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 300 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:
etihad shines .
The Guestbook shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for independent properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like Redemption Catalog and Multi-Currency Support.
Side-by-side ratings based on 300 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 | 0 | 300 |
After analyzing 300 verified reviews, etihad users most value its , while The Guestbook users highlight guest loyalty promotion, easy implementation, direct bookings increase. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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| Pros | |
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Guest Loyalty Promotion
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Easy Implementation
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Direct Bookings Increase
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Redemption and Rewards
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Operational Friction
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Marketing Support
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Partnership Expansion Critique
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How each product ranks among Loyalty Programs for Independents vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
| Segment | etihad |
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|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #1 36 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #1 147 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | — | #1 68 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | — | #1 38 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment | etihad |
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|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | — | #1 163 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #1 128 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | — | #1 69 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #1 23 reviews |
By Region
| Segment | etihad |
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|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | — | #1 217 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #2 32 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | — | #1 16 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | — | #2 6 reviews |
You’re evaluating two loyalty program platforms: etihad by etihad and The Guestbook by The Guestbook, both designed to boost direct bookings and guest loyalty for independent hotels. While etihad’s offering appears to lack reviews, features, and recent data, The Guestbook boasts a highly rated, well-established platform with extensive real-world success stories. Which solution will truly meet your hotel’s needs?
Both platforms aim to enhance guest loyalty and increase direct bookings, but they diverge sharply in credibility and depth of features. etihad’s zero reviews and nonexistent recent data make it difficult to assess its effectiveness or user satisfaction, whereas The Guestbook has over 267 recent reviews with a near-perfect rating of 4.95/5. Its proven results and active presence in multiple regions suggest it’s the more reliable choice.
Do you want a platform that’s proven in the field or one whose capabilities and support are still unverified? The Guestbook’s extensive customer feedback and case studies demonstrate its ability to deliver measurable results. Given this disparity, it’s clear that The Guestbook offers more confidence for your hotel’s loyalty strategy.
If your priority is a highly rated, proven loyalty platform with a broad feature set and robust support, go with The Guestbook. Its focus on independent hotels, customizable rewards, and extensive integrations make it ideal for properties seeking direct booking growth and guest retention.
If you’re considering etihad primarily due to a potential brand affiliation or future promises that are unverified, it’s a risky bet. With no reviews or recent activity, etihad cannot currently match The Guestbook’s track record of success and customer satisfaction. For immediate results and confidence, The Guestbook is the clear choice.
The Guestbook’s user interface earns a stellar 4.81/5 rating, with reviews highlighting its simplicity and seamless experience for both guests and hotel staff. Its onboarding process is rated 4.78/5, with many users praising its straightforward setup and intuitive management dashboard, which allows granular data analysis and easy customization.
In contrast, etihad’s ratings are nonexistent, and there are no reviews to gauge its usability or onboarding ease. The lack of data suggests it’s either not widely adopted or still in development. Edge: The Guestbook.
The Guestbook offers 13 distinct features, including a redemption catalog, multi-currency support, partner management, open API, points bank, loyalty rules engine, rewards network, cash back rewards, future stay rewards, and charitable donation options. These comprehensive tools enable tailored, attractive loyalty programs that motivate repeat stays and enhance guest satisfaction.
etihad, on the other hand, provides no publicly available features or details to compare. Without any feature set or differentiation, etihad cannot compete with The Guestbook’s extensive capabilities. Edge: The Guestbook.
The Guestbook’s customer support is rated 4.9/5, with reviews praising its responsiveness, proactive engagement, and ongoing partnership. Review quotes emphasize how support teams help hotels maximize program benefits, streamline operations, and adapt to changing needs.
There are no reviews or ratings for etihad support, making it impossible to determine its responsiveness or quality. Given the importance of reliable support in loyalty programs, this absence favors The Guestbook. Edge: The Guestbook.
The Guestbook boasts 36 verified integrations with popular hotel management and booking systems, including Digital Hotelier, WebRezPro, ReservHOTEL, and others. These integrations facilitate smooth setup, data synchronization, and operational efficiency.
etihad has zero verified integrations, which limits its flexibility and ease of implementation. Hotels seeking a platform that works well with existing systems will find The Guestbook’s extensive partner network more advantageous. Edge: The Guestbook.
With 267 recent reviews and a near-perfect rating of 4.95/5, The Guestbook is overwhelmingly preferred by hoteliers across all segments, including independent, boutique, and mid-sized properties. Review highlights focus on its ease of use, tangible revenue improvements, and seamless operations.
In contrast, etihad has no reviews or ratings, making it impossible to assess user satisfaction. Given the current data, The Guestbook’s user base clearly favors its platform. Edge: The Guestbook.
etihad’s pricing details are unavailable, with no indication of fees, monthly charges, or implementation costs. This opacity makes it difficult to compare value or budget accordingly.
The Guestbook charges a fixed $200 base fee, with no monthly or per-room charges, and no mention of implementation fees. Its transparent pricing model simplifies budgeting and planning. Based on available data, The Guestbook offers a more predictable and accessible investment.
Hotels that might consider etihad are currently unknown, due to the lack of publicly available information, reviews, or feature details. If your hotel is seeking a trusted, well-supported loyalty platform with proven results, etihad does not meet that criterion.
Not ideal if you prefer a free or very low-cost solution (since The Guestbook’s base fee is $200), or if your hotel’s target segment is not well represented (e.g., large resorts or chain hotels).
The core difference between these two options is credibility. The Guestbook is an established, highly-rated platform with extensive features, proven results, and positive reviews from a broad range of hotels worldwide. etihad, lacking reviews and recent data, remains unverified and unsuitable for hotels seeking immediate, measurable benefits.
Choose The Guestbook if your goal is a reliable, feature-rich solution with a demonstrated ability to increase direct bookings and guest loyalty. Its widespread integrations, dedicated support, and proven ROI make it the safer, smarter investment.
If, however, your hotel is willing to explore untested options or is waiting for more transparency, etihad might be worth monitoring — but it’s not currently positioned as a viable choice for hotels aiming for growth and stability.
In conclusion, The Guestbook’s extensive recent reviews, proven case studies, and comprehensive feature set give your hotel a clear path forward. Its high satisfaction ratings and active regional presence further establish it as the better choice for independent hotels committed to loyalty and direct booking growth.
Loyalty Programs for Independents 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.
| etihad |
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| Starting Price | — | From $200/mo |
According to HTR's product database, etihad and The Guestbook share 0 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature | etihad |
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| Currency Exchange | ||
| Multi-Currency Support | ||
| Open API | ||
| Partner Management | ||
| Points Bank | ||
| Redemption Catalog |
Showing top differences. 1 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 8 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.
"The Guestbook has increased direct bookings for us over the years. They have always been flexible with custom needs to assist our property and our initiatives. The best part is y..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"One of the greatest tools we incorporated in several years!"
What hoteliers love
The Guestbook's rewards program effectively fosters guest loyalty, resulting in more repeat stays. Users appreciate the simple and transparent rewards... The Guestbook's rewards program effectively fosters guest loyalty, resulting in more repeat stays. Users appreciate the simple and transparent rewards, which are attractive to both guests and hoteliers and help in promoting brand loyalty.
Reviews frequently highlight the effortless integration and straightforward setup of The Guestbook, which requires minimal effort from hotel staff. Th... Reviews frequently highlight the effortless integration and straightforward setup of The Guestbook, which requires minimal effort from hotel staff. This ease of use extends to guests, making the program attractive and easy to adopt for all parties involved.
Users appreciate how The Guestbook significantly increases direct bookings, which helps hotels reduce dependency on OTAs and avoid high commission fee... Users appreciate how The Guestbook significantly increases direct bookings, which helps hotels reduce dependency on OTAs and avoid high commission fees. Reviews consistently mention measurable revenue growth and enhanced guest relationships due to the increased direct bookings.
Where hoteliers push back
Some users mention operational friction, such as occasional issues with redemption tracking and reconciliation timing. A few reviews suggest improveme... Some users mention operational friction, such as occasional issues with redemption tracking and reconciliation timing. A few reviews suggest improvements in automation and timing extensions for reconciling rewards.
Some reviews suggest the need for more marketing support from The Guestbook, as hotels wish to fully capitalize on the loyalty program's benefits. Opp... Some reviews suggest the need for more marketing support from The Guestbook, as hotels wish to fully capitalize on the loyalty program's benefits. Opportunities for additional marketing initiatives and partnerships with credit card companies are mentioned.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. etihad and The Guestbook share many core Loyalty Programs for Independents features, but each has unique capabilities. etihad offers 0 verified integration partners, while The Guestbook offers 36. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. The Guestbook leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 vs 0.0/5. 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.
etihad: No. The Guestbook: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Loyalty Programs for Independents 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. etihad has an HT Score of 0 and The Guestbook has 100. 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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