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Hotel Technology Essentials

See how the core hotel systems connect reservations, pricing, and relationships.

This collection contains 6 connected articles. Foundational concepts appear first so readers can build context before moving into operational and advanced topics.

Technology & Data · Core Hotel Systems

What Is a Hotel Property Management System (PMS)?

A hotel property management system (PMS) is the central operating system used at the property level to manage reservations, room inventory and status, guest profiles, check-in and check-out, folios, charges, housekeeping coordination, and end-of-day processing.

System GuideFoundational4 min read
Technology & Data · Reservations and Distribution Systems

What Is a Central Reservation System (CRS)?

A central reservation system (CRS) is a hotel reservation and distribution platform used to centrally manage room availability, rates, restrictions, reservations, and related information across one or more properties and booking channels.

System GuideIntermediate3 min read
Technology & Data · Reservations and Distribution Systems

What Is a Hotel Channel Manager?

A hotel channel manager is a distribution system that sends rates, availability, and restrictions to multiple online booking channels and returns reservations or inventory changes to connected hotel systems. Its purpose is to reduce manual channel updates and keep sellable inventory synchronized.

System GuideIntermediate3 min read
Marketing & Distribution · Direct Booking

What Is a Hotel Booking Engine?

A hotel booking engine is the guest-facing reservation technology that displays a hotel’s live offers and allows a traveler to complete a direct booking.

System GuideFoundational3 min read
Technology & Data · Revenue Technology

What Is a Revenue Management System (RMS)?

A hotel revenue management system (RMS) is software that organizes demand, booking, inventory, price, and market data to support forecasts and revenue-management recommendations or controls.

System GuideIntermediate3 min read
Technology & Data · Guest and Account Data Systems

What Is a Hotel CRM?

A hotel customer relationship management system (CRM) organizes information and activity related to guests, prospects, companies, contacts, preferences, communications, and commercial relationships.

System GuideIntermediate3 min read