For hotels, holiday parks, campgrounds, and hostels
A Property Management System (PMS) is the nerve center of any hospitality business. But the needs of a sleek city hotel are vastly different from a rustic campground or a buzzing hostel. In this guide, we’ll help you navigate the PMS landscape of 2025 — matching the right tool to your type of accommodation.
We’ve analyzed top-rated systems including Mews, RoomRaccoon, Cloudbeds, Oracle OPERA Cloud, RMS, and NewBook. We highlight real-world use cases, pricing models, integrations, scalability, and guest experience features. Whether you manage 30 beds or 300 cabins, this guide helps you choose with confidence.
Why PMS Needs Vary by Segment
Every accommodation has a shared goal: deliver smooth operations and a great guest experience. But the details matter:
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A luxury hotel wants loyalty integrations and conference planning.
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A campground needs interactive maps and utility tracking.
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A hostel needs bed-by-bed inventory management and bulk guest messaging.
Modern PMS platforms — especially cloud-native ones like Mews and Cloudbeds — are modular and API-friendly. That means you can plug in only what you need and keep growing without switching systems.
Best PMS for Hotels: From Boutique to Enterprise
1. Mews – Cloud-native power for modern hotels
Mews is an award-winning PMS, used by brands like Accor’s lifestyle hotels. Designed for automation, it streamlines check-ins, room assignments, night audits, payments, and upsells — all with minimal manual input.
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Integrations: 300+ apps, open API, contactless guest portal
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Guest experience: Online check-in, upsell offers, mobile app
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Scalability: Great for multi-property, but complex for mega resorts (>500 rooms)
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Pricing: Subscription-based (tiered by room count), ROI-driven
"It freed up our staff to focus on guests, not admin." — Hotel GM, Mews user
2. RoomRaccoon – All-in-one for independent hotels
RoomRaccoon is an integrated platform combining PMS, channel manager, booking engine, and payments. It’s ideal for small to mid-sized hotels, B&Bs, and boutiques.
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Automation: Dynamic pricing, guest messaging, invoicing
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Guest focus: Direct booking engine, concierge app integrations
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Pricing: From ~€200/month for basic, ~€450 for full-suite
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Limitations: Not suited for large F&B or loyalty operations
3. Cloudbeds – Flexible for smaller hotels
Loved by small hotels and B&Bs, Cloudbeds offers everything in one place — bookings, channels, payments, and even revenue tools.
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Integration strength: 300+ tools including OTAs and messaging apps
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Guest engagement: Pre-arrival emails, self-check-in, upselling
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Pricing: Competitive tiers; was previously commission-based
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Standout: Great for hoteliers who want simplicity without limits
4. Oracle OPERA Cloud – The enterprise heavyweight
Opera Cloud powers large hotel chains like Marriott and Melia. It offers full-suite capabilities: from front office to events to global loyalty programs.
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Integrations: Oracle OHIP, marketplace of certified partners
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Guest tech: Mobile guest check-in, upsell modules (Nor1)
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Scalability: From 1 hotel to 1,000 — fully enterprise-ready
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Pricing: Custom quotes with onboarding/training included
"With OPERA Cloud, we scaled globally and personalized every stay." — Melia Hotels
Best PMS for Campgrounds & Holiday Parks
1. RMS Cloud – Built for outdoor hospitality
Australian-based RMS is purpose-built for parks and campgrounds.
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Key features: Site mapping, seasonal pricing, utility hookups
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Integrations: POS, payments, email/SMS, OTA listings
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Guest journey: Online map booking, add-ons (firewood, bike rental)
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Used by: KOA, Big4 Parks, and multi-site chains
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Note: Can be overkill for very small campsites
2. NewBook – Park management made simple
NewBook is popular in Europe and Australasia. It's a powerful yet user-friendly platform for holiday parks and glamping resorts.
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Guest focus: QR code check-in, Wi-Fi code delivery, automated pre-arrival info
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Integrations: Cabin door locks, payments, SMS, OTA
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Pricing: Modular, comparable to RMS
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Used by: Mixed inventory parks (cabins + RV + tents)
"NewBook’s interactive map helps guests book their favorite spot — no more back-and-forth."
3. Cloudbeds for parks with cabins or mixed models
Cloudbeds is also used by parks that operate more like hotels (with rooms/cabins vs. tent plots). It now integrates with Hipcamp for broader exposure.
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Best for: Small parks, glamping sites, or hybrid properties
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Limitation: No native site-mapping (uses rooms as proxy)
Best PMS for Hostels
1. Cloudbeds – Hostel leader
Cloudbeds is widely used by hostels due to its flexible dorm and bed management.
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Hostel-ready: Bed-level booking, mixed-gender settings
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OTAs: Hostelworld, Hostelbookers, Booking.com
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Automation: Check-in links, guest emails, upsell tours
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Affordability: Tiered plans or commission-based for small budgets
“We automated 85% of guest requests — now we host, not hassle.” — Hostel manager
2. Mews – For upscale or hybrid hostels
Mews is used by design-led hostel brands like Generator.
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Smart integrations: Access control, guest apps, smart pricing
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Staff onboarding: Fast due to intuitive UI
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Ideal for: Hostels with hotel-like services (private rooms, bar, etc.)
3. Frontdesk Master – For tight hostel budgets
A no-frills alternative to the bigger players.
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Pros: Simple, affordable, hostel-specific
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Cons: Fewer integrations, limited support
Integration, Pricing & Guest Experience Comparison
Category | Mews | RoomRaccoon | Cloudbeds | Opera Cloud | RMS/NewBook |
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Integrations | 300+ apps, open API | All-in-one + API | 300+ integrations | OHIP partner hub | Broad, OTA & POS |
Pricing | Subscription (per room) | Tiered monthly | Flexible/Flat rate | Custom enterprise | Modular (per site) |
Guest Tools | Online check-in, upsell | Concierge apps | Messaging, AI bots | Mobile guest portal | QR check-in, upsells |
Scale | 1–300 rooms+ | 10–100 rooms | 1–200 rooms+ | 100–1000+ rooms | 50–5000 sites |
Final Thoughts: Choose What Fits Your Guests and Staff
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Independent hotel? Go for Mews.
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Growing hostel? Choose Cloudbeds and scale up.
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Holiday park? Invest in Bookingexpert or NewBook for true site-level control.
The right PMS isn’t just software — it’s a silent assistant for your team, and an invisible upgrade for your guest. With the right platform, you reduce friction, increase revenue, and give every guest a better stay.
👉 Need help selecting or switching your PMS? Let’s talk. We’ll help you match tech to your guest journey.