Channel Manager / channel management software

Software that is used by the hotel industry (often as an alternative to the CRS – central reservation system), to serve with an all in one maintenance and upgrade tool the various distribution (booking) platforms, using the latest daily prices and availability information. Already when a hotel wants to serve two or more booking platforms (E.g. HRS, Bookings.com and hotel.de) with daily current prices and availability, a channel management software can optimize the quality of distribution, avoid mistakes and save valuable staff time.

These systems provide very different services and functions. The key distinguishing features are:

• Number of sales and booking platforms that are already connected and accessible (from 5 to almost 1,000).
• One or two way connection. One way: Availability and prices are sent to the various platforms. Two way: Bookings, changes and cancellations go with changed availability back to the channel manager
• Interfaces / connection to the hotel system
• Connection not only of IDS (Internet distribution systems), but also of GDS – service providers
• Control possibilities
• Quality of reporting

Well-known examples of frequently used channel management systems are:

•  Fastbooking
  •    Travelclick/ ChannelDirect
  •    Rate Tiger
  •    Channelmanager.de
  •    Rez Online
  •    Availpro
  •    HotelNetSolutions
  •    HotelToWeb
  •    Hotelwebservice
  •    Touronline (DIRS)

This list only includes a few examples and is by no means complete. There are more than 200 different providers.