Emerging Travel group vs. SmartHOTEL (Channel Manager):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Emerging Travel’s offering and SmartHOTEL’s Channel Manager hinges on your hotel’s specific needs and operational priorities. Emerging Travel aims to provide a simple, perhaps more flexible approach, but with no recent reviews and a lack of detailed data, it lacks the credibility and depth that SmartHOTEL offers. Conversely, SmartHOTEL’s established presence, extensive reviews, and feature set make it the more reliable choice for most hotels. So, which product aligns better with your hotel’s goals?

Is Emerging Travel or SmartHOTEL Better for Hotels?

Emerging Travel’s product is essentially an undefined service with no available reviews, ratings, or recent customer feedback, making it impossible to gauge real-world performance or support quality. In contrast, SmartHOTEL’s Channel Manager has a solid 62 reviews, all recent, with a high overall rating of 4.63/5 and an NPS score of 8.84/10, indicating strong customer satisfaction.

The difference in market presence is stark: Emerging Travel has no regional data or customer segments, while SmartHOTEL operates across 22 countries and serves a broad spectrum of hotel types, from boutique hotels to large resorts. This global footprint and active customer base suggest a proven track record and reliable service.

Your team must consider whether you need a well-tested, widely adopted solution (SmartHOTEL) or if you’re willing to risk lesser-known and unreviewed software (Emerging Travel). Does your hotel require a proven, scalable system with extensive support? The choice seems clear.

SmartHOTEL vs Emerging Travel: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a channel management system that offers proven reliability, extensive integrations, and a track record of customer satisfaction, go with SmartHOTEL. It is best suited for hotels seeking a trusted partner with a mature platform, especially those that value support, ease of use, and robust features.

If your hotel operates on a very limited budget, or if you are experimenting with distribution tools without needing immediate support or proven stability, Emerging Travel might seem appealing. However, the lack of recent reviews and detailed feature information makes it difficult to justify as a primary solution.

For hotels aiming for stability, seamless integrations, and a feature-rich platform, SmartHOTEL clearly takes the lead. For experimental or budget-sensitive setups, Emerging Travel could be considered, but with caution.

Is Emerging Travel or SmartHOTEL Easier to Use?

SmartHOTEL’s interface has consistently received high praise, with a 4.43/5 ease of use rating, and reviews describe it as “very accessible,” “easy to use,” and “well-designed.” Onboarding is rated at 4.47/5, and support is highly responsive, with reviews highlighting “fast and competent reactions” and “outstanding service.”

Emerging Travel provides no user ratings, reviews, or usability data, making it impossible to assess its interface or ease of implementation. The absence of this information suggests either a lack of deployment or minimal user engagement.

Edge: SmartHOTEL.

Which Has Better Features: Emerging Travel or SmartHOTEL?

SmartHOTEL offers a comprehensive feature set with 12 unique capabilities, including PMS connectivity, multi-currency support, inventory management, 2-way real-time integrations, and analytics dashboards. These features specifically address common hotel operational needs, offering a centralized and flexible management experience.

Emerging Travel’s offering appears to lack documented features or capabilities, with no data indicating any functionality beyond basic distribution. Its absence of feature detail makes it impossible to compare, but clearly, SmartHOTEL’s extensive toolkit gives it a significant advantage.

Edge: SmartHOTEL.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Emerging Travel or SmartHOTEL?

SmartHOTEL’s customer support boasts a high 4.83/5 rating and an impressive NPS score of 8.84/10. Multiple reviews praise the team’s responsiveness, with comments like “support is great,” “fast reactions,” and “knowledgeable staff,” highlighting a commitment to customer success.

Emerging Travel provides no review data on support quality or onboarding, making it impossible to gauge customer service levels. Given the lack of recent reviews, it’s unlikely that Emerging Travel offers the same level of support and responsiveness.

Edge: SmartHOTEL.

Which Has More Integrations: Emerging Travel or SmartHOTEL?

SmartHOTEL connects to 38 verified partners, including major OTAs and PMS systems, with notable integrations like Kwentra, Paxxio, and RevControl. Its extensive partner network enables seamless and versatile distribution management, reducing manual work.

Emerging Travel’s integration count is limited to just 1 verified partner, which severely restricts its connectivity options and flexibility. For hotels requiring broad and reliable integrations, SmartHOTEL’s network is a clear advantage.

Edge: SmartHOTEL.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Emerging Travel or SmartHOTEL?

SmartHOTEL’s recent reviews consistently praise its reliability and ease of use across various hotel segments, including boutique hotels and city center properties. The high ratings (4.62/5 for independent hotels and 4.67/5 for brands) reflect positive, current customer sentiment.

Emerging Travel has no recent reviews or ratings, making it impossible to assess user satisfaction or performance. The popularity and positive feedback of SmartHOTEL suggest it is the more trusted choice.

Edge: SmartHOTEL.

How Much Do Emerging Travel and SmartHOTEL Cost?

Emerging Travel does not disclose pricing details or offer a trial, which raises concerns about transparency and affordability. Its lack of pricing information makes it difficult to compare value directly.

SmartHOTEL charges a flat rate of $300 per month, with no additional implementation fees or per-room charges. Its transparent pricing model allows hotels to budget accordingly and understand their investment upfront.

Given the lack of publicly available data for Emerging Travel, the clear cost advantage and transparency favor SmartHOTEL.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Emerging Travel?

• Hotels that are experimenting with distribution channels and don’t require extensive features.
• Small hotels or startups testing new tools without a heavy reliance on robust integrations.
• Properties with minimal online distribution needs.
• Teams seeking a potentially low-cost, flexible solution (assuming Emerging Travel offers affordability).

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel requires reliable, proven technology with ongoing support.
• You need extensive integrations with PMSs or OTAs.
• Your property operates in multiple regions or segments with complex distribution needs.
• You value user-friendly interfaces and detailed onboarding support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use SmartHOTEL?

• Hotels seeking a mature, reliable channel management platform with proven performance.
• Properties that require extensive integrations with OTAs, PMS, and other systems.
• Hotels that value detailed analytics, multi-currency support, and automation.
• Teams that prioritize responsive support, onboarding, and system stability.
• Hotels across multiple regions looking for a scalable solution.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel operates on a very limited budget and prefers free or very low-cost options.
• You are a very small property with minimal distribution needs.
• You require a highly customized or niche solution that isn’t covered by existing integrations.
• Your team prefers a less feature-dense, more basic distribution tool.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Emerging Travel appears to be an untested, unreviewed player in the channel management space, with no recent customer feedback or detailed features. Its lack of transparency and credibility make it a risky choice for most hotels seeking stability and support.

SmartHOTEL, with its 62 recent reviews and high ratings, stands out as a dependable, feature-rich platform that supports a broad range of hotel types and operational needs. Its extensive integrations, proven support, and transparency make it the logical choice for hotels aiming for reliable online distribution.

If your objective is stability, extensive support, and a platform with proven results, SmartHOTEL is the clear winner. For hotels willing to risk lesser-known options or with very limited distribution needs, Emerging Travel might be worth exploring—but only with caution.