Explore vs. Booking Engine by HotelRunner:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine is critical for your hotel's revenue and operational efficiency. Both Explore by Explore and HotelRunner aim to address this need, but they diverge significantly in scope, user experience, and market presence. Explore is primarily a data-driven, AI-powered platform designed for insights and decision-making, while HotelRunner offers a comprehensive booking and channel management solution with a broad feature set. Which product aligns best with your hotel's specific needs?

Is Explore by Explore or HotelRunner Better for Hotels?

Explore by Explore is a business intelligence platform built to turn complex data into actionable insights, focusing on simplifying decision-making with AI-generated reviews and recommendations. HotelRunner, in contrast, provides an end-to-end booking engine that integrates directly with OTAs, manages rates, and facilitates direct reservations, aiming to streamline daily hotel operations.

While Explore lacks direct booking management features, its strength lies in helping your team analyze performance metrics and optimize strategies. HotelRunner, however, excels in booking fulfillment, channel management, and revenue growth, making it more suitable if your hotel prioritizes operational tools over data analysis. Do you need detailed data insights or a robust booking system?

Explore by Explore vs HotelRunner: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a tool to improve internal decision-making through data analysis, Explore is the better fit. With zero reviews but a focus on synthesizing large datasets into simple insights, it’s ideal for management teams looking to optimize occupancy, pricing, or marketing strategies based on data trends.

Conversely, if your hotel requires a platform to generate direct bookings, manage multiple channels, and handle reservations efficiently, HotelRunner is clearly the stronger choice. It comes with a 4.5/5 overall rating from 40 reviews, and 96% of hoteliers would recommend it, reflecting its proven effectiveness in increasing revenue and simplifying operations.

Is Explore by Explore or HotelRunner Easier to Use?

Explore’s interface is not rated, but it’s designed as an AI platform that automates review generation and data summaries, likely requiring some familiarity with data analysis. HotelRunner boasts a 4.73/5 ease of use rating from recent reviews, with many users praising its intuitive, user-friendly dashboards and seamless onboarding.

HotelRunner’s straightforward UI, combined with prompt support and ongoing training, means your team can adopt it with minimal hassle. Based on recent review scores and feedback, Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has Better Features: Explore by Explore or HotelRunner?

Explore offers no features beyond its core AI-driven review and recommendation tools, focusing on data insights. HotelRunner, however, provides an extensive suite of 40 features, including mobile-optimized booking pages, multi-currency support, automated reporting, pre- and post-stay emails, flexible rate plans, integrations with major OTAs like Expedia and Airbnb, and marketing tools such as gift vouchers and rate comparison widgets.

If comprehensive booking and marketing features are your priority, HotelRunner’s feature set surpasses Explore’s data analysis capabilities. Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Explore by Explore or HotelRunner?

Explore’s support offerings are not rated or detailed, which suggests limited publicly available support data. HotelRunner’s recent reviews rate support at 4.8/5, with hoteliers highlighting quick, responsive assistance and proactive onboarding. Users describe support as “very helpful,” often resolving issues within minutes, especially through channels like WhatsApp.

Given the high support ratings and recent positive feedback, Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Has More Integrations: Explore by Explore or HotelRunner?

Explore’s integration count is zero, indicating no verified partners or channel integrations. HotelRunner, on the other hand, offers 17 verified partners, including major OTAs and hotel management systems like Oracle Hospitality, Airbnb, and Expedia, providing extensive connectivity options.

This wide array of integrations makes HotelRunner more adaptable for hotels aiming for broad online distribution. Edge: HotelRunner.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Explore by Explore or HotelRunner?

Explore has no reviews, so no ratings are available—its market presence and user feedback are nonexistent. HotelRunner, with 40 reviews, holds a 4.5/5 overall rating, and a 96% likelihood to recommend.

Property types like boutique hotels and B&Bs particularly favor HotelRunner, which is also favored across various segments, with recent reviews emphasizing its reliability and feature richness. Edge: HotelRunner.

How Much Do Explore by Explore and HotelRunner Cost?

Explore’s pricing details are unavailable, and it appears to operate on a different model, possibly licensing or enterprise-focused, with no free trial or clear fee structure. HotelRunner charges a $100 monthly fee, with no free tier or trial, providing transparent pricing aligned with its extensive features.

If budget certainty is important, HotelRunner’s straightforward fee structure might be preferable, but Explore’s pricing remains unclear without additional details.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Explore by Explore?

• Hotels that focus on data-driven decision-making, such as revenue managers or corporate teams seeking actionable insights.
• Hotels aiming to optimize occupancy, pricing strategies, or marketing campaigns based on analysis.
• Teams that want to understand operational performance without managing reservations directly.
• Hotels that prioritize strategic planning over daily booking management.

Not ideal if:

• You need a booking engine to handle reservations and direct sales.
• Your team prefers a user-friendly platform for online booking and channel management.
• Your hotel requires extensive marketing tools or integrations.

What Type of Hotel Should Use HotelRunner?

• Hotels of all sizes seeking a reliable booking engine with integrated channel management.
• Boutique hotels, B&Bs, and city center properties focused on increasing direct bookings.
• Hotels aiming to automate reservation management, rate updates, and online presence.
• Teams wanting extensive features like multi-currency support, automated emails, and marketing integrations.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel operates primarily without online reservations.
• You prefer a simple, low-cost solution with minimal features.
• You need advanced data analytics and insights rather than operational tools.

HotelRunner vs Explore: The Bottom Line for Hotels

The core difference between these products is their primary purpose. Explore is an AI-based platform designed to synthesize data and guide strategic decisions, but it lacks direct booking or operational features. HotelRunner offers a full suite of booking, channel management, and marketing tools, making it a comprehensive operational platform.

If your hotel needs a booking engine with extensive features, choose HotelRunner. It’s well-rated, with proven success in increasing occupancy and simplifying management. If your focus is on analyzing data to refine your strategies, Explore’s AI insights could be useful, but it lacks the operational capacity most hotels require.

For most hotels actively managing online reservations and looking to boost revenue through better distribution and automation, HotelRunner remains the stronger choice. If you’re a data-driven team seeking strategic insights to inform key decisions, Explore might complement your existing tools but isn’t a standalone operational solution.