How to Choose Hotel Management Software for UK Hotels

January 11, 2023 Justine. S
Home > Industry Trends, Technology > How to Choose Hotel Management Software for UK Hotels
Share this post

The UK is one of the world’s most popular destinations for business and leisure travellers, attracting millions of visitors each year. It is no surprise that it ranks as one of the top countries for most hotel establishments.

Hotels in the UK use hotel management software for a competitive edge and to maintain the same level of operational efficiency with staffing gaps. But with so many different options on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for your business.

This blog post will highlight six features to look for in a complete hotel management software system, from the software tools required to boost efficiency and how much it costs.

1. The level of automation to streamline processes

Automation makes standard operating procedures far more efficient such as check-in and registration, saving time and providing staff more freedom to focus on the guest experience.

Automation can also help to improve efficiency and accuracy, meaning fewer mistakes and increased guest satisfaction.

But not all software vendors offer the same level of automation. Be sure to invest in hotel management software that provides the following automation to see real results:

  • Automated ARI distribution and syncing across all connected booking channels
  • Automated billing and online payment processing
  • Automated dynamic room rates
  • Automated guest communication
  • Automated online check-in
  • Automated business intelligence reporting
  • Automated upselling

Hotels using hotel management systems like RoomRaccoon save up to 5 hours daily with automation.

2. The ability to improve your bottom line

Automation can raise productivity and help cut costs, but what hotel management software can directly influence your sales and boost revenue?

Nowadays, hotels need to maximise online visibility to capture revenue. This means posting their listings on an average of 8-15 booking channels. For this reason, you need channel management software, an essential hotel sales tool.

Revenue management tools are equally necessary to manipulate your room rates when there is a shift in the market, track your competition, and alert when there are opportunities to win more business.

“Businesses that use technology to look at their prices increase their revenue up to 20-30%,” according to Marvin Speh from RoomPriceGenie.

3. The ability to grow your direct bookings

Direct bookings will always be the holy grail to hotels because it does not cut into your hard-earned revenue.

To attract more direct bookings, ensure your website is easily navigable and provides all the potential information guests need about your availability and rates with hotel booking software. You should also offer competitive rates and exclusive deals that can only be booked directly through your hotel.

By providing a superior booking experience, you’ll be more likely to convert lookers into bookers.

4. The ability to track performance indicators

You can’t improve what you don’t measure, so unsurprisingly, reporting is essential to your hotel’s operations and strategic planning. When shopping for hotel management software, look at the different reports it provides.

  • RevPAR
  • Market segmentation report
  • Best-performing booking channels
  • Daily transaction report
  • Daily manager report
  • Financial reports per general ledger account

Tip: Make sure the reports are available for monthly and yearly comparison, and remember that accurate data is generated in real-time.


BOOK A DEMO

5. The ability to manage reservations and housekeeping

5. Self-service meets personalization

Reservations are at the heart of your business. That’s why having a property management system with an easy-to-use reservations calendar is so important.

A PMS, also known as the central control system of a hotel, stores guest booking details from your website and OTAs. The software creates guest accounts to register guests upon arrival, easily sends payment requests, and much more.

The best PMS has housekeeping modules to increase efficiency and streamline team communication.

6. All-in-one hotel management software to avoid complex integrations

Hospitality is at the dawn of an extraordinary technological era. There are thousands of hotel software solutions on the market. But why should you choose between hotel room distribution or processing direct bookings when both functions are equally important for your business?

That’s why investing in an all-in-one hotel management system that naturally performs the essential functions to manage your hotel is far better. Cloud-based platforms like RoomRaccoon also offer an extensive marketplace to integrate more advanced features.

More advanced features may include accounting integrations, employee scheduling, keyless entry systems and guest surveys.

How much does hotel management software cost in the UK?

The cost of hotel management software varies depending on the size of your business. For a smaller hotel, you may not need all the bells and whistles that come with some of the bigger packages – and that’s okay! You can save money by choosing a package that fits your specific needs. Also, most hotel software is billed on monthly or annual subscriptions.

Buyer’s Tip: Watch out for unexpected costs like transactional fees for bookings captured through the channel manager and booking engine.

What should UK hotels look for when buying hotel management software?

When UK hotel managers are looking for hotel management software, they should keep an eye out for a few key features.

  • The software should come with robust customer support in case any issues arise.
  • The software should be easy to use and intuitive so that staff can quickly get up to speed.
  • The software should be established in the UK market with a sufficient client base and reviews.
  • The software should be recommended by tech research platforms and industry professionals.

By keeping these factors in mind, hotel managers can be sure to find the best possible hotel management software in the UK.

Author Image

Justine. S

Justine is a Content Manager at RoomRaccoon, bringing her background in language and communication studies to the SaaS world. When she's not writing about the latest trends in the industry, she's probably out exploring the world or indulging her love of pink.

Related Posts