Mastering Tourism Tech: Simplifying Systems for Your Business Success

Gone are the days when bookings were recorded manually with pen and paper. Now, with so many options available, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the features, functionalities, and price points of the various products designed to help your business thrive.

With over 30 years of industry experience and a passion for technology and systems that work for you, not against you, we here at ResBook believe we’re the right people to help shed some light on this technology mindfield. 

So let’s break down what these widely used systems are, who they might be suited for, and help you figure out which products you need to grow your tourism business. You'll go from feeling like a novice to an tech pro in no time!

Property Management System (PMS)

What is a property management system? 

A Property Management System (PMS) is a software application designed to help accommodation providers manage their day-to-day operations. It handles reservations, guest check-ins and check-outs, room assignments, billing and many other operational functions. Think of it as your internal system that does the day-to-day heavy lifting for you.

Who is a property management system for? 

A PMS is used by all sorts of accommodation providers, such as hotels, motels, holiday parks, vacation rentals and Bed & Breakfasts. It's important to choose a platform that fits your niche, as not all PMS’s suit every size of accommodation.

Why would you need it?

A PMS simplifies and automates many aspects of managing your accommodation property, reducing manual tasks and human error. It helps manage bookings and track room availability in a central space, and provides a better guest experience by ensuring all details are organised and accessible.

How can ResBook’s PMS help you?

ResBook's property management system streamlines your daily operations, allowing you to manage reservations from a single calendar. Ideal for small to mid-sized accommodations such as B&Bs, boutique lodges, motels, and vacation rentals it integrates seamlessly with payment gateways and accounting software. It also provides easy access to business intelligence reports, housekeeping management and sends customised and automated emails to guests, centralising everything so you can focus on what’s important.

Booking Engine

What is a booking engine?

A Booking Engine, sometimes referred to as a BEP (booking engine platform) is an online tool integrated with your website that allows customers to book rooms or services from you directly. Think of this as the user-friendly view of your PMS or internal booking management software, which shows potential customers real-time room availability and pricing. They can select the dates they want, then book and pay securely.

Who is a booking engine for?

It is a must for accommodation providers, tour operators, and activity providers who want to increase their direct bookings and reduce sole reliance on tourism booking sites to provide your bookings.

Why would you need it?

A booking engine helps maximise bookings by allowing customers to make reservations directly on your website. This reduces commission fees paid to third-party platforms and provides a seamless booking experience for your customers. 

How can ResBook’s Booking Engine help you?

ResBook’s Booking Engine allows you to take direct, commission-free reservations 24/7, via your website, making it an ideal solution for small to medium-sized accommodation providers. It’s designed to maximise your occupancy and revenue by providing a seamless online booking experience for your guests. This powerful platform is responsive across various devices and enables you to use promotion codes, and booking add-ons and extras, to create up-sell opportunities and packages.

If you’re interested in a booking engine but aren’t sure if the ResBook PMS is right for you, get in touch, and we can suggest your best strategy. 

Ps. Don’t have a website yet? Not to worry, we offer those too! Discover our easy to use tourism themed websites to start taking direct bookings.

Channel Management

What is a channel manager?

Channel Management software helps you distribute your availability and rates in real-time across multiple third-party booking platforms from a single interface. These platforms, also known as OTAs (online travel agents), include Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb. You will find a handy guide on how to work with OTA's in our ResBook Marketing Guides.

Who is a channel manager for?

It’s for accommodation providers who list their rooms on multiple booking sites and need a centralised system to manage these listings efficiently, rather than managing via each platform individually.

Why would you need it?

Channel Management ensures your availability and rates are consistent across all booking channels with real time updates, reducing the risk of overbooking and increasing your overall exposure to potential guests.

How can ResBook’s Channel Manager help you?

ResBook’s Channel Manager, ResChannel, streamlines the distribution of your inventory and rates across multiple OTAs, ensuring real-time updates and minimising the risk of double bookings. It integrates seamlessly with our property management system, providing a single interface to manage all your listings. With over 30 integrations with major OTAs, you can maximise your property’s visibility and bookings, whilst having confidence that your calendar is always up to date.

Payment Gateways

What is a payment gateway?

Payment Gateways are online systems that process credit card payments and other forms of electronic transactions securely. These connect to your booking software and are the final step for users to confirm their purchase.

Who is a payment gateway for?

A payment gateway is a must for any business that wants to accept payments online for room bookings, activities, or services.

Why would you need it?

Payment Gateways ensure secure and efficient processing of transactions, and handling sensitive information, offering convenience for both your business and your customers. They facilitate smooth financial operations and help build trust with guests. You can not offer online payments without working with a PCI compliant payment gateway.

How can ResBook help you with payment gateways?

At ResBook, we partner with reliable and trusted payment gateway providers like Stripe, Windcave, and PayPal. These market leaders seamlessly integrate with our systems, ensuring your customers' sensitive information is handled with care and ease during transactions and refunds. Whether you’re an accommodation, tour, or activity provider, working with the best is a must.

Reputation Management

What is reputation management?

Reputation Management involves monitoring and managing online reviews and feedback, to maintain a positive image for your business.

Who is a reputation manager for?

Using a reputation manager is ideal for accommodation providers, and activity and tour operators who want to actively manage their online presence and respond to guest reviews and feedback.

Why would you need it?

Effective Reputation Management helps you address guest concerns promptly, improve your online reputation, and attract more positive reviews. It’s crucial for maintaining trust and credibility in the competitive tourism industry. Using a system to help you do this across platforms enables you to put out potential “fires” quickly and effectively.

How can ResBook help you with Reputation Management?

ResBook partners with Yonder, a comprehensive reputation management tool, to help you monitor and respond to guest reviews across multiple platforms. Yonder consolidates all your reviews in one place, making it easier to track feedback and engage with your guests. 

Additionally, Yonder's AI chatbot can assist in responding to common questions and reviews in real-time on your website, enhancing your responsiveness and customer satisfaction while providing an additional avenue for bookings. By using Yonder, you can enhance your online presence, build stronger relationships with your customers, and ensure your business maintains a positive image.

Refundable Bookings

What are Refundable Bookings?

Refundable Bookings are a way to provide both you and your customers more financial security, by offering the option to cancel and receive a full refund. This is carried out by a third-party provider, so there is no additional cost to you - we know, it sounds too good to be true!

Who are Refundable Bookings for?

All tourism businesses can benefit from offering a flexible booking policy to attract more customers and ensure your predicted income is secured.

Why would you need it?

Offering Refundable Bookings can increase your booking conversions by providing guests with more flexibility and reducing the risk of losing a reservation due to unforeseen changes in their plans.

How can ResBook help you with Refundable Bookings?

ResBook’s Refundable Bookings provide a practical solution for both your business and your customers, offering enhanced financial certainty when plans change unexpectedly. With ResBook, you can effortlessly set up and manage flexible booking terms, integrating them smoothly into your booking process. 

You have the option to include these terms in all bookings, adding to the total cost, or offer them as an optional upgrade for customers. If a customer needs to cancel, ResBook ensures you retain the booking funds while a third-party handles the cancellation and refund process. 

By seamlessly integrating with your current systems, ResBook not only attracts more guests but also offers them peace of mind, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Tourism Technology FAQS

I have a tourism business, do I need all of these tools?

Not necessarily! Every business has unique needs and may require different solutions. For example, if you’re an accommodation provider with a solid channel manager but need an updated PMS, or if you’re an activity provider who loves your booking engine but needs better review management, we can support you in the areas where you need it most. 

If you’re unsure where to start, consider our Tourism Consulting Packages to help you lay a strong foundation and identify the tools that will best support your business.

Do you offer any bundles for multiple products?

We certainly do - as many of our ResBook products have been developed for optimal communication from tool to tool, we offer bundles best suited for the accommodation providers out there.

If you’re a B&B, villa or lodge, you might like to opt for our Single Property PMS bundle - this includes our PMS, ResChannel and Booking Engine, starting from $119 NZD p/month.

If you’re a Vacation Rental, managing numerous holiday home properties, our Vacation Rental PMS bundle would be perfect for you, featuring ResBook VR PMS, ResChannel and Booking Engine. This bundle starts from $220 NZD p/month.

And because we love to make things easy for you, we also offer our tourism themed websites on a discounted monthly subscription for ResBook PMS users. This can start from just $149 per month, and entitles you to a FREE website every 3 years! 

Why should I choose ResBook PMS over my existing accommodation booking engine?

ResBook offers a unified system with seamless integration of PMS, Booking Engine, and more. Our comprehensive features enhance efficiency and guest communication, and through integrations with leading payment gateways, ensures secure transactions for your bookings. With over 30 years of industry experience, ResBook provides expert support, flexible, customisable solutions, and human customer service for all your ResBook product needs. 

If I already have a PMS, Booking Engine or Channel Manager, can I still use your Yonder and Refundable Bookings?

Of course! Yonder and Refundable Bookings are versatile solutions that can enhance any tourism business, regardless of the core tools you already have in place. We believe that every business deserves the opportunity to improve guest experiences and financial security.

Elevate your tourism business with ResBook

While not every tool is essential for every tourism business, the right mix can significantly boost your operations and guest satisfaction. 

ResBook excels with its diverse range of products, seamless integration, and deep industry expertise, positioning itself as a top choice for businesses aiming to optimise their technology and efficiency. 

Whether you're looking to replace outdated systems or integrate new ones, ResBook provides adaptable solutions tailored to your unique needs, helping you stay ahead in the ever-evolving tourism landscape.

Ready to enhance your business with cutting-edge solutions?

Connect with our friendly team today to explore how our Property Management Systems (PMS), Booking Engines, Channel Management, and more can support your growth. Let's discuss how ResBook can help your business thrive!

Posted by ResBook Team on July 13, 2024