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 684 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 when it comes to proactive customer support — especially for Boutique Hotels properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Urgency messaging.
Exely shines when it comes to support and responsiveness — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) .
Side-by-side ratings based on 684 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Value for Money |
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $200/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 512 | 172 |
After analyzing 684 verified reviews, SHR Group users most value its proactive customer support, integration capabilities, intuitive interface, while Exely users highlight support and responsiveness, booking engine effectiveness, direct booking enhancement. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Proactive customer support
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Support and Responsiveness
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Integration capabilities
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Booking Engine Effectiveness
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Intuitive interface
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Direct Booking Enhancement
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Rate and inventory management
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Channel Manager Synchronization
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Backend navigation improvements
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Customization and Flexibility
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Visual and aesthetic design
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Integration and Advanced Features
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Support documentation and training
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Guest Experience Concerns
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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
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | #8 76 reviews | #15 34 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #2 369 reviews | #11 64 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #4 39 reviews | #22 5 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #5 16 reviews | #8 6 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
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| Boutique ▾ | #3 232 reviews | #15 35 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #2 320 reviews | #15 28 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #2 166 reviews | #16 17 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #4 32 reviews | #16 9 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #8 39 reviews | #24 2 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #2 440 reviews | #25 11 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #15 11 reviews | #4 79 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #16 3 reviews | #2 17 reviews |
Choosing between SHR Booking Engine (BE) by SHR Group and Exely Booking Engine depends on your hotel's specific needs, existing systems, and growth goals. Both products aim to boost direct bookings, but they approach this goal differently, with SHR BE focusing on advanced features and extensive integrations, while Exely emphasizes simplicity and guest experience. Your decision hinges on whether your team values a feature-rich platform with broad connectivity or a straightforward, user-friendly system designed for quick wins.
While SHR Group’s product has a long-standing presence in the industry and boasts a larger review base, Exely’s newer platform has garnered more recent positive feedback and higher satisfaction ratings. Are you ready to prioritize extensive features and integrations or seek a more nimble, guest-centric booking solution?
Based on the most recent reviews and overall ratings, Exely Booking Engine stands out as the more proven and highly rated product, with 92.7 HTScore and 98% likelihood to recommend, supported by 63 reviews in the last six months. SHR BE, despite its high overall rating, has not received any recent reviews and has a lower HTScore of 46.5, indicating less current user satisfaction.
If your hotel requires a deeply integrated, feature-rich platform with broad partner connections, SHR BE might be appealing. If you prioritize ease of use, rapid setup, and strong guest engagement tools, Exely is the more compelling choice.
SHR BE is designed for hotels seeking comprehensive control over their booking and revenue management, offering 46 features—including loyalty programs, social media integrations, and advanced testing tools. Its extensive integrations (81 verified partners) support complex operations, making it ideal for larger or more sophisticated properties.
In contrast, Exely’s strength lies in simplicity and direct impact. With 29 shared features and a streamlined interface, it’s best suited for independent hotels or small chains looking to improve direct bookings quickly without the overhead of extensive customization. Do you need a feature-heavy platform or a straightforward, guest-friendly system?
SHR BE scores 4.67/5 for ease of use, with many reviews praising its intuitive interface and straightforward management once familiarized. However, some users have noted that backend navigation and report generation can be complex, especially for new staff.
Exely surpasses with a 4.91/5 rating for ease of use, with recent reviews highlighting its simple dashboard, fast operation, and minimal learning curve. Users find it quicker to implement and start generating direct bookings, especially for smaller teams or less tech-savvy staff.
Edge: Exely
SHR BE offers 46 unique features, including A/B testing, urgency messaging, pooled inventory, gift vouchers, ADA compliance, and detailed analytics—capabilities that are absent in Exely. Its features support complex rate management, personalized marketing, and multi-channel engagement.
Exely’s 29 shared features include standard booking tools, upselling, and fast channel management, but it lacks many of SHR’s advanced functionalities. If your hotel needs sophisticated revenue management and marketing tools, SHR BE has the edge.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine
SHR Group’s customer support scores 4.86/5, with reviews emphasizing their proactive, knowledgeable support team, and effective onboarding. The long-standing presence and proven track record suggest reliability, especially for larger or complex properties.
Exely’s support is rated 4.96/5, with recent reviews praising their responsiveness, friendly communication, and quick problem resolution. Given the more recent review activity, Exely’s customer support appears slightly more responsive and aligned with current user needs.
Edge: Exely
SHR BE boasts 81 verified partners, including major systems like Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and Profitroom, enabling extensive connectivity. Its broad integration network supports complex workflows and diverse tech stacks.
Exely has only 8 verified partners, with common integrations including channel managers and PMSs but fewer options overall. For hotels with existing complex systems or seeking future scalability, SHR BE’s extensive integrations are a significant advantage.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine
SHR Group’s product has a 4.86/5 overall rating based on 339 reviews, with a 96% likelihood to recommend. Its reviews often emphasize strong revenue features, reliable support, and good integration, especially among larger hotels and resorts.
Exely, with a 92.7 HTScore and 98% recommendation rate based on 144 reviews, garners praise for its user-friendliness and recent positive feedback. Smaller hotels and independent properties tend to rate it higher for ease of implementation and guest experience.
Given the higher overall ratings and recent reviews, Exely is the stronger-rated platform currently.
Edge: Exely
SHR BE’s pricing details are not publicly available, but historically, it has been offered as part of broader digital packages or customized solutions, often requiring a quote.
Exely charges $200/month with no mention of setup fees or additional costs, making it transparent and straightforward. Budget-conscious hotels may appreciate Exely’s clear pricing, while larger properties may need custom quotes from SHR.
Not ideal if your hotel is small, has limited staff, or prefers a simple booking setup without extensive customization.
Not ideal if your hotel requires advanced features like loyalty programs, sophisticated revenue management, or broad third-party integrations.
The core difference lies in their scope: SHR BE offers a comprehensive, feature-rich environment with extensive integrations, suited for larger or more complex operations. Exely delivers a simple, guest-focused experience with a quick-to-implement setup and high satisfaction among smaller hotels.
If your hotel needs a scalable, highly customizable platform with advanced marketing and management tools, SHR BE is the clear choice. For hotels looking for ease, speed, and a focus on direct bookings with excellent recent reviews, Exely is the better option.
Choose SHR if you require robust features, broad integrations, and long-term scalability. Opt for Exely if you prioritize quick deployment, straightforward user experience, and recent high satisfaction ratings to drive immediate results.
According to HTR's product database, SHR Booking Engine (BE) and Exely Booking Engine share 29 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
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| A/B testing & optimization | ||
| Gift Vouchers & Prepaid Experiences | ||
| Pooled inventory | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Urgency messaging | ||
| Wedding & corporate booking modules |
Showing top differences. 5 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 6 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."
"We took a proactive approach and collaborated with Exely, implementing various strategies, such as a loyalty program. The outcome has been outstanding — not only have we been able..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"Once we switched to Exely, we immediately noticed a significant increase in reservations from online travel agencies. We discovered that our previous system had blocked some availa..."
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
What hoteliers love
Exely's support is lauded for its rapid response times and solution-oriented approach, contributing to an improved user experience. This is seen as a... Exely's support is lauded for its rapid response times and solution-oriented approach, contributing to an improved user experience. This is seen as a considerable strength of the product.
Exely's booking engine is frequently praised for its user-friendliness, fast operation, and ability to enhance direct bookings significantly, thus con... Exely's booking engine is frequently praised for its user-friendliness, fast operation, and ability to enhance direct bookings significantly, thus contributing to revenue growth. It is deemed to have a powerful positive impact on the guest experience and conversion rates.
The software is commended for increasing direct bookings and lowering reliance on OTAs. This positively impacts hotel revenue by lowering third-party... The software is commended for increasing direct bookings and lowering reliance on OTAs. This positively impacts hotel revenue by lowering third-party fees and providing a return on investment through efficient booking management.
Where hoteliers push back
A recurring critical point among users is the limited customization options available, particularly in reporting and website design. Users seek more f... A recurring critical point among users is the limited customization options available, particularly in reporting and website design. Users seek more flexibility to adapt templates and reports to their needs.
Users would like to see improvements in integration capabilities with other hotel management systems. Current integration limitations are seen as a do... Users would like to see improvements in integration capabilities with other hotel management systems. Current integration limitations are seen as a downside restricting the platform's full potential.
Ranks higher for
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. SHR Booking Engine (BE) and Exely Booking Engine share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. SHR Booking Engine (BE) offers 81 verified integration partners, while Exely Booking Engine offers 8. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Exely Booking Engine leads in ease of use at 4.9/5 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.
SHR Booking Engine (BE): No. Exely Booking Engine: 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 Exely has 93. 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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