remained confident in the value of keyless access but needed a solution that would be more reliable for hospitality operations.

The Solution

Looking for a more dependable access solution, The Stowe Village Inn turned to 33 Lock.

One of the biggest shifts came down to how the locks connected. Instead of relying on one bridge per lock, 33 Lock uses a gateway-based system where a single gateway can communicate with multiple locks, and locks can connect to more than one gateway, supporting uninterrupted access.

Lock setup and configuration are managed through a mobile app, allowing the team to easily adjust features like auto-lock timing and common-area access, and manage remote access. 33 Lock also connects with the inn’s broader automation software, automatically generating access codes tied directly to reservations. 
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"The installation has been really straightforward, and setting everything up initially through the app has been much easier than what we were using previously. The app is super powerful — there are a lot of good options in there. Getting everything implemented has been a great experience."
— Mike Soelch, Owner, The Stowe Village Inn

The Results

Today at The Stowe Village Inn, access supports a true hybrid check-in model, blending front desk service with the flexibility of self-check-in. 

During staffed hours, guests move quickly through the front desk with access codes prepared in advance, keeping arrivals smooth and allowing staff to focus on hospitality rather than logistics. After hours, guests access their rooms using automatically generated PIN codes, eliminating the need for a 24/7 front desk while still delivering a seamless arrival experience. 

“Guests have great feedback that it’s a quick check-in and they get right into their rooms — it’s super streamlined and has been really well received,” shared Mike. 

33 Lock’s flexible access options further support daily operations. Approximately 99 percent of guests use PIN-based entry, while RFID key cards are easily issued for the occasional guest who prefers a physical credential. Housekeeping staff use RFID keychain access throughout the property.

Conclusion

For The Stowe Village Inn, upgrading to 33 Lock strengthened the access model they had already built into daily operations. 

The inn now runs with greater confidence and flexibility. Whether welcoming guests at the front desk or supporting arrivals remotely, the team can operate in the way that best fits both their property and their guests. 

As plans for expansion take shape, they now have an access solution they trust to scale alongside them. 

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"They've helped streamline our operations and given us a great alternative when we were running into problems with our previous locks. I'm really happy to have found this solution."
— Mike Soelch, Owner, The Stowe Village Inn

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