Hotel Software Key Terms

Learn hotel software key terms to determine which programs best suit your business needs

Hotel software programs offer hotel management and staff many options to help run and manage hotels efficiently and productively. Since there are many types of hotel software programs and many features available on each system, it is important to learn the key words for the types of features that would best fit the needs of your business. There are hotel software programs for large hotels as well as bed and breakfasts, so take the time to learn as well as understand the key terms for hotel software programs to determine which program meets your specific requirements.

Online or web-based reservations

Online or web-based reservations make the reservation process easier for hotel managers. Managers can easily access room and booking information as well as guest history. Instead of having to send hard copies and faxes of guest's confirmation dates and other information, managers can enter information into the online reservation system.

Guest history

Guest history software features include the ability to customize preferences such as non-smoking or handicap accessible rooms for returning guests. Guest history software also helps to manage multi-room, group or individual reservations while accessing room information with room type availability screens.

Housekeeping schedule

Hotel managers can create a housekeeping schedule with hotel software programs that allows them to produce reports for their housekeeping staff to know which rooms are occupied or vacant or need cleaning. Housekeeping schedule programs give instant access to room status so that managers can instantly update room information.

Night audit

Night auditing hotel software program features give managers and night staff the ability to create daily reports of revenue listed by group, room type or rate type. Instead of using multiple systems to manage hotel transactions, night auditing software can manage and create detail reports of hotel statistics and daily charge summaries.

Banquet and meetings

Banquet and meetings modules take the stress out of planning large events at hotels. Managers and staff block rooms for banquet and meeting conference attendees, screen shots provide graphics of room, banquet and meeting room availability. Automatic reporting programs link management, front desk and kitchen staff so that they are able to prepare and meet banquet and meeting requirements.

Property management

Property management hotel software manages many hotel functions from one program. Using one centralized program to manage duties including front desk, spa and restaurant reservations will make running a hotel more efficient and productive.