Best software to increase hotel profitability: 2026 comparison
A comparison of 8 software solutions to improve RevPAR, ADR, and operating margins in hospitality
Read summarized version with
The software tools that help a hotel increase profitability do not all belong to the same category. Some focus on pricing, others on distribution, and others on operations, direct bookings, or data analysis.
The five main areas are: Revenue Management System (RMS), Property Management System (PMS), Channel Manager, Booking Engine, and Business Intelligence. Used together, these tools can help you optimize rates, reduce manual work, improve control over distribution channels, increase direct bookings, and make decisions based on up-to-date data.
Choosing the right software depends on the size of your property, the level of automation you want, and how advanced your revenue strategy already is.
A small independent hotel, for example, may mainly need a simple tool to automate pricing. A larger property may be looking for a more connected platform that brings together pricing, PMS, distribution, email marketing, and reporting.
Thinking about changing your PMS? Download this guide to help you understand whether it’s time.
What makes software truly useful for increasing hotel profitability
Software affects profitability when it does more than digitize a task. It should help the property work better every day: less time spent on repetitive operations, faster decisions, pricing that reflects real demand more accurately, and a stronger ability to turn online visibility into bookings.
In hospitality, that means improving metrics like ADR and RevPAR, but also protecting margins by reducing commissions, operational mistakes, and avoidable manual work. That is why, when evaluating a solution, the real question is not only, “What features does it offer?” but also, “What effect can it have on the way we work and on our results?”
Here are five useful criteria to guide your choice:
- Pricing automation: The software should help you update rates based on demand, occupancy, competitor pricing, events, and seasonality, reducing the need for constant manual intervention.
- Integration with other tools: PMS, RMS, channel manager, and booking engine should work together, so you can avoid duplicate data, synchronization errors, and decisions based on incomplete information.
- Up-to-date and easy-to-read data: Dashboards, reports, and metrics such as RevPAR, ADR, occupancy, and TRevPAR should be clear, accessible, and useful for operational decisions, not just for reviewing results after the fact.
- Scalability: The solution should adapt to your needs as the property grows, whether you have 10 rooms or 150, without disproportionate costs.
- Reduction of manual work: Every hour saved on repetitive operational tasks can be reinvested in strategy, guest relationships, performance reviews, and the guest experience.
Comparison of the main software solutions
The solutions available on the market differ by category, target user, and feature set. Some focus on one specific function, such as only RMS or only PMS. Others offer a more integrated ecosystem.
The table below compares 8 software solutions available in 2026 for independent hospitality businesses.
Software | Main category | Best for | Main strength |
Smartness | All-in-one platform (RMS + PMS + CRM + AI messaging) | Hotels, B&Bs, resorts, vacation rentals, property managers (5–150 units) | Integrated ecosystem: AI pricing, cloud PMS, CRS, and chatbot in one interface. Reported average revenue increase: +30% |
Cloudbeds | All-in-one PMS and channel manager | Small and mid-size hotels, hostels, B&Bs | Intuitive booking engine, integrated channel manager with real-time sync |
Mews | Next-generation cloud PMS | Mid-size hotels and boutique chains | API-first architecture, broad integration marketplace |
SiteMinder | Channel manager and distribution | Hotels of all sizes | Connectivity to 450+ distribution channels, strong global presence |
Little Hotelier | PMS for small properties (SiteMinder product) | B&Bs, small hotels up to 30 rooms | Ease of use, built-in channel manager, basic reporting |
Amenitiz | All-in-one PMS with website builder | Independent hotels, B&Bs, vacation rentals | Intuitive interface, booking engine and website included |
Lodgify | Software for short-term rentals and vacation rentals | Property managers of vacation homes and apartments | Website builder and channel manager designed specifically for vacation rentals |
Hostaway | PMS for short-term rentals | Property managers with apartment portfolios | Operational automation, integrations with Airbnb and Vrbo |
Overview of each solution
Smartness
Smartness is an all-in-one platform for hotels, B&Bs, residences, farmstays, vacation rentals, and property managers with 5 to 150 units that want to increase profitability, reduce dependence on online travel agencies (OTAs), and simplify day-to-day operations.
The platform combines software and services across the main areas that influence property growth: AI-based dynamic pricing (Smartpricing), all-in-one PMS (Smartpms), CRM with automated email marketing (Smartconnect), AI chatbot (Smartchat), and payment automation (Smartpay).
In addition to software, Smartness also offers specialist services such as Smartads and Smartsite, designed to support strategic activities like digital advertising campaigns and website creation and optimization.
It also offers a performance-based model called Smartresults, which allows hospitality businesses to pay based on the results actually achieved.
The Smartness product ecosystem is designed to help properties increase revenue by an average of 30%, reduce OTA commissions by up to 20%, and drive up to 50% of bookings through the direct channel.
See how much you could earn with Smartness: calculate your return on investment.
Amenitiz
Amenitiz is an all-in-one platform for independent hotels, B&Bs, and smaller hospitality businesses. It brings together PMS, channel manager, booking engine, website builder, payments, and pricing tools in one environment, with a strong focus on ease of use and centralized management.
It is suited to properties that want to manage bookings, rates, availability, website, and sales channels without building a complex tech stack. It can be a good option for businesses looking for a system that is quick to adopt and designed to reduce manual work.
Cloudbeds
Cloudbeds is a hospitality management platform designed for independent properties, hotel groups, B&Bs, hostels, and vacation rentals. It includes PMS, channel manager, booking engine, payments, operational tools, reporting, an integration marketplace, and revenue intelligence features.
Its main strength is its modular but connected approach. It allows you to manage operations, distribution, direct bookings, and reporting from one platform, while still giving you the option to expand functionality through third-party integrations.
Hostaway
Hostaway is a platform for property managers and short-term rental operators managing multiple units across channels such as Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and Expedia. It combines PMS, channel manager, operational automation, guest messaging, reporting, payments, revenue optimization, and tools for direct bookings.
It is designed primarily for the short-term rental segment and is best suited to operators who need to centralize listings, calendars, pricing, communication, and operations across multiple properties. The platform is built to reduce manual work and the risk of double bookings while helping teams stay in control of channels and performance.
Little Hotelier
Little Hotelier is an all-in-one software solution for small hospitality businesses such as B&Bs, guest houses, small hotels, and independent accommodations. Developed by SiteMinder, it includes tools for reservation management, room calendars, channel manager, booking engine, guest communication, website builder, and reporting.
It is suited to properties looking for a simple solution to start selling online or improve online sales performance without adopting systems that feel too complex. Its connection to the SiteMinder ecosystem is a relevant advantage for distribution and channel connectivity.
Lodgify
Lodgify is a software platform for vacation rental hosts and property managers. It offers tools to build a website with a booking engine, manage reservations, sync calendars and rates across major channels, automate communication and operational tasks, accept payments, and monitor performance.
It is especially well suited to operators who want to increase direct bookings and centralize the management of multiple properties. Its website builder, with templates optimized for SEO and online bookings, makes Lodgify particularly appealing for businesses that want to build a stronger direct presence alongside OTA channels.
Mews
Mews is a cloud-native hospitality platform centered on PMS, operational automation, integrated payments, point of sale, guest experience tools, a marketplace, and open APIs. It is aimed at modern properties, independent hotels, groups, and operators looking for a flexible, connected ecosystem.
Its main strength is its open architecture. The marketplace with more than 1,000 integrations and the APIs make it possible to connect PMS, CRM, housekeeping, payments, business intelligence, and other tools. It is a strong option for operators who want to automate processes and build a customized tech stack.
SiteMinder
SiteMinder is a platform for guest acquisition, distribution, and hotel revenue management. It is best known for its channel manager, with connections to more than 450 distribution channels, but it also includes a booking engine, metasearch, direct booking tools, business intelligence, payments, guest engagement, and integrations.
It is a good fit for hotels that want to expand visibility across sales channels, sync rates and availability in real time, and strengthen their direct channel. Compared with more PMS-centered solutions, its main focus remains distribution and the ability to connect the property with more sources of demand.
How to choose the right software based on the size of your property
Small hospitality properties (10 to 30 rooms)
For properties with 10 to 30 rooms, simplicity is usually the top priority. In this segment, solutions like Little Hotelier and Amenitiz can be a strong fit, as they are designed for small properties and independent hotels looking for PMS, channel manager, and booking engine in one environment.
Smartness may be worth considering when, beyond day-to-day operations, the property also wants to improve dynamic pricing, direct bookings, guest communication, and automation of manual tasks.
At this size, the main risk is choosing a solution that feels simple today but becomes limiting as the property grows.
Boutique hotels and mid-size properties (30 to 100 rooms)
Between 30 and 100 rooms, operational complexity, data volume, and the number of daily decisions all increase. That makes it more important to evaluate solutions that connect PMS, distribution, pricing, CRM, reporting, and guest communication.
Smartness may be a good fit for properties looking for an integrated ecosystem that combines dynamic pricing, PMS, booking engine, CRM, AI chatbot, and marketing services.
Cloudbeds and Mews are strong alternatives for properties looking for hospitality management platforms with PMS, channel manager, booking engine, payments, marketplace functionality, and broad integration options.
In this segment, the choice should be driven mainly by three questions: how much do you want to automate, which tools need to work together, and how important is it to reduce fragmentation between operations, distribution, and revenue growth?
Hotel groups and chains (more than 100 rooms)
Above 100 rooms, the requirements change significantly. Features such as multi-property management, data governance, user roles and permissions, advanced integrations, broad channel distribution, and dedicated support become much more important.
Mews offers multi-property functionality and an open ecosystem with more than 1,000 integrations. SiteMinder is especially strong on distribution, with connections to more than 450 channels, metasearch, and booking engine capabilities for groups as well. Cloudbeds may be worth considering for independent properties, groups, and operators looking to centralize operations, distribution, and revenue management.
Smartness can be relevant for groups and multi-property operators looking for a more complete platform that already brings together dynamic pricing, PMS, booking engine, channel management, guest communication, marketing, and specialist consulting services.
Choosing the right software is not only about comparing features. It is about understanding which setup makes sense for the way your property actually works today and where you want it to go next.
If you want to evaluate your options based on your specific property, a personalized consultation is the easiest place to start. In a free Smartness demo, you can look at your current setup, understand which tools you actually need, and get a clearer view of the results you could aim for.
The platform is modular, so you can start with what matters most today and build a system that grows with you over time. Want to learn more?
Request a personalized demo
Talk to a Smartness expert and discover how to automate pricing and guest communication to increase your revenue by an average of 30% and cut OTA commissions by up to 20%. Free, no obligation.
FAQs
A PMS (Property Management System) manages the day-to-day operations of a property: reservations, check-in, check-out, housekeeping, invoicing, and guest data.
An RMS (Revenue Management System), on the other hand, focuses on price optimization, using data such as demand, occupancy, seasonality, and market trends.
The two are complementary. The PMS collects operational data, while the RMS uses that data to support more effective pricing decisions.
Yes. Even smaller properties with 10 to 20 rooms can benefit from revenue management software, especially if they are still updating prices manually or cannot consistently monitor demand, events, and competitors.
In these cases, it is important to choose a solution that is easy to use, automates analysis, and makes it easier to apply a dynamic pricing strategy in daily operations.
AI-based systems such as Smartpricing automate both analysis and price updates, with very little manual intervention required.
OTA commissions usually range between 15% and 25% of the booking value. For a property with 50 rooms and a €100 ADR, that can mean thousands of euros per month.
Reducing this dependence requires an effective booking engine, direct guest communication, targeted campaigns, and loyalty-building strategies. CRM tools like Smartconnect can help turn guest contact into a stronger direct relationship over time.
Yes. Profitability does not depend only on room rate, but also on operating costs, commissions, ancillary revenue, and the total value generated by each guest (TRevPAR).
Automating guest communication and repetitive tasks, strengthening the direct channel, selling additional services, and optimizing distribution are all levers that can improve margins without necessarily increasing base rates.
That depends on the property, the quality of the available data, the seasonality of the business, and the level of automation already in place. In general, the first signs appear once the system has had enough continuity to read demand, occupancy, and booking patterns reliably.
Stronger results should be assessed over a longer period by comparing KPIs such as ADR, RevPAR, occupancy, and margin against historical performance.
It depends on the complexity of the property. For many independent hotels, an all-in-one platform can reduce integration costs and manual work by bringing multiple functions into one environment.
A stack of specialized solutions may make more sense for more complex properties or groups with very specific needs. However, it also requires more time, more expertise, and more attention when managing integrations.
Staff shortage in hospitality: how automation helps cover operational gaps
Where automation takes repetitive work off smaller teams first, so service does not suffer when coverage gets tighter.
Where hotel revenue is really won or lost across the guest journey
Best practices for hotels that want smoother operations, happier guests, and stronger margins.