We took a sample of our interactions with hotel software buyers last year to uncover trends and behaviors.

1. Software Advice BuyerView:
Hotel Management Report
Insight into today’s software buyer

2. Every year, Software Advice interacts with hundreds of hotel management
software (HMS) buyers looking for a system to help run their daily tasks or
expand their reach online. We analyzed these interactions to reveal trends and
buyer behaviors.
The data we looked at from the past year uncovered the following findings:
• Hoteliers want to replace systems or automate daily duties: 34 percent are
replacing a current HMS, while 25 percent seek new software to replace pen-
and-paper methods.
• Many buyers seek more advanced, integrated software: Those replacing a HMS
primarily say it lacks functionality (13 percent) or doesn’t integrate with other
systems (12 percent).
• Hoteliers seek to maximize their exposure to online travelers: More than three-
quarters (77 percent) of respondents ask for online booking functions.
Abstract

3. The largest percentage of buyers (34 percent) already use an HMS and 25 percent
use pen and paper.
34 Percent Use Software, One-Quarter Use Manual Methods
Hotel management system
Pen and paper
Reservation system only
Spreadsheets
Custom-built system
Unknown
Property management software
None
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
16%
3%
7%
8%
8%
9%
25%
34%
Percent of sample
N = 200

4. For those replacing an HMS, 14 percent cite missing features and 13 percent say
it's not user-friendly.
Many Buyers From Independent Hotels Seek Online Booking Engines
Missing features
Not user-friendly
Not integrated
Unsupported
Out-of-date
Unstable or glitchy
Expensive
Poor reporting functions
No GDS connection
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16%
3%
5%
9%
9%
11%
11%
12%
13%
14%
Percent of sample
N = 87

5. 77 percent of buyers want an online booking engine and three-quarters want core
reservation management.
Majority Seek Online Booking, Reservation and Housekeeping
Online booking engine
Reservation management
Housekeeping management
Front desk management
Point-of-sale
Accounting
Guest data tracking
Maintenance management
Reporting
Global distribution system
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
11%
14%
14%
21%
30%
34%
58%
61%
75%
77%
Percent of sample
N = 200

6. 34 percent of buyers represent independent hotels. A combined 41 percent are
from motels, inns and resorts.
More than One-Quarter are from Independent Hotels
Independent hotel
Motel
Inn
Resort
Lodge
Bed and breakfast
Condo hotel
Vacation rental
Conference and banquet center
Extended stay
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
2%
3%
4%
4%
4%
6%
11%
14%
16%
34%
Percent of sample
N = 200

7. 34 percent manage 10 to 24 rooms and 25 percent manage 25 to 49 rooms.
Largest Percentage Manage Between 10 and 50 rooms
N = 200
1 - 40%
5 - 95%
10 - 2434%
25 - 4925%
50 - 7412%
75 - 9911%
100 - 1999%
200 - 4994%
500 or more2%

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9. Software Advice™ is a trusted resource for software buyers. The company's
website, www.softwareadvice.com, provides detailed reviews, comparisons and
research to help organizations choose the right software. Meanwhile, the company’s
team of software analysts provide free telephone consultations to help each
software buyer identify systems that best fit their needs. In the process, Software
Advice connects software buyers and sellers, generating high-quality opportunities
for software vendors.
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