In $cke$ng and hotel industry, informa$on systems play a vital role in facilita$ng opera$ons, reserva$ons
and overall management.
There is two main important types of informa$on systems which are:
• Global distribu$on system(GDS)
• Property management system(PMS)
1-Global Distribu$on System(GDSs):
Since the 1960s the only way the customer had to reserve a hotel room or book a flight was to directly
call the airline or the hotel, but, with the growing demand in the hospitality and travel industry required
an electronic reserva$on system that would streamline the en$re booking process, this was how the
idea of Global Distribu$on systems was introduced to the market.
American airlines and IBM was one of the first companies to create a reserva$on system for their
agents.
In 1970, Wes$n became the first hotel company to use an electronic reserva$on system.
Over the next few years, several companies were formed that offered travel agents a direct connec$on
to a variety of hotel and airline reserva$on channels.
Examples for GDSs:
• Amadeus: A GDS that connects hotels, airlines and other travel services to travel agencies and it
mainly has the biggest market share.
• Sabre:One of the oldest GDSs
• Travelport
2-Property Management System(PMS):
A property management system (PMS) is soVware that facilitates a hotel’s reserva$on management and
administra$ve tasks. The most important func$ons include front-desk opera$ons, reserva$ons, channel
management, housekeeping, rate and occupancy management, and payment processing. Although PMS
soVware mostly controls reserva$on and financial transac$ons, it may allow you to manage
housekeeping and perform human resources management as well. In general, PMS facilitates the main
processes in a hotel related to internal and external opera$ons.
The first hotel property management systems were introduced back in the 1970s. But, even today, not
every hotel has one.
Main modules of property management systems:
A modern property management system combines mul$ple work environments in a single piece of
soVware. Depending on the provider, the combina$on of modules and func$ons can vary, and the
func$onality of one module can be slightly different. Addi$onally, some vendors sell their systems in
separate modules that can be integrated with an exis$ng solu$on used by a hotel. Here is the basic
structure of a hotel PMS.
Examples of Property Management Systems:
• Opera by Oracle Hospitality: A comprehensive PMS used by hotels for managing reserva$ons,
room assignments, and overall property opera$ons.
• Protel: Protel's PMS offers modules for reserva$ons, front desk opera$ons, and housekeeping,
catering to the needs of hotels and hospitality businesses.
• Guestline: Providing solu$ons for reserva$ons, billing, and property management, Guestline's
PMS is designed to integrate with other hospitality systems.
• Maestro PMS: Offering a cloud-based solu$on, Maestro's PMS includes features for reserva$ons,
guest profiles, and analy$cs, catering to both independent hotels and larger chains.
These Informa$on Systems contribute significantly to the efficiency, accessibility, and seamless opera$on
of the $cke$ng and hotel industries, benefi$ng both service providers and consumers.
Then, there is an another example of informa$on systems used in the $cke$ng and hotels industry.
3-The POS(point of sale):
A POS system is a computerized system used to streamline and track transac$ons made within a
business. A POS system can be used for a variety of purposes, including sales tracking, inventory
management and customer loyalty programs.
For hotels, a POS system can be used to manage room reserva$ons, track guest check-ins and check-
outs, process payments, and more. A POS system can also help hotels to be^er understand their guests’
needs and preferences, as well as iden$fy any opera$onal issues that may need to be addressed. Overall,
a POS system can provide a number of benefits for hotels, including improved efficiency, be^er customer
service, and increased profitability.
Main types of POS
• Terminal or Desktop POS Systems: These POS systems come with a cash register or counter for
performing all the financial transac$ons with guests. Terminal POS Hotel Systems usually have a
wider range of capabili$es, covering everything from staff to inventory management. This can be
a great op$on for your hotel if you want a single system that can take care of all your needs.
• Mobile POS Systems: These POS systems can be of two forms – extensions of POS systems or
standalone apps for mobiles. Mobile POS systems are very popular these days as they are
portable and allow you to conduct transac$ons anywhere in the hotel.
• Self-Service POS Systems: The main use of these POS systems is to reduce manpower, shorten
wai$ng $me, and speed up the checkout process. Self-service POS systems help in providing the
customers with a contactless experience. These days, with the COVID-19 pandemic, self-service
POS systems have become even more popular as they help to minimize the risk of infec$on.
• Kiosk POS Systems: Kiosk POS systems are similar to self-service POS system but with a few key
differences. For starters, a kiosk is usually placed in a common area, such as the lobby, whereas a
self-service POS system can be placed anywhere.
• Legacy-Based POS Systems: These are also known as on-premise or tradi$onal POS systems.
These POS systems usually require greater investments and greater efforts for maintenance.
However, they offer more customiza$on op$ons and are highly scalable.
• Cloud-Based POS Systems: Cloud-based POS systems, also known as SoVware-as-a-Service (SaaS)
POS systems, are the newest type of POS system in the market. They are very popular among
small and medium-sized businesses as they are easy to set up and require minimal maintenance.
Cloud-based POS systems are also very affordable as they are subscrip$on-based.
A comparison between a PMS and a POS?
We’ve already discussed how a POS Hotel System helps hoteliers in conduc$ng sales transac$ons,
besides managing several other func$ons. But, how does it differ from a PMS Hotel System? And, what is
its use with a POS system? A PMS or Property Management System is another business management
system that can help you in taking care of your day-to-day hotel front desk opera$ons. This system helps
in managing everything, from bookings, billing, inventory management, budge$ng, and accoun$ng, to
gathering the guests’ informa$on and more.
Depending on the type of hotel you run, you might have different points of sale. By integra$ng your POS
Hotel System with a PMS solu$on, such as Preno, you can remove the complexi$es around managing
expenses and billing between the numerous touch points. The billing informa$on from every touchpoint
will be sent to your PMS, aVer which it will be added to a centralized account for the guest. This will not
only make your payment transac$ons quicker but also reduce any likelihood of discrepancies or errors.
