15 years
Hi
But I guess you have a big hostel, maybe over 150+ beds since as far as I understand HostelOffice is expensive. Is that right?
JC
PMS & Own Hostel Website Booking System - With Once-Off Pricing Model
Front Desk Operations
Hi
I was wondering if anyone knows an online booking system (which is placed on your own hostel website..not a third party channel) which can interface
directly with a PMS system? By interfacing I mean that when a guest makes an online booking, it automatically takes that booking and registers it into the PMS system and adjusts inventory accordingly. Also pricing can be automatically updated by the PMS to the online booking system (which may also possibly incorporate a revenue management system to change prices according to inventory level)
The issue is that I know such combination systems exist, but I have yet to find one with a pricing model where I can buy both the PMS and the online booking system upfront without any further obligatory commissions, transactions or support costs.
I think Micros has their Opera PMS System and MyLink online booking system which does such an interface but from what I understand they ask for annual fees and commissions, which I don't like or want.
Does anyone know of a system combination which is free of ongoing fees, commissions and support costs?
Thanks
Jon
- Comments
15 years
I am still slowly looking.
Although I have ruled out:
Charts - No mouse interface
Opera - Too expensive the annual license fees
HostelWorld PMS Backpack Online - Its free and its good, but I want to have control over software. I was using HW once and we got locked out on a Friday US time....we had three days without access to HW and had no way of contacting support crew in Ireland...i defintely dont want that experience with my PMS.
Hi
Have you use Hostelmate? It seems cheaper for a small hostel?
JC
15 years
Yes I did look at hostelmate, my main concern with Hostelmate and a lot of other PMS systems, is that they are web based. Meaning that if for one reason or another you lose internet connection your're kinda screwed.
And although these PMS companies may look flashy, I have no way of knowing if their servers are hosted from a garage or a truly dedicated server room.
Picky I know.
15 years
HI
How do you manage to recieve payments from customers? meaning can they pay with credit card when checking out? Do you have those expensive validation credit card machine at the hostel?
Thanks,
JC
15 years
Hi JCJ
Can I ask where you are planning on openning up your hostel?
With regards to the card validation/processing machine, you can either use a banks or as you suggested paypal or other internet payment gateway.
Cheers
Jon
14 years
I am still slowly looking.
Although I have ruled out:
Charts - No mouse interface
Opera - Too expensive the annual license fees
HostelWorld PMS Backpack Online - Its free and its good, but I want to have control over software. I was using HW once and we got locked out on a Friday US time....we had three days without access to HW and had no way of contacting support crew in Ireland...i defintely dont want that experience with my PMS.
Charts Backpacker has over 20 years experience in hospitality software.
Charts is keyboard driven just because will make your life easier.
You're much faster.
Adding the mouse functionality will slow down everything !
Are you looking to boost your sales and make your hostel big or are you looking for a mouse ?:)
A hostel in AU has Charts installed on 6 reception computers. The check in process takes few seconds when is keyboard driven.
For back-office management (yield, prices, etc) its the same. You can override rates in 2 secs. Its a very sophisticated tool that I'm sure will make sales !!!:)
Please check these aussie websites :
Example of hostels using Charts : http://www.yha.com.au/
Example of hotels using Charts : http://www.eighthotels.com/
Cheers !
14 years
Well we are the fastest. I have heard from hostel managers that it has taken 8 months installation for other old PMS solutions.
We are the only PMS that can be fully installed and integrated within 24hrs. We have online training videos for your staff and managers. We import all your pre-existing bookings to save you the hassle.
We are the only PMS that works on Linux, Windows and Apple Mac or any combination of.
You do not need to have a server and do not need to purchase any extra computer hardware. You have remote access from anywhere worldwide, When the internet is down your reception can still see and use our software.
Our integrated booking engine enables you to sell one room under multiple types with a 100% guarantee of no double bookings.
See our humble website www.hosteloffice.com
You only have to update prices and allocation in one location. Make sure when comparing us that you check to see that there is two way integration with agents and an integrated booking engine that value adds your rooms. A dumb booking engine will not enable the highest occupancy possible.
Because we are so advanced with automation we probably are the lowest priced on the market. For large hostels we can provide a PAYBACK solution so the software becomes free of charge.
You can change room types whenever you want and our synchronisation is every minute so you gain the most bookings with maybe only one double booking a month that is easily dealt with.
We have been in the market for 12 years and used 99% just in Switzerland. So hostels have made a PMS choice without knowing we existed. 2008 the Best Hostel USA and Best Hostel Germany use our software.
We do not want take on more than 50 new users each year so don't delay in contacting us. We make every new user more profitable even in a recession.
14 years
Hey Dean,
Please stop with your attitude about your competitors !
Not nice ! Charts is better than your system !
I have to remind you that I was trying your system and I was not very happy !
Now, as you know I choose Charts Backpacker and I'm very happy with it !
Every time when someone say something you're coming with ''my software is the best'', ''my software is blah, blah, blah''. Would you stop this please ?
You're like a kid...
14 years
Sorry mate it just looked like Charts was doing the writing of the initial brag. People using alias names on this system makes it difficult to know who is writing.
I do usually promote the competitors when their attributes are more suited to a particular style of hostel. We have no interest to be in every hostel. Also I had not earlier written in this thread any detail about our software.
You guys did not fully load up our software and staff did not start using it. futhermore I have still only been representing our software for under a year so there is a lot more I understand about it than when we went over it.
But if fast checkin is what you prioritise then for sure Charts in the quickest one to use as you just have to push the keys you are familiar with. But I do have the right to give them a bit of a kick because when I paid for their installation they did not deliver what they promised.
ASSD is particularly good for HI Hostels in the USA because of the industrial style strength.
I am sure that our competitors do not mention us as an option as I do of them when visiting hostels. So I think it is about giving hostels as much information as possible to give them the best chance to choose the software most suited to their needs.
Being too biased one way or the other is not fair on hostel owners so my reply is to balance out what you wrote.
I look forward to the first PMS supplier convention so we can all talk about how we can help each other.
If I thought another PMS was the best solution then I would have continued to use their software especially as I had already paid to use more than one other. So in my opinion our Dorm Project software is the best and I have backed this up becoming one of the owners to promote it. But if fast checkin is your priority then I can see how someone could state another PMS is the best.
For the privately owned hostel that wants to maximise profits and have the least staff training issues then our software is the best for about 6 major reasons.
If a hostel manager measures success in another way then another software solution may be more suited.
The initiator of this thread chose our software before I wrote details about our software that you complained about.
14 years
I won't let you speak about something is not true mate !
As a Charts user I have to make all these things very clear !
You cannot spoil a image created over 20 years ago !!! Who do you think you are, eh ? You have no limits do you ?
I wouldn't say anything about your software but you force me to compare them !
I think they need a different person for selling their software, who knows what sales and marketing are and not a person with a childish attitude !
Well we are the fastest.
See ? What makes you say that ? Only a benchmark can say that !
I know very well how fast you are, as I tried your system and I was waiting 2 hours for a reservation to come in the system (whitch is flickering every 5 seconds), and I was waiting another 30+ days for interfacing with more than 2 booking agents. Not to mention that I paid for 3 months in advance, I use it for 30 days and I haven't seen a penny back ! I don't want to say any more things about your system, but you made me do it. I think people has to know the right things. Your system is by far being a Charts Backpacker competitor.
I have been trying and using almost all PMSs until I realized that Charts is the only one satisfying my preferences. I choose Charts Backpacker and in my opinion is the best at the moment on this market !
I have heard from hostel managers that it has taken 8 months installation for other old PMS solutions.
I guess when you're saying old PMS solution you're not referring to Charts Backpacker.
There is over 20 years experience in the hospitality field.
Charts was the first PMS having automatic allocation and 2 way interface with a GDS and it is the only one at the moment interfacing with over 30 booking agents !
We are the only PMS that can be fully installed and integrated within 24hrs. We have online training videos for your staff and managers. We import all your pre-existing bookings to save you the hassle.
I don't think these things are PMS features...
However :
Charts Backpacker can be installed in less than 6 hours, including mapping of the room types and booking agents xml interfaces (where available).
Importing of existing bookings is not a feature of your system and is just some extra work that you will do it for the customer.
It's true that before using Charts Backpacker you will need training.
It's a very complex and sophisticated system and I won't recommend using all it's features and capabilities without a week training.
As for receptionists, they can use it after 30 min training.
We are the only PMS that works on Linux, Windows and Apple Mac or any combination of.
Why would I use it on Linux when 99% of the accommodation providers use Windows ? Again, this is not a PMS feature and the fact that you are using it on Linux won't affect the sales...
However:
Charts Backpacker works on Mac. I use it on mac !
You do not need to have a server and do not need to purchase any extra computer hardware.
Charts doesn't need a super server or something...just a normal computer.
My computer in one of my hostels cost me € 300. It's just a normal computer.
You have remote access from anywhere worldwide,
This is definitely not a PMS feature and remote access anyone can have as is provided by windows for free !
When the internet is down your reception can still see and use our software.
Charts Backpacker has the same feature.
Our integrated booking engine enables you to sell one room under multiple types with a 100% guarantee of no double bookings.
I am using the same feature for both hostels with Charts. It's all about mapping the room types between them. No big deal and of course there will be no double booking ! 1-1 = 0 is logic.
You only have to update prices and allocation in one location.
Charts Backpacker is the only one having a fully integrated competitor interface that allows you to see in real time your competitor rates and to modify your rates or to manage your yield in one place : Charts Backpacker PMS
Make sure when comparing us that you check to see that there is two way integration with agents and an integrated booking engine that value adds your rooms. A dumb booking engine will not enable the highest occupancy possible.
I think you're scrapping all bookings received from the email that the booking agents will send, right ?
This is what I remember when I was testing your system . I received that booking from hostelbookers, after 2 hours.
Charts has xml interface with 29 of the booking agents, out of 32. Charts booking engine is used by everyone in accommodation sector, including 5 star hotels ! So, please don't compare the booking engines as you don't have enough clients portfolio that can demonstrate your attitude.
I understand that you want to sell your product but don't attack if you're not ready and the worst thing : don't critic your competitors, especially Charts which is better than your system ! Every one can sell and everyone has a chance.
You're doing a dirty marketing by attacking your competitors ?
Demonstrate that you are the best ! Let them make a choice and let them to choose your system. Than you can say that you're good.
Let people speak about your software and help them if they need that or if they have questions !
Because we are so advanced with automation we probably are the lowest priced on the market.
Errrrrrrrrrrrr ! So advanced !? This is too much !!! You're exaggerating !
You can change room types whenever you want and our synchronisation is every minute so you gain the most bookings with maybe only one double booking a month that is easily dealt with.
Everyone can change their room types once they change them on the booking agent backoffice. Easy...and is not a PMS feature...
Double bookings ? You were saying before : '' 100% guarantee of no double bookings''
However, thats a great feature ! Happy sales !
We cannot compare your system with Charts if we are talking about features, capabilities, sophisticated yield management and exhaustive automatic and custom reports.
Maybe we can compare them if we are looking at the price. Charts is not free, but I think will make enough sales for whoever the owner of the hostel is. It's a professional solution for accommodation sector, capable to be used for a hostel, hotel, motel or guest house. By the way, has over 260 automatic reports !!!
It is highly customizable and with an Enterprise Version for Big Hostels/Hotels or Hostel/Hotel Chains.
Oh, and by the way I think something big is coming ! Stay tuned...
Looking forward to a neutral benchmark between all PMSs to see who is really the best ! Until then please be fair.
I would suggest more features for your system and great ideas that you can use for making a great PMS but I'm not sure if you want to hear them or maybe you probably know them.
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