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 769 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:
Bookassist shines in customer support efficiency — especially for motel properties (4.9/5), with exclusive features like Urgency messaging.
Exely shines in Value for Money — especially for extended-stay properties (5.0/5), with exclusive features like Form autofill and PayU.
Side-by-side ratings based on 769 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 | 444 | 325 |
After analyzing 769 verified reviews, Bookassist users most value its customer support efficiency, user-friendly booking engine, reporting and analytics, while Exely users highlight support team responsiveness and partnership, booking engine ease of use and guest experience, direct bookings and revenue growth. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Customer Support Efficiency
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Support team responsiveness and partnership
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User-Friendly Booking Engine
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Booking engine ease of use and guest experience
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Reporting and Analytics
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Direct bookings and revenue growth
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Direct Bookings Increase
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Rate, inventory, and promotion management
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Backend Intuitiveness
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Reporting and analytics depth
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Flexibility in Package Management
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Customization and branding flexibility
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Multiplatform and Multilingual Support
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Payment, invoice, and cancellation flow issues
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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) ▾ | #6 142 reviews | #7 110 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #4 210 reviews | #7 125 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #5 56 reviews | #2 68 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | #7 11 reviews | #5 14 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #4 195 reviews | #8 94 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #6 146 reviews | #10 60 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #5 101 reviews | #10 48 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #3 60 reviews | #14 12 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #15 11 reviews | #21 3 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #3 400 reviews | #16 24 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | #23 2 reviews | #4 219 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | #11 6 reviews | #1 73 reviews |
Bookassist and Exely Booking Engine both aim to increase direct bookings by embedding booking capabilities on hotel websites, but they diverge significantly in scope and market focus. Bookassist is a mature platform with a comprehensive suite that includes digital marketing, meta search management, and extensive customization, tailored especially for independent and boutique hotels across Europe and beyond. Exely focuses on streamlined booking flow embedded fully in the hotel’s brand experience, targeting hotels seeking quick deployment and centralized control over rates and channel management, with a strong presence in emerging markets.
Both solve the core problem of shifting bookings from OTAs to direct hotel websites by offering user-friendly booking engines that reduce booking drop-offs and improve conversion. Where they differ is in scale and depth: Bookassist combines booking technology with a full digital strategy and advanced analytics, while Exely emphasizes simplicity, channel synchronization, and operational speed.
If you run a boutique or city-center hotel in Europe or North America, choose Bookassist because its 444 reviews and 4.7/5 overall rating reflect strong adoption in these segments, with advanced features like loyalty program integration and dynamic rate adjustments that support complex revenue strategies. Bookassist’s 73 verified integrations with major PMS and marketing tools also suit hotels needing a full-service digital partner.
If you manage a medium to large hotel portfolio, especially outside Europe or in emerging markets, choose Exely. Its 165 recent reviews rate 4.9/5, reflecting current strong performance, and case studies show substantial direct booking growth (up to 72% increase) after implementation. Exely’s embedded booking engine and channel manager centralize rate and inventory control, which benefits hotels reliant on quick, synchronized OTA updates. Its simpler setup suits hotels wanting faster time-to-market without extensive customization.
Data for small budget or extended-stay properties is limited for both, but Bookassist’s 94 reviews averaging 4.7/5 and Exely’s 58 reviews averaging 4.8/5 in budget hotels suggest both are viable with no clear advantage. For luxury and resort properties, Bookassist’s larger review base (146 luxury hotel reviews at 4.7/5) provides more representative feedback than Exely’s smaller sample (60 reviews at 4.9/5).
Bookassist and Exely have nearly identical ease-of-use ratings: 4.7/5 and 4.9/5 respectively, with onboarding scores also close (4.7/5 vs 4.9/5). Bookassist users praise the simple, fast booking process and responsive support that helps overcome backend complexity. Exely reviewers highlight its intuitive interface and minimal booking friction, with comments on how guests can complete reservations in just a few clicks.
Front desk and revenue teams report Exely’s platform is easier to adopt quickly due to its straightforward design, while Bookassist’s extensive features can introduce a learning curve but offer more customization once mastered. Neither product’s review volume or rating gaps justify calling an edge.
Edge: Even.
Bookassist offers 13 unique features beyond the 27 shared with Exely, including gift vouchers and prepaid experiences, wedding and corporate booking modules, urgency messaging that drives conversion, social media booking integration, room substitutions, alternative accommodation suggestions, and comprehensive conversion rate reporting. These features support hotels that want to upsell, cross-sell, and tailor offers dynamically, improving revenue per booking and guest engagement.
Exely includes 3 features not found in Bookassist: form autofill to speed guest input, PayU payment gateway integration for regional payment preferences, and customizable exit intent modals that aim to reduce booking abandonment. These features enhance guest convenience and recovery of lost bookings but do not match Bookassist’s broader strategic tools.
Operationally, Bookassist’s unique features enable marketing teams to run targeted campaigns and optimize pricing strategies within the booking engine, while Exely focuses on simplifying the booking path and payment experience. The difference in feature counts (13 vs 3) and their impact on revenue strategies favor Bookassist for hotels prioritizing flexible sales tactics.
Edge: Bookassist.
Both products receive top-tier customer support scores: 4.9/5 for Bookassist and 5/5 for Exely, with onboarding ratings similarly close (4.7/5 vs 4.9/5). Reviewers of Bookassist commend the professional, knowledgeable, and proactive support that guides users through complex setups and ongoing strategy optimization. Exely users emphasize the responsive, hands-on support team that accelerates launch and resolves issues quickly, describing the relationship as a true partnership.
Despite Exely’s slightly higher numeric ratings, the difference is below the 0.3 threshold, and both products earn praise for their support quality. Review volume is higher for Bookassist overall, but Exely’s recent reviews confirm continued support excellence.
Edge: Even.
Bookassist has 73 verified integrations compared to Exely’s 10, a significant difference exceeding 25%. Both integrate with core PMS providers like Oracle Hospitality and Mews, and revenue management tools like IDeaS. Shared integrations are essential for most hotels managing multiple channels and systems.
Bookassist’s additional 70 integrations include specialized marketing and metasearch tools such as AdsHotel, LiveRate, Customer Alliance, and HiJiffy, supporting comprehensive digital marketing, reputation management, and dynamic pricing. This suite benefits hotels focused on maximizing direct bookings and optimizing distribution.
Exely’s unique integrations cover regional channel managers and OTAs like hotellab and Booking.com, plus some local tools, suitable for properties seeking straightforward connectivity but less extensive marketing automation.
For hotels requiring broad marketing, distribution, and revenue management integration, Bookassist is clearly stronger.
Edge: Bookassist.
Exely holds a 4.9/5 overall rating across 325 reviews, including 165 in the last six months all rated 4.9/5, indicating very recent and consistent satisfaction. Bookassist has a 4.7/5 rating across a larger base of 444 reviews but no recent reviews in the last six months, so its rating may not fully reflect the current product.
Segment ratings show Exely leads in Branded Hotels (4.9/5 vs 4.7/5) and City Center Hotels (4.9/5 vs 4.7/5), with more recent review volume supporting confidence in Exely’s current performance. Bookassist has a larger sample in Boutique Hotels (195 vs 96 reviews) where it scores 4.8/5 compared to Exely’s 4.9/5, showing a slight edge for Exely but with fewer reviews.
In luxury hotels, Exely’s 60 reviews average 4.9/5, slightly above Bookassist’s 146 reviews at 4.7/5, but smaller sample size reduces certainty. For budget hotels, ratings are close (4.7/5 Bookassist vs 4.8/5 Exely), with limited review counts.
Overall, Exely’s higher recent rating and strong segment scores give it a slight advantage in current user satisfaction.
Edge: Even.
Bookassist does not publish pricing publicly, requiring direct vendor engagement for quotes. This reflects its bespoke service and broad feature set, likely with variable pricing based on property size and required modules.
Exely lists a base price of $200 without monthly flat fees, per-room charges, or implementation fees. The transparent pricing supports quicker budgeting and decision-making, making it suitable for hotels wanting a predictable cost structure.
Both products do not offer trials. For hotels prioritizing upfront price clarity, Exely is preferable; for those seeking tailored solutions with potentially higher investment, Bookassist is appropriate.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
Bookassist and Exely Booking Engine both excel at increasing direct bookings, but they serve different hotel needs. Bookassist offers a deep, integrated digital strategy platform with extensive features, integrations, and customization, ideal for independent and boutique hotels focused on maximizing revenue through sophisticated marketing and pricing. Exely delivers a streamlined, embedded booking experience with strong channel management and support, suited for medium to large hotels seeking rapid implementation and operational simplicity.
Choose Bookassist if you need broad marketing and revenue tools, flexible packaging, and multi-platform support with a high degree of customization. Its 73 integrations and specialized features like gift vouchers and urgency messaging improve conversion and profit per booking.
Choose Exely if you want a modern, easy-to-use booking engine embedded on your site, centralized OTA synchronization, and transparent pricing. Its recent 4.9/5 rating over 165 reviews and case studies showing up to 72% booking increases demonstrate effectiveness for hotels prioritizing direct sales growth and operational agility.
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.
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| Starting Price | — | From $200/mo |
These are the features each vendor has configured, organized by feature group — the same data shown in the vendor dashboard. Expand a group to compare features side by side.
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Merchandising & Packages
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| Room substitutions | ||
| Multi-room bookings | ||
| Flat, floating and discounted rates | ||
| Pooled inventory | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Customizable add-ons | ||
| Meal plans | ||
| Website Integration | ||
| Social Media Integration/Bookings | ||
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Upselling & Cross Selling
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| Multi-room bookings | ||
| Room substitutions | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Booking abandonment recapture | ||
| Customizable add-ons | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Meal plans | ||
| Alternative accommodation recommendations (when no availability) | ||
| Loyalty program integration | ||
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Conversion
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| Mobile optimized/responsive | ||
| Special offers & discounts | ||
| Urgency messaging | ||
| Booking abandonment recapture | ||
| Multi-room bookings | ||
| Room substitutions | ||
| A/B testing & optimization | ||
| Price comparison widget | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Conversion rate reports | ||
| Facebook conversion tracking | ||
| Customizable exit intent modals | ||
| Form autofill | ||
| Flexible dates | ||
| Rate plan comparisons | ||
| Google Hotel Ads Bookings | ||
| Tripadvisor Bookings | ||
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Payments
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| Multi-currency | ||
| Apple Pay | ||
| Google Pay | ||
| Paypal | ||
| PCI Compliance | ||
| PayU | ||
| Stripe | ||
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Transactional Emails
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| Booking abandonment recapture | ||
| Post-stay emails | ||
| Pre-stay emails | ||
| Confirmation emails | ||
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Group Bookings
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| Wedding & corporate booking modules | ||
| Availability block | ||
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Reporting & Analytics
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| Automated reporting | ||
| Conversion rate reports | ||
| Referral Reporting | ||
| Google Analytics tracking | ||
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Tax & Compliance
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| PCI Compliance | ||
| ADA Compliant | ||
| Tariffs | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| GDPR compliant |
We analyzed 3 verified case studies to compare what hotels actually achieve with each platform across four key business objectives.
No published case study for this goal yet.
"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
Bookassist receives high praise for its knowledgeable and responsive customer support team. The team is described as professional, proactive, and alwa... Bookassist receives high praise for its knowledgeable and responsive customer support team. The team is described as professional, proactive, and always ready to assist with any issues or inquiries.
The booking engine is lauded for its ease of use for both hoteliers and guests. It simplifies the booking process with intuitive navigation, clear cal... The booking engine is lauded for its ease of use for both hoteliers and guests. It simplifies the booking process with intuitive navigation, clear call-to-action buttons, and visually appealing design, thereby enhancing guest satisfaction.
The robust reporting and analytics capabilities of Bookassist receive positive feedback for providing detailed insights into booking trends, customer... The robust reporting and analytics capabilities of Bookassist receive positive feedback for providing detailed insights into booking trends, customer preferences, and revenue performance. This data empowers hoteliers to make informed decisions and optimize their revenue strategies.
Where hoteliers push back
Critiques are directed at the backend interface, with users suggesting that it could be more intuitive and user-friendly. The need for simplifying the... Critiques are directed at the backend interface, with users suggesting that it could be more intuitive and user-friendly. The need for simplifying the process of managing and releasing add-ons and packages is frequently mentioned.
While the booking engine facilitates creating various offers and packages, some users find the process cumbersome and desire greater flexibility and i... While the booking engine facilitates creating various offers and packages, some users find the process cumbersome and desire greater flexibility and intuitiveness in the backend system for managing these packages more efficiently.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
A very large share of reviews praise Exely’s support and customer success teams for quick responses, hands-on setup help, and solution-oriented guidan... A very large share of reviews praise Exely’s support and customer success teams for quick responses, hands-on setup help, and solution-oriented guidance. Hotels often describe the relationship as a true partnership that helps them launch faster, solve issues quickly, and use the platform more effectively.
The Booking Engine is repeatedly described as intuitive, fast, and easy for guests to complete reservations with minimal friction. Reviewers say the c... The Booking Engine is repeatedly described as intuitive, fast, and easy for guests to complete reservations with minimal friction. Reviewers say the clean flow, mobile-friendly behavior, and simple navigation improve the guest journey and help increase completed bookings.
Reviewers most often say Exely helps shift sales from OTAs to the hotel website, improving direct booking conversion and overall revenue. Many note th... Reviewers most often say Exely helps shift sales from OTAs to the hotel website, improving direct booking conversion and overall revenue. Many note that the Booking Engine drives more profitable direct sales, reduces commission costs, and helps hotels better control guest relationships.
Where hoteliers push back
Many reviewers want more advanced reporting, deeper filtering, and more customizable dashboards to better track bookings, revenue, channels, and conve... Many reviewers want more advanced reporting, deeper filtering, and more customizable dashboards to better track bookings, revenue, channels, and conversion performance. While basic reports are useful, buyers clearly see analytics as an area where Exely could become a stronger decision-making tool for revenue teams.
Hotels frequently ask for more control over the booking widget, website design, colors, invoices, emails, and confirmation pages so the experience bet... Hotels frequently ask for more control over the booking widget, website design, colors, invoices, emails, and confirmation pages so the experience better matches their brand. This matters because many reviewers want Exely to feel less templated and more differentiated for each property.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Bookassist and Exely Booking Engine share many core Booking Engine features, but each has unique capabilities. Bookassist offers 73 verified integration partners, while Exely Booking Engine offers 10. 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.
Bookassist: 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. Bookassist has an HT Score of 31 and Exely has 96. 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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