Hostel Software Comparison (PMS, Front Desk Software)

[Hostels]

Hostels want to know:

What front desk software should I use?

I thought it might be helpful to list all the options and then each person with practical experience using the software could list PROs and CONs from their experience.

Here are many of the major programs, listed in alphabetical order:

Old standbys:

• ASSD
• Backpack Online
• Charts Backpacker
• Dorm Project (Hostel Office)
• GOMIO
• HostelPower
• RoomMaster 2000
• Spreadsheet method (Excel, OpenOffice.org)

Startups:

• HostelMate
• OpenDoor
• ResEngine

I think hostels want to hear opinions from experienced users of these programs.

Responses should take into consideration that the authors of these programs will probably be reading this thread at one point or another. It shouldn't be about which program "sucks" but about which program is right for which hostel. The purpose of this thread is to help the hostels who are looking for software now a quick overview that will help them decide which program they should use now

Authors of the programs are welcome to post also.

Format:

Name of software:
Size of hostel:
Country or region of hostel:
PROs:
CONs:

What did you like?
What didn't you like?
Is it easy to train staff on it?
Does it sync with booking engines?
Does it handle multiple properties?
Would you recommend it? (and what size hostel would you recommend it for?)

[Hostels]

There's another PMS called Frontdesk Anywhere that was just added to the front desk software directory.

[uktrail]

I've come across a package called EVIIVO. Does anyone know it?

It looks pretty good, except that it refers to rooms, which the hostel has to treat as beds.

It appears to provide facilities for taking bookings on your own website. But the guest has to pay 100% at the time of booking. EVIIVO takes 10% of each booking. I think they also have their own booking engine site, which includes hotels etc, but you might get a few extra bookings that way, I don't know at what percentage.

[Hostels]

Originally Posted by uktrail

I've come across a package called EVIIVO. Does anyone know it?

I haven't heard of EVIIVO. Are hostels using it?

[HostelOffice]

I will openly state what users like about our software that our competitors can read to better understand how to try and beat us.

1. Staff video training.
2. Set up within a day
3. Gives Managers remote access anywhere worldwide.
4. Continues to operate when internet connection is lost.
5. Has a very good integrated booking engine
6. Enables the highest occupancy possible via three methods.
7. Integrates with Key card and Cash machine.
8. Is tailorable to their specific needs.
9. No servers required.
10. Website reports to show how to gain more market share.
11. Fully automates 100% allocation to their favourite agents.
12. Drag and Drop feature.
13. Captures bookings from the Hotel market.
14. Affordable to small hostels.
15. Ability to change room types within minutes.
16. Synchronisation with agents every minute with no manual intervention requirement to push bookings to rooms.
17. Cash Payback to large hostels with many bookings.
18. Central Group Booking Allocation Function.
19. Works on Apple Mac as well as Windows an Linux.
20. Over 10 years operating.
21. Editable email confirmation messages.
22. Combined booking engines when more than one hostel.
23. Different language options.
24. Don't have to initially commit and pay for 12 months.
25. Can pay by credit card.
26. Sells and promotes tours on your website as well as beds.
27. Sells Car parking, Apartments, Breakfast etc
28. Audit trail to see everything changed in a booking by date time etc.
29. Any report you want - you can generate in CSV, PDF, or Excel.
30. You are proactive and like to make your hostel business as efficient as possible.
31. We are nice people

www.hosteloffice.com

[KrazyBackofficeAnimal]

When HostelOffice visited us back in Prague we came to the conclusion that their PMS is not suitable for our needs. Without getting further into the whole list of the requirements that we have had, I wouls just like to mention couple of solid (IMHO opinion) things in regards of the particular PMS:

- Room Rack option very limited (no drag & drop option + no integration with Billing of course)
- Castrated billing function (even though it is there, the system does not actually follow the accounts, if for example the customer extends stays or leaves couple of days earlier you need to adjust everything manually)
- No groups functions
- Integrates with majority of booking engines
- Pretty kewl for small size hostels

That refers to the paticular version of HO, it might have been updated and new things added. If so, please excuse me for giving the wrong info. Whatever I wrote is based on personal, if you can call that, experience (hard to say you have experienced something by watching the demo for couple of hours).

[HostelOffice]

Hey thanks for the input.

When I was in Prague I was on my first sales trip and I had not yet met with the designers of the software who are now my partners with the software. I was actually on my way through Prague to meet them in Dresden.

So it was only after my Prague visit that I received training on the software.

For example I did not know how to show the Drag and Drop function that was staring me in the face all the time

Hmm with billing it follows duration of stay. If decreasing the price automatically reduced the days of stay then there would be caos.

Groups function is very good and most definitely in Prague I did not know how to Group bookings, Split Group bookings, or to show the central Group Allocation function for the central group booking manager.

I am still not a genius as there are still functions and features I do not fully understand how to demonstrate. But I find out if they become important to people.

I hope you give me another chance next time I am in town.

Dean www.hosteloffice.com

Same goes for the people I met in Warsaw and Krakow. I did not know how to fully demonstrate the software to give you the most accurate information about it. I am sorry. But I learnt a lot from you all.

Since then we have the Best Hostel Germany 2008 and Best Hostel USA 2008 using our software.

[KrazyBackofficeAnimal]

Thanks for making it clear, Dean.