Amadeus – iHotelier® Booking Engine vs. Booking Button (by BookingSuite):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine and Booking Button by Booking.com hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and priorities. Both are designed to boost direct bookings, but they differ significantly in their approach, features, and market presence. Amadeus offers a comprehensive, feature-rich platform backed by a substantial global footprint, while Booking Button emphasizes simplicity and ease of integration with minimal setup. Which aligns better with your hotel’s goals?

Is Amadeus or Booking Button Better for Hotels?

Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine is a full-fledged booking platform built to maximize direct revenue through advanced features like multi-currency, loyalty program integration, and detailed analytics. Booking Button, on the other hand, is a straightforward, web-based widget designed for effortless website integration, with real-time price updates directly from Booking.com. Amadeus's extensive feature set and global reach make it ideal for hotels seeking deep customization and detailed reporting. Conversely, Booking Button’s simplicity appeals to smaller properties or those wanting quick deployment.

A critical difference is market presence: Amadeus operates in 34 countries across all major continents, offering robust support and advanced tools, while Booking Button primarily serves properties connected to Booking.com without extensive geographic coverage. Do you need a comprehensive, scalable booking engine or a quick, easy addition to your existing website?

Amadeus vs Booking Button: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly customizable booking engine with advanced features like multi-lingual support, automated emails, loyalty integrations, and detailed analytics, then Amadeus is the better option. Its extensive feature list (36 unique features) and proven track record with diverse hotel segments make it suitable for mid-sized to large hotels aiming for revenue growth and data-driven management.

If your primary goal is to quickly embed a booking widget that always reflects current Booking.com prices and availability, and your hotel values ease of setup over customization, Booking Button is the way to go. Its simple, web-based design allows you to implement a booking solution without technical headaches, making it ideal for small hotels or properties with limited IT resources.

In summary, choose Amadeus if you prioritize advanced technology, regional support, and extensive integrations. Opt for Booking Button if you want a hassle-free, instant solution with minimal setup.

Is Amadeus or Booking Button Easier to Use?

Amadeus’s iHotelier® Booking Engine scores 4.25/5 for ease of use, reflecting a generally intuitive interface praised by many users, despite some mention of a learning curve. Onboarding is rated 4.01/5, with reviews highlighting the availability of training but also noting that some functionalities can be complex initially.

Booking Button’s interface is purely web-based and designed for simplicity, with no detailed ratings available, but its core appeal is quick deployment and straightforward integration. Since it’s a plug-and-play widget, your team can implement it without extensive training, offering an intuitive experience for both staff and guests.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has Better Features: Amadeus or Booking Button?

Amadeus’s iHotelier® Booking Engine offers a broad array of 36 features, including multi-currency, multi-lingual support, loyalty program integration, automated pre- and post-stay emails, booking abandonment recapture, A/B testing, and conversion rate reports. These features empower your hotel to optimize the guest experience and revenue strategies.

Booking Button provides only the core booking capability integrated directly with Booking.com, with no additional features listed. Its strength lies in real-time pricing and availability updates rather than in-depth customization or marketing tools.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Amadeus or Booking Button?

Amadeus’s support scores 3.22/5, with reviews indicating a mixed experience. Some hoteliers appreciate the dedicated management and responsiveness, while others report slow response times and complex support interactions. Training programs are available but inconsistent in quality.

Booking Button, by virtue of being part of Booking.com, offers free worldwide support for all its products, though specific review data is lacking. Its simplicity means fewer support issues, but less assistance is available for advanced troubleshooting.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has More Integrations: Amadeus or Booking Button?

Amadeus boasts 104 verified partners, including prominent systems like SiteMinder, Orange Hotel Marketing, and Profitroom, facilitating extensive connectivity with PMS, marketing, and revenue management tools. Only two shared integrations are with SiteMinder and Yanolja Cloud, with Amadeus alone offering integrations with advanced revenue and channel management solutions.

Booking Button has just 7 verified partners, primarily integrating with Booking.com and a few smaller channel managers like ResNexus and innRoad. Its limited integrations restrict its ability to connect with broader hotel technology stacks.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Amadeus or Booking Button?

Amadeus’s overall rating of 4.39/5 is backed by 93 reviews, with recent feedback emphasizing its effectiveness in increasing direct bookings and revenue. Hotel segments like independent and boutique hotels rate it particularly highly, often praising its functionality and support.

Booking Button lacks publicly available review ratings, but given its simpler, plug-and-play nature, it tends to receive positive feedback from small hotels valuing ease over extensive features.

Edge: Amadeus.

How Much Do Amadeus and Booking Button Cost?

Amadeus does not publicly list its pricing; it typically offers customized quotes based on hotel size, features, and support needs. Its pricing model is not transparent, and implementation fees or monthly rates are not specified.

Booking Button is also priced on a custom basis, with no public pricing details. Both products require direct contact for quotes, but Amadeus’s more extensive feature set and support infrastructure suggest a higher investment barrier.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Amadeus?

• Hotels seeking a comprehensive booking solution with multi-lingual, multi-currency support.
• Properties aiming for in-depth analytics and detailed revenue management.
• Hotels with existing tech stacks that require extensive integrations.
• Larger hotels or hotel groups wanting regional support and scalability.
• Teams looking for advanced marketing, automation, and guest personalization.

Not ideal if your hotel:

• Has limited IT resources or prefers quick, straightforward solutions.
• Operates a small property or bed & breakfast with minimal tech needs.
• Needs a basic booking widget without extensive customization.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Booking Button?

• Small hotels or bed & breakfasts seeking an easy website addition.
• Properties connected primarily to Booking.com, wanting real-time price sync.
• Hotels with limited technical staff or those preferring quick deployment.
• Hotels that prioritize simplicity over deep customization.
• Properties that want to avoid ongoing software management.

Not ideal if your hotel:

• Needs advanced features like loyalty programs or detailed analytics.
• Operates across multiple regions requiring multi-lingual support.
• Seeks extensive integrations with existing property management systems.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Amadeus’s iHotelier® Booking Engine offers a robust, feature-rich platform with broad market coverage and extensive integrations. It suits mid-sized and larger hotels looking to grow revenue through automation, personalization, and detailed data analysis.

Booking Button, by contrast, emphasizes ease of use and fast setup, making it ideal for small hotels or properties that want a no-fuss, real-time price update widget embedded into their websites.

Choose Amadeus if you need a comprehensive, scalable solution that supports sophisticated revenue strategies. Opt for Booking Button if you prefer a simple, quick-to-implement booking widget that always reflects current Booking.com rates.

In conclusion, if your hotel is ready for a feature-packed platform and values regional support, Amadeus is the clear winner given its higher review score, broader features, and larger partner network. For straightforward needs and fast deployment, Booking Button remains a viable, easy option.