Front desk systems and property management software

Hi Katrina,

I have been using myallocator since last February and bananadesk since last June.

I was with the beta testing for bananadesk and while obviously there was a few issues then they are all ironed out now.

Tim is a very nice guy and they have a fast response if you have any queries.

They are open to suggestions how to improve and they have some new items for the software in the pipeline.

I also want to say both Mark and Mo at myallocator are very helpful as well and the software is great.

I believe they are currently working integrateion with tripadvisor for tripconnect.

Also they are on the finishing stages integrateing with www.opentravelexchange.com

You should check that website out for setting up direct bookings for other hostels and making some of the commission yourself.

If you have any questions let me know.

This is a link to the free months trial from bananadesk and if you use that one they also give me a free month :) as they have a referrel system - Free Month Trial

Hello,

long and interesting thread.
It might seem as I'm preaching for my own church as developer of the ManCloud PMS, but I do find that many of the systems that are mentioned here are outdated and lack the flexibility of modern applications.
Hostel owners looking for a PMS should invest in future proof software and nowadays that is Cloud based software.
We advise to take a local channel manager which offers local OTA's next to the usual suspects and pick a flexible and performant web based PMS.

Because of the flexibility, cost-efficiency and mobility these systems offer much more advantages then the older generation of systems.
No locally installed PMS can offer the same advantages (unlimited nr of users, mobile, each device, updates included, no interventions or expensive service contracts, etc ) at such low overhead cost.
The other way around a cloud-based PMS offers the same features as locally installed software.

The only argument against is that maybe it doesn't link with payment systems or keycard systems.
These arguments just don't stand anymore, cloud based software will be the new standard for these kinds of software and already you see cloud-based key card systems or cloud based payment terminals that are easily linked to a PMS.

Even if that is not available in your region, the "disadvantage" of using the vendor software to generate keycodes or process payments does not outweigh the many advantages of cloud computing.

So the choice is rather obvious to me, but be sure to judge for yourself by trying demo's.
And when you do, be sure to ask a demo of ManCloud, www.mancloud.eu I'm sure you will be surprised by the usability and design of the application.
We offer dynamic administration, CRM, emailtemplates, yielding, 2 way interface channel manager, reporting
and a very user friendly roomrack where you can drag&drop, extend or shorten a reservations.

All from within your web browser and from any device with an internet connection.
ManCloud processes 225.000 bookings a year and the customer base is growing rapidly, find out why !
Thanks for your time and all the best.
David

Hi Katrina,

We at mancloud think there will be a large demand for connectivity betweens apps and other services. (E-pos, revenue and rate management systems, OTA's and online auctions, review software, in-house Guest apps, IP TV apps, Mobile apps, etc). Systems offering all in one will either be far too expensive or will lack the quality and depth, so there will be a need to link all these applications, with a central role for the PMS.

Cloud based property management systems are ready for these times because they are very flexible, easy to scale and link with other systems through API's.
Hostels or Hotels choosing cloud based systems will have a competitive advantage because they are always connected, work well organised, and with far less overhead cost.
That's why it's important to be "future proof" I guess, to stay on top of the game.
These kind of advantages result in more margin or better prices and more satisfied guests because you have time and extra budget to spare on them.

Thanks and all the best
[email protected]

Now this is becoming a more interesting discussion thanks to Craig bringing it back to what happens in the hostel and how the PMS can benefit that. We see that our users (www.hosteloffice.com) that are using the PMS to communicate with the guest before they arrive, during their stay, and after they departed to be adding more value to their guests that leads on to gaining longer stays and higher ratings that leads on to more bookings.

We all know it is not one thing that makes a hostel successful. It is a series of things that are done. But they need to be compatible and somewhat persistent so that the value adding opportunities get through to the guests. Craig's mentioned example is a good one. You can all play trendy music in your hostel. But to personalise towards the guest is using that PMS collected data in a manner that gains a competitive advantage.

Personalisation opens the door to be including your online presence that has your hostel's website as the pivitol centre. If your online presence is reliant on agent integrations then the record of the personalisation does not happen for your long term benefit. The smart agent would let you embed your FaceBook, Tumblr, Pinterest etc accounts in your microsite description. But there are not any smart agents yet are there. Then by the time they catch up the market would have moved on.

Just as there is Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) for your website, there is is also Guest Satisfaction Optimisation (GSO). You can use Google Analytics to see how many people go to your website and compare that to how many book on your website to see landing and conversion rates. But how do you measure GSO and respond to it without a PMS? How do you store your history of satisfied guests so that your history attracts more guests unless you build on your own online presence?

Would you pay twice the average city price for a hostel bed each night if you knew you would be gaining the highest GSO possible? Wouldn't people travel more often if they knew they had a high probability of high satisfaction. If hostels started to use PMS to focus more on how they satisfy guests rather than to herd in the guest then doctors could start prescribing backpacking holidays as therapy for the multitude of well paid holiday deserving people in the world.

Boston Consulting Group has released a report within the last week showing that people are increasingly prepared to pay for experiences and things that have 'soul'. If you are not discussing this with feeder hostels and hostels you feed, then you are falling behind. If you are not showing events and tours on your website booking engine with accommodation options all specific to the dates searched, then you are falling behind. A poorly rated hostel on one agent is a poorly rated hostel on all agents. A good PMS does not cost you money but more than pays for itself, boosts your profit per year and makes running a hostel much more enjoyable.

Watch this film to gain ideas on how you can add value to your guests so their experience are communicated online to attract more reservations and assist more guests be more satisfied.