Bowo - Guest App vs. Gastfreund | Hotelcore:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

When choosing a guest experience platform, your hotel needs a solution that fits your operational scale, guest engagement goals, and technological ecosystem. Both Bowo - Guest App and Gastfreund | Hotelcore aim to enhance your guests’ digital journey, but they approach it differently. Bowo emphasizes customization, upselling, and a high level of personal support, while Gastfreund focuses on delivering a modular, integrated experience that reduces front desk questions. Which aligns better with your hotel’s priorities?

Both products seek to reduce manual work for your team, but Bowo’s more comprehensive suite, including guest profiles and direct integrations, makes it a more robust choice for larger, tech-savvy properties. Are you ready to explore which platform truly fits your hotel’s needs?

Is Bowo or Gastfreund | Hotelcore Better for Hotels?

Bowo and Gastfreund aim to improve guest satisfaction and streamline operations, but they diverge in their core philosophies. Bowo offers a highly customizable guest app with features like guest profiles, upselling, and automation, making it ideal for properties that want a tailored digital experience and increased revenue opportunities. Conversely, Gastfreund’s modular platform delivers essential guest information and communication tools, suited for hotels seeking straightforward digital solutions with quick onboarding.

While Bowo has a significantly higher review count (99 vs 11) and recent feedback (no recent reviews for Bowo, but more current reviews for Gastfreund), its extensive feature set and personalization options are better suited to established brands with resources to optimize the platform. Do you prioritize deep customization over quick deployment?

Bowo vs Gastfreund | Hotelcore: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly personalized guest experience with advanced upselling capabilities, go with Bowo. It’s especially suited for luxury and boutique hotels that want to differentiate through tailored digital services, as evidenced by its 49% luxury hotel user base and high customer satisfaction scores (4.85/5 support, 4.87/5 ease of use).

If your goal is to streamline operations with a reliable, easy-to-deploy digital guest directory and communication system, Gastfreund’s modular approach is your best bet. Its user-friendly interface (4.27/5) and broad integration network (13 partners) make it ideal for mid-sized hotels, resorts, and properties that want to reduce front desk inquiries without heavy customization.

Which type of hotel do you operate, and what’s your primary digital goal?

Is Bowo or Gastfreund | Hotelcore Easier to Use?

Bowo scores a high 4.87/5 for ease of use, with reviews highlighting its modern design, intuitive navigation, and straightforward onboarding process. Users praise the platform’s ability to find and customize information effortlessly, though some suggest larger fonts could improve accessibility. Support staff are noted as proactive and available, aiding in staff adoption.

Gastfreund scores 4.27/5, with reviewers emphasizing its simple, modern interface and quick learning curve. Users appreciate how well the platform integrates into daily routines, though some mention the need for ongoing familiarization. Overall, Bowo’s UI and onboarding experience are rated slightly higher, making it marginally easier for staff to adopt.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Has Better Features: Bowo or Gastfreund | Hotelcore?

Bowo’s standout feature is guest profiles, allowing for detailed personalization and targeted upselling. It also offers a comprehensive digital room directory, pre/post-stay automation, and a flexible online shop, totaling 11 unique features. This extensive suite supports revenue growth and guest engagement at a granular level.

Gastfreund primarily provides digital guest directories, information channels, and communication tools, totaling 10 shared features, with the addition of an app download capability. While its features are more modular, they lack some of Bowo’s advanced upselling and personalization functions. For a hotel seeking deep customization, Bowo’s feature set edges out.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Bowo or Gastfreund | Hotelcore?

Bowo’s reviews repeatedly highlight its highly personalized, proactive support with a 4.85/5 customer support rating. Hoteliers praise the dedicated account managers and rapid assistance, crucial for integrating and customizing the platform in complex operations.

Gastfreund’s support scores 4.27/5, with users describing it as friendly and efficient. While support is praised, the smaller review volume and less recent feedback make Bowo’s support reputation more reliable.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Has More Integrations: Bowo or Gastfreund | Hotelcore?

Bowo offers 31 verified integrations, including popular PMS and channel managers like apaleo, Mews, and Oracle Hospitality, giving it a broad ecosystem. Its integrations support complex setups and custom workflows, beneficial for larger, multi-system hotels.

Gastfreund’s 13 verified partners include notable names like SiteMinder and RoomRaccoon but fewer compared to Bowo. Its integrations are sufficient for mid-sized properties but may limit scalability for larger hotel groups.

Edge: Bowo.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Bowo or Gastfreund | Hotelcore?

Bowo’s overall rating of 39.7/50 and 97% likelihood to recommend reflect its strong performance, particularly among luxury and boutique hotels, which constitute nearly 60% of its users. Recent reviews in the last 6 months are sparse, but historical data suggests high satisfaction for personalized, revenue-focused solutions.

Gastfreund’s ratings are more modest with a 8.18/5 NPS score, and its recent reviews are more frequent, indicating ongoing customer engagement. It is favored by resorts and mid-sized properties less focused on extensive personalization.

Edge: Bowo.

How Much Do Bowo and Gastfreund | Hotelcore Cost?

Bowo’s pricing starts at $600 per month, with no free tier or trial. Its higher cost reflects its feature-rich, customizable platform suitable for larger or luxury hotels.

Gastfreund’s base price is $400 monthly, also without a free trial, making it more accessible for smaller properties or those on tighter budgets. The lower price point may limit some advanced features but offers good value for core digital guest services.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Bowo?

• Hotels that want to offer highly personalized digital experiences, such as luxury, boutique, or branded hotels.
• Teams aiming to increase revenue through upselling and cross-selling in F&B, spa, and activities.
• Properties with existing tech infrastructure needing deep integrations with PMS, CRM, and other systems.
• Hotels focused on building a brand identity through customized guest apps.
• Not ideal if your hotel is smaller, with limited budget, or prefers quick, less customizable solutions.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Gastfreund | Hotelcore?

• Hotels seeking a straightforward, reliable digital guest directory and communication platform.
• Resorts and mid-sized properties looking for easy onboarding and broad integration options.
• Properties that prioritize operational efficiency and want to reduce front desk inquiries.
• Hotels that want a modular system they can expand over time.
• Not ideal if your hotel requires deep customization, advanced upselling, or extensive personalization features.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Bowo and Gastfreund aim to enhance guest experiences but serve different hotel profiles. Bowo’s strength is its extensive, customizable feature set and robust integrations, appealing to larger, luxury, or boutique hotels that want to stand out digitally.

Gastfreund offers a simpler, modular solution tailored for properties seeking easy-to-deploy, essential digital tools that improve operational efficiency and guest communication. Its lower cost and quicker implementation make it suitable for mid-sized resorts and properties with limited digital infrastructure.

Choose Bowo if your hotel needs deep personalization, upselling, and extensive integrations. Opt for Gastfreund if you desire a reliable, easy-to-manage digital guest directory and communication system that supports efficient operations without heavy customization.