Bay Lakes Information Systems vs. ThinkReservations PMS:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right property management system (PMS) can significantly impact your hotel's operations, guest experience, and profitability. While Bay Lakes Information Systems offers a longstanding, tailored solution, ThinkReservations PMS is the more modern, widely used platform with extensive features and recent positive reviews. Your team needs to assess which platform aligns best with your current needs and growth plans.

Both products aim to streamline reservations, guest management, and operational tasks, but they diverge in maturity, features, and market presence. Which of these systems truly caters to your hotel's unique requirements?

Is Bay Lakes Information Systems or ThinkReservations Better for Hotels?

Bay Lakes Information Systems has been in the industry since 1984 and emphasizes building its software based on direct input from property managers. However, it offers no reviews, ratings, or recent data, making it difficult to gauge current user satisfaction or ongoing development. ThinkReservations, by contrast, boasts over 350 recent reviews, a high NPS score of 9.68, and a 4.88/5 overall rating, indicating strong customer satisfaction.

While Bay Lakes focuses on property management, point-of-sale, and tax filing, it lacks reviews that attest to its ease of use or support quality. ThinkReservations has a proven track record with hoteliers, especially small to mid-sized properties, providing a comprehensive suite of features. Are you comfortable choosing a system with no recent reviews, or do you prefer a solution with recent, detailed feedback?

ThinkReservations PMS or Bay Lakes: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel primarily operates as a small inn, bed & breakfast, or boutique property seeking an intuitive, feature-rich system, go with ThinkReservations. Its extensive feature set—including channel management, booking engine, guest communication, and automated night audits—caters well to smaller teams looking to boost revenue and operational efficiency.

If, however, you run a large property, resort, or complex operation with needs for custom integrations and a long history of property management, Bay Lakes might seem appealing. Still, the lack of recent reviews and minimal market presence undermines its suitability. For most hoteliers evaluating current market leaders, ThinkReservations is the more reliable choice.

Is ThinkReservations or Bay Lakes Easier to Use?

ThinkReservations has a 4.82/5 ease of use rating from over 350 reviews, with users praising its intuitive interface, quick onboarding, and straightforward management features. Reviewers consistently mention how easy it is for staff to adopt the system, with many describing onboarding as seamless and support as accessible and helpful.

In contrast, Bay Lakes Information Systems scores a 0/5 for ease of use, with no recent reviews or user feedback available. Without current user insights, it's impossible to verify how user-friendly or accessible their platform truly is. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has Better Features: Bay Lakes Information Systems or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations offers 39 features, including channel management, online booking, guest messaging, automated night audits, real-time reporting, and integrated payment processing. Its extensive feature set addresses multiple hotel operations from reservations to guest communication and revenue management.

Bay Lakes Information Systems provides no documented features or recent updates, focusing on property management, point of sale, and tax filing. Its limited feature documentation and lack of reviews suggest it may not match the breadth or modernity of ThinkReservations. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Bay Lakes or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations earns a 4.82/5 support rating based on hundreds of reviews, with hoteliers highlighting its quick, knowledgeable support team and responsive onboarding process. Multiple reviews state that support is accessible, with some describing it as like “adding another employee” to their team.

Bay Lakes Information Systems scores a 0/5, with no recent reviews or clear support ratings available. The absence of recent user feedback raises concerns about current support quality or responsiveness. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Has More Integrations: Bay Lakes or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations connects with 16 verified partners, including major OTAs like Airbnb, Expedia, and Tripadvisor, plus channel managers, payment providers, and guest communication tools. Its wide integration ecosystem supports streamlined operations and expanded reach.

Bay Lakes Information Systems has no verified integrations documented, limiting its ability to connect with third-party platforms or expand functionality. For a hotel seeking reliable, modern integrations, ThinkReservations clearly leads. Edge: ThinkReservations.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Bay Lakes or ThinkReservations?

ThinkReservations has accumulated over 350 recent reviews, with an overall rating of 4.88/5 and a 97% likelihood to recommend. Small hotels and inns especially praise its ease of use, operational efficiency, and support.

Bay Lakes Information Systems has no recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to gauge current user satisfaction. Given the volume and recency of ThinkReservations reviews, it holds the confidence of the hotel community. Edge: ThinkReservations.

How Much Do ThinkReservations and Bay Lakes Cost?

ThinkReservations charges $500 upfront, with no mention of ongoing fees or additional costs for features. It uses a straightforward pricing model, making it accessible for small to midsize hotels.

Bay Lakes Information Systems does not publicly disclose pricing, implying it may have custom quotes or higher fees. Without clear pricing details and considering the available data, ThinkReservations offers better transparency and perceived value.

What Type of Hotel Should Use ThinkReservations?

• Hotels that operate primarily as small inns, bed & breakfasts, or boutique properties seeking an easy-to-use platform.
• Teams that need seamless online booking, automated guest communication, and revenue-enhancing features.
• Hotels aiming to expand their distribution with reliable OTA integrations.
• Managers looking for strong customer support and rapid onboarding.
• Properties that prioritize operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel is a large resort or complex property requiring extensive customizations.
• You need specialized industry-specific features not offered by ThinkReservations.
• Your team prefers a highly customizable or enterprise-grade PMS.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Bay Lakes Information Systems?

• Large resorts or properties requiring customized integrations beyond standard offerings.
• Hotels with long-standing relationships with older, less frequently updated systems.
• Operations needing specific point-of-sale or tax filing features from Bay Lakes.
• Hotels that are comfortable with limited recent user feedback and support transparency.

Not ideal if:

• You prioritize modern, cloud-based interfaces with frequent updates.
• Your team values extensive online reviews and recent customer feedback.
• You want a PMS with a broad, robust feature set and active development.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Bay Lakes Information Systems has a long history and offers some core property management features, but the lack of recent reviews and modern features limits its appeal. Meanwhile, ThinkReservations presents a proven, highly-rated platform with extensive functionalities, positive recent user experiences, and a growing presence in the North American market.

If your hotel needs a reliable, well-supported PMS with a broad feature set, go with ThinkReservations. Its recent reviews, high ratings, and extensive integrations make it the safer, more future-proof choice for most hoteliers today.

Choose Bay Lakes only if you operate a large, complex property and have specific, longstanding reasons to prefer a system with minimal online presence. For most users seeking modern, easy-to-use, and highly-rated PMS software, ThinkReservations is the clear winner.