How to Choose a Hotel Channel Manager
By the HospitalityStack editors · written from hotel & resort F&B experience
What it does
A channel manager pushes rates and availability from your PMS to online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Booking.com and Expedia, and pulls bookings back, so you avoid overbookings and update prices in one place.
Key features
Two-way, real-time sync with your PMS; the specific OTAs and wholesalers you use; rate rules (derived rates, restrictions like minimum stay); a booking engine for direct bookings; reporting by channel.
Questions to ask
Which channels are supported in my market? Is it priced per property, per room or per booking? How fast do updates reach each OTA? Who handles mapping during setup? What support hours cover my time zone?
Options
Standalone channel managers like SiteMinder connect to many PMSs; all-in-one systems such as Cloudbeds and Little Hotelier bundle PMS and channel manager for smaller properties. See our small-property PMS guide and PMS.