The project dashboard is a free tool that is only available to verified hoteliers to make adopting new technology easier by streamlining their research and simplifying their communication workflow.
TLDR
We analyzed 294 verified hotelier reviews, compared feature sets, pricing, and real-world case studies to break down where each platform delivers. The right choice depends on your property type and priorities:
Aro Digital Strategy shines .
Simplotel shines when it comes to website design and experience — especially for brand properties (4.9/5) , with exclusive features like Conversion Widgets.
Side-by-side ratings based on 294 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $1,200/mo | From $600/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 22 | 272 |
After analyzing 294 verified reviews, Aro Digital Strategy users most value its , while Simplotel users highlight website design and experience, technical support, user-friendly booking engine. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Website Design and Experience
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Technical Support
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User-Friendly Booking Engine
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Proactive Feature Updates
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Customization Options
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SEO and Online Visibility
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Mobile Responsiveness
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How each product ranks among Website Design vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #14 4 reviews | #2 110 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #9 17 reviews | #4 130 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #18 1 reviews | #5 19 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #8 1 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #13 12 reviews | #2 123 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #11 13 reviews | #1 154 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #13 5 reviews | #1 86 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #7 8 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #24 0 reviews | #6 13 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #7 21 reviews | #21 1 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | — | #1 247 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #6 2 reviews |
Choosing between Aró Website Design by Aro Digital Strategy and Simplotel Hotel Branded Websites hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both products aim to improve your online presence, but they approach this goal differently. Aro emphasizes bespoke, visually compelling websites with a focus on conversion, while Simplotel prioritizes ease of use, SEO, and integrated booking features. Your decision should align with whether you value customization and creative design or streamlined functionality and proven performance.
The key distinction is the number of reviews and recent customer feedback. Simplotel boasts 245 reviews, with 12 in the last six months, providing a more current and reliable picture of its performance. Conversely, Aro has only 22 reviews, with none recent, making its data less reflective of current user experiences. Given the recency and volume, Simplotel’s rating and review trend give it a decisive edge.
Both products serve hotels seeking to elevate their online presence but differ significantly in execution. Aró’s platform is tailored for high-end, visually striking websites designed to reflect your brand’s identity and drive direct bookings through aesthetic appeal and user-centric design. Simplotel, however, offers a more straightforward solution focused on website responsiveness, SEO, and conversion optimization, ensuring your site attracts visitors and turns them into guests.
If your hotel prioritizes a customized, design-forward website that emphasizes branding and visual storytelling, Aró is likely the better fit. Its bespoke approach and emphasis on creative excellence support luxury and boutique hotels aiming for premium online impressions. Conversely, if your hotel needs a cost-effective, easy-to-manage website with strong SEO and booking capabilities, Simplotel’s more practical, functional focus will serve you better. Which approach aligns more closely with your hotel’s immediate goals?
Ease of use is a pivotal factor, especially if your team lacks extensive technical expertise. Aró scores a 4.73/5 for ease of use, with reviews highlighting its user-friendly Content Management System and smooth onboarding. Clients praise their dedicated support team and prompt assistance, making implementation straightforward.
Simplotel also scores highly, with a 4.69/5 rating, and reviews frequently mention its intuitive interface, simple booking process, and supportive customer service. Both platforms are praised for onboarding and ongoing support, but Aró’s slightly higher rating and positive comments on its user-friendly editing tools give it a small advantage. Edge: Aró.
Feature-wise, Simplotel offers more than the competition with 19 shared features and a unique addition—Conversion Widgets—designed to increase bookings directly from your website. Aró, on the other hand, does not list specific features beyond its bespoke website design and Content Management capabilities but focuses on providing an optimized, visually stunning site.
Simplotel’s extensive integrations, SEO tools, and conversion-focused features make it a more comprehensive solution for hotels wanting a plug-and-play system that enhances operational efficiency. Aró’s strength lies in its bespoke design and strategic approach rather than a broad suite of built-in features. Edge: Simplotel.
Customer support can make or break your experience with website platforms. Aró’s reviews consistently cite a 4.82/5 support rating, with clients highlighting its professional, prompt, and dedicated support team. Many reviews describe ongoing communication, regular reports, and proactive assistance, which fosters confidence.
Simplotel also garners positive support ratings, with a 4.7/5 score. Clients praise its responsiveness and friendly service, although some mention issues like frequent staff turnover impacting support quality. Overall, Aró’s support reviews are slightly more recent and favorable, giving it a slight edge. Edge: Aró.
Simplotel’s reviews are markedly more numerous and recent, totaling 245 reviews with a 4.78/5 overall rating. Most hoteliers, especially those in the mid-market to resort segments, highlight its ease of use, support, and ability to boost direct bookings.
Aro’s reviews are only 22 and lack recent feedback, limiting the reliability of its current rating. The few available reviews are uniformly positive, but their age diminishes their relevance. Given the volume and recency, Simplotel’s higher rating and volume of reviews make it the more trusted choice. Edge: Simplotel.
Aró’s base pricing is set at $1,200 per month, with no freemium or trial options available. It is positioned as a premium, bespoke website service that includes ongoing support and customization.
Simplotel’s pricing is more accessible at $600 per month, also without a free trial or freemium model. Its lower cost, combined with a proven track record, makes it attractive for hotels seeking effective solutions without a hefty investment. Your choice will depend on whether you prioritize customization (Aró) or value (Simplotel).
Not ideal if you need a quick, budget-friendly solution with minimal customization; Aró’s higher price and bespoke approach may be overkill for budget or mid-market hotels.
Not ideal if your hotel requires a highly customized, visually distinctive website; Simplotel’s templates are more standardized, focusing on functionality above design flair.
Aró excels at producing beautiful, custom-designed websites that emphasize branding and conversion for hotels willing to invest in a premium online presence. Its tailored approach is best suited for luxury and boutique properties that need to stand out visually and tell a unique story.
Simplotel provides a more practical, cost-effective solution with extensive integrations, SEO, and booking features that deliver measurable results quickly. Its platform is ideal for mid-market hotels, resorts, and properties seeking a reliable, easy-to-manage website that enhances visibility and revenue.
If your hotel’s priority is a captivating, bespoke website that represents your brand's essence, Aró is the clear choice. Conversely, if you want a robust, conversion-focused platform that’s quick to deploy and backed by recent, abundant reviews, Simplotel is the better pick.
In summary, the decisive factor is your hotel’s budget, branding ambitions, and operational needs. For a visually driven, highly customized site, go with Aró. For a straightforward, highly functional website proven to increase direct bookings, Simplotel leads the way.
Website Design pricing is rarely straightforward. Here is what we know from each vendor's public pricing data. Always request a custom quote for your property size.
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| Starting Price | From $1,200/mo | From $600/mo |
According to HTR's product database, Aró Website Design and Simplotel Hotel Branded Websites share 19 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Conversion Widgets |
Ranks higher for
What hoteliers love
Simplotel is recognized for its ability to create modern, visually appealing websites that align well with hotel brand identities, improve guest engag... Simplotel is recognized for its ability to create modern, visually appealing websites that align well with hotel brand identities, improve guest engagement, and offer smooth navigation, though some reviews mention a desire for more customization features and aesthetic options.
Hotels commend Simplotel's responsive and committed technical support, essential for smooth operations, although some suggestions for improvement incl... Hotels commend Simplotel's responsive and committed technical support, essential for smooth operations, although some suggestions for improvement include faster response times and more proactive communication regarding updates.
The reviews universally praise Simplotel for its seamless booking engine that significantly improves the guest booking experience, enhancing both spee... The reviews universally praise Simplotel for its seamless booking engine that significantly improves the guest booking experience, enhancing both speed and ease of use and directly contributing to increased conversion rates and revenue.
Where hoteliers push back
There is a noted interest in Simplotel offering additional customization for templates and features to better match individual hotel branding and spec... There is a noted interest in Simplotel offering additional customization for templates and features to better match individual hotel branding and specific business needs, with some reviews hoping for more versatile and dynamic design choices.
Users appreciate improvements in online visibility and SEO functionality provided by Simplotel, contributing to higher website traffic and brand expos... Users appreciate improvements in online visibility and SEO functionality provided by Simplotel, contributing to higher website traffic and brand exposure. However, several reviews express the desire for more proactive and detailed SEO analytics and periodic updates.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Aró Website Design and Simplotel Hotel Branded Websites share many core Website Design features, but each has unique capabilities. Aró Website Design offers 1 verified integration partners, while Simplotel Hotel Branded Websites offers 22. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Aró Website Design leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 4.7/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
Aró Website Design: No. Simplotel Hotel Branded Websites: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Website Design vendors offer demos or trials — request one from each to evaluate before committing.
The HT Score is a composite ranking that considers 4 criteria groups and over a dozen variables to help hoteliers objectively compare hotel technology products. Aro Digital Strategy has an HT Score of 0 and Simplotel has 95. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
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| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
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How highly do users recommend this product? Ratings Score, Review Volume, Share of Voice, Review Depth, Review Recency, Success Stories ▾ The most heavily weighted factor. Analyzes average satisfaction ratings (likelihood to recommend, ease of use, support, ROI), total review count relative to category peers, review recency (at least 20 reviews in the trailing 6 months), and share of voice across unique hotel clients to detect selection bias. |
| Partner Ecosystem |
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How highly do tech partners recommend this company? Partner Recommendations, Integration Quantity, Integration Quality ▾ Evaluates partner recommendations as expert votes of confidence, the number of verified integrations, and ecosystem quality — the average HT Scores of integration partners. Products with higher-quality integration ecosystems are more likely to deliver a connected tech stack. |
| Customer Centricity |
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How customer-centric is this organization? Certified Support, Review Consistency, Profile Completeness ▾ Assesses whether the company has earned HTR Customer Support Certification, maintains consistent review collection over time (an indicator of feedback-driven culture), and keeps product profiles complete with capabilities, screenshots, pricing, and features. |
| Reach, Staying Power & Resources |
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How extensive is this company's reach and resourcing? Geographic Reach, Staying Power, Company Resources, Trending Score ▾ Measures global presence (countries and regions served), years in business as a stability proxy, team headcount as a resource proxy, and a trending score based on trailing-twelve-month buyer inquiries, reviews, partner recommendations, and press activity. |
Customer ratings and reviews are by far the most important factor in the HT Score algorithm. HTR does not accept payment for higher rankings. All reviews are verified — only hotel industry practitioners with confirmed affiliations can submit ratings. View full HT Score methodology →
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