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Managing a hotel, big or small, comes with a myriad of tasks and responsibilities. Everything from room availability, reservations, room service, and staff scheduling, to providing a remarkable guest experience is on you. It can feel overwhelming, right? Here's the thing; it doesn't have to be that way.

You gain control, improve efficiency, and offer the best guest experience possible. The tangible benefit here is time saved and costs minimized. Remember those nights spent juggling Excel sheets, trying to align employee availability with shifts? Or the frustration of double bookings, and the confusion around resource allocation?

These tools nip those issues in the bud. They are user-friendly, web-based, and designed specifically for the hospitality industry. You will spend less time on administrative tasks and more on the thing that matters the most - providing an exceptional guest experience.

Trust me, once you use these, you'll wonder how you ever managed without them. Check them out, pick the one that suits your needs the best, and let the software do the heavy lifting. You won't be disappointed.

What Is A Hotel Scheduling Software?

Hotel scheduling software is a specialized tool designed to streamline and optimize operations within the hospitality industry. From small boutique hostels, to campgrounds, motels, vacation rentals, and large hotel chains. These digital solutions are widely used to manage and organize key aspects of the business.

They handle diverse tasks including staff scheduling, POS system, room booking and hotel reservations, rate management, online booking engine, front-office and back-office management, invoicing, managing day-to-day operations, upselling, payment processing (credit card, debit card, etc.), messaging via mobile app, check-in and check-out, SaaS (Software as a Service) interface, hotel website management, customer relationship management, and resource allocation.

They provide an integrated platform where all these functions interact smoothly, enabling hoteliers to provide exceptional customer service, manage their resources efficiently, and ultimately, drive profitability.

Best Hotel Scheduling Software Summary

Tool Best For Trial Info Price
1
Little Hotelier

An example of the Little Hotelier reservation feature

Best for small hotel businesses seeking comprehensive management tools

Not available

Pricing upon request Website
2
innRoad

Innroad's accounts dashboard is simple and easy to use

Best for independent hotels requiring a full-service platform

Not available

From $150/user/month Website
3
Hotel Effectiveness

A peek into the user friendly Hotel Effectiveness dashboard

Best for optimizing labor costs in the hotel industry

Not available

Pricing upon request Website
4
Roomkey PMS

A look into the RoomKey PMS occupancy dashboard

Best for improving guest experiences with personalized service

Not available

From $100/user/month Website
5
SiteMinder

An example of SiteMind's inventory grid

Best for maximizing revenue with a hotel commerce platform

Not available

From $40/user/month Website
6
ZoomShift

A look into the Zoomshift schedule maker feature

Best for streamlined team scheduling in hospitality

14-day free trial.

From $2/user/month Website
7
TCP Hospitality

One of the many exciting features of TCP Hospitality is its employee scheduling feature

Best for comprehensive labor-management in hospitality

Not available

From $12/user/month Website
8
Agendrix

Agendrix comes with a user-friendly interface

Best for enhancing employee shift management efficiency

Not available

From $1/user/month Website
9
Seven Rooms

A look at the Seven Rooms email campaigns feature

Best for leveraging customer data for personalized service

Not available

From $200/user/month (billed annually) Website
10
Life House

A sneak peek of Life House's propetriary revenue management feature

Best for boutique hotels seeking tech-enabled operations

Not available

From $120/user/month Website

Best Hotel Scheduling Software Reviews

Best for small hotel businesses seeking comprehensive management tools

  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

Little Hotelier is a property management system and a hotel management solution specifically created for small hotels, B&B’s, inns, and other small lodging facilities. It's a complete suite of tools designed to simplify operations, making it particularly beneficial for small hotel businesses seeking comprehensive management solutions.

Why I Picked Little Hotelier:

I picked Little Hotelier because it offers a powerful blend of features tailored to the needs of small hotel businesses. Its uniqueness lies in its comprehensive solution that integrates front desk operations, reservations, channel management, and billing into a single platform. Its focus on small-scale operations is what makes it the best for small hotel businesses seeking comprehensive management tools.

Standout features and integrations:

Little Hotelier features a user-friendly front desk system that streamlines daily operations. It also includes an integrated channel manager to ensure real-time updates across all your booking channels. In addition, the platform can seamlessly integrate with popular online travel agencies and global distribution systems, increasing the visibility of your property to potential guests.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Streamlined front desk operations
  • Integrated channel manager for wide distribution
  • Comprehensive suite of management tools

Cons:

  • Limited customization options
  • May be too complex for very small operations
  • Pricing information not readily available

Best for independent hotels requiring a full-service platform

  • From $150/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 2.5/5

InnRoad is a comprehensive hotel management system that specializes in serving independent hotels. It provides a broad range of services, including reservation management, online booking, and reporting, catering ideally to independent hotels looking for a comprehensive platform.

Why I Picked InnRoad:

I picked InnRoad for its extensive features that cater specifically to the needs of independent hotels. What makes it stand out is its all-in-one platform, which simplifies hotel management processes. Given these considerations, it seems clear to me that InnRoad is best suited for independent hotels that need a full-service platform.

Standout features and integrations:

InnRoad offers a multitude of key features, such as real-time inventory management, an integrated booking engine, and advanced reporting tools. It integrates well with various OTAs and Global Distribution Systems (GDS), further enhancing its reach and functionality.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Integrates with multiple OTAs and GDS
  • Provides real-time inventory management
  • Offers comprehensive features tailored for independent hotels

Cons:

  • Some users have reported slow customer service response times
  • The interface could be more intuitive
  • Might not be cost-effective for very small hotels

Best for optimizing labor costs in the hotel industry

  • Pricing upon request

Hotel Effectiveness provides labor-management solutions specifically for the hotel industry. The software enables hotel owners and managers to plan, track, and manage their labor requirements and costs, hence, it is best for optimizing labor costs in the hotel industry.

Why I Picked Hotel Effectiveness:

I chose Hotel Effectiveness because it specifically addresses the major concern of labor cost optimization in the hotel industry. Its specialty lies in providing a focused solution rather than being a generalist hotel management software. Given its commitment to labor cost management and its comprehensive features in this area, I determined it's the best for optimizing labor costs in the hotel industry.

Standout features and integrations:

Hotel Effectiveness includes advanced features, such as the PerfectLabor™ tool that provides an ideal labor plan for each department in a hotel. It also has an automated time and attendance tool, eliminating the need for manual input and reducing errors. It integrates well with major property management systems, HR platforms, and payroll providers, ensuring a smooth data flow across all systems.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Good integration with other hotel management systems
  • Provides automated time and attendance tracking
  • Specializes in labor cost management

Cons:

  • Could be complex for small hotel operations
  • May lack some general hotel management features
  • Pricing information isn't transparent

Best for improving guest experiences with personalized service

  • From $100/user/month

RoomKey PMS is a cloud-based Hotel Property Management System designed for hotels to manage bookings, rates, and guest engagement. The software's central theme revolves around improving guest experiences, making it best for establishments to prioritize personalized guest services.

Why I Picked RoomKey PMS:

I chose RoomKey PMS for this list due to its emphasis on enhancing guest experiences through personalized services. The platform's uniquely guest-centric approach and intuitive features stood out. I believe it's the best tool for improving guest experiences as it offers efficient tools to manage reservations, customer engagement, and personalized service delivery.

Standout features and integrations:

Key features of RoomKey Hotel PMS include online booking management, front desk operations, and CRM features that enable personalized guest services. The tool integrates well with several third-party applications, including Booking.com, Expedia, and Agoda, facilitating seamless reservation management.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Offers robust third-party integrations for seamless operations
  • Provides comprehensive property management features
  • Focuses on improving guest experiences through personalized services

Cons:

  • Customer support can be improved
  • Interface could be more intuitive
  • Pricing may be high for smaller establishments

Best for maximizing revenue with a hotel commerce platform

  • From $40/user/month

SiteMinder is a complete hotel commerce platform that assists businesses in broadening their reach and maximizing revenue through efficient room distribution and strategic revenue management. It's particularly potent for those looking to derive the most income from their hospitality offerings.

Why I Picked SiteMinder:

I chose SiteMinder because it demonstrates an effective approach to hotel commerce management, offering the tools necessary to boost revenue and enhance operational efficiency. What sets it apart is its extensive network of distribution channels and advanced revenue management capabilities, leading me to judge it as the 'Best for maximizing revenue with a hotel commerce platform.”

Standout features and integrations:

SiteMinder offers features, such as channel management, a direct booking engine, and revenue management tools that are designed to maximize profits and optimize occupancy rates. Furthermore, it integrates smoothly with a range of Property Management Systems (PMS), Global Distribution Systems (GDS), and revenue management systems, enhancing its functionality and usability within a broader hospitality management ecosystem.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Smooth integration with various systems
  • Advanced revenue management tools
  • Extensive network of distribution channels

Cons:

  • Additional costs for premium features and integrations
  • Not the best fit for very small establishments
  • Might be more complex than some other platforms

Best for streamlined team scheduling in hospitality

  • 14-day free trial.
  • From $2/user/month

ZoomShift is a cloud-based employee scheduling and time-tracking software. It’s designed to simplify the process of creating work schedules, managing employee availability, and tracking employee hours. It provides features, such as drag-and-drop schedule creation, automatic shift reminders, and real-time reporting.

Why I Picked ZoomShift:

ZoomShift caught my eye as a reliable and robust tool designed to simplify the complexities of team scheduling within the hospitality industry. I chose it because of its ease of use and dedicated features that directly cater to the needs of a dynamic industry such as hospitality. ZoomShift stands out with its straightforward, intuitive interface, reducing the friction in the process of scheduling and managing shifts, making it best for streamlined team scheduling in hospitality.

Standout features and integrations:

ZoomShift's time clock feature allows employees to clock in and out directly from their devices, providing accurate time-tracking. The tool also includes a comprehensive shift scheduling system, enabling managers to swiftly create, update, or delete shifts, minimizing manual errors. ZoomShift integrates well with payroll systems like Gusto and ADP, making it easier to process payments based on the tracked hours.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Easy integration with popular payroll systems
  • Accurate time-tracking
  • Efficient shift scheduling and management

Cons:

  • Billed annually, which might not suit all businesses
  • Primarily focuses on scheduling, missing out on some advanced features
  • A minimum of 15 seats is required for the 'Premium' Plan

Best for comprehensive labor-management in hospitality

  • From $12/user/month

TCP Hospitality is a labor-management tool designed specifically for the hospitality industry. It offers features like labor forecasting, shift scheduling, and real-time reporting, making it an excellent choice for comprehensive labor-management in the hospitality sector.

Why I Picked TCP Hospitality:

I chose TCP Hospitality because of its unique focus on labor-management within the hospitality industry. Its capability to offer targeted solutions like labor forecasting and real-time reporting differentiates it from other general labor-management tools. It's for these reasons I believe TCP Hospitality is the 'Best for comprehensive labor-management in hospitality.”

Standout features and integrations:

TCP Hospitality is packed with useful features, including labor forecasting that helps predict staffing needs, real-time reporting for instant data access, and automated shift scheduling to optimize workforce efficiency. The tool integrates seamlessly with multiple payroll systems, enhancing its utility for comprehensive labor-management.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Seamless integration with multiple payroll systems
  • Real-time reporting for instant access to data
  • Comprehensive labor-management features tailored for the hospitality industry

Cons:

  • Limited customization options in the reporting module
  • The tool may have a steep learning curve for some users
  • The user interface could be more user-friendly

Best for enhancing employee shift management efficiency

  • From $1/user/month

Agendrix is an employee scheduling software specifically designed to improve efficiency in workforce management. Its robust set of features facilitates the scheduling process, making it ideal for enhancing employee shift management efficiency.

Why I Picked Agendrix:

I selected Agendrix due to its comprehensive, yet simple approach to employee scheduling. The tool truly shines with its easy-to-use interface and broad feature set tailored specifically for employee management. In my judgment, Agendrix stands out with its well-thought-out design, combining scheduling, time-tracking, and communication tools in one platform, which justifies why it is best for enhancing employee shift management efficiency.

Standout features and integrations:

Agendrix boasts of a flexible scheduling feature, which allows for the smooth creation and adjustment of work schedules. The software also has an automated time-tracking system, providing accurate labor cost insights. It integrates with numerous payroll and HR systems like QuickBooks, Xero, and ADP, offering a seamless flow of information between different software tools.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Supports numerous integrations with payroll and HR systems
  • Integrated time-tracking and labor cost insights
  • Flexible and straightforward scheduling

Cons:

  • Advanced features require higher-priced plans
  • Billed annually, which might not suit all businesses
  • Extra charge as a base fee each month

Best for leveraging customer data for personalized service

  • From $200/user/month (billed annually)

Seven Rooms is a reservation, seating, and guest management platform primarily tailored to the hospitality industry. It provides tools that aid businesses in leveraging customer data for personalized service, thus enhancing guest experiences significantly.

Why I Picked Seven Rooms:

I selected Seven Rooms primarily for its commitment to enhancing guest experience by harnessing the power of customer data. Its standout features include advanced data collection and analysis, which enable personalized customer service and engagement. This focus on personalization makes Seven Rooms an exceptional tool, and it's why I've determined it to be the 'Best for leveraging customer data for personalized service.”

Standout features and integrations:

Seven Rooms boasts key features, such as comprehensive reservation management, targeted marketing campaigns, and detailed guest profiling, which allows businesses to provide unique, tailored service. It integrates effectively with a range of other hospitality tools, including major point-of-sale (POS) systems, marketing platforms, and the best hotel management software, making it an integral part of a robust hospitality management suite.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Advanced reservation management system
  • Integration capabilities with a wide range of hospitality tools
  • Effective utilization of customer data to enhance guest experience

Cons:

  • Could have more options for customization within the platform
  • The user interface might be challenging for less tech-savvy users
  • Pricing might be on the higher end for smaller businesses

Best for boutique hotels seeking tech-enabled operations

  • From $120/user/month

Life House is a tech-enabled hotel management platform tailored to the needs of boutique hotels. It harnesses technology to streamline operations, manage bookings, and optimize revenue, making it ideal for boutique hotels that aim for technology-aided operations.

Why I Picked Life House:

In selecting Life House, I considered its tech-forward approach and how it tailors to boutique hotels. Its model, which infuses technology into everyday operations and guest experience, sets it apart. Given this, I deduced that Life House stands out as the best for boutique hotels seeking tech-enabled operations.

Standout features and integrations:

Life House's standout features include a dynamic pricing engine, an intuitive booking platform, and tech-enabled guest communication. It integrates with multiple online travel agencies (OTAs) and also provides a seamless connection with popular social media platforms for effective marketing.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Includes a dynamic pricing engine for revenue optimization
  • Offers robust third-party integrations
  • Provides tech-forward operations specifically tailored to boutique hotels

Cons:

  • Customer support could be improved
  • The platform may require some learning curve to understand its tech-based features
  • May not be suitable for larger hotel chains

Other Hotel Scheduling Software

Below is a list of additional hotel scheduling software that we shortlisted but did not make it to the top 10. Definitely worth checking them out.

  1. Resource Management by Smartsheet

    For large-scale resource allocation and tracking

  2. RoomKey PMS

    For improving guest experiences with personalized service

  3. Buddy Punch

    For drag-and-drop staff scheduling

  4. Connecteam

    For customizable scheduling templates

  5. TimeTrex

    For automated shift scheduling

  6. Cloudbeds

    For integrating reservation and property management

  7. Deputy

    Good for hospitality businesses seeking schedule cost calculation

  8. When I Work

    Good for quick and intuitive employee scheduling in hotels and resorts

  9. Celayix

    Good for managing a large and diverse workforce in hospitality

Selection Criteria For Hotel Scheduling Software

In my endeavor to provide an exhaustive and authentic review, I've rigorously evaluated more than twenty hotel scheduling software solutions. Based on the specific criteria I deemed critical for the hotel industry, I've chosen the best tools that meet those parameters. Here is the key criteria that I focused on:

Core Functionality

  • Employee Scheduling: Enables managers to create and modify work schedules for employees
  • Time and Attendance Tracking: Tracks the hours an employee works and monitors adherence to scheduled hours
  • Communication Tools: Provides platforms for managers and employees to communicate about schedules, shift changes, and other issues

Key Features

  • Mobile Accessibility: Allows managers and employees to access schedules and communicate from any device
  • Labor Cost Calculation: Helps calculate labor costs and predict future costs based on scheduling
  • Automatic Scheduling: Uses algorithms to automatically generate optimal schedules based on employee availability and business needs

Usability

  • Intuitive Interface: The software should have a clear, easy-to-understand interface, making it straightforward for managers to create schedules and for employees to understand their shifts
  • Quick Onboarding: Offers comprehensive onboarding resources, ensuring users can quickly understand and effectively use the system
  • Robust Customer Support: Provides prompt and efficient customer support to troubleshoot any issues users might encounter

People Also Ask (FAQs)

What are the benefits of using hotel scheduling software?

Hotel scheduling software brings multiple benefits to the table. Firstly, it saves time by automating the scheduling process, removing the need for manual entries. Secondly, it improves accuracy by reducing the likelihood of human error in scheduling and time-tracking.

Thirdly, it enhances communication, allowing managers and employees to discuss schedules and changes in real-time. Fourthly, it provides valuable insights into labor costs and helps predict future costs. Lastly, these tools often come with mobile functionality, allowing staff to check their schedules, request changes, and communicate with managers from anywhere.

How much do hotel scheduling software tools cost?

The cost of hotel scheduling software tools varies widely, depending on the range of features, the number of users, and the provider. Some tools operate on a subscription basis, charging a monthly or annual fee per user. Others might offer tiered pricing structures, where different tiers come with different features and cater to different sizes of hotels.

What is the typical range of pricing for hotel scheduling software?

The typical price range for hotel scheduling software can start from around $10 per user per month and go up to $100 or more. Remember, more expensive doesn’t always mean better—it’s important to find a tool that fits your specific needs and budget.

Which are the cheapest and most expensive hotel scheduling software?

Among the tools mentioned in this list, Connecteam starts from a lower price point at $29 per month for up to 200 users, while innRoad can be more expensive, with prices starting at $150 per user per month. However, prices can change, and it’s always a good idea to check the provider’s website for the most up-to-date information.

Are there any free hotel scheduling software options?

Yes, some tools like When I Work offer a free plan for up to 75 users. However, these free options often come with limitations in features or user numbers, and upgrading to a paid plan may be necessary for larger hotels or for access to advanced features. Tools like Hotelogix and eZee also offer a free trial or demo to allow potential customers to evaluate the software’s features and usability before committing to a purchase. Always remember to consider your specific needs when choosing a tool.

Other Hotel Staffing Software

Here are some other useful tools for hotel staff and labor management.

What Next?

Don't forget to browse around the site for more great hotel management tips, templates, and tools. Plus, join The Hotel GM newsletter for expert tidbits sent right to your inbox!

Cory Masters
By Cory Masters

Cory Masters is a dynamic professional with 10+ years of experience working across hotel and hospitality management, accounting, financial management, office management, and operations. She's passionate about elevating other professionals in the community, using her 4 years as an Assistant Hotel Manager at Four Seasons to share the lessons she's learned about managing guest interactions, reservations, hotel staff, hotel services, hotel management systems, and more.