Software Options for Operating a Mid-Sized Hotel? 61
curly_dan asks: "Can readers recommend any software packages suitable for a mid-sized hotel (100 rooms + restaurant + bar + function rooms) to use for checking guests in/out, billing, housekeeping, reservations, financial accounting and all other necessary functions for a busy hotel? Their existing system (which I don't want to name) is clunky, fails often, and the telephone support team seem unable to use or configure their own product and are frequently rude to the hotel staff. I'm interested in hearing the experiences on the software packages those of you in this business have encountered."
Suggestion: (Score:1, Funny)
You're not getting anything past anybody by not naming it.
Re:Suggestion: (Score:2)
Re:Suggestion: (Score:2)
The link doesn't work, but I assume you are talking about this [thedailywtf.com]. And no, it is not an abomination of nature, I am convinced that they contracted cthulu to handle that bit of programming.
Re:My Suggestion (Score:2)
Check-Inn (Score:3, Informative)
actually (Score:2)
PMS for short...
Re:Oblig. (Score:1)
Add "Open Source" to the end of that search. (Score:2)
Re:Oblig. (Score:1)
Re:Oblig. (Score:1)
Happy, happy, joy, joy.
Perhaps try using StarCom (Score:4, Informative)
Check it out here: www.starnetsystems.com.au [starnetsystems.com.au]
Be warned, it's fairly expensive, but probably not prohibitively so.
Keep the PBX in mind (Score:4, Interesting)
Software is just a tool (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:2)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:5, Funny)
We may know software, but we know shit about hotels
Perhaps he's hoping one of us stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:1)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:2)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:1)
you should have tied you're responses further down into this or something. no one who isn't moderating is going to read down, compare, and see that you really do know what you are talking about. (and, consequently, are really being constructive to the conversation.)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:2)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:2)
If you're willing to do some hacking, instead of paying money, this is worth looking into:
http://www.opentravelsystem.org/ [opentravelsystem.org]
It's based on OFBiz: http://www.ofbiz.org/ [ofbiz.org]
Kaching! (Score:1)
Be it inventory control, booking, checking in, personell management -you name it. Not only that, but most run over Windows, so you get the addittional problem of purchasing windows, running it and having the associated problems.
Now the way I figure it, anyone building a system based on linux, where interaction with the actual operating system on the
Re:Kaching! (Score:2)
Re:Kaching! (Score:1)
Re:Kaching! (Score:2)
Re:Software is just a tool (Score:2)
For an unpopular suggestion (Score:2, Informative)
Re:For an unpopular suggestion (Score:2)
Roommaster (Score:5, Informative)
Hands down THE BEST software if you like to run a hotel.. bar.. integrates nicely..lots of add ons, evey serialed upgrade has just rocked with wish fullfillment.. the forum is good for 'how do i's although the owner/author/president can get snippy when he feels a post just isn't appropriate....
www.innquest.com
I've worked days inn, marriott, best western, one holiday inn briefly, and three independents, innquest rocks..
you can create custom confirmation letters that adjust to the details of the bookings, with variables you set and using boolean logic.
try it.. I can't tell you enough how much I think it rocks. yes- I'll gladly be known as a innquest fanboy...
Oh yeah (Score:3, Interesting)
Trust me.. download roommaster, play with the sample data.. it'll kill you with ease of use.
it does require win xp pro on all terminals..
First year we saved about 1k in postage by emailing our confirmations (independent motel) we also had much better communications because we had sent an email to everyone at point of booking, and again when their reservations had a deposit.. if we never recieved a deposit, 'usta be we'd cancel the bookings, now we send an email ahead, then recapture
Re:Roommaster (Score:4, Informative)
MICROS (Score:2, Informative)
Re:MICROS (Score:2)
Their latest system, Opera, is pretty cool. It's written in Java and run from a standard web server (in our case, on the intranet). I haven't had time to test this theory, but I'd be willing to bet that it would work just fine on a standard Linux box with Java and Samba installed.
Micros, the restaurant software, is pure crap. The back
Re:MICROS (Score:1)
Opera is the high end product, and FINANCIALLY way out of the park. Fidelio Express, now in Version 3 would be a perfect solution for a hotel of that size.
As for your major mistake, only a REALLY OLD version of Micros restaurant software runs on SCO. RES (the most popular version of their restaurant software) had a new version (4) released in the past month, runs on Windows XP and Windows 2003 Server (and NT/2000/XP/CE clients). Again, a "junior" package exists which runs on the h
Re:MICROS (Score:2)
As for the KISS-compliance thing, we did have an upgrade that encompassed that, but we were also upgrading to multi-property (Opera was chosen before any other property was in the works), so it wasn't like anything was forced on us. Nor at the hotel that used the 8700. Nor the hotel before that that r
Re:MICROS (Score:1)
btw.. Express is more for 50-150 room properties.
I fairly take back what I said, now understanding which product you were refering to. *shudder*
Re:MICROS (Score:2)
Agreed on the quantity of ass it sucks. That's why the new property is eschewing Micros for their POS and using Aloha.
The Hotel Reservation System (Score:5, Funny)
Software!?! (Score:3, Funny)
Manuel: Qué?
Mrs Richards: What?
Manuel: Qué?
Mrs Richards: "K"?
Manuel: Sí.
Mrs Richards: "C"?
[Manuel nods.]
Mrs Richards: "KC"?
[Manuel looks puzzled.]
Mrs Richards: "KC"? What are you trying to say?
Manuel: No, no-no-no. "Qué" "what".
Mrs Richards: "K what"?
Manuel: Sí! "Qué" "what"!
Mrs Richards: "C.K. Watt"?
Manuel: Yes.
Mrs Richards: Who is C.K. Watt?
Manuel: Qué?
Mrs Richards: Is it the manager, Mr Watt?
Manuel: Oh, manager!
Mrs Richards: He is.
Manuel: Ah Mr Fawlty!
Mrs Richards: What?
Manuel: Fawlty.
Mrs Richards: What are you talking about, you silly little man?!
[She turns to hotel maid Polly.]
Mrs Richards: What is going on here? I ask him for my room, and he tells me the manager's a "Mr Watt", aged forty.
Manuel: No, no. Fawlty.
Mrs Richards: Faulty? What's wrong with him?
Polly: It's alright, Mrs Richards. He's from Barcelona.
Re:Software!?! (Score:2)
Let me guess your current package... (Score:1)
For PBX (Score:1)
embedded systems (Score:1)
Fidelio (Score:2)
Failing that, if you can find a Fidelio 7 system, try that. It's Windows-based and a bit finicky, but basically the DOS-based Fidelio with a GUI and uses SQL instead of dbIII.
Opera, the current incarnation of Fidelio, would be overkill for your needs. (And requires an Oracle license.)
OMFG! (Score:1)
How far back do you want to go? (Score:3, Interesting)
But, in the period JUST BEFORE pc's were common, our hotel used a
1-Micros Cash register to keep track of all the rooms
2- 3 ring binder with 'graph' paper to keep track of availability
3- boxes like 4X6 index card boxes for actual reservations
process, you call the hotel, ask for a certain date, the agent steals the "book" from whichever phone (of three) it's sitting at, and looks at the two pages (rooms 1-40 on page one, 41-80 on page 2) and quotes availabili
Expanding on "the book" (Score:2)
no backup was possible, if lost it would have been a nightmare to re-create..
it held two pages for each week of the year, (there were too many rooms to fit on one page)
it literally had to be passed from person to person during the day at an alarming rate
it's the only paper item I've ever used reinforcing rings on (and been glad of their existence)
occasionally a page would get so worn that it would be re-created by copying, but it was annoying
And most important... (Score:1)
Epicor Scala (Score:3, Informative)
Ed Almos
LMS (Score:1)
We use Agilysys's [agilysys.com] Lodging Management Software aka LMS. I believe Agilysys has a price range that may suite your needs. It has all the features you mention, and if it doesn't, they can assist in adding in modules that can do what your looking for.
Hope this helps.
--
Duckz
I worked in this business for a long time (Score:2)
AutoClerk (Score:1)
AutoClerk is easy to w
Newmarket International (Score:2)