Why is hotel channel manager comparison important?
A hotel channel manager comparison is crucial to ensure that hoteliers are investing in the best software for their business. After all, it will form the backbone of your hotel distribution, and failing to find the best fit for both now and the future could end up doing more harm than good.
Comparing hotel channel managers in 2025 helps you get the best value for money and its benefits are multi-faceted. Channel manager comparisons will help you determine which software meets your needs, especially when it comes to simultaneously distributing your rooms across online travel agents, tourist centres, and anyone else who books rooms on behalf of guests.
Using the right channel manager will also empower everyone to access your live availability and rates, updating your inventory in real-time. However, not all channel managers are created equal which means that you won’t always see a satisfactory return on investment for your property.
To give guests a great experience and also run a profitable business, you need to research channel managers and make sure you’re choosing the best one for your hotel.
Table of contents
What is the difference between a switch and a channel manager?
While a switch is focused on the seamless transmission of data, a channel manager is centred on optimising and managing that data across various online platforms. Both switches and channel managers play pivotal roles, but they serve distinct functions.
What is the difference between CRS and channel manager?
A central reservation system (CRS) switch, often referred to as a distribution switch, acts as a conduit, facilitating the transfer of data between a hotel’s property management system (PMS) and various distribution channels. It’s the technological backbone that ensures inventory, rates, and other essential data are accurately relayed between systems.
On the other hand, a channel manager is a more comprehensive tool designed to manage and synchronise a hotel’s inventory across multiple online distribution channels, such as online travel agencies (OTAs such as Booking.com, Airbnb, and Expedia), global distribution systems (GDS), and direct booking platforms.
What is the role of a channel manager?
The primary function of a channel manager is to ensure real-time updates across hotel bookings channels, preventing overbookings and rate discrepancies.
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What are the key factors to consider when comparing channel managers?
When you compare channel managers, focus on operational fit: quality of PMS/RMS integrations, depth of automation, reliability of two-way connections, analytics, pricing, and security. This is key to weigh day-to-day usability for your team, onboarding and 24/7 support, and the ability to scale across new channels, markets, and properties, as well as being able to shortlist vendors that can demonstrate real-time parity control, robust channel coverage, and a transparent roadmap you can grow with.
Need to know:
- Only about 50% of hotels use a dedicated channel manager, according to Hotel Tech Report, which gives adopters quick gains in distribution efficiency and visibility.
- InnQuest reports that 68% of hotels listing across 8 – 12 channels face rate-parity issues, and a connected channel manager can prevent this with centralised updates and parity rules.
- A channel manager can cut manual workload by up to 85% per InnQuest, and hotels often see 10 – 20% revenue growth when automation is paired with dynamic pricing, per Seekda.
With that context, use a structured comparison to find the right fit. The sections below walk through five areas that matter most, from specifications and usability to support, scalability, and reputation, so you can pressure-test each vendor against what your hotel needs next.
1. Comparing channel manager specifications
List down your specific requirements. Think about the number of channels you want to manage, types of channels such as OTA or direct booking, integration capabilities, pricing, reporting and analytics features, etc. For example, after connecting their PMS to a channel manager with business intelligence capabilities, a 5-star resort increased bookings by 60%.
2. Conducing an ease of use comparison
Evaluate the overall user experience of each channel manager. A user-friendly interface can save time and reduce the learning curve for you and your hotel staff.
To give you an idea, a SiteMinder user shared, “People who have used numerous systems will find SiteMinder to be extremely user-friendly. Compared to the other complicated systems, it is just so simple to use.”
3. Setting their customer support side by side
Assess the level of support provided by each channel manager. Check the availability of support channels (phone, email, live chat), response times, and whether they offer dedicated onboarding managers or training resources.
For example, SiteMinder customer support has 24/7 online access and local teams are present across 9 major cities around the world: Sydney, Dallas, London, Galway, Berlin, Barcelona, Bangkok, Bangalore, and Manila.
4. Determining each channel manager’s ability to scale
Consider the adaptability of the channel manager to accommodate your future growth and changing business needs. Ensure that the solution can adapt to evolving market trends and technology advancements.
To illustrate, the SiteMinder user continues, “When we expand our hotel to other areas, SiteMinder will again be our first choice.” Another user claimed, “SiteMinder reduces so much complexity for us and helps us optimise our business for growth.”
5. Differentiating the reputation of each channel manager
Look for reviews and testimonials from other users of the channel managers you’re considering. Pay attention to both positive and negative feedback to get a balanced perspective on the performance and reliability of each solution. View SiteMinder reviews across credible software websites and online marketplace platforms.
What’s the best hotel channel manager software for businesses?
The best hotel channel manager software for businesses is the one that fits your property size, tech stack and revenue plan. To make your shortlist easier, we’ve compared five leading channel managers below. Use this side-by-side view of strengths and trade-offs to match each option to your team’s day-to-day needs and long-term goals.
| Channel manager | Pros | Cons |
| 1. SiteMinder | Reliable connection with over 450 booking channels, trusted by 41,500 properties worldwide | Powerful software with advanced features that aren’t necessarily suitable for hotels with smaller requirements |
| 2. Little Hotelier | User-friendly interface for easier channel mapping, especially for small accommodation providers | Designed specifically for small hotels, so larger hotels may outgrow it |
| 3. TravelClick | Clean, basic channel manager that is suitable for starter hotels that want solid market intelligence capability | Steep learning curve for new users |
| 4. Smoobu | Focuses on vacation rentals with less than a hundred OTA integrations | Complaints around synchronisation and pricing (almost doubled last year) |
| 5. ResNexus | Gets teams up to speed quickly through solid demos and training for new users | Some important features require additional payments |
Key takeaways
- Real-time, two-way connections with pooled inventory and broad channel coverage keep rates accurate everywhere and prevent double bookings.
- Pick a platform that plugs into your PMS/CRS/RMS and delivers clear reporting on yield, volume and lead time so you can act fast.
- Favour proven uptime, 24/7 support, scalable features and flexible, no lock-in pricing that starts with a free trial.
Jon Murphy,
Consultant Revenue Director
Kaleidoscope Collection
What are the key points to look for in the best hotel channel manager software?
The best hotel channel manager software ticks a few non-negotiables: reliable two-way connections to OTAs and metasearch, a pooled inventory model, and broad channel coverage that updates rates and availability in real time. It should work cleanly with your PMS, CRS and RMS, surface clear reporting on yield, mix and lead time, and help you manage rate parity. Favour proven uptime, responsive support, scalability for multi-property growth, and flexible, no lock-in pricing.
Here’s what you should look out for when you compare channel managers to make sure you select the best hotel channel manager software for your property.
Comparison point 1. Two-way channel connections
Two-way XML (allowing data to be stored and transmitted) connections are vital to ensure information is accurate and up-to-date on both the hotel’s backend and the connected channel.
It’s also important the channel manager has a broad distribution range, so you have access to the hundreds of booking channels that exist, including those for niche markets.
Comparison point 2. Pooled inventory model
Pooled inventory is arguably the most important feature a channel manager should come equipped with.
Using this method of distribution means you can always display your maximum number of available rooms on all your channels, without the risk of double bookings thanks to real-time updates from a channel manager.
Any system that connects your hotel to booking channels without pooled inventory should be avoided.
Comparison point 3. Integration with current systems
Obviously you’re likely to use many different pieces of technology at your hotel including, but not limited to; property management systems (PMS), central reservation systems (CRS), and revenue management systems (RMS).
Ideally, the channel manager you choose will have the capability to fit seamlessly with the systems you already use.
If investing in a channel manager requires you to replace or update all your systems, the product probably isn’t worth it.
Comparison point 4. Comprehensive reporting capabilities
Any strategies you implement and any success you have at your hotel must be supported by an ability to measure results, otherwise you won’t know what adjustments to make, or when to make them.
When comparing channel managers, always choose the one which gives you detailed data on channel yield, reservation earnings, booking volume, and average lead time as a minimum requirement. This way, you can make informed decisions for your distribution strategy.
Comparison point 5. Flexible payment model
No one likes to be locked into a contract, and for good reason. Nothing could be worse for your hotel than paying for a system that isn’t delivering the results you want, with no escape!
Prioritise a platform that offers a free trial period of at least two weeks, followed by a payment model that is based on a flat monthly fee and no lock-in contracts.
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Frequently asked questions on hotel channel manager comparison
When comparing channel managers, it’s essential to look beyond the typical considerations like features, pricing, and reputation. To gain a deeper understanding of how a platform fits your specific business needs, you must also explore additional factors that influence performance, security, and long-term usability.
The following questions delve into aspects like system updates, data retention, and customisation, offering insights that can help you make a more informed decision when choosing a channel manager:
How frequently is the channel manager updated or improved?
Look for a clear release cadence, such as fortnightly or monthly updates, with critical security patches shipped as needed. A public changelog or status page signals transparency.
What is the channel manager’s security protocol?
Expect encryption in transit and at rest, role-based access, MFA or SSO, and regular penetration testing. Independent certifications such as ISO 27001 or SOC 2 add confidence.
How does the channel manager handle system downtime or outages?
Ask for a documented SLA and incident playbook. Best practice is resilient infrastructure with queuing so rate and inventory updates are replayed on recovery, plus real-time incident communications.
What is the level of customisation allowed within the channel manager?
You should be able to set derived rates, occupancy-based pricing, and channel-specific rules without workarounds. API access, custom reports, and granular user permissions support larger teams.
How does the channel manager enable different languages and currencies?
Look for a multilingual interface, property-level locale settings, and support for loading rates in multiple currencies. Accurate conversion and rounding rules help prevent parity drift.
What is the channel manager’s data retention policy?
Confirm how long reservations, audit logs, and financial data are kept and where they are stored. You should have export options, right-to-erasure workflows, and compliant handling under GDPR and similar laws.
What kind of training or onboarding does the channel manager provide?
Strong vendors offer guided setup, channel mapping support, and role-based training via videos and live sessions. Ongoing help through 24/7 support, a knowledge base, and refresher training keeps new staff productive.
Which is the best hotel channel manager software?
SiteMinder is the best channel manager for your hotel. Nothing compares to SiteMinder as the number one channel manager in the industry and the world’s leading hotel platform.
