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How to choose a Channel Manager for your hotel?

In this article, you'll learn how to choose the ideal Channel Manager for your hotel.

Do you want to expand your business, spend more time with guests and less time manually updating rooms and rates on your distribution channels?

Implementing a Channel Manager could be the solution. In this article, you’ll learn how to choose the right Channel Manager for your hotel. With a Channel, you can manage all your distribution channels from a single dashboard.

This means you can update rates and room availability on all your channels at once, saving you a lot of time. What’s more, a Channel can also help increase your hotel’s sales: it can allow your hotel to be shown on more distribution channels.

When choosing a Channel Manager, it’s important to choose one that is compatible with the distribution channels you use.

Also, make sure that the Channel Manager you choose offers an intuitive and easy-to-use management panel.

What is a Channel Manager for hotels?

Unlike an online booking system (OTA), a Channel Manager is not a booking site.Instead, it acts as a bridge between the hotel management system and the OTAs. This means that if a hotel has a Channel Manager, it doesn’t have to worry about updating availability and rate information on each of its booking sites.

Instead, it can update this information only in the Channel Manager, which in turn will automatically update all its distribution channels.

Is your hotel in need of a Channel Manager?

Channel Manager is a tool that simplifies the management of hotel bookings, allowing you to focus on the tasks that really matter.It works by integrating all your sales channels in one place, so you can easily manage all your bookings from one place.

In addition, Channel Manager also provides detailed analysis of your sales, allowing you to make data-based decisions to maximize your profit.

  1. Spend less time manually updating rates and availability on various distribution channels.
  2. Reduce the risk of overbooking thanks to automatic real-time inventory updates.
  3. Maximize occupancy by reducing outdated inventory and the number of missed booking opportunities.
  4. Maintain control over your ads, photos and policies.
  5. Make better distribution decisions with a single dashboard for performance reports.

Which Channel Manager is best for your hotel?

We recommend that you choose a Channel Manager that offers bi-directional synchronization with your PMS. That way, you don’t have to enter booking details manually into your internal systems: they are managed automatically by the Channel Manager.

Connections with your most important distribution channels

Channel Manager is an important tool for managing hotel distribution channels. It connects to the main booking channels, such as Expedia, Booking.com and TripAdvisor, so you can manage your reservations and room availability efficiently. It is also compatible with the main property management systems (PMS), facilitating data integration and communication between the different departments of your property.

Bundled inventory

With grouped inventory, you can display all available rooms on all your distribution channels at the same time. When a reservation is made on any of these channels, Channel Manager automatically updates all the channels and communicates that that room is no longer available.

Investment

Channel Managers offer various pricing models. Some are fee-based, while others charge a monthly fee according to the size of the rooms. Based on your budget and your needs, carefully analyze which Channel Manager is best for you.

As is always the case, the more you pay, the more quality resources and services you will receive. So consider realistically what sacrifices you can make if you have a limited budget.

Support

A good support team is essential to ensure that any problems you have are resolved as quickly as possible. Find out the level of support you will receive and any extra costs before making your decision.

Here are some things you should consider when choosing a support provider:

  1. Level of support: will you receive 24/7 support? If not, what are the opening hours?
  2. Extra costs: will you pay for each support call or is there a monthly plan?
  3. Support methods: can you contact the support team by phone, email or live chat?
  4. Staff qualifications: is the support team made up of qualified and experienced professionals? Make sure you consider all these factors before choosing a support provider.

Remember, a good support team is essential to ensure that all your problems are resolved as quickly as possible.