Categories   >   CRS System Software
Last Reviewed: November 15th, 2024

Best CRS System Software Of 2024

What is CRS System Software?

A Central Reservation System (CRS) - a type of software utilized primarily in the hospitality industry - facilitates streamlined management of individual property's room inventory, rates, and reservations. The purpose of a CRS is to centralize all pertinent data, establishing flawless operation, and to address common industry headaches such as double bookings and manual mistakes. The software's core benefits include flawless navigation of reservation processes, efficient inventory management, and enhanced customer service offerings. Rich8 features, such as real-time analytics, integrations with Property Management Systems (PMS), and artificial intelligence are leading the next evolution of CRS. The software primarily assists hotels, airlines, and car rental service providers, with the tourism and hospitality industry deriving the maximum utility. Potential limitations center on high costs of procurement and training requirements. Summarizing, the CRS system software is compelling for its ability to streamline and enrich reservation management, offering valuable efficiency gains, and an improved guest experience.

What Are The Key Benefits of CRS System Software?

  • Streamlines Reservation Management
  • Reduces Booking Errors
  • Enhances Customer Service
  • Optimizes Inventory Control
  • Centralizes Crucial Data
  • Improves Business Efficiency
  • Enables Real-Time Analytics
  • Integrates with PMS
  • Facilitates Revenue Management
  • Supports Multiple Distribution Channels
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Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 29 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best CRS System Software overall:

Mews
Mews
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Key Features

  • Cloud Deployment: Offers a highly customizable and extensively open cloud-based platform with innovative APIs. Allows users to connect to external cloud-deployed solutions dealing with property data, revenue management and POS systems.  
  • Property Management: Operate reservations, revenue, housekeeping and front-office from one place. View and customize bookings from a centralized, real-time dashboard with unique features to manage group reservations. Maximize profits through inventory and rate optimization and efficient housekeeping management.  
  • Easy Bookings: Customize guests’ booking experience with an intuitive booking engine that includes price comparison, currency and language change options.  
  • Effortless Guest Handling: Digitize all guest experiences, including check-ins, check-outs and personal key card activation to ensure short waiting periods.  
  • Automated Payments: Facilitates secure payments with end-to-end encryption and PCI DSS compliance. Provides flexible and convenient methods to let customers pay at any point. With inventory updates and payment reporting, it also syncs with modern payment options, web wallets being the latest addition.  
  • Seamless Integrations: Select from the industry’s leading 450+ solutions to improve hotel operations, ranging from revenue management to upselling to legal environments. Some featured platforms are Atomize, Oaky and SiteMinder.  
  • Immersive Analytics: Track the property’s progress with comprehensive visual dashboards consisting of exhaustive reports and analytics from all sectors. Compare performances with other properties by accessing anonymized data through leaderboards.  

Quore
Quore
Start Price
$135
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Quore

Is Quore truly at the "core" of efficient hotel operations, or is it just another suite hoping to check in? User reviews from the past year paint a somewhat mixed picture. While many appreciate Quore's comprehensive approach to managing hotel tasks, some have voiced concerns about its complexity and occasional glitches.

Fans of the software rave about its ability to streamline communication between departments, citing the example of maintenance requests being automatically routed to the appropriate staff member. This, they say, reduces response times and improves accountability. However, several users have pointed out that the sheer number of features can be overwhelming, especially for smaller hotels with limited staff. The learning curve is steep, and training new employees on the system can be time-consuming. Another sticking point is the occasional bug or system slowdown, which can disrupt operations, particularly during peak hours.

What sets Quore apart, according to users, is its focus on data-driven insights. The platform provides detailed reports on everything from guest requests to staff productivity, allowing managers to identify areas for improvement. This granular level of analysis is invaluable for optimizing operations and boosting profitability. However, some users have expressed a desire for more customization options within the reporting dashboard.

Overall, Quore seems best suited for larger hotels or hotel groups with dedicated staff and a strong technological infrastructure. Its comprehensive feature set and data-driven approach can be a game-changer for those willing to invest the time and resources to fully utilize its capabilities. However, smaller hotels with limited budgets and staff may find it overwhelming and expensive.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Operations: Quore helps hotels manage tasks and communication more efficiently, reducing the need for multiple systems and improving overall workflow.
  • Improved Guest Experience: By centralizing guest requests and feedback, Quore allows hotels to respond quickly and proactively, enhancing guest satisfaction.
  • Data-Driven Insights: Quore provides valuable data on guest preferences and operational performance, enabling hotels to make informed decisions and optimize their services.
  • Enhanced Team Collaboration: Quore facilitates seamless communication and collaboration among hotel staff, improving team efficiency and productivity.
  • Limited Integrations: Quore doesn't integrate with many popular hotel management systems, forcing users to manually input data or rely on workarounds.
  • Steep Learning Curve: The platform's interface can be complex and overwhelming for new users, requiring significant time and effort to master.
  • Lack of Customization: Quore's limited customization options can make it difficult to tailor the platform to specific hotel needs, leading to inefficiencies.
  • Customer Support Issues: Some users have reported slow response times and difficulty getting help from Quore's customer support team.

Key Features

  • Property Management: Track the condition, brand, model and warranty of inventories and hotel assets. Ensure availability of adequate staff with an attendance tracking system that allows recording of employee’s time-off, vacation and sick days. 
  • Appliance Readings: Maintain and record boiler, pool chemical and meter readings electronically to prevent unforeseen mishaps. Customize checklists and preventive maintenance for operational compliance. 
  • Cloud Deployment: Streamline overall functionality from anywhere with a cloud-based platform powered by Amazon Web Services. Offers mobile applications for Android and iOS devices. 
  • Guest Services: Share and maintain an e-log book to store vital information ranging from check-ins, check-outs, wake-up calls to cash counts and ADA compliances. Ensure robust fulfillment of guest requests and complaints. 
  • Multilingual Interface: Enabled with 22 languages to help guests from diverse backgrounds communicate easily. 
  • Room Maintenance: Schedule and manage room cleanings, guestroom inspections and room status. Track lost and found items through its intuitive database. Prioritize tasks using the task management and tracking software. 
  • Real-Time Data Analysis: With an immersive property management dashboard, get property overviews, track average response time and guest satisfaction. Compare data and forecast sales to increase revenue. 
ResNexus
ResNexus
Start Price
$30
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked ResNexus

ResNexus is a robust property management platform that helps property managers manage hotels, campgrounds, restaurants and rental properties of all sizes. It offers direct connections to OTAs and marketing channels to increase reservations and revenue.

With customizable reports, users can track their retail sales, marketing efforts and utilities. The system helps add incremental value to the business by facilitating retail and souvenir sales at the property and online.

The platform offers a customizable booking engine that can easily integrate with existing property websites. Many users appreciate the vendor’s one-on-one customer support. Additionally, emergency support after regular work hours can assist with urgent issues and incidents.

The overall sentiment of the product is positive, but users complain about the onboarding and implementation process being time-consuming. Also, the UI isn’t intuitive and involves a steep learning curve.

This feature-rich software is a good choice for medium and large-sized property management enterprises. However, it can be overwhelming for small businesses without adequate technical expertise.

Pros & Cons

  • Booking Engine: The interface is highly customizable and integrates smoothly with existing property websites, according to 82% of reviews on the booking engine.
  • Customer Support: Every user is assigned a specialized point of contact for support to ensure better and faster responses, according to 89% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Reporting: 73% of users reviewing this feature said they were satisfied with the template library and ease of generating reports.
  • OTA Connections: Easily connects with every major OTA and maintains consistent data across every channel, according to 87% of reviews on OTA integrations.
  • Secondary Sources of Revenue: Supports ancillary income sources like gift shops, souvenir selling, restaurant POS and more, according to 81% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Lengthy Implementation: Onboarding and implementation are time-consuming and require technical expertise, according to 93% of reviews on performance.
  • User Interface: 63% of reviews on the UI mentioned that it’s not intuitive and involves a steep learning curve.

Key Features

  • Booking: Accept real-time bookings online and via phone, with automated confirmation emails. Manage large bookings for weddings, conferences, reunions and more. View a snapshot of upcoming reservations for up to 90 days and check availability using the Reservation Grid.
  • Business Website: Add logos, headers, backgrounds and colors to meet branding preferences and create a seamless transition into the booking engine. Use custom HTML to edit the navigation bar. 
  • On-Site Services: Operate more efficiently and simplify on-site services by digitizing management with the following modules: 
    • Front Desk: Check guests into and out of properties and note personal details while making reservations to include in future check-ins, welcome and thank-you emails, ensuring a more personalized front desk experience. 
    • Housekeeping: Streamline processes using checklists and help employees perform efficiently. Keep track of all units through a comprehensive status chart that includes a cleaning schedule, a list of responsible staff, required cleaning type and time, and room status.
    • Guest Management: Decrease workload and manage guests with an intuitive interface and practical tools. Categorize guest history into interest groups based on patterns for targeted marketing schemes. Maintain PCI compliance for stored consumer data through third-party audits.
    • Property: Support and manage multiple properties with a single application, scalable according to business size and growth. Track check-ins and check-outs, anniversaries and surprise bookings on a unified dashboard using a reservation calendar. 
  • Marketing Channels: Integrate with popular online travel agencies (OTAs) like Expedia, Booking.com, TripAdvisor and Airbnb to increase virtual inventory visibility and boost occupancy rates.
  • Lightspeed Restaurant: Beneficial for restaurant owners, this cloud-based PoS system helps process orders, transfer charges, store and view data, and more. 
  • Retail and Gift Shop: Manage alternative revenue sources like gift and souvenir shops with a built-in POS system. Manage inventories, showcase items on a booking engine and upsell additional products and services to guests.
  • Direct Billing: Streamline the check-out process by creating house accounts for frequent customers. Bill room costs and other expenses to the parent company directly, bypassing reimbursement requests or expense reports. 
  • Yield Management: Align unit costs according to competition, season and volume with dynamic pricing. Choose occupancy limits, dates and rooms, and adjust prices automatically. 
  • Accounting: Track and manage sales, invoices and accounting data on the cloud through partnership with QuickBooks. Save time by exporting data whenever required and automating data entry. 
  • Reporting and Analysis: Make informed business decisions using more than 65 built-in reports. Keep track of daily finances and extract the most relevant data. Integrations with Google Analytics or custom analysis scripts are available. 
WebRezPro
WebRezPro
Start Price
$96
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked WebRezPro

Over the past year, users have consistently given WebRezPro a thumbs-up for its user-friendliness, flexibility, and top-notch customer support. It's like having a personal assistant who knows the hotel biz inside and out. Users rave about how easy it is to juggle bookings from multiple platforms, avoiding double bookings and keeping availability up-to-date – talk about a lifesaver! Plus, the customer service team is always ready to lend a hand, making you feel like a valued guest rather than just another customer.

However, no software is perfect, and WebRezPro has its quirks. Some users have mentioned occasional hiccups with stability and performance, like a temperamental Wi-Fi connection. And while it covers many popular online travel agencies, it could benefit from expanding its reach to include more local platforms – think of all the hidden gems it could unlock! Despite these minor drawbacks, WebRezPro remains a solid choice for businesses of all sizes, from cozy bed and breakfasts to sprawling resorts. Its ease of use, flexibility, and stellar customer support make it a reliable companion for navigating the ever-changing world of hospitality. So, if you're looking for a hotel management software that's both powerful and user-friendly, WebRezPro might just be your perfect match.

Pros & Cons

  • Comprehensive Feature Set: WebRezPro offers a wide range of features, including a booking engine, property management system, channel manager, and more. This allows hotels to manage all aspects of their operations from a single platform.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The software is designed to be easy to use, even for those with no prior experience with property management systems. This can help to reduce training time and costs.
  • Cloud-Based: WebRezPro is a cloud-based solution, which means that it can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This can be beneficial for hotels with multiple locations or remote employees.
  • Integrations: The software integrates with a variety of third-party applications, such as payment processors, accounting software, and marketing tools. This can help to streamline operations and improve efficiency.
  • Scalability: WebRezPro is scalable to meet the needs of hotels of all sizes. This means that it can grow with your business.
  • Usability Challenges: Users have reported that the system can be cumbersome and counterintuitive, leading to a steep learning curve and ongoing operational inefficiencies. The interface is often described as outdated and clunky, making it difficult to navigate and perform tasks efficiently.
  • Limited Customization: WebRezPro may not offer the level of flexibility required by some properties, particularly those with unique or complex operational needs. Customization options for reports, reservations, and guest communications can be restricted, hindering the ability to tailor the system to specific workflows.
  • Reporting Limitations: Generating comprehensive and insightful reports can be a challenge. Users have noted that the reporting functionality lacks depth and flexibility, making it difficult to extract meaningful data for informed decision-making. Customizing reports to meet specific requirements can also be cumbersome.
  • Integrations and Connectivity: Integrating WebRezPro with other essential hotel systems, such as revenue management or customer relationship management (CRM) tools, can be complex and may require additional development or custom solutions. This can limit the ability to streamline operations and leverage data across different platforms.

Key Features

  • Booking Engine: Streamline booking experiences by choosing between parallel and carousel booking engines. Allows guests to navigate through different rooms in multiple languages and currencies with access to pictures without any processing charges. 
  • Centralized Dashboards: Use centralized dashboards to track and schedule bookings, inspections and maintenance issues. With automated government compliance tax reports, train staff quickly to prevent manual errors. 
  • Guest Handling: Schedule and track check-ins, check-outs, capture electronic signatures, manage group bookings and enable paperless transactions. 
  • Integrations: Cloud-based deployments allow collaboration with other revenue management, POS and entertainment systems. Zenya, Travelclick, Tripadvisor, Airbnb are some of the 100+ platforms available. 
  • Real-Time Reports and Analytics: Analyze and generate monthly, sales, daily reconciliation and custom reservation reports to track performances. 
  • Financial Overviews: Monitor receivables, invoices, investor payouts, commissions, deposits, customer profiles, vendors and taxes with its intelligent accounting module. 
Cloudbeds
Cloudbeds
Start Price
$100
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Cloudbeds

Has your hotel's software gone up in smoke? If so, Cloudbeds might be the answer to your prayers. Cloudbeds is a hotel management software that has been making waves in the hospitality industry, but what are users saying about it?

Cloudbeds receives high praise for its user-friendly interface and intuitive design, making it a breeze for hotel staff to navigate and manage daily operations. The software's comprehensive suite of features, including reservation management, channel management, and guest engagement tools, eliminates the need for multiple disjointed systems. Users particularly appreciate the channel manager's ability to seamlessly connect with over 300 distribution channels, streamlining the booking process and maximizing occupancy rates. Cloudbeds' pricing structure, based on the number of rooms, is lauded for its affordability and scalability, making it accessible to hotels of all sizes. However, some users have noted occasional glitches and a desire for more advanced reporting features.

Cloudbeds distinguishes itself from competitors by offering an all-in-one solution that caters to various property types, from small bed and breakfasts to large hotel chains. Its robust functionality, combined with its ease of use and affordability, makes it a compelling choice for hoteliers seeking to optimize operations and enhance guest satisfaction. Cloudbeds is particularly well-suited for independent hotels and boutique properties looking for a comprehensive and cost-effective solution to manage their operations. Its scalability ensures that it can grow alongside a hotel's evolving needs, making it a valuable long-term investment.

Pros & Cons

  • Centralized System: Cloudbeds allows users to manage reservations, guest communications, housekeeping, and reporting all within one platform, eliminating the need for multiple software solutions.
  • Channel Management: The platform simplifies the management of room availability across various booking channels, including online travel agencies and the hotel's website, reducing the risk of overbooking and streamlining the reservation process.
  • Automation: Cloudbeds automates tasks such as guest communications, payment processing, and report generation, saving time and reducing the potential for human error.
  • Guest Engagement: Features like automated messaging and a guest portal enhance communication with guests, improving the overall guest experience.
  • Scalability: Cloudbeds is suitable for properties of all sizes, from small bed and breakfasts to large hotel chains, making it a flexible solution for businesses with growth aspirations.
  • Limited Customization: Cloudbeds' user interface can be challenging to customize to specific hotel workflows, leading to inefficiencies and workarounds. For instance, tailoring reports or modifying reservation displays might require technical expertise or additional development.
  • Learning Curve: The platform's extensive features and functionalities can present a steep learning curve for new users, potentially requiring significant training and onboarding time for hotel staff to become proficient.
  • Integrations: While Cloudbeds offers various integrations, some users report limitations or challenges with specific third-party tools, potentially impacting data synchronization or workflow automation.
  • Customer Support: Response times and resolution effectiveness can vary, leading to potential delays in addressing critical issues or obtaining necessary assistance.

Key Features

  • Occupancy Manager: Track reservations with an intuitive booking engine. Sync data from OTAs and other tools to prevent overbooking and ensure maximum occupancy.  
  • Bookings: Enable customers to make direct bookings without extra charges. With multiple languages and currencies, guests can make reservations from anywhere.  
  • Property Overview: Manage properties, track check-ins and check-outs and get reservation overviews. Communicate with staff and customize roles using a powerful and user-friendly interface. Its reporting and analytics module generates production, financial, daily activity and inventory reports.  
  • Booking Channels: Powered by 300+ online booking channels like Airbnb, Expedia, Yatra and TripAdvisor, take and track reservations from a centralized pool. With reliable updates, customize prices, currencies and emails.  
  • Revenue Management: The in-built pricing intelligence engine (PIE) aids in maximizing revenue by comparing competitors’ prices, alerting about market trends and automating rates and rules in real time.  
  • Integrations: Combine data with tools and services from different categories. Integrate solutions seamlessly from accounting, guest communication, government invoicing, ID scan and more.  
  • Secure Payments: Process sensitive data with automated payments. PCI DSS and SCA compliance make transactions safe. Offers multiple payment methods and gateways like PayPal, Stripe and PayU.
ThinkReservations
ThinkReservations
Start Price
$50
Monthly, Quote-based
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Why We Picked ThinkReservations

ThinkReservations has garnered a mixed bag of feedback over the past year. Users appreciate its robust features, particularly its channel management capabilities, which streamline the process of managing bookings across various platforms like Booking.com and Expedia. The software's comprehensive reporting tools also receive praise for providing valuable insights into business performance. However, several users express frustration with the platform's clunky interface and steep learning curve, finding it cumbersome to navigate and master. ThinkReservations' pricing structure, which involves add-on modules for certain features, also draws criticism for being expensive compared to competitors who offer more inclusive packages.

ThinkReservations distinguishes itself with its strong focus on independent properties and its commitment to data security, appealing to hoteliers who prioritize these aspects. The platform's direct booking capabilities and integration with local payment gateways further enhance its suitability for independent hotels. However, its limitations in handling complex group bookings and its lack of certain advanced marketing features might deter larger hotel chains or those with extensive marketing needs.

In conclusion, ThinkReservations seems like a good fit for independent boutique hotels and B&Bs seeking a reliable and secure solution with robust channel management and reporting capabilities. However, properties requiring a user-friendly interface, advanced marketing tools, or extensive group booking functionality might want to explore other options. Keep in mind that the software landscape is constantly evolving, so it's always a good idea to check for the latest updates and reviews before making a decision.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Operations: ThinkReservations helps to simplify daily tasks through automation, such as guest confirmations and payment processing, allowing your team to focus on providing excellent guest service.
  • Improved Efficiency: The platform offers tools to manage reservations, housekeeping, and guest communications, which can lead to more efficient operations and potentially reduce staffing costs.
  • Enhanced Guest Experience: Features like online booking, mobile check-in, and automated messaging contribute to a smoother and more convenient guest experience, potentially leading to higher guest satisfaction and positive reviews.
  • Data-Driven Insights: ThinkReservations provides reporting and analytics tools that offer valuable insights into your property's performance, enabling you to make informed decisions to optimize revenue and operations.
  • Limited Customization: Users have expressed frustration with the lack of flexibility in customizing certain features, such as modifying confirmation emails or creating unique packages.
  • Reporting Limitations: Some users find the reporting capabilities to be somewhat restrictive, making it challenging to extract specific data or generate custom reports tailored to their needs.
  • Integrations: While ThinkReservations offers some integrations, users have noted that it may not seamlessly integrate with all the tools and systems they use, potentially leading to workflow disruptions.
  • Usability Concerns: A segment of users have mentioned that the interface can feel a bit clunky or outdated at times, impacting the overall user experience.

Key Features

  • Guest Handling: Its intuitive booking engine improves the booking experience with an easy-to-use interface. Guests can book by room or room type. Enables guests to avail discounts and offers or add services and products.  
  • Property Overview: Optimize business operations with a robust reservation calendar and report suite. View reservations and their statistics. Change prices quickly according to occupancy and demand. 
  • Channel Manager: Customize prices and restrictions and deposit policies with different OTAs. Sync and manage reservations across platforms with automatic updates, preventing underselling and overbooking.  
  • Automated Payments: Process payments instantly and securely using PCI compliance systems. Integrates MPI, Stripe, Braintree and Authorize.net to simplify hotel credit card processing. 
  • Integrations: Integrations from various services like marketing, retargeting, guest experience, reputation management and analytics help improve management.  
  • Cloud Deployment: Clients and staff can access data from anywhere and anytime. Supports a mobile-ready reservation booking system.  
InnRoad
InnRoad
Start Price
$150
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked InnRoad

InnRoad has garnered a mixed bag of feedback from its users over the past year. Some hoteliers sing its praises for its user-friendly interface and its ability to streamline hotel management tasks, leading to improved efficiency. On the flip side, others point out its hefty price tag and the absence of certain features as drawbacks. A recurring theme in positive reviews is the software's comprehensive reservation system, which seamlessly integrates with a hotel's website and automates connections with third-party booking platforms, minimizing the risk of overbooking or double-booking. Users also appreciate the ability to create packages and bundles with varying rate structures, catering to different guest preferences. However, some users find the interface, which relies heavily on small icons with minimal text, to have a steep learning curve initially. Despite this, the overall consensus is that InnRoad is a reliable and robust software solution for hotels seeking to enhance their operational efficiency. It's particularly well-suited for establishments that handle a high volume of bookings and require a system that can automate tasks and reduce manual errors.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Operations: InnRoad offers a comprehensive suite of tools that can be used to manage all aspects of a hotel's operations, from reservations and housekeeping to accounting and reporting. This can help to save time and improve efficiency.
  • Improved Guest Experience: The platform includes features that can help hotels to provide a better guest experience, such as online booking, mobile check-in, and guest messaging. This can lead to increased guest satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Increased Revenue: InnRoad can help hotels to increase revenue by providing tools for managing rates and inventory, as well as by offering integrations with online travel agencies (OTAs). This can help hotels to attract more guests and generate more bookings.
  • Limited Functionality: InnRoad may not be suitable for larger hotels or those with complex needs due to its limitations in features and integrations.
  • Usability Challenges: Users have reported that the software can be difficult to navigate and use, with a steep learning curve and a lack of intuitive design.
  • Customer Support Issues: Some users have expressed dissatisfaction with the level of customer support provided by InnRoad, citing slow response times and unhelpful support staff.

Key Features

  • Property Management: Manage reservations and update inventory and rates from a single location. Coordinate housekeeping tasks by prioritizing and assigning duties to staff. 
  • Guest Handling: Ensure an effortless booking experience with quick booking confirmations, multi-room and group reservations and a mobile-friendly application. Attract more direct bookings by guaranteeing the best rates on the website. Enhance guest stays by upscaling services and products.  
  • Booking Channel: Connect with top-rated OTA’s like Expedia, Airbnb, Tripadvisor and Booking.com and manage them efficiently by customizing rates and dates from a single place to prevent overbooking. Sync all bookings automatically. 
  • Revenue Management: Customize occupancy and revenue goals and access real-time predictive analytics. Monitor daily, weekly and monthly goals and compare them with previous years’ performances.
  • Surge Alerts: Prevent double occupancy and overbooking and ensure maximum revenue by leveraging surge alerts. Update rates and inventory for dates during maximum occupancy.
  • Secure Payments: It is PCI-DSS and GDPR compliant with end-to-end encryption and helps process credit card payments safely. With negotiated processing charges and a centralized payment dashboard, manage expenses, chargebacks and deposits.
  • Analytics: Generate reports such as net sales, room forecasting and daily flash using its reporting capabilities. Track highest performing booking channels. The demand management feature aids in analyzing performances and tracking the average daily rate (ADR).  
Lodgify
Lodgify
Start Price
$11
Annual, Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Lodgify

Lodgify is a compact solution helping property managers consolidate marketing, booking, maintenance and accounting workflows in one platform. It provides a simple UI and unifies booking, reservation and payment processes across every marketing channel for easy tracking.

But reviews note that the software lacks intricate features for hotel management. It provides limited integrations with partner vendors, restricting choices for non-European users. All things considered, Lodgify might not suit hotel chains or global enterprises, but it’s an ideal fit for vacation and rental managers with small to mid-sized portfolios.

Pros & Cons

  • Intuitive Interface: Lodgify offers a simple interface and an easy website builder, according to 93% of users reviewing the UI.
  • Connected Experience: 96% of reviews on this aspect mentioned that the software compiles all relevant information, communications and booking data in one place to improve property management.
  • Customer Support: The support suite provides agile responses and a rich knowledge base, according to 68% of reviews on customer support.
  • Customizations: 84% of reviews on the website builder said it lacks helpful elements like sliding content, the ability to add text blocks, robust metasearch and more.
  • Hotel Management: The platform doesn’t provide nuanced features like group bookings, promo customizations and report variation and offers limited integrations, according to all the reviews on hotel management.

Key Features

  • Guest Communication: Engage with guests through automated messages, emails and calls from their bookings until departure. Improve guest satisfaction by sending a property and location guide.  
  • Booking Engine: Expedite direct bookings and control reservations from a centralized dashboard. Integrate seamlessly with the highest-rated payment gateways to process credit card transactions from all currencies, including PayPal, Stripe, Braintree and Authorize.net. Allows bank transfers, checks and cash payments.  
  • Task Management: Coordinate staff ranging from ground-level employees to managers to streamline workflows. Overview task distribution by assigning specific tasks to staff members and get notifications on completion. 
  • Automation Tools: Minimize time on recurring tasks through versatile automation tools. Automate pre-arrival check-in forms, prerequisite requirement texts and rates with price management tools.  
  • Analytics: Analyze property performance, occupancy rates, income, payments and cost incurred in a centralized dashboard — leverage Google Analytics to increase bookings and know which channels drive more web traffic. Generate reports to comprehend the exact statistics.  
  • Integrations: Synchronize reservations with top OTAs and prevent over and double bookings. Update calendars and rates using the intuitive channel manager. API integrations such as Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com and HomeAway aid in managing listings.  
  • Revenue Manager: Get detailed statements, summaries and invoices and keep track of earnings from bookings.  
  • Website Builder: Provides an easy-to-use interface with SEO-compatible templates to create engaging websites.  
SiteMinder
SiteMinder
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked SiteMinder

SiteMinder helps managers market units on an expansive network of distribution channels, accept bookings and receive payments. It has a straightforward user interface. Reviews identified the channel manager and the multi-channel interactive calendar as noteworthy features. Users also appreciated the multilingual in-app chat support, a feature uncommon amongst competitors.

However, it has a basic booking button and lacks invoicing customizations and reporting variations. Considering these factors coupled with a hit-and-miss support suite, SiteMinder can be less effective for enterprises with larger portfolios. But it’s ideal for small managers and owners looking to improve their unit’s digital visibility and handle bookings from various channels.

Pros & Cons

  • Ease of Use: The platform has an intuitive interface, according to 66% of reviews on software usability.
  • Channel Manager: 89% of users mentioning omnichannel marketing said it improves property visibility and simplifies listing management.
  • Reservation System: It’s convenient to have a single interactive calendar across distribution channels for both guests and managers, according to 81% of reviews on booking management.
  • Multilingual Support: 53% of reviews on the chat module noted that SiteMinder offers chat support in 11 languages.
  • Booking Button: The native booking button lacks security deposits, membership programs, advanced invoicing and more, according to 86% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Reporting: According to all the reviews on this feature, the system has limited report templates and lacks automated reporting.
  • Support Response Time: 47% of reviews on the support suite noted that SiteMinder has slow response times and takes longer to resolve issues.
  • Onboarding: Onboarding and launching operations on every channel is time-consuming, according to 95% of reviews on this element.

Key Features

  • Channel Manager: Connect with 450+ distribution channels and 100+ hotel applications, including Airbnb, Expedia, Booking.com and Tripadvisor to automate reservations and availability rates. A common inventory pool model lists all rooms and availability on OTAs. Prevent overbooking and maximize occupancy using yield rules and stop sell. Attract international customers by listing in multiple currencies. 
  • Direct Bookings: Increase direct bookings up to 43% according to the vendor using its intuitive booking engine. Improve the guest experience with no commission reservations. Maximize revenue by upselling packages and services. 
  • Analytics: Optimize hotel distribution strategies by leveraging real-time data from performance reports and rate parity insights. Track booking trends, competitor prices and commissions through third-party applications, profitable channels and more. 
  • Integrated Payments: Automate transactions through the hotel website and seamlessly process payments, refunds and deposits with a revenue dashboard. Protect sensitive data with PCI-DSS and PSD2 SCA compliance. Enable contactless payments from distribution channels. 
  • Global Distribution System (GDS): Cater to a wider audience like travel agencies and business travelers. Work with travel management companies to become a part of the Fortune 500 hotel programs. GDS aids in targeting diverse clientele to boost occupancy during low seasons. 
  • Website Builder: Choose from easy-to-use templates and avoid paying hosting charges. Offer direct bookings to multiple nationalities with availability in 20+ languages. 
  • Metasearch Visibility: With Demand Plus, combine booking engines with metasearch engines like Google Ads. Pay a minimal fee for completed stays and leverage integrations and page optimization to increase visibility.  
Agilysys
Agilysys
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$3,000
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Why We Picked Agilysys

User reviews of Agilysys reveal a range of insights into the software's performance. Notably, users often commend its ability to streamline operations effectively, improving efficiency and the overall guest experience in the hospitality and gaming industries. The comprehensive suite of solutions is also highly regarded, offering tools that cater to diverse needs. Agilysys's industry-specific focus is seen as a valuable advantage, ensuring that it meets the unique requirements of these sectors. Users appreciate the depth of analytics and reporting capabilities, aiding in data-driven decision-making. However, there are common limitations users mention. Agilysys can be relatively expensive, posing challenges for smaller businesses with limited budgets. The initial setup complexity and associated learning curve are common complaints, impacting the efficiency of staff during the transition. Some users report occasional technical glitches and issues that disrupt operations. When compared to similar products, Agilysys is generally praised for its industry-specific focus, reliability, and tailored tools. Users believe that these aspects set it apart, though some acknowledge that it may have limitations in customization and pricing when contrasted with other solutions. It's clear that while Agilysys offers a robust set of features for the hospitality and gaming industries, potential users should consider their specific needs and budget constraints before committing.

Pros & Cons

  • Streamlined Operations: Users appreciate Agilysys for its ability to streamline various operational aspects in the hospitality and gaming industry, resulting in greater efficiency.
  • Enhanced Guest Experience: Agilysys is often lauded for its role in improving the guest experience by facilitating smoother check-ins, reservations, and personalized services.
  • Comprehensive Solutions: Users value the comprehensive nature of Agilysys, providing a range of tools that cater to the diverse needs of hotels, resorts, and restaurants.
  • Industry-Specific Focus: Agilysys stands out for its industry-specific approach, designed to meet the unique requirements of the hospitality and gaming sectors.
  • Analytics and Reporting: Users benefit from the in-depth analytics and reporting capabilities within Agilysys, aiding data-driven decision-making and performance evaluation.
  • Costly for Small Businesses: Some users have found Agilysys to be relatively expensive, which can be a drawback for smaller hospitality and gaming businesses with limited budgets.
  • Complex Implementation: The initial setup and implementation of Agilysys software may be complex, requiring technical expertise and potentially causing delays.
  • Learning Curve: Users have noted that there is a learning curve associated with Agilysys, which can lead to delays in realizing its full potential and impacting staff efficiency during the transition period.
  • Occasional Technical Issues: A few users have reported experiencing occasional technical glitches or issues with Agilysys, which can disrupt their operations and cause frustration.

Key Features

  • Cloud Deployment: Customers can access data from anywhere, anytime. Facilitates paperless records by digitizing all documentation. 
  • Guest Engagement: Ensure a seamless client experience by enabling easy check-ins and check-outs. A robust mobile kiosk allows customers to book and view properties in advance. Maximize revenue through automated upselling of services and products. 
  • Predictive Analytics: Analyze industry standards and identify trends through an immersive dashboard. Improve property performance by creating apt marketing strategies.  
  • Secure Payments: Enabled with EMV and P2PE payments to safeguard sensitive information. Complies with PCI security standards council, empowering safe transactions.  
  • F&B Management: Streamline food orders and menus and decrease delivery times. Manage inventory efficiently to reduce overhead costs on procurement.  
  • Point-of-Sale Solution: Manage casinos, restaurants and resorts with self-service kiosks enabled in tablets, mobiles or fixed devices. Optimize labor costs while ensuring a high rate of guest satisfaction. 
  • Seat Reservation: Manage seating arrangements at cabanas, restaurants, stadiums and gaming tables to maintain safety protocols and avoid overcrowding. Leverage various seat and service types to maximize profit.  
  • Scheduling Platform: Estimate the accurate number of personnel required, improve staff communication and integrate guest data to create personalized experiences.  

COMPARE THE BEST CRS System Software

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All CRS System Software (29 found)

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Hotelogix

by Hotelogix
Hotelogix
Hotelogix is a cloud-based property management solution designed to automate business operations, increase occupancy and maximize revenue. It ensures real-time information flow between various departments. It controls business operations and processes from a central dashboard.Its mobile-optimized web booking engine allows visitors to book rooms from their smartphones or tablets. It provides a personalized guest experience and empowers them to manage bookings, make reservations and payments, and send special requests for their stays.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
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Beds24

by Beds24
Beds24
Beds24 is an all-in-one property management solution for hotels, holiday homes, hostels, vacation rentals, agencies and professional property managers. It is robust, flexible and customized for accommodation requirements. A pooled inventory allows channels to access all rooms or beds. Its front-desk module manages bookings, guests, inventory and rates. The channel manager synchronizes inventory status across multiple distribution channels to maximize reservations and avoid double bookings. It integrates with leading payment gateways for secure online payments.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
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Easy InnKeeping

by Easy InnKeeping
Easy InnKeeping
Easy InnKeeping is GraceSoft’s flagship cloud-based property management system. The solution is a popular choice across continents like North America, the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Singapore and Southeast Asia. With a robust reservation calendar, easily control daily and weekly and monthly bookings, users can get an immersive visual display of housekeeping and payment status. It allows direct guest billing for corporate guests using the advanced package. Create separate company accounts and send invoices directly to the host organization. Users can track purchases, staff time, budgets and inventory through a QuickBooks integration. Easily integrate with secure payment gateways, OTAs and Facebook.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
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Resort Data Processing

by Resort Data Processing
Resort Data Processing
Resort data processing is a one-stop platform for managing all types of property. Streamline the booking experience with robust, intuitive technology. It works with resorts, vacation rentals, condominiums, motels, boutiques, independent hotels and more. It offers cloud-based and an on-premise option. The integrated booking engine with a built-in CMS makes it easy to book, upsell products and increase revenue.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
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Infor HMS

by Infor, Inc.
Infor HMS
Infor HMS is a cloud-based hotel property management system that provides actionable guest and prospect information to assess bookings and deliver rich guest experiences. It provides self-service inclusions that enhance visibility and user engagement. Its mobile-friendly services empower the mobile workforce to create guest-centric processes. It leverages data to maximize room occupancy and optimize total revenue. It monitors real-time workloads, ongoing tasks and activities, and guest interactions to improve operational efficiency across geographies. It tracks guests’ lifetime value via histories to tailor experiences and craft upsell opportunities.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: fair
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
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Hotello

by Mingus Software
Hotello
Hotello is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline hotel management tasks, making it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized hotels seeking efficiency and organization. Its robust features include reservation management, guest check-in/check-out, billing, and reporting, which collectively enhance operational productivity. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and seamless integration with other systems, which simplifies daily operations and improves guest experiences. Hotello stands out for its user-friendly design and reliable customer support, which are frequently highlighted in user reviews. The software's ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently makes it a valuable tool for hoteliers aiming to optimize their workflow. Pricing for Hotello typically falls within a moderate range, often based on the number of rooms or users, with options for monthly or annual payments, providing flexibility for different budgetary needs.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
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Frontdesk Anywhere

by Frontdesk Anywhere
Frontdesk Anywhere
Frontdesk Anywhere is a cloud-based platform that provides instant solutions to generate revenue, boost guests’ experience, and streamline operations for hoteliers across the industry. It offers an inventory model to maximize online sales using two-way connectivity via OTAs, GDS and more. Its commission-free internet booking engine is available anytime, anywhere and is accessible from any internet-connected device.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
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eZee Absolute

by eZee Absolute
eZee Absolute
eZee Absolute is a robust platform offering solutions for serving all types of hotels. Manage resorts, hostels, bed breakfasts, serviced apartments, guests houses, a chain of properties, and vacation rentals. It’s supported in over 50 languages and functions in more than 170 countries. With over 500 integrations and 200 distribution channels, it connects with a global audience.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
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Deployment
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InnGenius

by InnGenius
InnGenius
InnGenius is a comprehensive software solution designed to streamline hotel management tasks, making it an ideal choice for small to mid-sized hotels, boutique inns, and bed-and-breakfast establishments. The software excels in automating reservations, managing guest check-ins and check-outs, and handling billing and invoicing, which significantly reduces administrative burdens. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and robust reporting capabilities, which provide valuable insights into operational performance. InnGenius stands out for its ability to integrate seamlessly with various third-party applications, enhancing its functionality and flexibility. The software's cloud-based nature ensures that it is accessible from anywhere, offering real-time updates and data synchronization. This feature is particularly beneficial for properties with multiple locations or remote management needs. Pricing for InnGenius typically falls within a moderate range, often based on the number of rooms or units managed, with options for monthly or annual payment plans. Compared to similar products, users frequently highlight its user-friendly design and reliable customer support as significant advantages. Overall, InnGenius provides a balanced mix of efficiency, ease of use, and affordability, making it a valuable tool for modern hotel management.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
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Buyer's Guide

CRS Systems Are All About Centralizing a Property’s Availability, Rate and Inventory Data Before Distributing on Marketing Channels

By Riddhiman Roy, Market Analyst at SelectHub

CRS System BG Intro

Nowadays, online hotel reservations are more common than walk-in and tour operator bookings. To thrive and attract customers in this digital era, you must maximize your hotel’s exposure and visibility across online travel agencies (OTAs), global distribution systems (GDS), booking websites and metasearch sites. Thankfully, central reservation systems (CRS) save you the legwork of manually syncing and updating information on hundreds of digital sales channels.

These systems are the heart of a hotel’s reservation data and help efficiently manage online and offline bookings. Here we’ll discuss how a CRS system works, the primary benefits you can expect, and vendor comparison and pricing strategies. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to determine if you need the software and make an informed decision while evaluating platforms. Let’s dive in.

Executive Summary

  • Central reservation systems store your business’s booking data for sharing across multiple channels.
  • You can simplify marketing, gain visibility into channel performance and streamline daily operations with automation.
  • Its key features include reservation management, group bookings, email automation and reservation cancellation workflows.
  • Due to various modules available in the market, we recommend preparing a requirements checklist and budget that help sift through options.
What This Guide Covers:

What Is a CRS System?

A CRS system is a centralized repository of a hotel’s booking and reservation data. It collects availability, rates and inventory (ARI) information and lets you update it in real time whenever a guest confirms or cancels a booking. The system receives ARI data from your property management software (PMS) and distributes it to the channel manager, bridging the gap between the two.

Maintaining a clear and accurate picture of your reservations becomes tough while marketing your property across many distribution channels. CRS software offers you a list of bookings per channel at a glance. It helps simplify day-to-day tasks by automatically sending confirmation emails, processing payments, informing the front desk and distributing information to channel managers.

Other businesses like car rentals, taxi services, travel agencies and airlines can also benefit from deploying central reservation systems. It’s the single source of booking information for companies that take appointments, deliver services or rent assets.

How Does a CRS Work?

Let’s look at how CRS software simplifies the reservation workflow. To make it easier to understand, we’ll follow a typical customer’s journey from booking to arrival:

  • Searching: Individual customers predominantly use metasearch sites like Google and OTAs like Airbnb and Booking.com to look for accommodation. Whereas businesses tend to use GDS as it lets them book accommodation, flights and other amenities from a single platform. To make your property visible on all these channels, you need a channel manager that integrates with them and distributes ARI data.
CRS System Software Categories
  • Availability Inquiry: If a traveler is interested in your property, they fill in the room type, number of guests and other details and submit an availability inquiry. The channel manager receives and delivers these inquiries to the CRS system.
  • Sending Response: The system verifies if the requested room type is available on specified dates and sends a response. This process hardly takes a few seconds due to two-way integration between your channel manager and central reservation system.
  • Making the Reservation: If travelers are satisfied, they submit a booking request through your native reservation engine or via OTAs. The request contains every important detail, including the number of guests, arrival and departure dates, room type, contact details, and special requests.
  • Confirmation: The system blocks the selected room to prevent double bookings and creates a reservation ticket/record containing all the information. Then it sends a confirmation email with payment details and links, cancellation policies, terms and conditions, and other data according to user-defined rules.
  • Informing Other Departments: The platform shares the reservation ticket with other property management modules like front desk, housekeeping and reporting. It enables your staff to prepare the room, offer a smooth check-in experience and generate accurate occupancy reports.
  • Reservation Modifications: Before arrival, the traveler might change dates, room types and the number of guests. In that case, CRS verifies if requested changes are possible, records them and informs other departments. If the traveler cancels a booking, the software unblocks rooms and triggers the refund process, if any. As soon as CRS updates the availability, the channel manager distributes updated data across every channel.

Primary Benefits

Primary Benefits of CRS System

Simplify Omnichannel Marketing

A proven tactic to improve revenue is to get your business in front of as many customers as possible through omnichannel marketing. You must advertise on OTAs like Booking.com and Expedia, metasearch sites, GDS, social media pages, brick-and-mortar travel agencies, personal websites, and individual travel agents.

But large-scale marketing adds to the complexity of maintaining a clean record and avoiding errors while adjusting pricing and availability. CRS systems can help prevent the mess by centralizing the dataset you distribute to sales channels. You can edit and change the system’s availability, pricing and inventory data and automatically reflect it across every channel you use.

Gain Visibility Into Channel Performance

With a centralized view of every posting on all channels, you can generate reports to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of each channel. CRS systems are a source of primary channel performance data, and you can analyze it to identify engagement rates, leads-to-lease conversion, cart abandonments and more.

It also helps you identify top-performing channels and replicate the posting or marketing strategy on other distribution channels.

Streamline Daily Activities With Automation

You can automate a major chunk of repetitive tasks like:

  • Sending confirmation emails
  • Syncing datasets across channels after small changes
  • Informing the front desk when a guest confirms a booking
  • Updating online channels after an offline booking
  • Adjusting room rates according to business-specific pricing rules

CRS systems are also the single source of truth for your reservation workflows. They allow customer service reps, sales agents or front desk staff to make changes and not waste valuable time informing other departments about them.

Key Features & Functionality

Key Features of CRS System

Reservation Management

An interactive calendar centralizes bookings from every channel, allowing you to track reservations and avoid mistakes. You can make ARI data changes on a unified dashboard and update new information on every channel.
Email Automation

You can specify rules to send not only confirmation and payment emails but also promotional messages containing personalized offers, feedback encouragements and location guides.
Group Bookings

Host weddings, corporate meetings, reunions and other group activities. This module lets you handle custom rates, collect guest information, and offer upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
Cancellations and Refunds

You can define rules for triggering refund processes when a guest cancels a booking. Automatically unblock the room and reflect it on sales channels via the channel manager.
Multi-language and Currency

This module is important when catering to an international audience. You can automatically translate your ARI data and interfaces into the target language and quickly publish information without lengthy translation periods

Advanced platforms can accept multiple currencies or connect with popular payment gateways to deal with international currencies.
Rate Management

Set up dynamic pricing rules, rate plans and restrictions based on season, channels, occupancy and customer profile to encourage bookings and create geo-targeted marketing campaigns.
Reporting

You can export data to external CRM, business analytics and reporting modules for in-depth reporting needs.

Most solutions allow you to export and print reports and integrate datasets with external analytics modules.
Mobile Application

You can use a native mobile app to access the backend of the CRS system and track reservations from anywhere.

Software Comparison Strategy

The global CRS software market is expected to grow from $599.9 million in 2022 to $1171.4 million by 2028 at a CAGR of 11.8%. Due to the growth, new products are springing into the market regularly, each with its unique selling point, target audience and feature set. You must sift through options to find an ideal solution that fits your business and doesn’t complicate operations.

We understand that it can get overwhelming and recommend preparing a detailed requirements checklist to simplify the evaluation process. Gather your business’s department heads, executives and power holders and list their needs that the new CRS system should address. Here are a few pointers to help you devise your unique checklist:

  • Deployment: Choose the best deployment strategy based on your IT infrastructure and technical expertise. SaaS is simple to set up and maintain but offers limited customizations while scaling your business. On the other hand, on-premise deployment has a higher IT expertise and infrastructure cost but gives you control over the software architecture for unlimited personalization.
  • Integrations: A CRS system is a cog in the larger hotel management software category. It isn’t an all-encompassing platform, so you need solutions like front desk, payroll management, CRM and inventory management for all your hotel management needs. You must ensure the new CRS system integrates with these modules to get a connected experience and avoid data silos.
  • Sales Channel: The new module must connect with every sales channel you operate on and intend to use in the future. For example, most CRS systems have specialized dashboards for popular OTAs like Airbnb and Booking.com. But if you want to attract corporate customers, the platform must connect with GDS and offer group booking features.
  • Number of Users: Most vendors cap the number of users their platform can onboard. Make sure the software of your choice onboards all your team members and offers adequate HR tools to streamline work processes.
  • Usability: It’s an essential factor when choosing software. You need a platform that provides an intuitive interface you and your team are comfortable using. Otherwise, you’ll regret your decision. Look for vendors that offer trial periods and product demos to get a feel of the interface before purchasing.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

The cost of central reservation systems primarily depends on the deployment mode. You pay a periodical subscription fee with the SaaS model, and the vendor takes charge of running and maintaining the software. But on-premise deployment requires a one-time upfront payment to purchase the software license, and you must deploy it on native servers. The on-premise model doesn’t have hidden costs but requires investment in IT infrastructure and personnel.

On the contrary, you can find a few hidden fees with the SaaS deployment option that vary from vendor to vendor. Some of them include:

  • Onboarding support
  • Adding extra team members
  • Integrating external software
  • Connecting with new sales channel
  • Premium support
  • Additional features

We recommend preparing a realistic budget considering the CRS software and additional features. Look for vendors that fulfill all your requirements without going over the budget.

The Most Popular Rental Property Accounting Software

You must understand that there isn’t a solitary central reservation system available in the market that suits every size and type of hospitality business. There are different options, and you must choose the one that suits your needs perfectly.

To get you started on your journey, we’ve listed some of the popular options available as a reference. Every solution below is an all-encompassing hotel management platform with built-in CRS modules, and we’ll focus on them to give you an idea of what to expect in your new software.

eZee Absolute

eZee Absolute enables you to manage multiple properties and use the native CRS software to market on multiple channels. You get a centralized dashboard to track listings and update changes. It connects with your booking engine and allows you to design custom reservation workflows.

You can create unique profiles for guests, travel agents and marketing channels and easily track activities from anywhere. Other features include:

  • Channel manager
  • Front desk
  • Housekeeping
  • Revenue Management
  • Reporting
  • Booking engine
  • Website builder

eZee Absolute

Use an interactive calendar to track bookings from every channel.

WebRezPro

WebRezPro can handle every backend and front office task of a hotel management business. It provides a native booking engine integrated with a central reservation system that lets you track every property advertisement from a unified dashboard.

You can connect the system with an external channel manager to further streamline reservation workflows. Some of its features include:

  • Payment processing
  • Self-check-in
  • Group management
  • Rate adjustments
  • Point of sale connection
  • Reporting
  • Accounting

WebRezPro

Edit ARI data from a centralized dashboard.

Cloudbeds

Cloudbeds is a multilingual platform that helps hotel management businesses handle marketing, management and payment processing. It provides integrated channel managers, CRS modules and booking engines for a connected reservation workflow.

Customers can complete their entire booking from your website or OTAs without being redirected to external pages. You can track the reservation cycle with the mobile-optimized platform. Its other offerings are:

  • Property management
  • Housekeeping
  • Booking engine
  • Channel manager
  • Payment processors

Cloudbeds

Stay on top of every reservation from anywhere with the mobile-optimized platform.

 

 

Questions To Ask

You must ask the right questions while evaluating software. It helps prioritize your requirements and understand how the vendor operates. Use these questions to start a discussion internally:

CRS System Key Questions To Ask

  • What are the major pain points in your reservation workflow?
  • Which areas of your business need automation?
  • What’s your preferred deployment mode?
  • Which other software needs integration with the new CRS system?
  • How many team members need access to the platform?

Use these questions to start a conversation with vendors:

  • Which channels does the software connect with?
  • What are the support options?
  • How can you integrate the platform with external systems?
  • Do they provide onboarding and implementation support?
  • How do they safeguard customer data?

FAQs

What’s the difference between CRS and channel managers?

A channel manager helps distribute your property’s ARI data, descriptions, pictures and videos on multiple channels and syncs information in real time.

CRS systems are more about centralizing and managing data sent to and received from a channel manager. Their primary function is to track reservations made through online and offline channels and offer you a unified dashboard to edit the ARI data.

That said, many central reservation systems in the market have a built-in channel manager. These CRS systems can handle both the management and distribution of property information across sales channels.

What’s the difference between GDS and CRS?

GDS connects your hospitality business with a global network of travel planners, agents, airlines and car rentals. Most businesses and corporate tours use a GDS to plan and reserve their travel plans. But it isn’t widely accessible and not used by individual travelers and guests. This is where a CRS system comes into play.

Central reservation systems cover every GDS functionality and then offer you some more. They connect with OTAs, metasearch sites, personal websites and social media to attract travelers and use GDS integrations to take corporate bookings.

Do you need a CRS if you already have a PMS?

It completely depends on which PMS you’re using and your business scale. You don’t need additional CRS systems if:

  • Your existing PMS already has built-in CRS functionalities.
  • You only use a handful of sales channels and can manage them manually without automation and software assistance.

On the other hand, you should consider getting a central reservation software if:

  • You manually market your property across several sales channels.
  • You get a lot of double bookings.
  • Your existing PMS doesn’t have CRS functionalities and dashboards.

What is a computerized reservation system?

A computerized reservation system is just another name for CRS. They are computerized systems used to store and retrieve information. Traditionally, the airline industry designed the software to store traveler details, PNR and other information. But now, the hospitality industry has adopted it to centralize its ARI data before sending it to sales channels through channel managers.

In Conclusion

It’s crucial to use an omnichannel marketing strategy to survive in today’s competitive environment. But using multiple channels to accept bookings is easier said than done. Accepting a reservation and manually blocking the room on other channels leave the door open for human errors, leading to awkward situations like double and overbooking.

Central reservation systems help prevent such situations by creating a repository of your business’s reservation data and allowing you to distribute accurate information across sales channels.

While evaluating CRS systems, you must identify your unique requirements and prepare a budget to narrow down the options. Choose a solution that fits your operations, connects with every sales channel and simplifies your day-to-day tasks. Hopefully, this guide can help you find an ideal solution for your business. Happy selecting!

Product Comparisons

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Riddhiman
By Riddhiman Roy
Technical Content Writer
As a Senior Technical Content Writer at SelectHub, Riddhiman Roy delivers content about eCommerce, legal, employee scheduling, procurement, hotel management and property management software. He holds a Master's in multimedia journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. When he is not fighting huge-article-ogres and evil Grammarly suggestions, you can find him in his natural habitat grooving to music and banging his drumkit.
See Full Bio
Vidhi
Technical Research By Vidhi Kanodia
Senior Analyst
Vidhi Kanodia joined SelectHub after graduating from Osmania University in Hyderabad. Building on the hands-on experience she gained there, she expertly reviews peer research work in categories like procurement, PLM, eCommerce, insurance, hotel management, risk management and legal software.
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Shashank
Technical Review By Shashank K K
Principal Analyst
After graduating with a Masters in Finance from Trinity College Dublin, K K Shashank's research and detail-oriented skills led them to SelectHub. He has diverse knowledge across various software categories like Accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis, Ecommerce, Risk Management, PLM, Insurance and more since 2020.
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Pooja
Edited By Pooja Verma
Content Editor
Pooja Verma is a Content Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub, who writes and edits content for endpoint security, legal, CRM, fundraising software, eCommerce, and mental health software. She earned a literature degree from Miranda House, DU and also holds Master’s in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication in India. In her free time, you can spot her reading a book or binge-watching the latest web series and movies.
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