Bay Lakes Information Systems vs. SkyTouch Technology:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing a property management system (PMS) is critical for your hotel's operations and revenue. Bay Lakes Information Systems and SkyTouch Technology both aim to streamline management tasks, but they serve different hotel profiles and maturity levels. Bay Lakes is rooted in a long-standing industry presence but lacks recent reviews, while SkyTouch offers a modern, cloud-based platform with extensive features and recent user feedback. So, which one aligns better with your hotel's needs?

Is Bay Lakes Information Systems or SkyTouch Technology Better for Hotels?

Bay Lakes Information Systems has been serving the hospitality industry since 1984, focusing on property management with core features like reservations, check-ins/outs, and integrated payment processing. Its review score is zero, indicating a lack of current user feedback, which makes assessing real-world performance difficult. Meanwhile, SkyTouch Technology, founded in 2013, boasts a high review count (119) and a recent review activity, giving you a clearer picture of current user experiences.

SkyTouch's reviews highlight ease of use, robust reporting, and strong support, making it attractive for hotels seeking a straightforward, reliable system. Conversely, Bay Lakes' outdated review count suggests limited recent customer insights, which is a significant drawback when evaluating ongoing support and software evolution. Are you willing to rely on a platform with no recent feedback, or do you prefer a system with active user reviews?

SkyTouch vs Bay Lakes: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a modern, feature-rich PMS with cloud accessibility, go with SkyTouch. Its suite of 27 unique features, including guest profiles, booking engine, revenue management, and integrations with 33 partners, makes it suitable for mid-sized and growing properties. For hotels prioritizing a simple, longstanding system with minimal need for advanced features, Bay Lakes might seem appealing; however, the absence of recent reviews and updates makes it less advisable.

SkyTouch is ideal if your team values detailed reporting, flexible rate management, and extensive integrations, especially since it’s used across a variety of property types in North America. Bay Lakes could be suitable for small, legacy properties with straightforward needs, but the lack of recent customer feedback diminishes its reliability. When choosing, consider whether your hotel values a modern, scalable system or a legacy solution with uncertain current support.

Is SkyTouch or Bay Lakes Easier to Use?

SkyTouch scores 4.64 out of 5 for ease of use, backed by recent reviews praising its intuitive interface, quick onboarding, and minimal training required. Users emphasize its user-friendly features like the Tape Chart and straightforward reservation management, supporting smooth staff adoption. In contrast, Bay Lakes’ 0/5 rating indicates no recent feedback on usability, making it impossible to evaluate the current user experience.

Given the recent positive reviews, SkyTouch clearly leads in usability, especially for hotels that regularly onboard new staff or need quick operational setup. Edge: SkyTouch.

Which Has Better Features: Bay Lakes or SkyTouch?

SkyTouch offers 27 features, including guest profiles, booking engine, revenue management, channel management, and automated night audits—tools that support scalable, modern hotel operations. Bay Lakes, however, provides no listed features beyond core property management functionalities, which suggests a limited or outdated feature set.

SkyTouch’s extensive feature library, especially its online support, guest CRM, and integrated payment processing, surpasses Bay Lakes’ minimal offerings. For hotels seeking a comprehensive, multi-functional system, SkyTouch's features deliver a clear advantage. Edge: SkyTouch.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Bay Lakes or SkyTouch?

SkyTouch’s recent reviews highlight strong customer support, with ratings of 4.5/5 and comments emphasizing professionalism and helpfulness. Users appreciate quick responses and the ability to solve issues efficiently. Meanwhile, Bay Lakes has no recent reviews, so support quality can’t be accurately assessed today, which is a significant concern.

Given the tangible recent support ratings, SkyTouch’s support team appears reliable. If ongoing support is crucial for your hotel’s operations, SkyTouch holds the edge.

Which Has More Integrations: Bay Lakes or SkyTouch?

SkyTouch boasts 33 verified integrations, including popular partners like SiteMinder and Chargerback, allowing seamless connections to booking engines, revenue tools, and other systems. Bay Lakes has no verified partners, limiting its ability to connect with other hospitality technology today.

For hotels that require a connected tech stack, SkyTouch’s extensive integrations ensure flexibility and growth potential. Edge: SkyTouch.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Bay Lakes or SkyTouch?

SkyTouch’s recent review score of 76.67 and an 89% likelihood to recommend reflect strong current user satisfaction. Hotels across different segments, including independents and branded properties, rate it highly, especially for ease of use and support.

Bay Lakes, with a review score of zero, has no recent ratings, making it impossible to determine current user satisfaction. Hotels should prefer a system with recent, positive feedback. Edge: SkyTouch.

How Much Do SkyTouch and Bay Lakes Cost?

SkyTouch charges a flat monthly fee of $600, with no implementation fees or trial info available. Bay Lakes does not list pricing, which suggests it may be outdated or unavailable online, making budget comparison difficult.

Given SkyTouch’s transparent pricing structure, your hotel can better plan its investment. The lack of pricing info for Bay Lakes limits its viability as a modern solution.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Bay Lakes?

• Hotels that have used legacy systems for decades and seek minimal feature upgrades.
• Small properties with straightforward reservation and check-in needs.
• Hotels prioritizing stability over innovation (assuming support remains consistent).
• Properties that prefer a local vendor with a long history in hospitality management.

Not ideal if your hotel aims for growth, advanced features, or integration with modern tools. Bay Lakes might be suitable if your hotel is very small and prefers a simple, perhaps local, solution.

What Type of Hotel Should Use SkyTouch?

• Hotels seeking a cloud-based, scalable system with extensive features.
• Properties that value integrations with booking engines, channel managers, and revenue tools.
• Hotels with staff comfortable with digital systems and requiring detailed reporting.
• Multi-property operators wanting a centralized platform for operations.

Not ideal if your hotel operates in a niche segment that doesn’t need advanced features or if your team prefers a legacy, locally hosted system. SkyTouch’s flexibility makes it suitable for hotels aiming to expand or modernize.

SkyTouch vs Bay Lakes: The Bottom Line for Hotels

SkyTouch is a cloud-based, feature-rich PMS with active user feedback, extensive integrations, and high support ratings, making it a reliable choice for most hotels today. Bay Lakes, lacking recent reviews and features, appears outdated and less suitable for modern hotel operations.

Choose SkyTouch if your hotel values a modern interface, detailed reports, integrations, and proven support—especially if you’re in North America and looking to grow. If your hotel is small with basic needs and prefers a legacy vendor, Bay Lakes might still serve, but the lack of recent feedback is a concern.

In conclusion, for most hotels actively seeking a dependable, scalable, and well-supported PMS, SkyTouch is the clear recommendation. Its recent reviews and feature set demonstrate ongoing relevance and commitment to customer needs.