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So ware solutions that streamline and simplify Working smarter not harder:

By Gemma Easton, Editor

The accommodation sector has always been competitive, but it has become even tougher in recent years.

Short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz have expanded traveller choice and intensiﬁed competition for hotels, motels and tourist parks. Add to that the instant impact of online reviews and rising guest expectations, and operators are under more pressure than ever.

A successful accommodation business relies on a complex ecosystem of variables, all of which need to be expertly managed for success. Rate optimisation, successful marketing strategies, managing and responding to reviews, catering for guest preferences and leveraging upsell opportunities, maintaining optimal sta levels, and ensuring all essential supplies are well stocked are just some of the tasks which need to be managed.

For smaller operators, one person might be responsible for many of these tasks, leaving them as chief in charge of marketing, accounting, social media management, housekeeping and maintenance coordination, as well as sta management and delivering the best guest experience. It’s likely this will create an extensive to-do list, which even the most dedicated accommodation operator will ﬁnd challenging to conquer.

Happily, there has never been more help available to accommodation operators to streamline and automate many of these tasks. So ware solutions, some of which have

There has never been more help available to accommodation operators to streamline and automate these tasks

been purpose built for the accommodation industry, can help operators to save time, improve accuracy, and run their business more e ciently.

In this buyer’s guide to accommodation so ware, AccomNews explores some of the systems on the market and how they can make running your accommodation business simpler.

Expert-level management

We can’t all be experts at everything, and o en the cost of employing full-time

experts isn’t feasible for accommodation providers. Accommodation so ware can make a real di erence. Systems such as property management systems, revenue management, payments systems, and channel managers can help simplify tasks, reducing the need for constant professional oversight. The list of tasks accommodation so ware can assist with is vast— predictive analytics and demand forecasting, AIpowered pricing tools, realtime occupancy data, channel

management and performance optimisation. Coupled with human oversight and sta training, these systems can signiﬁcantly improve occupancy levels, overall revenue, and guest satisfaction. These systems can also assist with practical operational tasks, such as monitoring housekeeping stock, tracking room turnover, alerting sta when servicing is needed, scheduling routine maintenance and helping keep reporting on track.

Online booking has long been automated, but newer tools such as chatbots for common enquiries and AI receptionists used to ﬁeld calls around the clock are expanding how operators manage guest communication.

Many platforms are generally cloud-based and mobile friendly, meaning you can have your so ware solutions in the palm of your hand, anywhere, at any time

A personal touch

Today’s guests want more than a cookie-cu er accommodation o ering; they want a bespoke experience that feels tailored just for them.

Research published in The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management found that personal touches like celebrating a guest’s birthday or anniversary, or o ering local dining options or facilities based on personal interests increased guest satisfaction. Extra-personal touches like using smart tools to adjust light and temperature se ings automatically in line with guest preferences improved guest satisfaction even more.

The research found that smart technologies are a gamechanger for personalisation. Guest data, when analysed by so ware, can be used to create a stay that feels carefully curated to suit an individual guest’s needs. Personalisation can be based on the guest’s previous behaviour, for example recommending a spa treatment or o ering a late check-out. Analysing data from similar guests can create new opportunities for personalisation.

Even before your guest arrives, you can start creating a one-of-a-kind experience. Sending automated

reservation reminders which address the guest by name and include o ers curated to their tastes can create a feeling of connection and belonging before your guest even packs for their holiday.

Beyond the in-room experience, personal data can be used to ensure repeat bookings.

Knowing which guests booked for the school holidays last year, or for an annual local event, means you can target these guests ahead of time, perhaps o ering them a reduced rate or room upgrade for booking early.

Evaluating your current tech toolkit

Most accommodation operators will already be using some form of so ware at their property. It’s important, though, to consider if your current tech stack is still ﬁ t-for-purpose.

Changing sta levels, expanded accommodation o erings, the addition of extra guest amenities like a restaurant or pool, and a range of other factors might a ect whether your current systems are still suitable. Plus, technology moves quickly, and so ware

is constantly evolving. Ask your current providers if you are using the most up to date version of the system and if you are using it in the most e ective way. Also make sure you aren’t paying for features you don’t need.

Importantly, to be e ective, all your systems must be integrated. Some platforms o er all-in-one solutions, combining property management, revenue management, compliance and other essential operations. Many platforms are scalable, meaning they can grow with your business.

And while so ware is undoubtedly essential for accommodation operators, it cannot replace humans. Make sure processes you have automated are regularly reviewed to make sure information you have fed into your systems remains relevant to achieve the best outcomes.

Critically, a people-led approach should remain at the heart of the guest experience. While your guests might be able to manage booking and check-in without speaking to a person, they should still feel welcome, and that sta are friendly and approachable. O en, it is the moments of human connection that guests remember, and keep them returning to your property year a er year.

Switching technology providers without disrupting your business

By Tamie Ma hews, CEO & Founder, RevenYou

Changing technology providers isn’t something most accommodation businesses do o en. Yet when it does happen, it’s frequently assumed that someone in-house can manage the process alongside their dayto-day responsibilities - without the time, specialist experience or structured support required.

For many operators, this is where technology transitions become stressful, disruptive and unnecessarily risky.

That’s where RevenYou comes in.

RevenYou specialises in managing technology transitions for accommodation providers. Acting as an independent project manager, the team takes ownership of the entire process - from early planning through to Go Live and beyond – enabling operators to remain focused on running their business.

The result is a transition that is seamless, low stress and strategically aligned with the property’s long-term commercial goals.

A considered approach, not a rushed replacement

Every successful technology change starts with understanding the property itself.

RevenYou begins by learning how the business operates today, how it wants to operate in the future, and the type of guest experience it aims to deliver. This ensures the

technology environment is designed to support growth rather than limit it.

Too o en, accommodation providers replace systems without addressing outdated processes or inherited workarounds. RevenYou takes a di erent approachdesigning a technology stack that is ﬁ t for purpose now and adaptable for what comes next.

Avoiding contract surprises and costly mistakes

Technology transitions are o en complicated by existing supplier contracts. Auto-renewals, notice periods and hidden clauses can derail timelines and restrict choice if they aren’t identiﬁ ed early.

RevenYou reviews all existing contracts, mapping end dates, exit conditions and dependencies. This proactive planning helps operators avoid surprises and ensures they remain in control of their transition strategy.

Independent supplier selection - without the sales pressure

Choosing the right technology partner is one of the most critical steps in the process.

RevenYou independently evaluates suppliers based on product performance, scalability, customer support quality and service hours aligned to local time zones. Operators are only introduced to ve ed suppliers that meet their speciﬁ c requirements, reducing time wasted on unsuitable demos and sales conversations.

In time-sensitive situations, RevenYou has supported properties in selecting and deploying new systems in as li le as seven days by matching them with suppliers proven to perform under pressure.

From

selection to Go Live,

every

detail is managed

Once a new technology partner is selected, RevenYou coordinates the entire transition.

The team works closely with incoming and outgoing suppliers, as well as any systems being retained, to ensure nothing is missed. This includes redesigning workﬂ ows to remove ine ciencies, testing all integrations and conﬁrming data accuracy before launch.

In one project, a property transitioning to an independent brand discovered years of inherited technology “baggage”. RevenYou rebuilt the entire setup in seven days, removing legacy clu er and signiﬁ cantly improving system performance.

Conﬁdent teams, calm Go Live

Technology changes only succeed when teams feel conﬁ dent using the new systems.

RevenYou provides role-speciﬁ c training, so sta understand how the technology supports their responsibilities from day one. By the time Go Live arrives, the system feels intuitive rather than overwhelming.

The goal is a transition guests don’t notice and teams barely feel. In

one example, a motel upgrading its technology to be er a ract local business completed Go Live quietly behind the scenes, with no disruption to operations or revenue.

Support doesn’t stop at Go Live

While technology changes can feel daunting, for RevenYou it’s simply another well-managed project - and support doesn’t end when the system goes live.

A er launch, RevenYou remains actively involved to answer questions, monitor performance, support sta and ﬁne-tune the setup as the property se les into its new environment. The team stays engaged until everything feels stable, e cient and familiar.

As one client described it, transitioning technology with RevenYou involved no stress, no drama, no interruptionsexactly how it should be.

Making technology change simple

Technology changes are signiﬁ cant, but they don’t need to be painful.

With proven project management, deep industry experience and an independent perspective, RevenYou helps accommodation providers change systems with conﬁ dencemaking the process as forge able as possible, for all the right reasons.

Ready to change providers without the chaos? RevenYou is here to help.

The easiest way to ensure your rooms are priced right, every night.

Automated pricing, min-stay controls, group quotes, yielding reporting, and forecasting — all in one place. Built for independent properties and growing groups.

How it works

Worry-free setup

Leave the setup to your dedicated Genie. Expertguided onboarding means you see value in days, not months.

Let’s get started.

Scan the QR code, add your details in, and pick a time.

We’ll give you a quick call and set up your free 2 week trial, no obligations or credit card required.

Transparency & 100% control

Understand every price suggestion. Override or adjust anytime: You're always in control.

Local support for Australia & New Zealand

Backed by multilingual revenue experts who've worked in hotels and managed room rates. Regular strategy reviews included.

Behind the stay:

Belmo Group values Resly collaboration

In management rights, the best systems rarely get noticed. They support the work, protect the numbers and let teams get on with the job.

For Belmo Group, that thinking led to a partnership with Resly in 2022. Today, Resly underpins Belmo’s portfolio, including Number One Hastings Street and has been rolled out across all Belmomanaged short-stay properties.

A practical decision

For Belmo Group’s Managing Director Ben Orton, the move to Resly was driven by operational clarity.

As the portfolio grew, a system that could keep pace became essential. Trust accounting, transparency and ease of

use were non-negotiable, particularly in guest-facing environments where accuracy and e ciency go hand in hand.

Supporting teams on the ground

Belmo Group CEO David Assef says Resly has proven its value where it ma ers most. “We moved to Resly across our shortterm portfolio for a streamlined solution that supports trust accounting, while also providing a seamless user and guest experience,” Assef says.

At properties like Number One Hastings Street, where expectations are high and operations are complex, having a system that works seamlessly makes a real di erence.

Managing change with ease

Despite the scale of the refurbishment at Number

One Hastings Street, Resly required minimal adjustment.

According to Co-Founder Sam Steel, the system handled updates quietly in the background. “Resly made it easy to update refreshed content like photography across all distribution channels through a single connection,” he says. “That ensured the property’s new look was reﬂected consistently everywhere.”

Built for growth

As Belmo continues to scale, transparency and compliance become increasingly important. Steel says this is where Resly’s foundations come into their own.

“Our role is to enable growth, not become a blocker,” he says. “Resly’s trust accounting and operational framework are built for exactly this type of environment.”

For Belmo, those foundations support consistency across the portfolio, while still allowing individual properties to operate in a way that suits their market.

Looking ahead

With Resly now embedded across Belmo’s portfolio, both sides see the partnership continuing to evolve. “Resly is constantly evolving, and partnerships like this help shape the product as we work towards se ing the benchmark for hospitality technology,” Steel says.

For Belmo Group, the relationship reﬂects a broader philosophy of surrounding premium assets with industry-speciﬁc partners who understand the detail.

Meanwhile, Resly sits quietly in the background, doing exactly what good systems should do. Supporting teams and le ing great operators get on with the job.