Channel Manager (Trình quản lý kênh OTA) is software that automates the management of your online booking channels (OTAs). It allows you to update room availability, pricing, and other details across multiple OTAs simultaneously, saving time and minimizing errors.
Benefits of Using a Channel Manager:
- Time-Saving: Instead of manually updating information on each OTA, you can perform all updates with a single action in the channel manager.
- Error Reduction: Automatic updates help minimize errors in pricing and availability, which can impact your reputation and revenue.
- Increased Visibility: A channel manager can help you list your rooms on more OTAs, reaching a broader audience of potential customers.
- Improved Booking Efficiency: Ensuring your room information is always accurate and up-to-date can increase conversion rates and attract more bookings.
- Data Analysis: Many channel managers provide detailed reports on your performance across different OTAs, helping you make informed decisions about your marketing strategy.
How a Channel Manager Works:
- Connecting to OTA Channels: You need to connect your channel manager to the OTAs you want to use.
- Entering Room Information: Input details about your rooms, including type, pricing, amenities, and images.
- Updating Information: When you need to change room details, you can make the updates in the channel manager, which will automatically sync across all connected OTAs.
- Monitoring Performance: Use the reports from the channel manager to track your performance across different OTAs and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Choosing the Right Channel Manager:
When selecting a channel manager, consider the following factors:
- Number of OTA Channels: Ensure the channel manager supports the OTAs you want to use.
- Features: Some channel managers offer more features, such as data analysis, pricing management, and customer management.
- Pricing: Costs can vary based on features and the number of supported OTAs.
- Ease of Use: Choose a channel manager with an intuitive interface and easy navigation.
Conclusion:
A channel manager is an essential tool for hotels aiming to efficiently manage their online booking channels. By using a channel manager, you can save time, reduce errors, increase visibility, improve booking efficiency, and make more informed decisions about your marketing strategy.
Additional Benefits of a Channel Manager:
- Enhanced Pricing Management: Easily adjust room rates across multiple OTAs, optimizing revenue and profit.
- Improved Customer Service: Manage customer reviews and gain insights into customer behavior to enhance service.
- Marketing Strategy Development: Detailed data on marketing campaign effectiveness helps refine your strategy for better results.
If you’re looking to efficiently manage your online booking channels, investing in a channel manager is highly worthwhile.
What are difference things between channel manager (CM) or property management system (PMS) ?
The Channel Manager (CM) and Property Management System (PMS) are both essential tools for the hospitality industry, particularly for hotels and other lodging businesses. They serve different but complementary functions. Here’s a breakdown of their differences:
Channel Manager (CM)
- Primary Function:
- A CM is designed to manage and distribute room inventory and rates across multiple online distribution channels (OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia, etc.), as well as the hotel’s own website and GDS (Global Distribution Systems).
- Key Features:
- Inventory and Rate Management: Automatically updates room availability and rates across all connected channels.
- Reservation Synchronization: Ensures that bookings made on one channel are reflected across all other channels to avoid overbooking.
- Performance Analytics: Provides reports on how different channels are performing in terms of bookings and revenue.
- Real-Time Updates: Keeps all information current in real-time to prevent discrepancies.
- Benefits:
- Increases visibility and booking potential by connecting to multiple sales channels.
- Saves time and reduces manual errors by automating updates.
- Helps in optimizing pricing strategies through dynamic rate management.
Property Management System (PMS)
- Primary Function:
- A PMS is a comprehensive software solution used for managing day-to-day operations of a hotel or property. It handles reservations, check-ins and check-outs, guest services, billing, and housekeeping.
- Key Features:
- Front Desk Operations: Manages guest check-ins, check-outs, and room assignments.
- Reservation Management: Tracks and manages room bookings and availability.
- Billing and Payments: Processes payments, generates invoices, and manages guest accounts.
- Housekeeping Management: Tracks room status, assigns tasks to housekeeping staff, and ensures rooms are clean and ready for guests.
- Guest Relationship Management (CRM): Stores guest information and preferences to enhance guest experience and loyalty programs.
- Reporting and Analytics: Provides insights into occupancy rates, revenue, and operational efficiency.
- Benefits:
- Streamlines hotel operations and improves efficiency.
- Enhances guest experience through better service management and personalized experiences.
- Provides a centralized system for managing various aspects of hotel operations, reducing the need for multiple systems.
Integration and Complementarity
- Integration:
- Many modern PMS solutions offer integration with CMs, allowing for seamless data exchange. This integration ensures that reservations made through various channels are automatically updated in the PMS, and vice versa.
- Complementarity:
- CM: Focuses on maximizing bookings and managing distribution channels.
- PMS: Focuses on operational efficiency and enhancing guest experience once the booking is made.
Conclusion
While both a Channel Manager and a Property Management System are vital for hotel management, they serve distinct functions. A CM is essential for managing online distribution and maximizing occupancy, while a PMS is crucial for handling daily operations and guest services. Integrating both systems can provide a comprehensive solution that enhances both revenue management and operational efficiency.
Top 25 channel manager provider recommended by booking.com
1. AxisRooms: An integrated product to increase efficiency, distribution, and profits of independent hotels, hotel chains, and vacation rentals.
2. Cloudbeds: The hospitality industry’s fastest-growing technology partner, serving 22,000+ independent properties across 157 countries.
3. D-Edge: Combining creativity with technical excellence, D-EDGE brings every aspect of hospitality marketing together.
4. Derbysoft: Empowering the travel industry around the globe through leading technology, machine learning, and rich data.
5. DIRS21: Helps you open to a world of online distribution, providing powerful solutions for hotels for over 20 years.
6. e-GDS: User-friendly, tech-driven solutions to improve processes, build customer relationships, and increase revenue.
7. Hotel Link Solutions: With a clean interface and friendly team, Hotel Link offers technology solutions without the jargon.
8. HotelRunner: Where accommodations, travel agencies, and payment systems find and connect with each other.
9. Hotel-Spider: Hotel-oriented online marketing services, tools and know how to help manage, automate and optimise online distribution
10. IBS Software: IBS Software’s iHospitality solution suite provides a unified hotel management platform comprised of CRS, PMS, RMS, Booking Engine, third-party distribution (including Booking.com) as well as loyalty software, providing unprecedented opportunities to delight guests, empower staff, and grow.
11. Hotel-Spider: Hotel-oriented online marketing services, tools, and know-how to help manage, automate, and optimize online distribution.
12. primalRES: A leading channel manager in Greece and Cyprus with a booking engine from WebHotelier.
13. RateGain: A one-stop channel management solution for online distribution, unlocking new revenue opportunities
14. RateTiger: A global platform offering over 450 partners for luxury hotel chains, mid-size groups, and independent boutiques.
15. Roomcloud: Software for hotels that can connect to metasearch portals to increase revenue.
16. SabeeApp: SabeeApp is an all-in-one cloud hospitality platform empowering hotel professionals worldwide to lower manual administration work, increase revenue and improve digital guest experience. Our product line-up includes PMS, CM, IBE, digital guest experience and automated payment tools
17. Sabre Synxis: Go beyond the ordinary with an API model that connects your ecosystem and unique configuration.
18. SiteMinder: The leading hotel commerce platform that has everything you need to sell, market, manage, and grow.
19. STAAH: New Zealand-based, specialising in innovative, cloud-based solutions for accommodation providers of all types.
20. Stardekk: Cloud-based reservation and management systems, specifically for small and medium hotels.
21. Temairazu: Top channel management platform offering the widest range of online travel agencies to support property owners in Japan.
22. Vertical Booking: A suite of products available as a complete package or separately supporting properties since 2009
23. Viato Channelmanager
24. eZee Technosys: Effectively automates the process of online rates and inventory distribution with real-time updates and support in over 60 languages.
25. WuBook: A leader in Italy and worldwide, with 10 years experience and an affordable monthly fee.
