If you are a hotel, resort, or apartment complex owner, you are probably familiar with the concept of online travel agencies (OTAs). OTAs such as Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb can bring you a steady stream of bookings, but managing inventory across multiple channels can be a nightmare without a channel manager system.
A channel manager system is a tool that connects your property management system (PMS) with multiple OTAs, allowing you to manage your inventory and rates across all channels from a single platform. With a channel manager, you can avoid overbookings, save time on inventory management, and increase your bookings and revenue.
Here are some benefits of using a channel manager system:
- No overbookings: Overbookings can be a major headache for hotel owners. With a channel manager, you can avoid overbookings by automatically updating your inventory across all channels in real-time. For example, if you get a booking on Booking.com, the channel manager will automatically update your availability on Expedia and other channels, ensuring that you don't get double-booked.
- Time-saving inventory management: Without a channel manager, you have to manually update your inventory on each OTA every time you get a booking. This can be time-consuming and error-prone, especially if you have multiple room types and rates. With a channel manager, you can manage your inventory and rates from a single platform, saving you time and reducing the risk of errors.
- Increased bookings and revenue: By connecting to multiple OTAs through a channel manager, you can increase your reach and exposure to potential guests. This can lead to more bookings and revenue, especially during peak seasons.
- SiteMinder: SiteMinder is a cloud-based channel manager that connects to over 400 OTAs and allows you to manage your inventory and rates from a single platform.
- Little Hotelier: Little Hotelier is an all-in-one booking and accommodation management system that includes a channel manager. It allows you to manage your inventory and rates, as well as process bookings and payments, from a single platform.
- Cloudbeds: Cloudbeds is a cloud-based hospitality management software that includes a channel manager, as well as other features such as a PMS, booking engine, and payment processing.
- Guesty: Guesty is a property management software that includes a channel manager, as well as other features such as automation tools, payment processing, and communication tools.
- MyAllocator: MyAllocator is a cloud-based channel manager that allows you to manage your inventory and rates across multiple channels, as well as automate your pricing and availability updates.
While many OTAs have their own channel managers built-in, it's important to note that they may not be as advanced as third-party channel manager systems. Additionally, if you have a custom PMS or other unique needs, a third-party channel manager may be a better fit for your business.
A channel manager system is a must-have tool for any hotel, resort, or apartment complex owner who wants to manage their inventory and rates across multiple channels. With the right channel manager, you can avoid overbookings, save time on inventory management, and increase your bookings and revenue.
