Amadeus – iHotelier® Booking Engine vs. Feratel Booking Engine (IBE):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine can significantly impact your hotel’s revenue and guest experience. Both Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine and feratel’s Booking Engine (IBE) aim to streamline direct bookings, but they differ sharply in market presence, features, and user feedback. Amadeus’s platform, backed by over 93 recent reviews and a high overall rating, offers a rich feature set tailored for hotels seeking advanced tools. Feratel’s solution, with no recent reviews, provides a straightforward, region-specific booking widget. Which product better fits your hotel’s needs?

Is Amadeus or Feratel Better for Hotels?

Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine is a comprehensive platform designed for hotels wanting to maximize direct bookings through advanced integrations and marketing tools. It boasts 93 reviews with a 4.39/5 rating, indicating strong user satisfaction and recent validation. Feratel’s booking widget, on the other hand, is a simple, localized solution primarily suitable for hotels already using feratel’s Destination Management System, with no recent reviews or overall rating data available.

Amadeus offers a broad global presence, serving hotels across North America, Europe, Asia, and more, while feratel’s regional footprint is concentrated in Europe, limiting its reach. Your team must weigh whether you need extensive features and international support or a straightforward, regional booking tool.

Are you prioritizing a feature-rich platform with proven market success, or a lightweight widget tailored for specific markets? The decision hinges on your hotel’s size, growth ambitions, and technological infrastructure.

Amadeus vs Feratel: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel aims to boost direct bookings with advanced features like automated emails, loyalty integration, multi-currency, and extensive analytics, Amadeus is the clear choice. Its 28 unique features and large user base of independent, boutique, and resort properties underscore its suitability for hotels looking to grow revenue and optimize marketing efforts.

Conversely, if your hotel is part of a tourism destination using feratel’s Deskline 3.0 system and needs a basic, easy-to-embed booking widget for your website, feratel’s solution might suffice. It covers core booking functions like availability display, multi-language support, and package offerings but lacks the extensive marketing and reporting tools of Amadeus.

In essence, choose Amadeus for a comprehensive, scalable platform suited for hotels seeking revenue growth and integration, and feratel for a simple, targeted booking widget for regional or smaller properties.

Is Amadeus or Feratel Easier to Use?

Amadeus’ platform scores a 4.25/5 for ease of use, backed by a 4.01/5 onboarding rating from users who highlight comprehensive training and steady support, despite some complexities. Its user interface, though detailed, can be challenging initially, especially for smaller teams unfamiliar with advanced booking tools.

Feratel’s booking widget, with no explicit usability ratings, is designed for quick deployment within the Deskline system, emphasizing simplicity and minimal setup. Its straightforward layout and limited feature set make it easy for staff to manage.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has Better Features: Amadeus or Feratel?

Amadeus offers 28 features exclusive to its platform, including pre- and post-stay emails, automated reporting, booking abandonment recapture, multi-room bookings, loyalty program integration, and multiple payment options like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Its extensive feature set supports sophisticated marketing, revenue management, and guest engagement.

Feratel provides only 2 unique features: support for packages and travel insurance uploads. Its simple availability calendar and multi-language support are core features but do not match the depth of Amadeus’ capabilities.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Amadeus or Feratel?

Amadeus’ customer support receives mixed reviews, with a 3.22/5 support rating and comments about slow responses, yet many users appreciate their dedicated account management and responsiveness during onboarding. Its support is generally considered adequate but inconsistent.

Feratel’s support quality is unreviewed, but given its smaller size and regional focus, it likely offers more direct, personalized assistance within its local markets. However, the lack of recent reviews makes this hard to confirm.

Edge: Amadeus (due to more extensive support infrastructure and recent review volume).

Which Has More Integrations: Amadeus or Feratel?

Amadeus boasts 104 verified partners, including global systems like Profitroom, Mews, and Yanolja Cloud, covering a wide range of PMS, channel managers, and marketing tools. This extensive ecosystem allows for seamless data flow and operational integration.

Feratel offers only 13 verified partners, primarily regional or niche integrations such as RoomRaccoon and local tourism systems. Its narrower network limits opportunities for broader system connectivity.

Edge: Amadeus.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Amadeus or Feratel?

Amadeus’ platform has a strong 4.39/5 rating from 93 recent reviews, with independent hotels rating it 4.36/5 and boutique hotels 4.61/5. Its popularity is driven by its advanced features and market presence across multiple segments.

Feratel’s ratings are unavailable, making direct comparison difficult. Given its niche regional focus and lack of recent reviews, it’s less favored in broader hotel markets.

Edge: Amadeus.

How Much Do Amadeus and Feratel Cost?

Amadeus does not publicly list pricing; it typically offers customized quotes based on hotel size and needs, suggesting a potentially higher investment. Feratel’s booking widget costs $100 per month, with no free tier or trial, making it accessible for smaller properties or those on a tight budget.

Your team should consider whether a comprehensive, scalable solution (Amadeus) or a low-cost, straightforward widget (Feratel) better aligns with your financial planning.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Amadeus?

• Hotels aiming to maximize direct bookings and revenue, especially those with sophisticated marketing strategies.
• Properties seeking extensive integrations with PMS, channel managers, and global distribution systems.
• Hotels that value detailed analytics, automated communication, and loyalty program features.
• Larger or growing hotels that need scalable solutions with regional and international support.

Not ideal if your hotel:

• Has a very tight budget or minimal technical staff.
• Operates a small property with simple booking needs.
• Prefers a plug-and-play, minimal setup system.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Feratel?

• Small to medium-sized hotels that already use feratel’s Destination Management System.
• Hotels in European or regional markets where feratel’s presence is strong.
• Properties seeking a straightforward booking widget without complex features.
• Destinations aiming to promote local packages, activities, and ancillary sales within a simple platform.

Not ideal if your hotel:

• Needs advanced marketing, analytics, or loyalty tools.
• Operates internationally or in markets outside feratel’s regional focus.
• Desires extensive system integrations beyond the basic booking widget.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Amadeus’ iHotelier® Booking Engine is a high-performance, feature-rich platform suitable for hotels that want to grow revenue and improve guest engagement. Its extensive integrations, advanced marketing tools, and strong global presence make it a top choice for properties aiming to scale.

Feratel’s Booking Engine is a simplified, region-specific solution designed for hotels that want an easy-to-use booking widget integrated within feratel’s system. It’s best for smaller properties or those with limited technical needs in European markets.

If your hotel seeks a proven, comprehensive platform backed by thousands of reviews and ongoing development, Amadeus is the clear leader. For regional, budget-conscious, or straightforward needs, feratel provides a lightweight alternative.

In conclusion, your choice depends on your hotel’s size, growth plans, and feature requirements. Amadeus’s larger footprint and reviews make it the stronger option for most hotels looking to optimize direct bookings today.