Amadeus – iHotelier® Booking Engine vs. Explore.com:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine and Explore.com hinges on understanding what each offers for your hotel's direct booking and revenue management needs. Both aim to improve your reservations, but they approach this goal differently. Amadeus provides a comprehensive booking engine with advanced features, while Explore.com focuses on data-driven revenue management. Which one aligns better with your team’s priorities and hotel profile?

Is Amadeus or Explore.com Better for Hotels?

Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine is a well-established platform with a high review count of 93, most recent reviews from the last six months, and an overall rating of 4.39/5. It’s praised for its extensive feature set, ease of integration, and strong market presence across multiple regions. Conversely, Explore.com has zero reviews and no recent data, making it impossible to evaluate user satisfaction or performance. Given the recent reviews and high rating, Amadeus clearly has a more proven track record.

While Explore.com claims to optimize revenue through advanced algorithms, its lack of review data prevents assessing actual hotel experiences. Amadeus, with its 72.2/100 HTR Score, offers a trusted, tested solution with a dedicated user base. If your hotel seeks a reliable, feature-rich booking engine with proven efficacy, Amadeus is the safer choice. Are you comfortable investing in unreviewed solutions, or do you prefer tried-and-true platforms?

Amadeus vs Explore.com: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a comprehensive booking engine integrated with a robust website and payment solutions, go with Amadeus. Its 36 unique features—including multi-language, multi-currency, loyalty integrations, and advanced reporting—support direct bookings and revenue growth effectively.

However, if your primary goal is to leverage AI-driven revenue management insights without needing a full booking engine, Explore.com might appeal. Still, without reviews, its reliability remains unverified. For hotels prioritizing direct booking tools with a track record, Amadeus is the clear choice. If you want a proven platform with ongoing support, choose Amadeus; if you’re experimenting with new revenue strategies and willing to risk untested solutions, explore Explore.com.

Is Amadeus or Explore.com Easier to Use?

Amadeus’ platform scores 4.25/5 for ease of use, with many reviews highlighting its intuitive interface, streamlined onboarding, and manageable learning curve. Users appreciate the detailed onboarding process rated at 4.01/5 and mention that its user-friendly design makes daily operations smoother.

In comparison, Explore.com has no available review data or user feedback, making it impossible to assess usability. Given Amadeus’ strong ratings and consistent positive comments, it’s the safer bet for hotel teams seeking an easy-to-adopt, well-supported booking engine. Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has Better Features: Amadeus or Explore.com?

Amadeus offers 36 distinct features, encompassing mobile responsiveness, pre- and post-stay emails, automated reporting, booking abandonment recovery, multi-room bookings, loyalty integration, multi-currency and multi-lingual support, and more. These features cater directly to increasing conversions and guest engagement.

Explore.com, by contrast, has no listed features or capabilities, focusing solely on revenue management via AI algorithms. The absence of detailed feature offerings makes it difficult to compare, but the extensive feature set and proven integrations of Amadeus tip the scale. Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Amadeus or Explore.com?

Amadeus’ customer support scores 3.22/5, with reviews indicating mixed experiences. Some users praise responsiveness and dedicated account management, while others cite slow responses and unresolved issues. Despite this, the platform's large support team and extensive onboarding process (rated 4.01/5) provide a solid foundation for assistance.

Explore.com provides no available customer support ratings or reviews, leaving potential buyers uncertain about post-sale service quality. Given Amadeus’ long-standing presence and support infrastructure, it remains the more dependable option. Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has More Integrations: Amadeus or Explore.com?

Amadeus boasts 104 verified integration partners, including major PMS, payment gateways, and marketing tools, ensuring your hotel can connect with existing systems. Its integrations include well-known partners like Priority Software, Orange Hotel Marketing, Profitroom, and RevControl, providing extensive connectivity.

Explore.com has zero verified integrations, limiting its ability to connect with your current hotel systems or third-party tools. For seamless operation and future scalability, Amadeus’s partner network makes it the more versatile choice. Edge: Amadeus.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Amadeus or Explore.com?

Amadeus’s hotel user ratings average 4.39/5 across 93 reviews, with independent, branded, and boutique hotels rating it highly (4.36–4.67/5). Recent reviews commend its functionality, revenue impact, and ease of implementation, with some noting occasional support delays.

Explore.com has no reviews or ratings available, so its user satisfaction remains unknown. For hoteliers seeking a platform with proven, recent user approval, Amadeus’s high rating and review count clearly give it an advantage. Edge: Amadeus.

How Much Do Amadeus and Explore.com Cost?

Amadeus does not publicly disclose specific pricing but states there are no implementation fees or freemium options; pricing is likely customized based on hotel size and needs. Explore.com similarly offers no transparent pricing details and appears to operate on a no-trial, no-cost basis, which may suggest a different pricing model or a limited-service offering.

Given the lack of published prices, your team should request quotes based on your hotel’s scale and requirements. However, the absence of clear pricing can complicate budgeting and decision-making.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Amadeus?

• Hotels that want a full-featured booking engine integrated with website and payment solutions.
• Teams aiming to boost direct bookings and guest engagement through advanced tools like loyalty, multi-currency, and multi-lingual support.
• Hotels with existing systems seeking seamless integrations and detailed analytics.
• Properties that value proven solutions with extensive regional presence.
• Not ideal if your hotel prefers only a basic booking tool or has a limited budget for setup and support.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Explore.com?

• Hotels interested primarily in revenue management and pricing optimization.
• Teams that want a simplified platform that transforms data into actionable insights.
• Hotels looking to experiment with AI-driven pricing without extensive system integrations.
• Small to mid-sized properties aiming for minimal disruption in their current systems.
• Not ideal if you need a comprehensive booking engine, detailed guest communication tools, or extensive integrations.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine is a comprehensive, proven platform with extensive features, integrations, and positive user reviews. Its core strength is transforming lookers into bookers through a feature-rich, user-friendly interface that supports your revenue growth efforts.

Explore.com, while promising AI-driven revenue management, lacks review data, feature details, and proven customer satisfaction. Its data-centric approach may appeal to advanced revenue teams but offers no tangible proof of efficacy at this point.

Choose Amadeus if your hotel needs a reliable, full-scale booking engine with proven results. Opt for Explore.com only if your primary focus is AI-driven revenue insights and you’re comfortable with untested vendor claims. Ultimately, Amadeus remains the more trustworthy and supported option for most hotels.