Travel agencies (TAs) are an important channel, contributing a lot of sales for hotels, besides online travel agencies (OTAs) or direct booking. Depending on your business size, the number of travel agencies you have can vary from a handful to dozens. When it comes to booking management, this can be a hassle for both sides. Hoteliers could have a difficult time controlling the inventory between agencies and making sure room, and rate information are correct. On the other hand, travel agencies are struggling to get the best rooms at the best rates available. Phone call reservation with the hotel is time-consuming and not effective as information is quickly outdated.

A booking portal or a reservation system was created to bridge this gap and remove the difficulties for agencies and hotels from making reservations.

How it works

A Booking Portal plays the role of a middleman. It is a platform between agencies and hotels where agencies can place direct bookings.

• For travel agencies

With the Booking Portal, agencies can check real-time information of inventories, rate plans for them from the hotel. They can search, book easily and instantly. Also, there are options to view booking history, make adjustments, add or cancel reservations. All in one platform, no hassle, no delay.

• For hotels

The software makes life easier for hoteliers in managing travel agent profiles and their bookings. You can make sure the information is always in sync, and you can check the performance of any agency in no time.

Managing booking through agencies is easy with the Booking Portal

Benefits of the Booking Portal

• Remove manual processes
  One platform for all activities: check, book, edit, and even cancel. Everything is quick after few clicks, no phone call, no waiting time, and no error. The process is now automated with real-time data and updates for both sides.
• Reduce overbookings
  Agencies can only book rooms and rates available for them. Having a central pool of inventories helps hotels reduce the risk of overbookings.
• Increase revenue for both
  As people said a satisfied customer is the best business strategy. Through a booking portal, hoteliers make it easy for travel agents to satisfy their guests’ demands, which returns in a win-win situation for both hotels and travel agencies.

Do I need one?

There is no correct answer to this question, but it all depends on your TA network. If you find it taking too much time and effort with your current way of doing things, probably it’s time to consider having a booking portal.

Contact us now for a free consultation about Booking Portal!

The Food and Beverage industry is one of the fastest-growing businesses in Vietnam. Whether you are running a coffee shop or a restaurant chain, you need a management system to help run and manage your business effectively. Why you need one, and what are the benefits a system can bring for your business? We will discuss these points in this article.

What an F&B management system can do

This software is built to support all restaurant operations and can apply to almost all business models. Here are some of the main features:

• Manage all your restaurant information: floor plan, area map, table setup, menu, promotions, and so on
• Connect and synchronize all POS devices
• You can split – combine orders, view order history, apply for promotions, send orders to kitchen printers or kitchen display units
• Manage employee & work shift

Besides, for hotels and hotel chains, an F&B system must have the ability to integrate with PMS to allow in-room charge.

What are the benefits?

• Save operation time and costs: All operational activities, from creating orders, printing bills to sending invoices, can be done quickly right on a POS device or mobile application. Your staff can serve guests smoothly and deliver excellent hospitality.
• Minimize errors: All the data is updated and synchronized between POS and kitchen printers. And this helps to remove the risk of wrong orders which could bring disappointment to your guests.
• Better business management: knowing your business performance at the right time with the correct data is very important. What you can count on as an F&B software is its clear dashboard and comprehensive reports. Just a glare to know how the business is going.
• Improve customer service: serve your guests better with a system that handles all your operation needs, so your staff can spend more time with the guests.

Select one for your restaurant

No matter what size or scale of your restaurant operations may be, the right management system is your most reliable source when it comes to both efficient operations and optimal growth. Here are points you should consider when selecting a system

1. Data transparency
   You want to make sure that the system gives you real-time data; across businesses. A restaurant manager needs to know what’s going on all the time. It is critical to have real-time data as you may need timely action when problems arise.
2. Easy to use
   No one wants a complicated system that takes months to master. Check the system interface before you decide to buy one. To make sure the interface is user-friendly, clean, and easy to understand.
3. Scalability
   Choose a system that can support your growth and geographic expansion in the long-run. You don’t want to keep changing the software as your business expands, as it will cost you a lot.

If you still have questions regarding choosing the right F&B system for your restaurant, don’t hesitate to contact our consultant team for further advice.

In the fast-paced world of hospitality, leveraging technology is crucial for streamlining operations and elevating guest experiences. A Central Reservation System (CRS) stands out as an essential tool, acting as more than just a booking platform. It’s a comprehensive system designed to manage room inventory, rates, and reservations across various channels, ultimately enhancing booking processes, optimizing room management, implementing dynamic rate control, and improving guest service. Let’s delve into the intricacies of CRS, highlighting its features and benefits within modern hospitality management.

Introduction to Central Reservation System

What is CRS?

A CRS, or central reservation system, is a sophisticated, computerized platform used to store and distribute detailed information about hotels, resorts, and other lodging facilities. At its core, a CRS centralizes critical data, including room inventory, pricing strategies, and reservation specifics, making it easily accessible across numerous distribution channels. This ensures that potential guests can effortlessly find and book accommodations while empowering hotel staff to manage reservations efficiently.

Importance in the Hospitality Industry

The importance of a CRS in the hospitality sector is undeniable. It offers real-time visibility into room availability, which is crucial for maximizing occupancy rates. By adeptly managing rates and inventory across a multitude of channels, a CRS helps hotels optimize revenue streams and significantly reduces the risk of overbooking. Furthermore, it greatly enhances the guest experience by providing seamless booking processes and personalized service interactions.

Evolution of Reservation Technologies

Historically, reservation systems relied on manual processes, characterized by phone calls and physical ledgers. As technology advanced, these manual methods evolved into computerized systems, paving the way for the development of the modern CRS. The advent of the internet and online travel agencies (OTAs) further revolutionized the CRS, enabling direct online booking and more sophisticated multi-channel distribution strategies. Today, CRS systems continue to evolve, integrating seamlessly with other hotel management systems to deliver comprehensive and holistic solutions.

Differenced between PMS, CRS, and channel manager

A property management system, or PMS, is all about operations. It manages all operational activities in a hotel from reception to accounting.

And normally, CRS is the main module of a PMS. It, of course, can be a stand-alone solution.

A Channel manager controls all distribution channels like OTAs, metasearch sites, GDSs. It connects to PMS, collects data from CRS, and re-distributes across channels. As rooms get booked, the inventory information is synced throughout all channels to prevent overbooking

Core Components of CRS

Booking Channel Management

Booking channel management is a pivotal component of a CRS, focusing on the strategic management of reservations across a wide array of platforms. This includes direct bookings, online travel agencies (OTAs) such as Booking.com and Expedia, and Global Distribution Systems (GDS). A robust CRS ensures that information remains consistent and accurate across all channels, thereby minimizing discrepancies and optimizing booking efficiency. Effective channel management ensures hotels aren’t losing revenue due to outdated information or missed booking opportunities.

Real-Time Reservation Synchronization

Real-time reservation synchronization is essential for ensuring that room availability and rates are updated instantaneously across all booking channels. This synchronization is critical for preventing frustrating overbooking situations and ensuring that guests receive accurate, up-to-date information when making their reservations. Additionally, it allows hotels to dynamically adjust rates in response to demand fluctuations and evolving market conditions. Hotels that lag in real-time synchronization risk alienating customers and damaging their reputation.

Inventory Control Mechanisms

Inventory control mechanisms within a CRS provide hotels with the ability to efficiently manage their room inventory. By meticulously tracking availability in real-time, hotels can optimize occupancy rates and maximize revenue potential. A sophisticated CRS will offer a suite of tools for setting inventory limits, managing various room types, and implementing effective yield management strategies.

Multi-Channel Booking Integration

Multi-channel booking integration involves seamlessly connecting the CRS with diverse distribution channels, including OTAs, GDS, and direct booking platforms. This integration significantly expands a hotel’s reach and increases its visibility to potential guests. By delivering a seamless and consistent booking experience across all channels, hotels can attract a broader customer base and drive substantial revenue growth.

CiHMS Central Reservation System Features

CRS Dashboard Overview

The CiHMS CRS dashboard provides a comprehensive and intuitive overview of a hotel’s reservation data. Users can efficiently search and sort reservations by reservation date, check-in date, or check-out date and filter reservations by status, such as confirmed, checked-in, checked-out, or canceled. The data is presented in both graphical and list formats, enabling users to quickly grasp revenue and occupancy trends and make data-driven decisions.

Reservation Management Capabilities

CiHMS excels in providing extensive reservation management capabilities. It is meticulously designed to effectively reduce overbookings, ensuring smooth and efficient operations for your property. The software’s advanced filtering capabilities facilitate quick and easy access to reservation details through a simple search by reservation number. This level of detail ensures that every reservation is handled with precision.

API Integration Strengths

CiHMS boasts robust API integration, allowing it to seamlessly connect with other essential systems such as Property Management Systems (PMS), booking engines, and channel managers. This smooth integration streamlines data flow, minimizes manual data entry, and significantly enhances overall operational efficiency. API integration guarantees that all systems work in harmony, optimizing workflows and reducing errors.

Preventing Overbooking

A key advantage of using CiHMS is its robust ability to prevent overbooking. The system’s real-time synchronization ensures that room availability is accurately reflected across all channels, minimizing the risk of double bookings. Additionally, CiHMS provides essential tools for managing inventory limits and implementing alert systems that notify staff of potential overbooking situations before they escalate. This proactive approach protects both the hotel’s reputation and guest satisfaction.

Benefits of CiHMS CRS for Hotels

Streamlined Booking Processes

CiHMS streamlines booking processes by offering a user-friendly interface for managing reservations efficiently. From the initial booking to the final check-out, the system automates crucial tasks, reducing manual effort and improving overall efficiency. A recent report indicates that hotels employing automated systems often experience a 20-30% reduction in booking errors, which translates to tangible cost savings and improved guest satisfaction.

Enhanced Room Management

With CiHMS, hotels can efficiently manage their room inventory, ensuring optimal occupancy rates and improved revenue performance. The system provides essential tools for tracking real-time availability, managing various room types, and implementing sophisticated yield management strategies. This enhanced room management not only optimizes revenue but also contributes to improved guest satisfaction by ensuring the right rooms are available at the right times.

Dynamic Rate Control

CiHMS empowers hotels to implement dynamic rate control strategies, enabling them to adjust rates based on real-time demand, seasonality, and other market factors. This flexibility allows hotels to maximize revenue and maintain a competitive edge in the ever-evolving market. Dynamic pricing can lead to higher average daily rates (ADRs) by strategically optimizing rates based on demand, thus ensuring hotels are not leaving money on the table.

Improved Guest Service Experience

By streamlining booking processes and facilitating personalized service, CiHMS significantly enhances the guest service experience. The system allows hotel staff to quickly access critical guest information, enabling them to provide customized recommendations and address guest needs more effectively. This personalized approach fosters greater guest satisfaction, loyalty, and positive reviews.

Technical Advantages of CiHMS CRS

Real-Time Data Synchronization

CiHMS excels in providing real-time data synchronization, ensuring that room availability and rates are consistently up-to-date across all channels. This synchronization minimizes the risk of overbooking and provides guests with accurate information when making reservations, avoiding potential frustration and negative experiences.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

CiHMS is designed with cross-platform compatibility, enabling it to be accessed seamlessly on various devices, including desktops, tablets, and mobile phones. This ensures that hotel staff can efficiently manage reservations and access critical data from any location, at any time, fostering greater flexibility and responsiveness.

Advanced Filtering Options

CiHMS offers advanced filtering options, allowing users to quickly find and sort reservations based on specific criteria, such as reservation date, check-in date, or room type. This makes it easier to manage reservations efficiently and identify relevant trends, saving time and improving decision-making.

Reservation Detail Export Features

CiHMS allows users to export reservation details in multiple formats, simplifying data analysis and report generation. This feature is particularly useful for revenue management and strategic forecasting, providing valuable insights for optimizing business performance.

Impact on Hotel Operations

Efficiency Improvements

The integration of a CRS like CiHMS leads to significant efficiency improvements in hotel operations. Tasks that once required extensive manual effort, such as updating room rates and managing inventory, are now automated. This not only saves valuable time but also reduces the likelihood of errors, leading to smoother and more reliable operations.

Revenue Management

A CRS not only optimizes occupancy rates but also maximizes revenue through the implementation of dynamic pricing strategies. CiHMS enables hotels to adjust rates in real-time based on demand, seasonality, and competitor pricing. This adaptive approach ensures that hotels consistently offer competitive rates while maximizing their revenue potential. A study by Sabre indicates that hotels with advanced CRS capabilities often experience increased revenue due to improved rate management and distribution.

Reduced Manual Administrative Tasks

CiHMS significantly reduces the burden of manual administrative tasks. By automating key processes such as booking management, inventory updates, and comprehensive report generation, the system frees up hotel staff to focus on delivering exceptional guest service. This leads to improved staff productivity and reduced operational costs.

Enhanced Guest Satisfaction

Ultimately, the integration of CiHMS results in enhanced guest satisfaction. By streamlining booking processes, offering personalized service, and ensuring prompt and efficient support, hotels can ensure guests have a pleasant and hassle-free experience. These positive experiences often lead to loyal guests, increased satisfaction rates, and positive reviews, all of which contribute to long-term success.

Future of Central Reservation Systems

Emerging Technologies

The future of CRS is closely linked to the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and blockchain. According to recent research, incorporating real-time data synchronization and multi-channel integration can typically boost revenue by maximizing room sales across all channels, showcasing the direct impact of technology on financial performance.

Predictive Booking Capabilities

Predictive booking capabilities, powered by AI and machine learning, will empower hotels to forecast demand more accurately and optimize pricing strategies more effectively. This proactive approach enables hotels to manage their inventory strategically and maximize revenue potential by anticipating future trends.

AI and Machine Learning Integration

AI and machine learning are poised to play an increasingly vital role in CRS, automating routine tasks, personalizing guest experiences, and optimizing revenue management strategies. From AI-powered chatbots that handle customer inquiries to advanced pricing tools, these technologies will transform the way hotels operate and improve their overall efficiency.

Personalization Trends

Personalization is a key trend driving the future of CRS. Hotels will increasingly focus on providing customized offers and tailored experiences to meet individual guest preferences. This personalized approach will not only enhance guest satisfaction but also drive loyalty and encourage repeat business.

Conclusion

Recap of CRS Importance

In summary, a Central Reservation System (CRS) is an indispensable tool for modern hospitality management. It streamlines booking processes, enhances room management, empowers dynamic rate control, and significantly improves the overall guest service experience, making it a cornerstone of successful hotel operations.

CiHMS CRS as a Comprehensive Solution

CiHMS stands out as a comprehensive CRS solution, offering a wide array of features and benefits specifically tailored to meet the diverse needs of hotels. From its intuitive user dashboard to its robust API integration, CiHMS provides the essential tools hotels need to thrive in today’s highly competitive market.

Call to Action for Hospitality Businesses

For hospitality businesses in Southeast Asia looking to enhance their operations, improve guest satisfaction, and drive revenue growth, CiHMS offers a powerful and effective solution. Contact us today to learn more about how CiHMS can help your business achieve its fullest potential and secure a competitive advantage in the market.

What is a Channel Manager?

A Channel Manager is a utility software that connects hotels to all online distribution channels and manages bookings from these channels.

Channel Managers can connect to dozens or hundreds of sales channels, global OTAs channels. It’s a powerful tool to boost your bookings while automatically updating and synchronizing your information in real-time on all channels.

How does Channel Manager work?

Thanks to the emerging technologies, travelers prefer to book their stays online, we see the rise of online booking agents (OTAs) such as Agoda, Booking.com, or Expedia. In the old way of doing, hoteliers would go and negotiate with each of these OTAs and then manage their bookings separately.

Channel Managers were created to remove these hassles, to help hoteliers get a better chance to enter new market places without losing revenue. Through Channel Manager, you can sell your inventory via online distribution channels around the world.

• Close/open inventory quickly

• Update room, rate plans, availability in real-time

Fully integrated with other distribution channels and 3rd party software let you automate business process without maing human mistakes

Channel Manager can act as a stand-alone system connecting distribution channels with your hotel, or even better, it can be integrated with the hotel’s PMS to fully automate your operations.

As an independent system:

You will have an account to access the Channel Manager dashboard where you can manage information such as room rates, room availability, and promotions. Channel Manager will automatically update this information for every channel. Because it operates independently, you have to monitor the Channel Manager dashboard regularly and manually update bookings to the PMS system (if any).

PMS integration:

• One-way integration: with this, once a booking is created, Channel Manager will send this information to your PMS.
• Two-way integration: The two-way integration between Channel Manager and PMS means room availability and room rates will be updated from PMS to Channel Manager and vice versa in real-time. This way will save you a lot of time in operations between two systems.

Channel Manager works independently or integrates 2-way with PMS system

Why you need a Channel Manager

Minimize operation time: a channel manager can integrate with your property management system or central reservations system as well as a booking engine to create a central control for your bookings.

Remove manual processes: with Channel Manager systems, you can say goodbye to manual data entry, which is time-consuming, and sometimes, creates errors. Besides, you will reduce the risk of overbookings as guests can only book a room that is actually available.

Increase profit, improve brand recognition: a channel manager can help you put your brand into the new markets, and there is a good chance that travelers will first discover your hotel on one of the top online travel channels. Connect to more online channels, more online bookings.

In short, a channel manager is a powerful tool to boost your bookings and revenue, while making life easy for you to manage inventories across distribution channels. Should you need further information on Channel Manager solutions, feel free to contact us!