Software for taking online bookings

we will give you the software free of charge if you have a large hostel with a website that search engines can find.

Check.

Problem: videos, sales talk and presentations don´t convince me any more. Too many people have tried to sell me something in the past ten years. I have developed a resistance.

Show me where I can download a demo version. If I can install and use it without reading the manual, it´s probably good stuff.

• the hostel might want to be able to query the database in order to create custom reports
• the hostel might want the software to run on any operating system
• the hostel might want to add custom fields to guest accounts
• the hostel might want to create a parking log program that completely integrates with the guest accounts
• the hostel might want to write a plugin that creates a custom interface for the managers' phones (to remotely check availability/bookings anytime)
• etc.

I understand that the people that like CHARTS like the business processes it has forced staff to follow. Business Processes make business easier and CHARTS was one of the first on the market. It's DOS look and feel attests to that.

I think managers don't like to change out CHARTS because their business understanding has been influenced by the CHARTS structure. That is the benefit of a rigid system.

To answer your list above:
I do not know enough about how to manage open source development to know 100%. But I would think that Agent integration might not be what the Agents want when there is an open source structure. I am keen to hear your thoughts?

1. Database reports can be done for whatever you want. If we do not already provide it then just give us a good reason for it and we will provide it.

2. You can have concurrent licenses on Linux, MAC and Windows.

3. We have a solution for Parking Lots associated to guest rooms. I just created a video that touches on that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ug75Y_mpSuA You need to also watch the Grouping video to see how you tie a parking Lot to a room booking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQXiba8

4. I suppose there are an endless amount of plug-ins and we probably can develop an interface that developers can add plug-ins to. For now we do it on a request basis.

5. Yeah now that is a good tip! We have downloads here http://www.dormproject.ch/download_e.php but I will look into having a download for the mobile phone so Managers can see the Front office not only from their laptop but also from their phone.

Please more questions and doubts as you make us stronger so we can provide you a better service.

.

But yeah if you use an agent booking engine you will lose about 5,000 euros a year per 100 beds in commissions. If you use the Hostel Office booking engine you will gain free website optimisation advice, make more money per room and not lose agent commissions.

Unsure of what this means. Do you mean hostelworld or hostelbookers as your agent booking engine? Wouldn't any hostel have to still be listed on these sites? You can't really rely soley on your hostel's own website as no matter how good it is, some people will always book through HW or HB. They also provide the source of trusted reviews, which are important.

I use BPO and am happy with it, very easy to use and powerful enough for us. I was just wondering what the problems are with it? I've read some comments in the past that have criticisms not really valid in the current versions. I was just wondering if people could point out its shortcomings for me. (I can see if you were running a number of large hostels from a central location why you might want custom software)

I also disconnected CHARTS from my small hostel in Latvia after a few months of use. It didn't perform as I was led to believe. www.hosteloffice.com

It's a shame you didn't learn how to use Charts. One of it's best features is that it can pretty much be customized to anyone's needs. Every time that I need a change made it's usually done within hours of my request. Again, it's a shame that people can't get past what it looks like.