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 525 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 and Referral Reporting.
STAAH shines .
Side-by-side ratings based on 525 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 512 | 13 |
After analyzing 525 verified reviews, SHR Group users most value its proactive customer support, integration capabilities, intuitive interface, while STAAH users highlight . Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Proactive customer support
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Integration capabilities
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Intuitive interface
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Rate and inventory management
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Backend navigation improvements
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Visual and aesthetic design
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Support documentation and training
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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 | #35 4 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #2 369 reviews | #36 5 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #4 39 reviews | #37 1 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #5 16 reviews | — |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #3 232 reviews | #36 8 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #2 320 reviews | #33 9 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #2 166 reviews | #34 4 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #4 32 reviews | — |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #8 39 reviews | — |
| Europe ▾ | #2 440 reviews | — |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #15 11 reviews | #14 11 reviews |
| Middle East | #16 3 reviews | — |
Choosing the right booking engine can significantly impact your hotel's revenue, guest experience, and operational efficiency. Both SHR Group's SHR Booking Engine (BE) and STAAH's SwiftBook aim to boost direct bookings and reduce reliance on OTAs, but they approach these goals differently. While SHR BE offers a broader feature set and extensive integrations, STAAH focuses on simplicity, affordability, and ease of use. Which one aligns better with your hotel’s needs?
Your team needs a solution that improves booking conversion, streamlines management, and fits your budget. Are you leaning toward a highly customizable, feature-rich platform or a straightforward, cost-effective option?
Both products are designed to increase direct bookings and minimize OTA commissions, but SHR Group's SHR Booking Engine stands out with a higher overall rating of 4.86/5 from 339 reviews, compared to STAAH’s 4.81/5 from just 13 reviews. SHR’s recent reviews are also more current, providing a more reliable gauge of ongoing performance.
While STAAH is praised for its user-friendly interface and excellent support, SHR BE offers 21 unique features tailored for hotels seeking advanced customization—such as A/B testing, social media integration, and loyalty program support—that STAAH lacks.
SHR BE’s comprehensive feature set and larger review base suggest it is more suited for hotels seeking robust capabilities and deep integration options. Do you need a flexible, scalable system that can grow with your property? Or is simplicity your priority?
If your hotel needs advanced personalization, detailed reporting, and a wide array of integrations, SHR BE is the clear choice. It caters well to mid-sized and larger properties or groups that want to optimize revenue through targeted marketing, rate management, and seamless PMS connectivity.
Conversely, if your hotel prioritizes ease of use, quick setup, and straightforward management without sacrificing essential features, STAAH’s SwiftBook is better suited. It’s ideal for smaller hotels, independent properties, or those new to online booking engines who want reliable support and minimal complexity.
In summary, choose SHR BE for extensive customization and revenue tools, and STAAH for simplicity and quick deployment.
Shr Group’s SHR BE scores 4.67/5 for ease of use, with many review comments emphasizing its intuitive interface and straightforward onboarding process. Users appreciate the helpful support and clear navigation, though some mention that backend navigation could be improved.
STAAH slightly edges out with a 4.69/5 rating, with users highlighting its user-friendly setup and efficient management. Support responsiveness and helpful staff are common praise, making it a favorite among smaller properties or those without dedicated tech teams.
Edge: STAAH.
SHR BE offers 21 features exclusive to it, including A/B testing, urgency messaging, gift vouchers, loyalty integration, and social media booking options—features that STAAH does not provide at all. Shared features total 25, covering essential booking functionalities like multi-channel management and secure payment.
STAAH’s feature list is more streamlined, focusing on core booking functions, dynamic pricing, and integrations with popular tools like Google and TACT. Its simplicity can be an advantage for hotels seeking a straightforward solution.
Edge: SHR Group for feature richness.
Both products outperform many competitors in support ratings, with SHR BE at 4.86/5 and STAAH at 4.88/5. Review quotes for SHR highlight its proactive, knowledgeable team, with users praising their responsiveness and problem-solving.
STAAH also earns high marks for its helpful support staff and quick responses, with users emphasizing their satisfaction and the staff’s cooperative attitude. Since both support teams are highly rated, the decision may come down to your hotel’s specific service expectations.
Edge: STAAH.
SHR Group offers 81 verified integrations, including major PMS, channel managers, and marketing platforms—more than STAAH’s 54. Shared integrations include key players like Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and Triptease.
STAAH’s integrations are robust but fewer in number, focusing on core property management and distribution systems. If extensive integration options are vital for your hotel’s tech ecosystem, SHR BE holds the advantage.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
SHR BE’s reviews are significantly more recent and plentiful, with a 4.86/5 overall rating from 339 reviews, and 96% likelihood to recommend. Hotels across segments, especially boutique and city center properties, praise its revenue tools and support.
STAAH’s limited reviews are all positive, averaging 4.81/5, but lack recent feedback or detailed hotel segment data. For more reliable, current insights, SHR BE clearly leads.
Edge: SHR Booking Engine.
Both products do not publish specific pricing figures; they operate on custom quotes based on property size and requirements. However, SHR BE’s larger feature set and extensive integrations suggest a higher investment, while STAAH’s simpler platform likely comes at a lower cost.
Your hotel’s budget and needs should guide your choice: premium features for SHR BE or affordability and ease with STAAH.
Not ideal if your hotel prefers a simple, plug-and-play solution without complex setup or extensive features.
Not ideal if you need extensive customization, deep integrations, or advanced marketing features.
The core difference is that SHR BE offers a broad array of features and integrations, making it suitable for hotels looking to maximize revenue and deeply customize their booking processes. STAAH, however, excels in simplicity, quick setup, and affordability, serving hotels that prefer a straightforward, reliable solution.
If your hotel benefits from advanced tools like A/B testing, social media integration, and loyalty programs, SHR BE is the smarter choice. It’s also preferable if you want detailed analytics and extensive customization options.
On the other hand, if your focus is a user-friendly, budget-conscious platform that’s easy to manage day-to-day, STAAH is the better option. Its support and straightforward setup can help smaller operations get online faster without sacrificing essential booking functions.
For hoteliers prioritizing proven reliability, extensive features, and a larger review base, SHR Booking Engine is the clear leader. Its ongoing updates and high review volume make it the more trustworthy choice for hotels seeking a long-term, scalable booking solution.
If simplicity, quick deployment, and cost are your main concerns, STAAH provides a solid, well-supported platform with the core functionalities needed to convert website visitors into loyal guests. Ultimately, your hotel’s size, complexity, and growth plans should determine your best fit.
According to HTR's product database, SHR Booking Engine (BE) and STAAH Booking Engine share 25 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| A/B testing & optimization | ||
| Flat, floating and discounted rates | ||
| Gift Vouchers & Prepaid Experiences | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Urgency messaging | ||
| Wedding & corporate booking modules |
Showing top differences. 9 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
Ranks higher for
It depends on your requirements. SHR Booking Engine (BE) and STAAH Booking Engine share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. SHR Booking Engine (BE) offers 81 verified integration partners, while STAAH Booking Engine offers 54. 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 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. STAAH 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 STAAH has 0. 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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