Hotel property management systems are software suites designed to help property managers and hotel owners manage some or all aspects of their hotel operations. This can include tasks like:

• Making bookings and managing distribution channels
• Managing reservations
• Adjusting room rates based on real-time demand
• Coordinating guest check-in and check-out
• Sending pre-arrival instructions to guests
• Processing payments
• Managing tasks such as room service delivery, housekeeping, and maintenance
• Goal setting and revenue management
• Reporting and analytics on key metrics such as average daily rate, occupancy, revPAR, and more

Small hotel property management systems can handle all of these key functions, but are designed to meet the unique needs of small hotels, inns, B&Bs, motels, experiential lodging, and other independent establishments.

For example, with a PMS hotel system designed specially for small hotels, these features will be accessible through a single easy-to-use and easy-to-learn dashboard instead of complicated proprietary software. Another key feature of small hotel property management systems is access to support and service—if you run a small hotel, your PMS hotel system should always include complete customer service and 24/7 support (since you probably don’t have a dedicated team of IT experts to lean on like large hotels).

These core features of PMS hotel systems will help small and independent hotel operators streamline their operations so they can focus on improving the guest experience and standing out from their larger competitors.

Small hotel owners often have a lot on their plate, with smaller teams to help handle the seemingly endless to-do list. Whether you’re a team of one or you have a staff member or two (or ten) backing you up, small hotel property management systems can be used by your entire team, including:

• Front desk staff: A small hotel PMS will help front desk staff by streamlining the reservation and check-in process, from accepting bookings to assigning rooms and even sending pre-arrival emails.
• Housekeeping: Improve housekeeping by assigning tasks based on guest arrival time and anticipated check-out time, and easily mark tasks as complete in your PMS so the front desk knows when rooms are ready.
• General management: Integrate your hotel property management system with other systems, such as your POS software so you can process payments for rooms and manage charges for things like room service, spa treatments, and more, all through one platform. You can also use PMS hotel systems to manage room rates, set goals, and review financial and occupancy reports to help you make key business decisions.

Combining key property information and managing your daily operations in one simple platform gives small hoteliers real-time visibility into all of their front desk and back office activities, freeing up more time to focus on ensuring a top-notch guest experience so you can count on more repeat bookings, good reviews, and increased revenue.