Amadeus – iHotelier® Booking Engine vs. Booking Engine by DOWHAT:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

When choosing a booking engine for your hotel, the core challenge is to find a solution that maximizes direct bookings, integrates well with your existing systems, and offers reliable support. Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine and DOWHAT’s Booking Engine by DOWHAT both aim to improve your booking process, but they approach this goal differently. While Amadeus is a well-established provider with a broad feature set and extensive regional presence, DOWHAT is a newer entrant with a streamlined focus. Which one best suits your hotel’s needs?

Amadeus offers a comprehensive, feature-rich platform with high user ratings and a large customer base, especially in the luxury, resort, and boutique categories. DOWHAT, meanwhile, remains less reviewed and less geographically spread, making it a less proven choice in terms of market presence. Do you value a solution with a proven track record and extensive integrations, or do you prefer a potentially simpler, more cost-effective option?

Is Amadeus or DOWHAT Better for Hotels?

Amadeus’ iHotelier Booking Engine is designed primarily for hotels seeking advanced features, broad integrations, and a global reach. It supports multi-currency, multi-lingual functionalities, and integrates with over 100 partners, including major systems like Oracle Hospitality. Its reviews highlight its ability to boost revenue through promotional tools, remarketing, and sophisticated rate management, with 93 reviews and a high overall rating of 4.39/5. However, some users mention that its interface can be complex initially and support responses are sometimes slow.

DOWHAT’s Booking Engine, with no reviews or recognition in recent data, is a less established player. It offers fundamental booking functionalities and integration capabilities but lacks the extensive feature set or proven market presence that Amadeus demonstrates. Its simplicity may appeal to smaller hotels or those with limited technical needs, but the absence of detailed reviews makes assessing its reliability and support challenging. Would you prefer a trusted, widely adopted platform or a newer system with limited market data?

In essence, if your hotel prioritizes proven performance, extensive functionality, and global support, Amadeus is the superior choice. Conversely, if you’re exploring a potentially lower-cost, straightforward solution with less proven history, DOWHAT might be worth considering, though with caution.

Amadeus vs DOWHAT: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a robust system that can handle complex operations, multi-currency and multi-lingual environments, and offers deep integration options, go with Amadeus. It’s suited for properties wanting advanced reporting, promotional tools, and a platform trusted by many in the industry, especially those in the luxury, resort, or branded segments.

If your hotel is smaller, or your team prefers a simplified, easy-to-implement booking engine without the need for extensive features, DOWHAT could be a match. However, without review data or clear market presence, it’s less suitable for hotels looking for a proven, feature-rich platform. Are you willing to bet on a newer provider with limited reviews, or do you prefer a solution backed by thousands of users and a broad feature set?

For hoteliers that value reliability and proven performance, Amadeus should be your default. If your operational needs are minimal and you’re in the early stages of digital transformation, DOWHAT might serve as a testing ground, though it’s less likely to support future growth.

Is Amadeus or DOWHAT Easier to Use?

Amadeus’ iHotelier Booking Engine holds a 4.25/5 ease-of-use rating based on review data, with many users praising its intuitive interface once familiarized, despite some initial complexity. The platform offers a detailed onboarding process, and users commend its responsiveness and helpfulness, though support response times are mixed.

DOWHAT’s interface, with no available review data, is presumed to be straightforward given its smaller scope and recent market entry. Its simplicity might appeal to users seeking minimal training and quick deployment. However, the absence of user feedback makes it difficult to definitively compare ease of use.

Edge: Amadeus, given its higher review count, consistent ratings, and proven onboarding process.

Which Has Better Features: Amadeus or DOWHAT?

Amadeus’ iHotelier Booking Engine boasts 36 unique features, including mobile responsiveness, pre- and post-stay emails, automated reporting, multi-currency/multi-lingual support, loyalty integrations, rate comparison widgets, and advanced promotional tools. It supports a wide range of payment options like Apple Pay and PayPal, and offers customizable add-ons, conversion reports, and A/B testing.

DOWHAT provides basic booking functionalities with no detailed feature breakdown available. It likely covers core reservation needs but lacks the advanced tools and integrations present in Amadeus. Its limited feature set may suffice for smaller properties but falls short for hotels seeking sophisticated revenue management.

Edge: Amadeus, with its extensive, proven feature set that caters to diverse operational needs.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Amadeus or DOWHAT?

Amadeus’ support scores a 3.22/5, with reviews citing mixed experiences. Some users appreciate dedicated account managers and responsive staff, while others report delays and slow resolutions, especially during platform upgrades. Its training programs are generally viewed as helpful, but support responsiveness remains inconsistent.

DOWHAT, with no substantial review data, cannot be definitively compared. Its small size suggests more personalized support, but the lack of feedback makes it difficult to judge quality or responsiveness reliably.

Edge: Amadeus, due to its larger support team and more established service history, despite some complaints.

Which Has More Integrations: Amadeus or DOWHAT?

Amadeus vastly outperforms DOWHAT here, with 104 verified partners, including major systems like Oracle Hospitality. It offers seamless integrations with PMS, channel managers, payment gateways, and marketing tools, supported by a broad network of verified partners.

DOWHAT’s integration count is limited to only 2 verified partners, with one shared partner (Oracle Hospitality). Without a significant partner ecosystem, it’s less suited for hotels requiring extensive system connectivity.

Edge: Amadeus, with its extensive, verified integration network supporting a wide range of operational systems.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Amadeus or DOWHAT?

Amadeus’ reviews give it an overall rating of 4.39/5, with high marks from independent and boutique hotel segments (average 4.36–4.61). Its recent reviews highlight its ability to drive revenue and streamline operations, although some users note customer support delays.

DOWHAT, lacking reviews and recent feedback, cannot be rated reliably. Its unknown user satisfaction makes it a risk for hotels prioritizing proven performance.

Edge: Amadeus, with a strong, recent review base and high ratings across segments.

How Much Do Amadeus and DOWHAT Cost?

Pricing details for Amadeus’ iHotelier are not publicly disclosed, but it typically involves implementation fees and ongoing costs, generally suited for mid-to-large properties. DOWHAT’s pricing is also unavailable, but as a newer, smaller provider, it may target budget-conscious hotels.

Without transparent pricing, your decision should focus on value, support, and feature fit rather than cost alone.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Amadeus?

• Hotels needing a feature-rich, scalable booking engine with global reach.
• Properties with complex operations, multi-currency, and multi-lingual needs.
• Hotels that want deep integrations with PMS, channel managers, and marketing platforms.
• Teams that prioritize advanced analytics, promotional tools, and revenue management features.

Not ideal if:

• You operate a small, boutique property with simple booking needs.
• Your team prefers minimal training and straightforward setup.
• You require a budget-friendly solution without extensive features.

What Type of Hotel Should Use DOWHAT?

• Small to medium-sized hotels or vacation rentals seeking basic booking functionality.
• Hotels with limited technical staff that prefer simple, quick-to-deploy systems.
• Properties with minimal integration needs that want a more affordable, straightforward solution.

Not ideal if:

• You need a platform with proven, extensive features and support.
• Your hotel operates across multiple countries or requires multi-currency/multi-lingual support.
• You aim for a scalable solution with long-term integration plans.

Amadeus vs DOWHAT: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Amadeus stands out as a comprehensive, well-supported booking engine designed for larger or more complex hotels that need a proven, feature-rich platform. Its extensive integrations, global presence, and high user ratings make it a safer choice for hotels focused on revenue growth and operational efficiency.

DOWHAT offers a simpler, less proven alternative, likely suitable for smaller properties or those testing digital solutions. Its limited reviews and feature set suggest it’s best for hotels with straightforward booking needs and limited budgets, but it’s a riskier choice for growth-oriented or complex operations.

Choose Amadeus if you prioritize reliability, extensive capabilities, and proven support. Opt for DOWHAT only if your hotel’s needs are minimal, and you prefer a lightweight, potentially less costly system with less market data backing.