As the hospitality industry continues to evolve, so does the technology to manage it.
The right hotel POS system can make all the difference in managing your hotel operations, from managing reservations to tracking inventory.
But what should you look for in one, and which one might suit your hotel’s needs best? If these are the questions buzzing in your head, you’re in the right place.
Read on to find out our top contestants for the best hotel POS systems.
Let’s dive in!
What Should You Look For in a POS System?
POS systems vary and offer different functionalities, so it’s important to define the ones you need, such as sales reports, inventory management, employee management, etc.
Therefore, make sure the POS system you choose has those features.
In addition to functionality, you may also want your POS to:
- Be easy to use – Look for a POS system that’s easy to navigate without steep learning curves so your employees can quickly learn how to use it with minimal training.
- Provide various integrations – Ensure that the POS system can integrate with other key software, such as property management systems, accounting software, order management systems, CRMs, etc.
- Be cost-efficient – Consider the costs, including upfront costs and any ongoing fees, like subscriptions or transaction fees.
- Provide reporting and analytics – Allow you to view and track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as revenue, occupancy rates, food and beverage sales, etc.
7 Best Hotel POS Systems: Overview
Before we analyze our top picks, here’s a quick rundown of each of them.
* All pros and cons are based on user reviews on Software Advice, GetApp, and Trustpilot.
1. OTA SYNC
OTA SYNC is an all-in-one online property management system streamlining the hotel’s everyday operations and management.
Although it isn’t a POS system per se, OTA SYNC has found its way on the list due to integrations with:
- Various POS systems, such as Octopos, eBar, Aria, etc.
- ERP solutions, and
- Reporting tools to provide a comprehensive overview of the hotel’s performance.
Thus, OTA SYNC provides integrations with Stripe, PayPal, FlutterWave, etc., and multiple CRMs, such as Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.
In addition, OTA SYNC has an open API that directly integrates and interacts with any OTA function, maximizing customization options and flexibility.
In addition, the PMS has its own fully integrated payment gateway that instantly processes and initiates transactions with a single click.
It automates charging virtual credit cards, and features such as encryption and tokenization safeguard sensitive financial information.
This way, guests can pay using their preferred method, from booking to check-out, thus improving the user experience and the possibility of repeat bookings.
Key Features:
✨ Inventory Updates – OTA SYNC automatically updates the information whenever a purchase happens.
✨ Virtual Card Detection – The system automatically recognizes VCC and adjusts the payment process.
✨ Payment Reporting – Tracks payments and runs tailored reports that are sent to your email at a desired frequency
✨ Unlimited Pro Invoices – Allows you to create invoices in 2 clicks by pulling all info automatically. You just need to choose the status and insert additional services.
✨ Multiple Currencies – OTA SYNC operates in more than 150 countries, supporting multiple currencies for you to avoid any conversion fees.
In addition to various payment options and capabilities, the PMS also allows you to upsell.
Therefore, you can sell via the booking engine or add any additional service or amenity to the reservation invoice.
Pricing
OTA SYNC has 4 Premium Plans, each with a 14-day Free Trial with access to all features.
Thus, you get:
- Seamless onboarding and setup with walkthrough,
- Dedicated account manager for all the questions you may have.
Furthermore, you can cancel at any time. There is no contractual obligation, and OTA SYNC will not charge your credit card.
The plans start from $55 per month.
2. Lightspeed
Lightspeed is a cloud-based POS and eCommerce platform for retail and hospitality businesses.
For hotels, it provides restaurant management options that you can integrate with your PMS.
Thus, you can manage your restaurant and room service orders from the same system and assign user roles and permissions to bar, kitchen, and wait staff.
Key Features
✨ Payment Processor – Provides multiple payment options and allows you to handle high volumes with no monthly transaction limit.
✨ Advanced Insights – Provides insights into sales trends, employee performance, and customer behavior.
✨ Inventory Management – Enables you to track stock levels, manage suppliers, and optimize their menu offerings.
✨ Accounting – Gives you an automated daily summary of sales, syncs sales data for both delivery and on-premise sales, maps and records different product categories and payment types, etc.
Pricing
Lightspeed has 4 Premium Plans, starting from $69.
3. Toast
Toast is a cloud-based POS catering to restaurants, cafes, and other hospitality businesses.
It provides products ranging from self-ordering kiosks over payment processing to gift cards.
Toast has integrations with various third-party tools, such as accounting software, online ordering platforms, and payroll services.
You can also integrate it into your PMS to keep the restaurant and front desk in-sync.
Key Features
✨ Payment Processing – A credit card processing solution that provides custom-built rates and accepts credit card payments online or offline.
✨ Online Ordering – Allows you to customize your menu and to make customizable item-, delivery-, and order-based promotions.
✨ Multi-location Management – Enables you to configure menus across your restaurants.
✨ Inventory – Provides data to control costs and insights into price fluctuation, centralized operating summary, waste tracking, etc.
Pricing
Toast has 1 Free Plan with limited access to all features and 2 Premium Plans starting from $69.
4. Square
Square is a payment processing and mobile card reader system for small businesses.
It offers a range of features to help manage sales, inventory, and customer information.
Furthermore, it integrates with various eCommerce, CRM, order fulfillment, accounting, and tax tools.
Key Features
✨ Payment Processing – Accepts various contactless and chip options, such as cards, Apple Pay, digital wallets, etc.
✨ Invoices – Enables you to send unlimited invoices, schedule recurring ones and automatic payment reminders, send digital receipts, etc.
✨ Gift cards – Lets you create and launch custom gift card programs with scannable QR codes and barcodes.
✨ Online ordering – Accepts and manages orders from multiple channels: online and in-person, front of and back of the house, social accounts, mobile phones, etc.
Pricing
Square has 1 Free with limited access to all features and 2 Premium Plans, starting from $29 monthly and billed annually.
5. Epos Now
Epos Now is a cloud-based POS that helps businesses in the retail and hospitality industries manage inventory, operations, and customer interactions.
Furthermore, Epos Now has a real-time reporting feature, as well as barcode scanners, credit card readers, and cash drawers.
Key Features
✨ Epos Now Payments – Enables you to accept a wide range of payment methods, print receipts, etc.
✨ Financial Reports – Let you view all transactions in a single place, including individual transactions, insights, and payouts.
✨ Duo Countertop – A customizable interactive touchscreen display with live cart, tip and receipt options, etc.
✨ Real-time Reporting – The POS system collects and collates your sales data and then converts them into business reports.
Pricing
For hotels, the current discounted price is £325.
6. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is an all-in-one POS and restaurant management system primarily focusing on restaurant reservations.
It also deals with inventory, menu, delivery management, and restaurant reporting.
TouchBistro integrates with multiple payment processing, accounting, business intelligence, inventory management, and other tools.
Key Features
✨ Table Management – Helps you manage tables by monitoring factors like distance, time seated and spent.
✨ Bill Splitting – Splits bills evenly or by ordered items.
✨ Payment Processing – Allows you to process credit card, debit card, tap-to-pay, and digital wallet payments from Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay.
✨ Restaurant Reporting and Analytics – Provide insights into customer behavior and spending, sales trends, staff performance, etc.
Pricing
TouchBistro has many pricing plans that depend on the type of service you want. The POS prices start from $69 per month.
7. Revel
Revel is a POS solution catering to the food service industry and assisting businesses in managing orders, payments, and workflows in one place.
It is quite flexible and customizable and allows you to mix and match solutions and to apply flexible payment options depending on your business.
It provides open API as well as integrations with partners in accounting, employee management, payment processing, and other industries.
Key Features
✨ Inventory Management – helps you keep track of your inventory, stock levels, waste, etc.
✨ Online Ordering – Allows you to set up your online food delivery services to cover hours of operation, holiday closures, custom hours, menu items, etc.
✨ Revel Advantage – Manages both your POS and payments with integrated software, hardware, and credit card processing.
✨ Analytics and Reporting – Provides insights into sales data, highlights your top sellers, busiest hours, labor targets, and monthly progress.
Pricing
Revel doesn’t include pricing information, but according to GetApp, prices start at $99 per month, and there is a free trial.
Best Hotel POS Systems: Which One to Choose?
The above POS systems focus on various aspects of payment processing and transactions. Furthermore, each solution targets a specific area within the POS field.
However, in order to fully utilize their benefits, you’d need to integrate and connect them to your PMS, CRM, etc.
So why not choose a solution such as OTA SYNC, which is already a PMS and has fully integrated payment software and multiple payment options?
Why Opt For OTA SYNC?
OTA SYNC is an all-encompassing hotel management solution helping you with management tasks such as:
- Reservations,
- Billing,
- Inventory,
- Customer service, and
- Marketing.
The app is fully equipped with a robust Booking Engine and Channel Manager, enabling you to manage all reservations and multiple properties from a single platform.
In addition, Channel Manager helps you expand your reach and visibility by connecting you to major OTAs.
How else can OTA help you?
? Do Advanced Invoice Operations and split and merge by item, room, guest, amount, etc.
? Do Fiscalization and automate communication with Government tax and digital fiscal machines.
? Check the Cash Register at the start and end of each day and see revenue, deposits, withdrawals, etc.
? Easily set up different taxes adjusting to different markets to avoid legal disputes.
Furthermore, OTA SYNC provides a complete solution by taking guest experience into account via its Guest App.
It offers quick check-ins, tailored recommendations, and instant notifications to adapt to your guests’ needs. The app is available for both iOS and Android systems.
Enticed to find out more?
Sign up for OTA SYNC for free today and maximize the effects of a robust PMS and POS combination.
Keep Learning:
What is a Hotel Revenue Management System and How Does it Work?
