In association with
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any independent hotels across the UK are in the process of upgrading, migrating or replacing their property
management systems (PMS). If you are con- templating such a major business decision, there are several important questions to ask. With a sea of information out there on the
various functions and capabilities of hotel PMS, plus a huge array of providers, how can you know you are making the right choice? You may already have a long-standing PMS provider and you want to continue your tried-and-trusted relationship, as many providers are transition- ing from on-premise to cloud-based products. Rudding Park in Harrogate has worked with
Maestro PMS since 2007. With a diverse busi- ness offering 90 guestrooms and suites, a spa, two restaurants, two golf courses, and meetings and events venues, integrations across the tech stack have been of paramount importance. Julia Featherstone, head of rooms division
at Rudding Park, says: “Maestro’s ability to manage integrations and provide answers to our important questions has ensured our PMS can reach our goals and accommodate our future goals.” Others may feel now is the right time for a
change and a new partnership. Vicki Jackson, deputy hotel manager at Gisborough Hall, remembers the reasons for switching PMS provider during the pandemic. “We were so unhappy with our previous PMS legacy sys- tem and their lack of support and understand- ing of independent hotels that we knew it was the best time to move to a new solution,” she says. “Our management team also used the time to analyse our systems, brainstorm proj- ects and focus on how we could advance. We also used this time to look at some of our cost lines and where we could reduce spending.”
LOOK AT PRICING There are two pricing models typically used by PMS providers: licensing and subscriptions. Licensing fees, although not so widely used now, may still be charged by legacy PMS pro- viders even for a cloud-based implementation, advises Stewart Moss, managing director of High Level Software, part of Zonal: “The key here is to ask the question and make sure you have full visibility of all costs.” A monthly subscription fee is often used by cloud-based PMS providers and is usually based on the number of rooms or properties. “Watch out for hidden costs for add-on features, implemen- tation and set up fees, training costs, commission fees, and customer
support costs,” says Moss.
PLANNING YOUR PROJECT Every department in the hotel should be involved in the consultation process, so people can give their thoughts on what they want from the new PMS, and then a shortlist of vendors can
www.thecaterer.com
“The support you receive from your PMS provider could turn out to be the
real deal-breaker” Heather Byron, Alliants
be invited to showcase their products. Depend- ing on the size of your business, it is wise to set aside two to three months for the whole process, avoiding peak seasons such as Christmas and school holidays. “Obviously, understanding the full functionality of the new PMS and its appro- priateness for your business is important, but the quality of the service and the support you receive from your PMS provider could turn out to be the real deal-breaker,” advises Heather
Sponsor’s comment: Rezcontrol
Cutting-edge PMS Rezcontrol is a complete hotel management solution, designed to put hoteliers in control. We pride ourselves on our intuitive simplicity, depth of functionality, transparent pricing and outstanding customer service. Rezcontrol offers everything
you need to run your hotel, seamlessly, from the cloud: • Manage bookings, rates, tasks and events – all in one place • RezPay – intelligent, integrated payment solution • Guest engagement automation – so you can spend time with your guests rather than on admin • Secure and future-proofed with regular updates • Point of sale, restaurant reservations and all integrations • Keep your finger on the pulse with all the business insights and reporting you need. “Rezcontrol does everything
we need, but it’s also about working with a supplier that makes you feel valued, is approachable and responsive.” Fuller’s Hotels and Inns
https://rezcontrol.com
Technology Prospectus 2024 | 35
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