In the past, hotel management software was only capable of managing room assignments and guest invoices, functioning as little more than an advanced version of an Excel spreadsheet.
Times that are not the same.
The abundance of cutting-edge solutions, widgets, features, and functions in modern hotel technology can be overwhelming to keep up with.
A complete technology stack, consisting of channel managers, guest-facing applications, real-time tracking, and contactless check-in, is essential for effective centralization.
Continue reading to discover the most suitable hotel management software for your business and enhance your efficiency, personalization, and profitability.
10 best hotel management system software
Our list includes hotel management systems that receive excellent ratings on various product review platforms, provide integrations for different booking channels, automate hotel check-in processes, and enhance the guest experience through task management tools that aid you and your team.
Operto
Characteristics or attributes
- Manage the entire guest stay from check-in to in-room control to check-out, to housekeeping, maintenance, and more, all on the same operating system.
- Give guests smart control and communication throughout their stay with one dedicated guest portal.
- Enable contactless and online check-in , keyless entry , in-room information, and personalizable in-room controls via smart devices such as connected thermostats, AC, and lights.
- Connect all of your vacation rental software in one centralized hub : from the PMS to your smart devices.
- Consistent for guests, staff, and managers , all on the same platform.
- Integrate with PMS tools such as Mews, WebRezPro, and Cloudbeds (see below), to provide a bridge to even more functionality.
- Impress your customers : an amazing 90.6% told Operto they were completely happy with their hospitality management software!
Ideal for hoteliers who seek automated solutions beyond booking and prioritize a high-end guest experience through the integration of intelligent technology.
Mews
Essential characteristics:
- Cloud-based software that automates all operations from booking to check-out to revenue management
- Can be used from hotelier’s phone
- Integrates with external channel managers
- Manages reservations, revenue, housekeeping, the guest journey , payments, and more
- Includes a full suite of support options including emergency phone support and an online Knowledge Base.
Ideal for:
- A solid all-around solution for mid-size operations (note: integrations are limited outside of the enterprise plan)
Cloudbeds
Critical characteristics:
- Works well for all types of properties, including small boutiques right up to larger chains; rentals, hostels, and B&Bs.
- Operates on all devices including smartphones.
- Uses a centralized system that includes a PMS, booking engine, revenue management tool, payment processor, and finance reporting.
- Native channel manager
- Offers “hospitality consultants” to work with you to “boost reservations and save time,” plus 24/7 support
Ideal for:
- Businesses looking for a user-friendly digital booking solution.
eZee Absolute
Main characteristics:
- All-in-one hotel operation management system
- Also includes a mobile app that can send alerts and produce reports
- Flexible enough to oversee multiple properties and guests on a single platform
- Also includes payments and a POS (point-of-sale) system
- Works as a channel manager, with a single automatically-updating dashboard for all your online distribution channels
- Also securely manages guest data and sensitive information in the same platform via customizable user accounts
Ideal for:
- Businesses that don’t want a full range of features for their PMS can essentially pick and choose which ones they value most.
StayNTouch
Main characteristics:
- A cloud-based technology that “frees your staff from the front desk,” automating and digitizing your entire system remotely
- Offers front desk operations, rate management, reservations, housekeeping, and financial information all within the same system
- Works with its own Guest Mobility (mobile) and Guest Kiosk systems for increased guest control from check-in to check-out
- A big range of integrations to all major software partners, across everything from keyless entry to guest payments, to TV and WiFi to finance and accounting
- Prioritizes making it easy for staff to upsell and drive revenue
Optimal for
- Hoteliers focused on speeding the check-in and check-out process with a smart solution with helpful onboarding.
WebRezPro
Main characteristics:
- A flexible PMS for all kinds of businesses, from B&Bs to larger hotel groups
- Cloud management system allows easy remote access
- Includes functionality for front desk operations, housekeeping, rate management, reports, accounting, a booking engine, and payment processing integration, such as Stripe
Optimal for
- Vacation property managers looking for a simple, accessible platform.
Little Hotelier
Important characteristics:
- Cloud-based, all-in-one solution designed for small hotels and B&Bs
- Designed to connect with both international and domestic guests
- Mobile app
- Takes electronic payments, manages your calendar and online room bookings, enables you to set smart, competitive pricing, and shows real-time channel analytics
- Offers email, phone and chat support, plus tutorial webinars and live help online
Best for
- Small hotels, motels, and cabin rentals with international guests in need of user-friendly software with a quick set-up.
innRoad
of the new product include advanced technology and user-friendly design.
- An all-in-one PMS that includes a task manager for cleaning staff
- Mobile optimized
- Automated upsells
- Real-time sync rates on all the leading OTAs
- Daily updates on key metrics, such as occupancy rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR)
Optimal for
- First-time PMS users who want user-friendly software with responsive customer support.
Hotel Connect
of Characteristics
- User-friendly reservation management interface
- A simple rates manager layout
- One-click payments with only 1% charged in card fees
- Advanced reports to give you oversight on which channels are working for you best, average daily rates (ADR), and monthly revenues
Optimal for
- Independent hotels that value ease of use over highly advanced, feature-rich solutions.
Hotelogix
of the product include a sleek design and advanced technology, making it a top choice among consumers.
- Intuitive reservation chat tool for a virtual front desk
- Automated SMS guest confirmations
- Real-time rates and inventory management
- KPI tracking within the PMS
Choosing the optimal option
- Small to mid-market vacation properties who want ease of use with their PMS.
How to choose the right hotel software
The 2023 top hotel management systems offer a wide variety of features and abilities that allow you to find the specific solution that suits your business requirements. These systems can facilitate your communication with major online travel agencies and also enable you to automate your internal operations and optimize guest experiences by using intelligent technology.
As you prioritize your needs and preferences, selecting the appropriate hotel software can be a thrilling undertaking.
BONUS: Top 5 hotel reservation software you can consider
To facilitate your search and streamline your choice, let us examine eight top-notch options for booking hotels.
1. TravelPerk
TravelPerk offers a comprehensive travel management solution that caters to businesses of various sizes. Its wide range of affordable hotel options simplifies the process of booking business travel and accommodation. Moreover, TravelPerk provides an unparalleled selection of travel-related options beyond hotels, including flights, car rentals, trains, and more.
Additionally, you are only required to make payments when you go on a trip, without any set charges or recurring expenses.
Main strengths:
- Flexible travel : one of TravelPerk’s strongest features is its FlexiPerk solution—which enables you to book refundable trips. If your plans change, you can cancel your reservations up to 2 hours in advance and get at least 80% of your money back.
- VAT-recovery solution : TravelPerk makes VAT recovery simpler than ever. You can easily reclaim all your VAT expenses for trips within the EU—enabling you to save up to 20% on your travel expenditure. Unsure of how much you can save? Try the free VAT recovery calculator , and discover how beneficial a VAT-recovery solution can be for your business.
- Risk management solutions : TravelCare gives you a high degree of protection against any kind of travel risk or uncertainties with real-time updates, easy access to support, and complete visibility about possible disruptions. Safeguard your employees’ wellbeing and get complete visibility on their travels through a single dashboard.
- Ease of use : TravelPerk is both simple to use, and easy to integrate into your business workflows. It requires no training and can be onboarded to your company workflow the same day.
- 24/7 customer support : get expert advice to plan the most convenient trips for your team. With TravelPerk’s seasoned support, planning trips is simple and efficient. Plus, TravelPerk experts are with you in 15 seconds or less, making their support services unrivaled in the industry.
TravelPerk is an impressive platform that enables you to easily reserve cost-effective accommodations and seamlessly design thorough travel plans. Additionally, numerous other functions are available to streamline your business voyages.
2. Airbnb for Work
Airbnb for Work is an internet booking platform for corporate lodging worldwide. It offers an array of distinctive lodging options for your staff ranging from upscale hotels and furnished apartments to holiday homes, youth hostels, roadside inns, and beyond.
Airbnb addresses corporate travel requirements by offering expense reports and ensuring duty of care.
Main strengths:
- A large inventory : ensure you have ample choice when it comes to stay options.
- Ease of online booking : for extended periods rather than just overnight.
- Work dashboard : that’s integrated with expense tracker and centralized billing.
- Integrations for risk management : to ensure a safe experience for your traveling employees.
- Shared payment methods : to ensure employees are never paying out-of-pocket.
Airbnb for Work presents a practical option for organizations of various scopes to handle all their reservation requirements in a centralized location. In case you desire expanded capabilities from your travel solutions, TravelPerk allows you to make reservations for Airbnb through its concierge service. Choose a comprehensive tool that fulfills all your travel needs to obtain greater advantages from your travel solution.
3. Booking.com
With a focus on corporate travel, Booking.com is a major player in the hotel sector. Its comprehensive solution empowers travel agents and managers to seamlessly organize entire trips, while its hotel booking platform boasts an extensive range of 1.2 million accommodations.
Main strengths:
- Quicker bookings : 35% faster reservation process compared to legacy booking tools.
- Cost-efficient : comes with no subscription fees or ongoing costs, plus zero booking fees.
- Risk management : strict safety measures followed by all accommodation partners.
- Massive variety : pick a hotel, hostel, BnB, vacation rental or more over a million choices.
- AI personalization : get customized hotel recommendations based on your preferences.
Booking.com prides itself on its advanced technology that aims to simplify corporate travel management. It is important to highlight that TravelPerk consolidates all of Booking.com’s offerings, along with additional options, in its in-app search outcomes.
4. Agoda
Agoda provides a comprehensive travel management solution with a hotel reservation platform that can be customized with a white-label. Its vast portfolio includes 2.5 million properties across 200 nations, offering hassle-free solutions for travel managers.
Main strengths:
- Robust API : gives hassle-free access to its inventory and accommodation options.
- Greater flexibility : make reservations for a few hours or daycations using the “day use” feature and save costs.
- Intuitive mobile app : offers the convenience of booking on the go with complete functionality.
- Rewards program : win incentives for your bookings and double down on savings.
- Customer support : available 24/7 in 16 different languages via call, app, and chat.
For travel managers seeking distinct lodging deals at affordable prices and an easy booking process, Agoda represents an alternative.
5. Kayak
With partnerships with more than 2500 travel providers, Kayak serves as a robust hotel search and reservation engine. The platform sifts through several booking sites to present you with the most suitable offers for every accommodation. This service allows you to book your stay without incurring additional expenses such as subscriptions or obscured fees.
Main strengths:
- Map-based search : simplify your search for hotels within budget through a simple map of your destination showing property and price markings.
- Great filters : filter through multiple properties to get the best-in-class rates and locations.
- Policy compliance : all-in-one solution for approval and booking process in line with your corporate travel policy.
- Accurate reporting : assess your travel spend on accommodation with automatic reports.
- Track prices : keep a tab on the rates for your shortlisted properties before you book to ensure you’re getting the best deal.
Kayak functions as a search engine that compiles hotel rates from various websites and presents them to users. Its business-oriented approach allows travel managers to have more authority when scheduling and supervising trips.
