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 512 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:
SHR Group shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for Boutique Hotels properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Automated reporting and Referral Reporting.
Hospitality Software Development Services (HSDS) shines , with exclusive features like Responsive Design.
Side-by-side ratings based on 512 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 512 | 0 |
After analyzing 512 verified reviews, SHR Group users most value its proactive customer support, integration capabilities, intuitive interface, while Hospitality Software Development Services (HSDS) users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Proactive customer support
▾
|
|
|
+
Integration capabilities
▾
|
|
|
+
Intuitive interface
▾
|
|
|
+
Rate and inventory management
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Backend navigation improvements
▾
|
|
|
−
Visual and aesthetic design
▾
|
|
|
−
Support documentation and training
▾
|
|
How each product ranks among Booking Engine vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #8 76 reviews | — |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #2 369 reviews | #48 0 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #4 39 reviews | #44 0 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #5 16 reviews | — |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #3 232 reviews | #45 0 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #2 320 reviews | #51 0 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #2 166 reviews | #43 0 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #4 32 reviews | #37 0 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | #8 39 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #2 440 reviews | #40 0 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #15 11 reviews | — |
| Middle East | #16 3 reviews | — |
Choosing a booking engine is critical for maximizing your hotel's direct revenue and guest experience. SHR Booking Engine (BE) by SHR Group and bookNG by HSDS both aim to help you control bookings and increase profitability, but they differ significantly in features, reviews, and market presence. Your decision hinges on which platform aligns best with your hotel's size, needs, and technological sophistication.
While SHR BE has a proven track record supported by numerous recent reviews and a strong feature set, bookNG's flexibility and customization appeal to niche or highly tailored property operations. Are you looking for a robust, well-reviewed platform with extensive integrations, or a highly adaptable solution that can be customized to your specific workflows?
Both SHR BE and bookNG are designed to improve direct bookings and reduce reliance on third-party channels. SHR BE offers a comprehensive suite with 16 shared features plus 30 unique functionalities, such as A/B testing, gift vouchers, wedding modules, and automated reporting, which are missing from bookNG. SHR BE’s platform is built for scale, especially for properties seeking advanced revenue management and detailed analytics.
On the other hand, bookNG emphasizes responsiveness and customization, with a single unique feature: its adaptable, responsive design. It connects seamlessly with PMSs and channel managers via CRS rezNG, making it flexible for hotels needing tailor-made booking experiences. But with fewer reviews and no recent feedback, its market validation is weaker.
Given the recent and abundant reviews, the strength of SHR's platform in real-world hotel settings makes it the more reliable choice for hotels seeking proven performance. Does your hotel prefer a platform with a broad feature set and extensive support, or one that offers maximum customization with less proven market feedback?
If your hotel needs a feature-rich booking engine with proven success and a strong support infrastructure, SHR BE is the logical choice. It caters well to mid-sized and larger hotels, especially those in Europe and North America, with high review scores (4.86/5 overall, 339 reviews, and a 96% likelihood to recommend) and a focus on direct revenue growth.
Conversely, if you are a smaller hotel, boutique property, or a hotel with highly specific workflows that require customization, bookNG could be suitable. Its responsiveness and flexible design are ideal if your marketing heavily relies on mobile or Facebook bookings, but the lack of recent reviews makes its effectiveness less certain.
For hotels that want proven, data-backed performance, SHR BE is the safer bet. If your operation demands tailored workflows over extensive pre-built features, consider bookNG, but proceed with caution given the limited recent feedback.
SHR BE boasts a user rating of 4.67/5 for ease of use, with many reviewers praising its intuitive interface, straightforward onboarding, and excellent support. Customers highlight how quickly they were able to launch and start seeing results, with comments like “efficient, helpful, and always current with IT trends,” and “excellent customer service.”
bookNG's emphasis on responsiveness suggests a focus on adaptability, but reviews or ratings are unavailable, leaving its ease of use unverified. Its customization potential could imply a steeper learning curve for some users.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
SHR BE features 30 functionalities exclusive to its platform, including A/B testing, special offers, wedding modules, GDPR compliance, Google Hotel Ads, and automated reporting—capabilities critical for dynamic revenue management. It also supports integrations with major hotel tech providers, offering 81 verified partners, ensuring seamless connectivity.
bookNG provides only one unique feature: a highly customizable, responsive design that adapts to multiple screens and platforms, including Facebook. It connects to PMS and channel managers via CRS rezNG but lacks the broader feature set and advanced reporting of SHR BE.
Given the extensive feature count and proven ability to customize operations, SHR BE edges out as the more comprehensive platform for hotels seeking advanced control and analytics.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
SHR BE's ratings reflect excellent customer support, with a score of 4.86/5. and reviews praising the team’s responsiveness and proactive assistance. Clients highlight support staff as knowledgeable and quick to resolve issues, often describing their experience as “excellent” and “helpful.”
In contrast, HSDS offers no recent reviews or ratings for bookNG, leaving its support quality unverified. The lack of feedback makes it difficult to assess whether its technical assistance matches SHR's proven reputation.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
SHR BE boasts 81 verified partners, including major names like SiteMinder, Oracle Hospitality, and Mews, providing extensive integration options for PMS, channel management, and revenue systems. Shared partners include top industry players, ensuring your hotel can connect with existing infrastructure.
bookNG has 17 verified partners, with integrations primarily through CRS rezNG, and fewer connections to well-known PMS and channel platforms. While functional, its smaller ecosystem may limit scalability or future integrations.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
SHR BE's overall rating of 4.86/5, with 339 reviews, shows a high level of satisfaction from hotels worldwide. The platform’s recent reviews support its strong reputation, especially among luxury, boutique, and city-center hotels, with segments like independent and boutique properties giving top marks.
bookNG has no available reviews or recent feedback, making it impossible to gauge hoteliers’ satisfaction. Its lack of validation means it’s riskier for hotels prioritizing proven performance.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
Pricing details for SHR BE are not publicly available, which is common for enterprise solutions, but no charges for implementation or monthly fees are mentioned, implying a custom or negotiated pricing model. It’s likely to be aligned with feature richness and support level.
Similarly, bookNG offers no specific pricing information. Both platforms do not provide transparent quotes upfront, so your hotel should contact vendors directly for tailored quotes.
Not ideal if you are a small property with minimal technical needs or limited budget, as the platform's complexity might be unnecessary.
Not ideal if your hotel prefers a plug-and-play solution with proven analytics or extensive pre-built features.
Shr BE is a mature, feature-packed platform with a proven track record backed by hundreds of recent reviews and high satisfaction scores. Its extensive integrations and advanced revenue management tools make it the top choice for hotels seeking reliability and scale.
bookNG offers customization and adaptability, making it suitable for hotels with specific workflows or those heavily reliant on mobile and social media channels. However, the lack of recent reviews and market validation makes it a riskier choice for hotels prioritizing proven performance.
For most hotels, especially those looking for a reliable, well-supported booking engine with a broad feature set, SHR BE is the clear leader. If your hotel requires a highly tailored solution and can manage the complexity, consider bookNG but proceed with due diligence.
Booking Engine 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.
|
|
|
|---|
According to HTR's product database, SHR Booking Engine (BE) and bookNG (powered by HSDS) share 16 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| A/B testing & optimization | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Gift Vouchers & Prepaid Experiences | ||
| Responsive Design | ||
| Room substitutions | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Wedding & corporate booking modules |
Showing top differences. 19 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 4 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
"Our results and KPIs from booking engine to digital reinforce the effectiveness of our partnership and SHR Group's exceptional technology."
No published case study for this goal yet.
What hoteliers love
Users frequently commend SHR's proactive and responsive customer support. Account managers and support teams are described as very helpful, knowledgea... Users frequently commend SHR's proactive and responsive customer support. Account managers and support teams are described as very helpful, knowledgeable, and quick to respond to issues. The guidance provided by customer success teams is considered invaluable for optimizing use of the software. This topic is covered in 30 reviews.
A key feature frequently highlighted is the robust integration capabilities of the platform. Windsurfer CRS efficiently communicates with various PMSs... A key feature frequently highlighted is the robust integration capabilities of the platform. Windsurfer CRS efficiently communicates with various PMSs, channel managers, and CRM tools, ensuring seamless operations and up-to-date information across systems. However, some users desire improved integration with additional systems and platforms. This topic is seen in 18 reviews.
Users commend the intuitive interface of Windsurfer CRS, which makes the booking process seamless for guests and easy for hotel staff to manage. The e... Users commend the intuitive interface of Windsurfer CRS, which makes the booking process seamless for guests and easy for hotel staff to manage. The ease of setting up and managing rate plans, the flexibility to customize booking pages, and straightforward navigation contribute to overall efficiency. This topic is identified in 20 reviews.
Where hoteliers push back
Some users have noted that while the frontend is user-friendly, the backend navigation and filtering options could be more intuitive and user-friendly... Some users have noted that while the frontend is user-friendly, the backend navigation and filtering options could be more intuitive and user-friendly. Improvements in these areas could significantly enhance efficiency and user satisfaction. This topic is identified in 12 reviews.
Some users suggest that the visual aesthetics of the booking engine could be improved. Enhancing the polished and modern design of the user interface... Some users suggest that the visual aesthetics of the booking engine could be improved. Enhancing the polished and modern design of the user interface could further elevate the overall booking experience and make it more visually appealing. This topic is discussed in 6 reviews.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. SHR Booking Engine (BE) and bookNG (powered by HSDS) share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. SHR Booking Engine (BE) offers 81 verified integration partners, while bookNG (powered by HSDS) offers 17. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. SHR Booking Engine (BE) leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 0.0/5. 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.
SHR Booking Engine (BE): No. bookNG (powered by HSDS): No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Booking Engine 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. SHR Group has an HT Score of 46 and Hospitality Software Development Services (HSDS) has 0. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 →
Product recommendations advisor