Despegar vs. Exely Channel Manager:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right channel management software can significantly impact your hotel's operational efficiency and revenue. Both Despegar by Despegar.com and Exely Channel Manager aim to streamline your distribution channels, but they diverge vastly in their focus, market presence, and user feedback. Your decision hinges on whether you prioritize widespread reviews and proven ease of use or specific features and regional coverage.

While Despegar.com’s product is virtually unreviewed with no recent feedback and a 0/5 rating, Exely Channel Manager boasts over 100 reviews with recent, high ratings. Does volume and recency of reviews matter more to your team than a long-standing but unreviewed offering?

Is Despegar.com or Exely Channel Manager Better for Hotels?

Despegar.com’s channel manager appears to be a placeholder or underdeveloped product, given its zero reviews and lack of verified integrations or features. Exely, on the other hand, offers 13 unique features such as channel self-mapping, inventory management, and multi-currency support, backed by 102 recent reviews and a 98% likelihood to recommend.

Despegar’s absence of real user feedback and integrations makes it nearly impossible to evaluate its effectiveness, whereas Exely’s positive reviews highlight its stability, ease of use, and real-time synchronization. Your hotel needs to ask: are you comfortable investing in a product with no proven track record, or do you prefer a well-rated solution showing tangible benefits?

Exely Channel Manager vs Despegar: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel operates across multiple regions, especially outside of Latin America, Exely’s global presence in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other markets makes it a more viable choice. Its extensive integrations with platforms like Booking.com, Mews, Oracle Hospitality, and others, combined with a monthly fee of $100, position it as a scalable, cost-effective solution.

Conversely, Despegar is mostly regionally focused or possibly limited in scope, with no available pricing or regional coverage data. If your hotel values proven performance, recent user reviews, and broad integration options, Exely wins by a significant margin. For hotels seeking a reliable, feature-rich, and well-supported channel manager, Exely stands out.

Is Despegar.com or Exely Channel Manager Easier to Use?

Ease of use is a critical factor, especially for teams managing multiple channels daily. Despegar.com’s rating is 0/5, with no available information on its interface or onboarding process, indicating it likely offers little or no user-friendly experience.

In contrast, Exely’s 4.95/5 ease-of-use rating, combined with recent reviews praising its intuitive interface, fast synchronization, and straightforward setup, highlights its user-centric design. Onboarding is rated nearly 4.86/5, and users report fewer manual tasks and quicker learning curves.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Features: Despegar.com or Exely Channel Manager?

Despegar.com shows no unique features or integrations in the available data, suggesting a lack of development or limited functionality. Exely, however, offers 13 features including channel self-mapping, derived rates, weekly/monthly rates support, inventory management, multi-lingual and multi-currency support, and analytics dashboards.

This extensive feature set directly addresses common pain points of hotel operators—automation, customization, and insight. If you need advanced capabilities and a versatile platform, Exely provides a clear advantage.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Despegar.com or Exely Channel Manager?

Customer support is a vital component of ongoing success with channel management tools. Despegar.com’s support rating is 0/5, and no recent reviews or testimonials are available to gauge responsiveness or assistance quality.

Exely, with a 4.95/5 support rating and many recent reviews praising its quick, helpful responses, clearly outperforms. Users describe Exely’s support as responsive and professional, which is crucial for resolving issues promptly and maintaining smooth operations.

Edge: Exely.

Which Has More Integrations: Despegar.com or Exely Channel Manager?

Integration counts can determine how well a channel manager fits into your existing tech stack. Despegar.com has no verified partners or integrations listed, raising questions about its connectivity.

Exely, with eight verified partners including Hotellab, Oracle Hospitality, IDeaS, and Booking.com, offers a broad array of integrations. This ensures your hotel can connect with multiple booking engines, property management systems, and analysis tools without hassle.

Edge: Exely.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Despegar.com or Exely Channel Manager?

User ratings reveal the real-world performance and satisfaction levels. Despegar.com’s rating is 0/5, with no recent reviews or recommendations, making it impossible to gauge user sentiment.

Exely, with a 4.87/5 value rating, 102 recent reviews, and a 98% likelihood to recommend, demonstrates strong, current user approval. Hotels across diverse segments appreciate its reliability, ease of use, and support.

Edge: Exely.

How Much Do Despegar.com and Exely Channel Manager Cost?

Pricing data is limited for Despegar.com, with no information on its fee structure or trial options. Exely charges $100/month with no setup or implementation fees, making it transparent and predictable.

Given the lack of pricing transparency for Despegar, it's difficult to compare value directly. However, Exely’s affordable monthly fee coupled with a feature-rich platform suggests good value for hotels seeking a proven, scalable solution.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Despegar.com?

• Hotels primarily targeting Latin American markets where Despegar’s regional focus might be advantageous.
• Operations that do not require extensive integrations or advanced features.
• Hotels with limited IT support, relying on a simple, straightforward channel manager.
• Businesses seeking a free or minimal-cost option, assuming it exists.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel operates in multiple regions outside Latin America.
• You need advanced automation, analytics, or multi-platform connectivity.
• You prioritize proven, recent user feedback and support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Exely Channel Manager?

• Hotels seeking to expand their online distribution across multiple continents.
• Properties that value detailed analytics and reporting.
• Teams that want real-time synchronization and multi-lingual, multi-currency support.
• Hotels already integrated with other platforms like Mews or Oracle Hospitality.

Not ideal if:

• Your property is small with minimal distribution needs.
• You prefer free or very low-cost solutions without ongoing support.
• Your team prefers a product with limited regional focus.

Exely vs Despegar: The Bottom Line for Hotels

The core difference lies in their current market presence and user feedback: Exely has recent, highly-rated reviews and extensive features, whereas Despegar.com remains largely unverified with no recent user input. For most hotels, especially those with regional or global distribution needs, Exely offers a reliable, well-supported, and feature-rich platform.

Choose Exely if your focus is on proven performance, ease of use, and broad integrations. Despegar.com might only be suitable if your hotel specifically targets Latin American markets and can accept the risks associated with an unreviewed, unverified product.

In conclusion, if you value recent validation and comprehensive functionality, Exely Channel Manager is the clear choice. Despegar.com’s product currently falls short in offering proven or scalable solutions for your hotel’s channel management needs.