A property management system (PMS) is a software tool that helps hotel owners and other hospitality industry professionals to manage their reservations, guest accounts, and other operations. It’s also called a hotel PMS or hostel PMS. A motel PMS is similar in functionality to these systems but will differ slightly in how it’s designed and implemented.
What Can a Property Management System Do for Your Hotel?
A hotel property management system helps in the following;
- Manage booking reservations via online channels
- Collect payments from guests via credit card or debit card
- Perform room service orders from waiters and waitresses who deliver food to guests’ rooms on site
How to Choose the Best Property Management System for Your Hotel
Before you choose a PMS, consider the following:
- The PMS must integrate with other software your hotel uses. This helps streamline communication and data exchange between systems for better performance.
- The PMS must have the features you need.
- A good PMS will be reliable and secure from hackers and viruses so that guests can enjoy their stay without worrying about their safety or privacy being compromised by cyberattacks or frauds.
- It should be easy to use
Cloud-based PMS
A cloud-based PMS is hosted online and accessed via the internet. It can be accessed anytime, anywhere. No more expensive hardware or IT support. And it can be used on any device that can connect to the internet, from your laptop to your smartphone.
Cloud-based PMS is always up to date with the latest features and functionality, so you don’t have to worry about making updates yourself or sending staff members on training courses when new software releases hit the market. You will also never have to worry about scaling up your system, as it’s designed to grow with you as your business grows.
Mobile-friendly PMS
A PMS should be mobile-friendly. The ability to access the system on a tablet or mobile phone is essential in today’s world, as it allows you to check guests in and out while they are still on their way to your hotel or even while they’re at home. This gives you an advantage over other hotels that don’t offer this type of service because your customers will always have someone available for assistance when needed.
Comprehensive PMS
A comprehensive PMS provides a full range of features and functionality to all departments, including front desk, housekeeping, and engineering. It integrates seamlessly with other software such as hotel websites or revenue management systems. A comprehensive system provides a complete solution to all hotel needs. These include reservations, guest information management, revenue accounting, reporting, contract management, payroll processing, human resources, and purchasing orders/receiving inventory reports.
Customizable PMS
The PMS should be flexible enough to work with your hotel’s processes rather than forcing you to change your processes to suit the software. For example, a property management system built around an accounting package might not be best suited for a hotel without an accounting department. You want a system that allows you to manage your hotel in whatever way makes sense for you, rather than trying to force everyone into one mold.
Finally, a good property management system can help save your company money in several ways. For example, it can reduce costs by reducing the number of staff required to run the hotel and improving marketing efforts that result in increased revenue and repeat customers. In addition to saving time for yourself and your employees, a PMS will also allow you to focus on improving customer service rather than keeping track of data manually or struggling with outdated software.
