The 2023 Guide to Property Management Software

THE 2023 GUIDE TO PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

SOFTWARE

By Mandy Clarke, Editor, AccomNews

A well-managed accommodation is only as good as the property management so ware (PMS) it engages.

From there, PMS operators and managers expect to be able to streamline daily operations, reduce manual processes and improve guest experiences.

The so ware helps manage everything from front desk, room bookings and billings to guest services, sales and marketing. Importantly, it manages distribution channels, such as online travel agencies (OTAs) and direct bookings.

However, many users expect more, and the so ware can also help manage sta workflow by tracking housekeeping tasks and maintenance schedules, it can have email communication features and capabilities for on-premises dining and loyalty programs.

Many PMS systems also include accounting and finance features that can generate reports on occupancy rates, and revenue.

As an essential, PMS systems must have strong security features to protect guest data, payment and other sensitive information.

There are several technologies that are being integrated to enhance PMS functionality and e ectiveness. Cloud-based PMS allows hotel operators to access their data from any device with internet access. This technology provides flexibility, scalability, and real-time data insights, which can help hotel operators make informed decisions ‘on-the-go’.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are also being integrated into PMS to automate processes and provide more personalised experiences to guests. Within the tourism industry, AI has function as almost a virtual travel agentrecommending services and products to guests based on their preferences and booking history.

Internet of Things (IoT) is being used to enhance guest experiences and automate hotel operations to exceed guest expectations. For example, IoTenabled devices can be used

to control room temperature, lighting, and other amenities to meet guests' preferences.

Mobile technology continues to expand its role in our everyday lives and integrating it within PMS can help provide guests with a seamless experience. For example, guests can use their mobile devices to check-in, access their room, and request services during their stay.

Contactless payment solutions are also being integrated into PMS to reduce contact between guests and sta , improve payment security, and provide a convenient payment option for guests.

A good PMS is one that meets the specific needs of your accommodation and helps you e ciently manage your operations. It should be user-friendly, scalable, customisable and o er an excellent user support service.

Ultimately, PMS should provide a more personalised and therefore improved guest experience, increase sta productivity, and optimise revenue.

PMS 2023: An overview from some of the industry’s most trusted PMS providers

Sam Steel Co-founder of Resly says that good PMS helps exceed guest expectations because it provides a seamless and connected journey.

He said: “Functionality like onlinecheck-in and integrated channel messaging are removing a lot of the manual work required, giving the guests a be er, faster, and more personalised experience.

“For instance, when a guest sends a message to a property via an online channel such as Airbnb and Booking.com, traditionally the hotelier will receive the message as an email, which they then must reply to via email or log into the channels portal to reply. Technology now allows us to receive and reply to messages directly in the PMS reducing the time a guest waits for a reply, while also keeping a full record of all conversations on the reservation in the PMS.”

He said in the future we will see “deeper connections and integrations with third-party platforms and channels”. P04

© Adobe Stock, stock.adobe.com

Your hotel, your rules

Every property is di erent.

Your uniqueness as a hotel is your competitive advantage. It’s what inspires people to make that booking and become guests.

Mews helps you run your business the way you want to, smartly and e ciently, while maximizing profits. We’re the great enables. We have the technology, the connectivity and the flexibility to help you run whatever it is you want to run.

Want to become the go-to destination for co-working and local businesses? Sure thing. Want to deliver bespoke, luxury experiences to leisure seekers? We can help. Thinking of running karaoke rooms or film screenings on the side? We can handle that too.

Whatever your style, whatever your vision, it’s our goal to make it happen – all while boosting revenue, streamlining operations and delighting guests.

You’ll get:

• Total control over daily operations

• Fully integrated payments and POS solution

• An intuitive digital guest journey

• 750+ integration partners

A property management system should never hold you back. It should inspire you to realise your property’s full potential.

best.

And if somebody tells you, ‘It can’t be done,’ always remember:

Your hotel, your rules.

Discover more at mews.com

Great hospitality doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens through Mews. Give your hotel the upper hand: See what you could achieve at mews.com/en/demo.

Business intelligence

Guest journey

“We are already seeing more integrations relying on the PMS to be the source of truth and removing the need to log in and manage multiple platforms. Things like the integrated channel messaging.”

What are Sam’s key considerations for those who want to upgrade their PMS or change providers?

“Plan well ahead! Not only do you want to give yourself as much time as possible for the migration, but most PMS will need to schedule your onboarding and go live, starting early will give you the best chance at ge ing your preferred dates.

“It’s coming up to the perfect time to upgrade your PMS, on July 1, the new financial year! This will mean properties with trust accounting will have one EOFY statement and a nice and clean transfer to their new PMS.”

The Resly PMS is “fast, e cient, and extremely easy to use”, said user, Chris de Closey, Director of Switch Hotel Solutions and manager of Baronnet Apartments, Breakers North.

In 33 short-stay resort properties across Queensland, Chris’s team has been using Resly PMS for over three years now.

He said: “I think we were one of the first businesses to use Resly PMS. And a er using several other PMS systems over the years we couldn’t be happier that we changed. The Resly team is very friendly and supportive, and the powerful PMS is intuitive and seamless."

“Using Resly PMS makes resort management so much easier and saves so much time, ensuring 'end of month' is now incredibly straightforward.

“The so ware is very easy to use, meaning we can train new sta (even those who never used a PMS before) in less than one day.

“Resly o ers the best support services we’ve ever had; their response time is second to none, even on weekends. And when we suggested product enhancements, they have been very receptive - I was astonished.”

Chris said Resly is a cloud-based mobile platform, he loves its portability and the convenience it o ers. He explained that he is currently on holiday with his family in Port Douglas but can still check-in online very easily.

“Another benefit is that it's easy for me to move between the di erent properties,” he said. “I can access di erent information from the one spot, not having to move around (between applications) which, let me tell you makes my life 100 times easier.”

Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews told us: “We’re o en asked: what’s the most important thing for a hotelier when it comes to choosing a PMS?

“Our answer is always the same: you tell us…

“We’re not just trying to pass the buck and avoid a di cult question. Truth is, it’s the extraordinary breadth of lodging experiences that makes hospitality so remarkable. What’s integral for one hotelier may only be a ‘nice-to-have’ for the next.

“Yes, there are a few fundamental features that form the bedrock of the new standard in hospitality. Being cloud native. Secure, digital payments. Complete connectivity. Without these, it will be di cult to provide the modern experience that guests expect.

“But when it comes down to it, there is no right way to run a property. Perhaps an entirely contact free check-in and check-out experience is your priority. Maybe it’s a digital pointof-sale solution that integrates directly with your guest profiles. Or it could be that you just want to do the simple things, reservation management, billing e ciently and without fuss.

“What’s important, then, is that you choose a hospitality cloud that gives you flexibility. That lets you run the kind of hotel, hostel, or serviced apartment that you want. Technology is (or should be) the great enabler,

never something that slows you down or pushes you down pre-determined paths."

He said: “The two pertinent questions to ask when deciding about any piece of tech are, first does it help fulfil your vision? and second will it make your guests happy?

“It sounds simple when laid out like that, but it isn’t always the case. However, if you do choose your so ware based on these answers, you’ll put your business in a great position to succeed and provide memorable experiences for years to come.”

Mews PMS user, Popy Bernardo Chief Information O cer, YHA Australia said: “By embracing a cloud first strategy, we were able to significantly simplify our technology operations and investments and switch our focus to driving real value through innovation and less on keeping the lights on.

“Mews helps us to become more e cient operationally while also giving guests a smoother, frictionless stay. This frees up our team members to focus on engaging and servicing our guests.”

Stephen Martin, Chief Sales O cer, RMS Cloud says a powerful PMS is at the heart of every property and “should control the flow of operations to create a be er guest experience and incorporate almost every other component of the guest journey through one unified platform”.

He said: “One of the most important ways PMS plays a role in delivering an elite guest experience is through automation. Streamline how a guest can check in with automated processes such as sending direct pay links to a guest's smartphone, which allows guests to quickly and easily check in and out of their accommodation on the go. By automating payments within your PMS, you can swi ly and securely allow guests to pay for their stay whilst accepting payments in advance.

“But there are other guest experience features a PMS should o er. It should support and improve your overall communications, allowing property owners to communicate directly with guests. This is a very powerful tool as it unlocks a more personalised experience. P06

It’s coming up to the perfect time to upgrade your PMS, on July 1

© Adobe Stock, stock.adobe.com

The power of choice

With over 25 years of industry knowledge and experience in the so ware space, coupled with 50 + years of hands-on operational experience, HiRUM and their team of experts is your trusted partner in your accommodation business.

Our solutions have been built from the ground up, based on first-hand experience and customer feedback. The comprehensive suite of products built in house has been intuitively designed to meet the unique needs of any accommodation business, providing the tools and flexibility to ensure your business operates e ectively and e ciently. With a complete end-to-end solution, HiRUM o ers a range of features that automate manual tasks, freeing up valuable time whilst saving you money. HiRUM’s adaptable all-in-one solution helps optimise your operations to keep you ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry.

Everything we create is designed around improving e ciency in your business, freeing up your time to focus on your guests, whilst ensuring business opportunities are never missed. Our in-depth reporting, along with our report customisation tool, ensures you can make datadriven decisions with ease. This ties back to our belief that no two businesses are the same and the data you may need will di er greatly to that of your neighbour. Being able to create and save your own customised reports is a feature not readily available in other PMS solutions. Coupled with our 500+ general reports, there is nothing you won’t know about your business operations.

Your PMS is your source of truth and the data you hold within it is essentially your most valuable business asset, therefore it needs to be held securely whilst being accessible at all times. This is why we created our own inbuilt Customer Communication

“We have been clients of Hirum for 24 years. During this period Hirum has evolved to meet the changing environment of short-term accommodation, ensuring the program reflects the needs of the operators and their clients. They are constantly updating their so ware to ensure ease of use and flexibility. The initiatives they have implemented over the years have provided us with more freedom and spare time, whilst maintaining a high standard of service for all stakeholders.”

– Kim & Tony Hughes, Vue Apartments

solution, negating any requirement for your data to leak out to third party marketing tools such as Mail Chimp. Our Guest Communication feature enables you to personalise preand post-stay communication, tracking special requests within the guest profile. With HiRUM, you can provide your guests with a personalised and memorable experience, helping you to build loyalty and drive repeat business.

When choosing a PMS for your business, it’s important to look for a solution that is future-proof.

A PMS which o ers product choice, enables a business to tailor their operations according to their unique needs, ensuring they stay competitive in a rapidly changing landscape.

At HiRUM, we o er a PMS with a wide range of 3rd party integrations. This enables you to adapt and integrate with new tools and technologies

as they emerge, giving you the flexibility to grow your business without limitations. With HiRUM, you can be confident you are choosing a solution that will support your business now and well into the future.

The convenience of cloudbased so ware should never compromise data security, especially in industries where guest and owner data protection are both a moral and legal responsibility. While regular browser based, cloud solutions o er easy access, they generally pose unacceptable security risks due to needing to share their environment with other ‘tenants’.

To provide you with peace of mind, HiRUM o ers a private cloud solution; a dedicated, secure environment that is ideal for highly regulated industries such as the accommodation industry. Private cloud solutions can be customised for specific

security needs and o er flexibility, scalability, and mobility, without compromising data security. As seen in government agencies and financial institutions, private cloud solutions are extremely e ective in mitigating the risk of data exposure on public platforms. We’re proud of the solid, feature reach, end to end solution we have created at HiRUM over the past 25 years. We plan to continue to reinvest our profits into our solutions to enable our clients to maximise their return on their own investment. Discover how HiRUM can transform your accommodation business today. Contact our trusted team on 07 5574 4990 to learn more! or visit hirum.com.au/get-started/

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“Another feature that can enhance a guest experience is the ability to integrate seamlessly and align with the interests of your guests and your brand.”

Stephen highlights some exciting advances in the payment space.

“Digital payment solutions are quickly becoming the safest and fastest way to process payments within the hotel space. It’s popular because it helps reduce the workload and helps improve the overall customer service. By integrating with a secure payment gateway, guests can make secure payments directly, eliminating the need for manual payments and manual processing of payments, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Guests can securely pay via a secure link sent to their smartphone - it’s easier and faster and ensures all payments are securely processed.

What about changing

providers?

“By identifying your business goals, you should predetermine what you need in a PMS provider. No ma er the size of your operation, be mindful of the cost of the system itself, as well as any additional fees for installation, maintenance, and training. Understand how well

the new so ware will scale with your business growth strategy.

“The new so ware should handle increased customers, bookings and unify data across all locations using one cloudbased system that can be accessed from any device or location. Ensure the new provider is compatible with existing systems and so ware. Make sure it’s easy to use and does not require extensive sta training. Importantly the so ware must be secure and compliant with up-to-date industry standards.”

RMS Cloud user Jill Dean Systems Project Manager, Baillie Lodges said: “RMS' triggered correspondence functionality allows us to send custom guest communications automatically, and the ability to append external documents to guest bookings enables our on-site property teams to view all guest-related correspondence without having to contact our central reservations department.”

Sco Arthur, General Manager, REI Master says the themes of automation, inclusion, and e ciency neatly sum up the role that quality PMS plays in the guest experience.

He said: “Automation begins before the guest has even booked and ends long a er their stay is complete. Indeed,

for your loyal repeat guests, automation never ends!

“Prior to booking automation is all about the right product at the right price in the right place at the right time. This means having your channel management and booking engine fully embedded in, and powered by your PMS so that your guests can find what they need and book with ease. Once the booking is made, automation that is based on a set of rules and conditions can trigger personalised guest interactions to welcome, remind, secure payments, check-in, upsell, and much more. And of course, automation can be critical to the guest experience post-stay for reviews, social media opportunities, and of course repeat business.

“This leads to the important theme of inclusion. With enhancements to the tech stack, particularly in relation to Cloud technology and Artificial Intelligence, it’s clear we are moving away from the concept that a PMS can enhance the guest experience, with a focus on rather that it is an integral part of the guest experience.

“With an ever-increasing demographic preferring digital interactions the role of inclusivity of the guest is more important than ever. Inclusivity means reducing barriers, increasing interaction opportunities, reducing time in queues, or jumping queues altogether, and targeted interactions based on personal preferences, all powered by online portals and apps that make guests feel they are part of the experience rather than just visiting.

“Ultimately, the direction we have taken for automation and inclusivity leads to our final theme of e ciency! And while we believe e ciency is of

course critical for cost saving and profit maximisation, we must always remember that our industry always was, and always will be a people business. An e cient business powered by an automated and inclusive PMS means that you and your sta will have more time to interact with your guests.”

REI Master user Adam Lill, the operations manager for Coast Breakz Apartments said: “We’ve got over 700 units between our properties and they're all within a five-minute drive of each other. Some of the challenges we might run into are the typical business issues that any service industry might face, issues with expectations of how you manage your individual property versus what a guest might expect out of you or your owner, and being able to manage those relationships is something that has led to a lot of long-term success in our business.

“REI cloud has created flexibility when it comes to the everyday running of my business. Having five sites amongst our group we've got to be able to manage our business remotely and REI Cloud a ords me the flexibility to be able to operate my business wherever I am.

“I would recommend REI Cloud to any property manager or management rights operator based on the strengths of its program from flexibility to ease of use to implementation. The regular updates that REI Cloud implements with their so ware allow us to have a business that is continually improving and adapting, and it gives me so much time to be able to focus on the relationships of my owners and my guests and the people who are essential to running my business. It just helps me run my business be er.” P12

Technology is (or should be) the great enabler

REI Cloud The Trusted PMS Solution

REI Cloud is 100% online and has a huge list of industry leading features that are perfect for your Holiday Le ing business. Hosted by Microso Azure and backed up by our famous support team, you can be confident in our 25 years of servicing the Accommodation Industry.

Our HUGE list of holiday features includes built in Channel Management, best in class Booking Calendar, Microso O ce 365 Outlook integration, Central Reservations, an extensive list of connected Marketing Partners and Channels, Payment Automation and so much more!

By far the largest PMS Supplier to the Management Rights Industry, our Apps are built from the ground up with Trust Accounting and Compliance at the core of everything that we do. On average, the data produced by our so ware is audited nearly 4000 times per year!

REI Cloud users have enjoyed 99.9% uptime since inception, with upgrades in 2022 released on average every 2 weeks. The pace of our development is set to be surpassed in 2023 and there are many areas of focus particularly around Booking Automation, Connectivity and Mobility.

REI Cloud users enjoy an edge over their competitors, with deep analytical and reporting capabilities, unsurpassed connectivity options, and access to the best-in-class tools that make the App powerful, yet extremely easy to use.

If you haven’t seen REI Cloud recently, do yourself a favour and book in a demonstration. We promise you will be impressed by our automation, integrations and time saving processes. We o er a seamless data migration from other PMS providers, and can have you fully live with REI Cloud, including your channel management and marketing in no time.

Here’s what some of our customers have to say about REI Cloud:-

“Absolutely couldn’t be happier”, “It just helps me run my business be er.”, “I am 100% completely happy with the so ware, and the support”, “Their support team is amazing, professional and have a great a itude.”, “REI Cloud has changed my life!”, “EOM is a breeze!”, “so user friendly”, “The constant upgrades, in response to their customer’s feedback sets them apart.”, “This Reservation Management System is second to none!”, “No other so ware o ers holiday le ing, trust accounting, integration with OTAs, property management, property inspections and real estate sales all backed by superb support.”

“If you haven’t seen REI Cloud recently, do yourself a favour and book in a demonstration.”

What is the impact of implementing Resly?

Here is a Resort Managers review

Resly Is “Extremely Fast, Extremely Easy”, Says Resort Manager

The whole purpose of a property management system is to make life easier for hoteliers and resort managers. The PMS needs to be reliable, e cient and easy to use. So we asked Sam Melis, who manages the Noosa Blue Resort, about her experience using the Resly system.

A great time saver

“The minute we heard of Resly”, said Sam, “I wanted to know all about it. I went down to another resort here that highly recommended it. The earliest benefi t that I could see immediately was how time consuming the other system actually ends up being, compared to the Resly system. Everything is so quick. It’s extremely fast. A job that would normally take me an hour or two is literally a 5 minute job these days.”

Portable because it lives on the cloud

Resly lives on the cloud, so it’s accessible wherever there is a mobile connection.

Says Sam, “I can take my laptop and I can be at home. I don’t need to come to work anymore really.”

She loves the fact that Resly is a cloud-based mobile platform. But it doesn’t stop with portability and convenience. Resort managers like Sam don’t need to be concerned about applying so ware patches or version updates because the Resly team takes care of all that.

Customer support and continuous improvement

“The biggest thing that I love about Resly”, says Sam, “is the support team and the support you get. I felt that support from day one, and even now down the track I still feel like I have that support. Any request, any wishlist item that I can think of, send it to Resly and it’s actioned. It’s done. Almost weekly there are new updates happening and a li le alert tells you what’s new. It continues to get be er.”

Flexibility between resorts

As well as her main responsibility at Noosa Blue, Sam also looks a er several other resorts in the area. “Another great thing with Resly is that it’s extremely easy for me to move between the di erent resorts. With Resly, I can access di erent information from the one spot, not having to move around [between applications] which makes my life 100 times easier.”

A roundup of other popular features of resly

Direct booking: With the Resly direct booking engine, you can e ortlessly acquire commission free, direct bookings. Reducing your properties reliance on third party agents.

Communication: The Resly suite of products includes an automated professional messaging facility that delivers branded emails and unlimited SMS messages to your customers at no extra cost.

End of month: The regular EOM reporting is handled quickly and e ciently, which our users love. Reconciliation is a breeze with trust account bank feeds available from over 30 Australian banks.

Month by month contracts: Instead of locking clients into 24 month contracts, our users are free to leave. Of course, that puts pressure on the Resly crew to deliver what we’ve promised. So far, so good.

Back-ups taken care of: There’s no need to back-up your computer because all your data sits on our secure cloud storage.

The transition to Resly: Data migration can be quite tricky, especially when you’re moving away from a creaky old platform. That’s where our new clients love the fact that we take care of data migration. We also provide one-on-one training to get you up and running.

Perhaps the most important of all…

Sta are happier: Instead of having to do ba le with a legacy system that was designed way back when, and had various additions and functionality tacked on over the years, everything about the Resly system is smoothly integrated. It was designed that way. Sounds good? Give us a call. We think you’ll be as impressed as Sam was - and still is!

Noosa Blue Resort

On enhancing guest experience, Seekom General Manager Nicole Irschick says, “Not only can a good system make booking online easy by generating secure mobile- and desktopfriendly booking screens that accommodation providers can use on their existing websites, but it can also smooth the customer communication and check-in process for guests”. She said: “Many property management systems make it easy for accommodation providers to send guests emails or SMS messages ahead of or during their stay, keeping customers informed and simplifying the check-in process.

“These communications can o en be directly managed from within a PMS system so sta do not need to manage customer communications and accommodation administration using di erent platforms.

“Some of the be er property management systems also provide the ability for sta to tag ‘VIP guests’ and be alerted when they make bookings. This allows your team to give them extra a ention, making them feel valued and ensuring they keep on coming back.

“PMS with integrated channel management functionality can also ensure the pricing and information shown on all the sites, where a property is listed, is consistent and up to date.

“Importantly, by automating or simplifying daily tasks for your sta members, a good property management system can free them up to interact with guests and provide the outstanding hospitality experience they deserve.”

On the future

“At Seekom we’ve been focusing on enhancing the functionality that accommodation managers and guests use daily. These improvements include everything from continually upgrading our online booking screen to ensuring it is optimised for mobile devices and improving the payment gateways we use to ensure they are even more secure and resilient.

“And we’ve done some work in more niche areas, for instance, we’ve set up a dedicated Pet

Friendly Stays website in New Zealand as a proof of concept.

“Most of our development is driven by customer feedback and we have recently launched a dedicated customer forum where users can suggest new features and make comments on features we are thinking of launching in the near future.

“Further down the track it will be interesting to see how technologies like AI are harnessed and what opportunities that might present in our industry.

“Contactless check-in has seen increased uptake and there’s good potential to integrate that even more closely with PMS.

“More generally, there has been a lot of talk about cancellation insurance for accommodation providers, so that’s another thing to watch.”

What about upgrading PMS?

Nicole says it pays to check what kind of training a PMS provider can o er, how responsive their customer service teams are, and how easy it will be to migrate your data to the new system - some providers make this easier than others.

“Also think about the future functionality; if you are planning to grow your business, you will want to make sure the system you introduce can meet the increased requirements that come with that.

“Moving to a cloud-based system will avoid the need to download so ware and ensure you can access the system at any time, on any device and from anywhere.

“A further consideration should be the contract term. Most cloud-based property management systems charge on a subscription model, so it’s worth considering how long the term is, just in case you do want to make a change in future.

“Finally, remember to check integrations and reporting functionality. If you use Xero you will want a PMS that passes data back and forth with Xero’s systems to avoid double handling. Good reporting functionality can be extremely helpful if you want to be able to gain insights and track your business’ progress over time.”

The Chamberson in downtown Dunedin introduced Seekom’s property management system in 2021. The prestigious 21room heritage property was

looking to make more use of technology to increase bookings, improve the guest experience and reduce the amount of administration time required to manage and process bookings.

The Chamberson owner Richard Buitenhek says Seekom provided the all-in-one solution they needed, incorporating integrated channel management, online payment functionality using Windcave, and dynamic pricing using RoomPriceGenie.

He said: “We probably use only 20 to 30 percent of what Seekom can do but what we are able to do in terms of streamlining our operations is great. Our end of financial year results for the year ending March 2023 will be stronger than they were in the year ending March 2020, before COVID.”

Sylvia Johnston, Senior Executive HiRUM So ware Solutions says with the increasing cost of sta wages and the growing demand from guests, a property must be able to rely on its so ware to handle some of the manual labour.

"With the increasing cost of sta wages and the growing demand from guests, it is important to leverage the tools within your so ware to save time and sta

A powerful PMS is at the heart of every property

© Adobe Stock, stock.adobe.com

costs while exceeding your guests' expectations," she said.

“Your PMS should have be er knowledge of the customer than you do. Utilising features such as automated le ers can help guests feel that they are always top of mind. Adjusting rates and availability based on demand and o ering valued clients or repeat guests discounts or special add-ons can surprise and delight them. If your PMS is not working harder than you are, then you are not using the tools you are paying for e ectively.

What about the future?

“We believe that it's important to look beyond just what's happening within the PMS space and take a global perspective to learn about the latest developments in the technology industry as a whole. Over the past five years, we have observed that advancements in technology continue to accelerate at a rapid pace. With machine learning and AI being hot topics, we only feel it's a race to see what's coming next."

On changing PMS

“It's crucial to prioritise security and functionality when looking to change providers. While the visual appeal of a new system is important, the data your PMS holds is your most valuable asset, and without a secure and reliable PMS, your entire business is at risk. Be cautious of relying on third-party products to keep up with demand, as this can leave your data and business vulnerable to outside risks beyond your control.

“Therefore, when selecting a new PMS, focus on security and functionality to safeguard your business's most valuable asset. It's also essential to evaluate the integration options available. It's important to avoid ge ing stuck with a single option that limits your ability to integrate with other systems. Ensure that the PMS you choose has the necessary integrations to support your business processes and provide a seamless experience for your guests.

“Consider the level of training and support provided by the

Seekom enhances bestin-class booking engine

New Zealand’s favourite property management system just got even be er, with an enhanced frontend booking screen now available to all users.

Seekom provides a range of solutions for accommodation providers – including its flagship product, Seekom iBex, which o ers a fully cloud based property management platform, an integrated channel manager, automated revenue management system, and more.

Seekom General Manager

Nicole Irschick says the booking system upgrades are part of the company’s commitment to remaining at the fore of cloud-based solutions for hotels, motels, campgrounds

and other accommodation.

The new booking screen makes it easier for guests to select multiple rooms and optional extras, such as a newspaper, breakfast, tours or any other options accommodation providers make available, when making online bookings. It is optimized for mobile users and easy for accommodation providers to embed into their own websites, allowing for a seamless fit with their site branding.

new provider. Do they o er comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you maximise the benefits of the system? Is the training delivered by knowledgeable and experienced industry professionals who understand your business needs? Asking these questions will ensure that your team is properly equipped to utilise the new system, minimise disruptions during the transition, and maximise the system's potential benefits.

"Finally, when selecting a new PMS or upgrading your current system, it's important to ensure that the system is secure and compliant with industry standards such as Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS). Look for a provider that o ers robust security features and is transparent about their compliance with industry regulations.

“In summary, when upgrading or changing your PMS, evaluate the integration options, flexibility, ease of use, training requirements, and security measures. Avoid ge ing stuck

with a single option that limits your ability to integrate with other systems, and choose a system that provides the necessary integrations and flexibility to support your business processes while keeping your data secure.”

Kim and Tony Hughes, managers of Vue Apartments, Trinity Beach Queensland said: “We have been clients of HiRUM for 24 years. During this period HiRUM has evolved to meet the changing environment of short term accommodation, ensuring the program reflects the needs of the operators and our clients.

“They are constantly updating their so ware to ensure ease of use and flexibility. The initiatives they have implemented over the years provided us with more freedom and spare time, whilst maintaining a high standard of service for all stakeholders.

“We are extremely happy with the product and service and feel confident in recommending HiRUM to newcomers to the industry.”

The enhanced Seekom booking engine makes adding optional extras easy for guests.

Integrated payments that make managing revenue e ortless

When managing revenue, hotels are confronted with a series of options that could make or break the financial structure of their business. Incorporating key integrations into your revenue strategy can help reduce wasted time, automate payments and grow your bo om line at your hotel.

Part of maximising revenue is having a payment solution that is fully integrated to your PMS, that saves you both time and money. The launch of RMS Cloud’s new product feature, RMS Pay, was derived from industry feedback to simplify payments - reducing manual labour, automating payment requests and making ge ing paid by guests on the go as easy as reading a text message.

RMS Cloud designed RMS Pay to support hotel operators in creating a coherent and end-to-end payment strategy that worked. “It is the missing link to connect all your revenue in one place”, said Duncan Waterman, Business Development Manager at RMS Cloud. The RMS Pay product is an integrated solution that links up each payment touch point at your hotel from online bookings, EFTPOS at your front desk and any point of sale. One of the highlighting benefi ts that makes RMS Pay so desirable to adopt into a revenue strategy is its ‘RMS Paylink’ feature that gives the front desk the power to accept payments quickly. The technology is designed to save time at the front desk and get paid faster with a direct and secure link sent to guests’ smart devices.

“RMS Pay has saved many

hotels a lot of time over the peak summer months,” said Waterman. “Hearing this feedback was very satisfying, as this was one of our major goals with the product when we launched it. Hotels using RMS Pay as their single payment solution no longer have any annoying balancing issues at the end of the day. RMS Paylink, within RMS Pay, is also growing in popularity as a super e ective way to send a secure payment request to guests by SMS or email.”

Utilising a highly intuitive revenue technology enables your management team to

break out financial segments and collaborate on di erent departments across your business, giving you deeper insights into cost-e ective e ciencies and time-saving benefi ts. The technology with RMS Pay seamlessly reconciles your EOD se lement report on one screen, collating all figures from the last 24 hours. The payment gateway is certified with all major banks and is PCI DSS compliant, giving confidence to both guests and operators that their payments are safe, easy and secure. RMS Cloud has also considered the guest experience with a user-friendly

interface that makes it easier for hotel operators to take payments without confusion.

Stephen Martin, Chief Sales O cer at RMS Cloud, said, “RMS Pay is an excellent way for hotels to super-charge their business.” He further explained that it was beneficial for supporting your revenue strategy and a solution to build easy payments. “It is essential to understand the features your PMS provider o ers so that you have the upper hand in decision making. Your strategy should consider all the payment touchpoints that focus on the guest experience, including the features like RMS Pay coupled with a powerful IBE and Guest Portal. The benefi t is that it gives customers the tools to manage payments seamlessly and frees up managers to focus on other duties.”

Payment solutions are o en overlooked as a determining factor in successfully executing and analysing the suitable needs of a hotel and its guests. Allowing guests to seamlessly pay for their accommodation on the go can be a game-changing benefi t to a hotel’s bo om line. With travellers becoming more accustomed to accepting payments via links or email, the future of digital payments is inevitable. Incorporating this into your overall hotel revenue strategy will accurately and quickly deliver reports and secure your guest payments with the click of a bu on.

RMS Pay is available to RMS Cloud Australian hotel customers and an asset to any hotel business when linking your revenue all in the one place for an e ective payment solution.

For more information visit rmscloud.com/rms-pay

Integrated, automated payments for smarter hotels

Efficiently manage payments centrally without the need for thirdparty payment gateways or banks. Our seamlessly integrated payment solution allows you to take payments from anywhere in an instant by; RMS Paylink, provide fast, contactless payments at your hotel and automate online payments. RMS Pay is the payment solution you have been waiting for.

rmscloud.com/rms-pay