Dear WuBookers, when we talk about eco-sustainability applied to the hospitality sector, we tend to think of architectural and practical solutions that respect the environment and natural resources. However, we rarely include in this vision the technology that supports the hospitality business, which also plays a significant role in determining how “green” it is. Don Merlino, the owner of La Forestale Ecolodge, knows this well. Since 2020, he has chosen WuBook as his technology partner, in part due to its unique guarantees in terms of environmental sustainability.

The perfect blend of nature, comfort, and technology

Nestled in the pristine nature of the Gola del Furlo State Nature Reserve, in the Province of Pesaro and Urbino (Italy), the luxury ecolodge La Forestale perfectly combines environmental awareness with 5-star comfort.

This is thanks to a radical renovation, which began in 2018 and was completed two years later. The property, originally built as a Forest Rangers barracks—later abandoned—was purchased at auction and completely transformed by Frenchman Eric Merlino.

With a background as an entrepreneur in marketing and communications spanning over 23 years in the industry, Don Merlino (as he is known locally) has successfully reinvented himself as a hotelier.

La Forestale is, in fact, conceived as a haven of peace and tranquility immersed in nature, where the rhythm is dictated by the environment, the surrounding landscape, and the pleasure of living simply yet elegantly.

Today, the ecolodge features 3 themed rooms:

• Mandela: a double room with a private south-facing terrace;

• Rabhi: Provençal country style, with the option of an extra bed for children;

• Gandhi: characterized by large windows and a spacious terrace overlooking the “Emerald River.” Gandhi and Rabhi can also be combined to create a family suite suitable for 4–5 people.

In addition to these, there is also: the Royal Suite, with an interior area of approximately 55 m² and a private terrace of approximately 20 m², offering panoramic views of the Marche hills—perfect for those seeking maximum privacy. And the apartment with kitchen, featuring a king-size bed, a designer stainless steel kitchen, and a sofa bed. It can accommodate up to 4 people and offers greater independence, while still being part of the ecolodge’s amenities.

The ideal place to reconnect with people and nature

All accommodations have been redesigned according to Don Merlino’s philosophy.

“Luxury, for me, is not ostentation or opulence,” he states, “but having everything that makes us feel good, in harmony with the environment”: a concept in line with Pierre Rabhi’s “happy simplicity,” which inspires the entire property. For this reason, the rooms are simply furnished but equipped with every comfort (and a certain flair for design), except for a television. What the owner truly wants to highlight is outdoor living and respect for our surroundings.

Classified as a small eco-hotel, La Forestale combines the charm of luxury B&Bs with the services of a boutique hotel, without ever straying from its core mission: to reconnect people with nature and foster more authentic human connection. That’s why amenities include a seasonal outdoor pool, terraces, and a garden, as well as an organic breakfast featuring local products and the option to book massages and wellness treatments or request customized outdoor activities. The area is, in fact, perfect for walks, hikes, and nature or food-and-wine excursions: easily accessible from the Via Flaminia, it is an excellent starting point for day trips in the beautiful surroundings.

It’s impossible not to be enchanted by the area. All rooms overlook the breathtaking panorama of the Furlo Gorge, with its rolling hills, the emerald waters of the Candigliano River just a short distance away, and the sea not far off. A true oasis of well-being nestled in the greenery. After all, green is exactly what La Forestale is, inside and out.

A green ecolodge through and through

The entire building was designed according to criteria of environmental sustainability and energy efficiency, following a fully ecological architectural model unique in the entire region. A smart building, made of natural materials and advanced technological solutions: “an optimized photovoltaic system (with 54 panels), a state-of-the-art heat pump, smart energy storage and management, gray and black water treatment, electric vehicle charging, and A++-rated appliances in all rooms.” The goal is to achieve energy self-sufficiency and reduce the carbon footprint as much as possible.

This is an effort in which guests also actively participate, invited to follow the best practices of responsible tourism throughout their stay, by recycling and using available resources sparingly.

Don Merlino’s choice is clearly paying off since, as he told us,

they “closed 2025 with a turnover of 200k euros with just 5 rooms and more than a thousand guests.”

Green coding at the service of hospitality

For Don Merlino, everything must meet the same eco-friendly standards, including the technology that allows the property to promote itself and secure bookings. Therefore, when it came to choosing the right PMS for his ecolodge, the choice naturally fell on Zak, the hotel management system by WuBook.

The reason is quite simple: Zak is developed according to the principles of green coding, a programming method that seeks to limit the energy consumption generated by servers when executing an algorithm.

What does this mean? It means that the software enabling Zak to operate has a reduced environmental impact because it is optimized in terms of code and operational efficiency.

But that’s not all: having always been sensitive to environmental issues, the entire company is committed to fostering conscious and sustainable growth by adopting sustainable practices even in daily routines. These include, for example, the prudent management of internal communications, including emails and chat messages that place a burden on the machines that must process them. Moving to offline practices, virtuous habits also include recycling, the use of whole coffee beans—which avoid non-compostable capsules—and reusable accessories (such as ceramic mugs) or those made from biodegradable materials.

The proximity between the hotel and WuBook Italia’s headquarters also played an important role in Don Merlino’s decision, as he preferred to partner with a local company. This proximity makes the collaboration more personal and efficient. In fact, efficiency is a top priority, and Zak is no exception.

Zak for La Forestale

The results achieved by La Forestale in recent years are undoubtedly due to the owner’s ability to attract the right audience and satisfy guests—and with a location like this, it’s not hard to believe. On the other hand, to ensure optimal service in every aspect, WuBook’s all-in-one PMS is the ideal resource. Just consider that, currently, the ecolodge utilizes all the main operational features, such as creating rooms, rates, and customized packages, and managing check-ins and check-outs thanks to Online Reception.

In addition to these, there are:

• the Booking Engine, for recording direct bookings on the website;
• the Channel Manager, for selling rooms on online distribution channels;
• the PII package for generating Istat and Alloggiati reports to submit guest registration forms to the Police Headquarters, one of the main obligations for hotels in Italy;
• the Finance package, for managing all accounting;
• the zCrm dashboard for creating and customizing quotes.

A comprehensive offering that covers all the property’s management needs and ethical requirements, meeting the high standards of both guests and the owner. The icing on the cake? Human customer service (no bots) that’s always available: “The guys and girls at WuBook support are a fantastic team!”

Take it from Don Merlino.