You may already be using a booking system for your hotel, but is it customisable? A customisable booking system is important for your hotel for a number of reasons.  First, it allows you to tailor the system to your specific needs and preferences. Second, it can help you save time and money by automating many of the tasks associated with managing a hotel. Finally, a customisable booking system can provide your guests with a more personalised experience.

Read on to learn more about why a customisable booking system is important for your hotel, as well as how you can ensure that your hotel’s booking system is customisable.

What is a customisable booking system?

A customisable booking system, simply put, is a hotel booking engine that gives you freedom. This freedom is offered with the integrations, design, rules, and customer data that the software provides hoteliers.

With a customisable booking system, you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all solution. You can make the booking system fit the specific needs of your hotel. Some hoteliers may find that they need a booking system that is more comprehensive, while others might want something that is more stripped down.

There are also some businesses that might require specific features or integrations that are not offered by all booking systems. Luckily, with the right system, you can tailor the software to your needs.

Why is a customisable booking system important for your hotel?

A customisable booking system is important for your hotel because it allows you to manage reservations and bookings in a way that suits your specific needs and those of your business. You can tailor them to improve customer service, streamline operations, and increase booking accuracy. This can help to improve efficiency and productivity, while also providing a better experience.

For example, being able to set specific rules for how bookings are made and managed can help to avoid errors. Additionally, being able to tailor the booking system to your hotel’s branding can help to create a more professional and polished appearance. Custom analytical reports can also provide valuable insights into your hotel’s performance and allow you to make informed decisions about future bookings.

There are several other benefits of a customisable booking system, including:

Custom reservations and bookings: You can manage your reservations and bookings in a way that works best for you and your hotel business. This allows you to be more efficient and productive in your operations. For example, you can set specific rules to avoid errors, ensure bookings are processed in a consistent manner, and tailor the booking system to your hotel’s branding.

Custom integrations: A customisable booking system can be integrated with other software to streamline your operations. This can include integrating with your property management system, accounting software, or email marketing platforms.

Custom analytics and reports: With a customisable booking system, you can generate analytical reports to view your hotel’s performance. This information, broken down by date, room and earnings, can be used to make informed decisions about future bookings and improve your hotel’s overall operations.

Improved customer service: A customisable booking system can help you to provide a better experience for your guests. This can include ensuring that all the facilities of your property are adequately represented through the booking options, setting specific rules for booking length of stay, and adding simple 1-click upselling options. These options can help to encourage repeat business and generate more positive reviews.

Increased accuracy: By tailoring the booking system to your needs, you can increase the accuracy of bookings and avoid errors. For example, you can set rules for minimum and maximum stay lengths, number of guests per room, and credit card type. You can also gather additional information from guests, such as dietary restrictions or special requests.

Improved efficiency: A customisable booking system can help you to streamline your operations and improve your hotel’s overall efficiency. This can be achieved by integrating the booking system with other software, such as your property management system or accounting software.

Automate specific admin: You can automate many of the tasks associated with managing a hotel, such as sending confirmation emails, updating your availability calendar, and processing payments. This can free up your time so that you can focus on other aspects of running your business.

Greater control over pricing and information: A customisable booking system also provides you better control over your pricing and information. You’ll be able to modify and set room rates, cross-sell or upsell, and allocate discounts to your guests.

Personalised service to guests: As you’re gathering information for each guest profile, you will be able to see whether they have any preferences from previous stays at your hotel. Then, each time they stay at your property, you’ll be able to supply them with their favourite items. This will make their stay more enjoyable, and they’ll appreciate the extra effort you’ve put in to making them feel comfortable.

As you can see, there are many benefits of using a customisable booking system for your hotel. By tailoring the system to your specific needs, you can improve efficiency, productivity, and the overall customer experience. This can all lead to increased bookings and revenue for your hotel.

How can you ensure that your hotel’s booking system is customisable? 

A customisable booking system should ideally support the following:

Appearance 

An important aspect of a booking system is whether or not it allows you to customise the appearance of the booking page on your website. This includes the ability to add your hotel’s logo, colours, and fonts. Doing so helps create a consistent branding experience for guests and can improve the overall look of your website.

Booking rules

Your booking system should allow you to set specific rules for bookings, such as minimum and maximum stay lengths, number of guests per room, and credit card type. This helps to ensure that guests are providing accurate information and that bookings are being made correctly.

Automation

The ability to automate tasks, such as sending confirmation emails and updating your availability calendar, can be very helpful in freeing up your time. This allows you to focus on other aspects of running your business.

Up-selling potential

Hotel owners should also have the option to upsell various amenities and services to their guests, like breakfast buffet, spa, bonfire, and even rooms. This not only adds to their revenue but also helps in providing the guests with a better experience.

Payment options

With majority of people making their bookings online, it has become important to provide them with various options for payments, like credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, etc. A good booking system remembers the payment preferences of a guest in the past, so that the same can be recommended when they make a transaction again.

Integration

Besides looking at the independent features of a customisable booking system, it’s also important to ensure that it can be integrated with other systems, such as:

• Property Management System (PMS)
• Accounting Software
• Channel Manager
• OTA and GDS

These integrations are essential for ensuring smooth operation and better data sharing. It will not only allow you to optimise the workflows but also help in preventing any kind of miscommunication. Besides, consistent data sharing means that any relevant information related to room availability, pricing, and bookings is updated automatically. This can save you from costly errors and double bookings.

Scalability

A customisable booking system should also come with options for scalability, so that it can accommodate the needs of a growing business. This can come in many forms – most commonly, the ability to add rooms and change pricing across multiple channels effortlessly.

What are the benefits of a customisable booking system?

Offer a unique and personalised experience to customers

A customisable booking system will help you provide a better and more personalised experience to your guests. They will be able to see the real-time availability of different rooms on your property along with their tariffs. You’ll also be able to provide them with complimentary offers and accompaniments based on their booking history.

Streamline booking processes and reduce errors

With a customisable booking system, the guests will be able to put in the specifications of their stay themselves. This will not only help in streamlining the process of booking, but you’ll also be able to avoid any human errors. If any aspect of the booking does go wrong, you’ll have the data to provide support and find a solution. In this way, your reputation will stay intact.

Save time and money on administration costs

With guests booking their own stays, their reservation will simply pop up on your system along with all the details. All that is left for your front desk staff to do is prepare for the guests’ arrival to provide them with the best service they can. In this way, implementing a customisable booking system will help you save valuable time and money on routine administrative tasks.

Improve customer satisfaction levels

Deploying a customisable booking system means that you would no longer have to coordinate with guests through emails and repeated phone calls. When all the bookings are automated and digitised, you’ll be able to ensure that the process remains swift and error-free. This will help in improving the customer satisfaction levels, and they’ll be more likely to return as guests.

Get real-time insights into customer trends and behaviour

With a customisable booking system, you’ll be able to get real-time insights about the trends and behaviour of your guests. This data can help you in making better decisions related to pricing, promotions, and marketing.

A customisable booking system is important for your hotel as it helps in providing a better and more personalised experience to guests. It also streamlines booking processes and reduces errors. In addition, it saves time and money on administration costs and improves customer satisfaction levels. Finally, it provides real-time insights into customer trends and behaviour. Therefore, if you’re looking to improve your hotel’s operations and provide a better experience to guests, a customisable booking system is essential.

Need a customisable booking system for your property? Sign up for Preno’s free trial today.