The hotel property management system, better known simply as PMS, is universally used by every hospitality group for automation at each property and integration into the group's network. It can manage virtually anything that goes on inside hotels, including housekeeping, reservations and the front office, accounting, etc. Described below are the most popular features typically found in a PMS.
The main feature required is connectivity and integration with centralized reservation and yield management systems. Without getting into the technical aspects of this concept, let's just say that customers booking a room online or in-person at the hotel will be dealing with a simplified process and nightly rates based on current occupancy and demand. It facilitates one-screen reservations and group bookings, and allows for single-step check-ins.
Another important requirement is for the software to be able to provide guest history. When a guest provides a name to complete the reservation form, the database is scanned for past stays by the same person. The other fields in the form are automatically filled if the guest is a repeat visitor, thus speeding up the booking process.
Being able to see the guest's history instantly is also helpful for front-desk staff who can then acknowledge and welcome repeat guests to make them feel at home. It helps provide better service since the staff knows what the guests need. For example, if the history shows that the guest is a big spender, they can be offered free upgrades and other free amenities.
An easily accessible database containing records of all past guests is also helpful for security and as a loss-prevention mechanism. Most hospitality groups maintain a blacklist of people that are banned from booking in at any of the group's properties. Some are guests who skipped out without paying, while others may have stolen or damaged hotel property, or may have engaged in improper behavior.
Technical systems including pay per view and door-locking can be integrated with the PMS. It can also be linked to POS machines at on-site facilities such as bars, convenience stores, restaurants, health clubs, etc. It can just as well manage and integrate disparate internal departments including HR, accounting and inventory. All the data gets stored centrally and makes it easier to provide a single bill for a room. It also makes creating reports and analysis of the data a lot easier.
A big benefit associated with this omnipresent software is that the IT spending goes down sharply. There will be no hardware, upgrades, training or staff needed to operate individual systems for each department. It improves user management and security with a single log-in for every user. Cloud-based solutions and mobile applications have reduced IT costs even more and added to the productivity associated with implementation of the PMS.
Running a group of hotels is a complex business involving hundreds of employees and guests at any given time. It needs to be operational 24/7, and there is no room for error. Good general managers aided by a competent staff can make it work by oozing charm and focusing on the details, but they need an efficient and omnipresent hotel property management system that can take up most of the workload.
The main feature required is connectivity and integration with centralized reservation and yield management systems. Without getting into the technical aspects of this concept, let's just say that customers booking a room online or in-person at the hotel will be dealing with a simplified process and nightly rates based on current occupancy and demand. It facilitates one-screen reservations and group bookings, and allows for single-step check-ins.
Another important requirement is for the software to be able to provide guest history. When a guest provides a name to complete the reservation form, the database is scanned for past stays by the same person. The other fields in the form are automatically filled if the guest is a repeat visitor, thus speeding up the booking process.
Being able to see the guest's history instantly is also helpful for front-desk staff who can then acknowledge and welcome repeat guests to make them feel at home. It helps provide better service since the staff knows what the guests need. For example, if the history shows that the guest is a big spender, they can be offered free upgrades and other free amenities.
An easily accessible database containing records of all past guests is also helpful for security and as a loss-prevention mechanism. Most hospitality groups maintain a blacklist of people that are banned from booking in at any of the group's properties. Some are guests who skipped out without paying, while others may have stolen or damaged hotel property, or may have engaged in improper behavior.
Technical systems including pay per view and door-locking can be integrated with the PMS. It can also be linked to POS machines at on-site facilities such as bars, convenience stores, restaurants, health clubs, etc. It can just as well manage and integrate disparate internal departments including HR, accounting and inventory. All the data gets stored centrally and makes it easier to provide a single bill for a room. It also makes creating reports and analysis of the data a lot easier.
A big benefit associated with this omnipresent software is that the IT spending goes down sharply. There will be no hardware, upgrades, training or staff needed to operate individual systems for each department. It improves user management and security with a single log-in for every user. Cloud-based solutions and mobile applications have reduced IT costs even more and added to the productivity associated with implementation of the PMS.
Running a group of hotels is a complex business involving hundreds of employees and guests at any given time. It needs to be operational 24/7, and there is no room for error. Good general managers aided by a competent staff can make it work by oozing charm and focusing on the details, but they need an efficient and omnipresent hotel property management system that can take up most of the workload.
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