Hub OS Guest in Touch vs. Guest Services by SmartStay:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Hub OS Guest in Touch and Guest Services by SmartStay hinges on your hotel’s specific needs. Both address guest engagement, but Hub OS offers a contactless communication platform primarily focused on operational management, while SmartStay centers on digital check-in, upselling, and in-room service features. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize streamlined internal communication or elevating the guest experience with upselling and in-room tech.

Given the current landscape, which product aligns better with your property’s strategic goals and operational challenges?

Is Hub OS Guest in Touch or Guest Services by SmartStay Better for Hotels?

Both products aim to improve hotel operations and guest satisfaction, yet they serve different core functions. Hub OS Guest in Touch emphasizes real-time communication between guests and staff, focusing on incident reporting, maintenance, and departmental coordination, making it ideal for hotels seeking operational cohesion. Conversely, Guest Services by SmartStay concentrates on digital guest onboarding, upselling, and in-room services, making it suitable for properties keen on enhancing the guest journey, especially with mobile and self-service features.

While Hub OS has a higher overall rating (4.69/5) and more recent reviews, it primarily excels at internal management with limited guest-facing features. SmartStay, despite a lower rating (0/5) due to fewer reviews, offers a broad suite of features like contactless check-in, digital ordering, and upselling. Which of these core functions aligns better with your current priorities?

Hub OS Guest in Touch vs Guest Services by SmartStay: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a robust system to streamline incident management, departmental communication, and maintenance workflows, Hub OS is the clear choice. Its high review count (27 reviews) and recent positive feedback underscore its reliability for operational tasks.

If your hotel aims to elevate the guest experience through digital check-in, room selection, upselling, and in-room ordering, then SmartStay’s platform is more aligned. Despite fewer reviews, its comprehensive feature set for guest engagement makes it a compelling option for tech-forward properties.

Your decision should hinge on whether operational efficiency or guest experience enhancement is your priority—both are critical, but one may serve your immediate goals better.

Is Hub OS Guest in Touch or Guest Services by SmartStay Easier to Use?

Hub OS scores 4.87/5 for ease of use, with reviews emphasizing its intuitive interface and simple onboarding process. Users mention that staff quickly adapt, highlighting the platform’s user-friendly design and real-time feedback features, though some note occasional crashes and synchronization issues.

SmartStay’s platform scores 4.57/5, with praise for its clean, tidy interface and smooth onboarding. Reviewers appreciate its straightforwardness, despite limited overall review volume.

Edge: Hub OS, due to higher review volume and slightly better user ratings, indicating broader user confidence in its usability.

Which Has Better Features: Hub OS or SmartStay?

Hub OS offers 3 unique features: a web app, room service ordering, and request management, focusing on operational communication. Its core strengths lie in incident tracking and departmental coordination, ideal for hotels prioritizing internal workflows.

SmartStay boasts 20 features, including a hotel website check-in portal, lobby kiosk, self-service check-in/out, device agnosticism, custom questions, document scanning, ID verification, multilingual support, payment processing, and door lock integration. These features support a comprehensive guest journey and in-room experience.

Given the sheer number of features, SmartStay provides a more extensive guest-facing toolkit.

Edge: SmartStay, due to its broader suite of features designed to elevate guest engagement and operational integration.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Hub OS or SmartStay?

Hub OS receives a 4.74/5 support rating, with reviews highlighting quick, proactive responses and attentive customer service. Users appreciate that the support team is highly involved and resolves issues swiftly, ensuring minimal disruption.

SmartStay’s support rating is slightly lower at 4.29/5, with reviews describing the team as knowledgeable and responsive but noting occasional disagreements or minor delays.

Edge: Hub OS, because of its higher support rating and more positive recent review sentiment.

Which Has More Integrations: Hub OS or SmartStay?

Hub OS integrates with 23 verified partners, including major PMS, POS, and distribution systems like Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and RMS. Its extensive partner network facilitates seamless operational workflows and data sharing.

SmartStay connects with 8 verified partners, including Shiji Group and Cloudbeds. While its integration ecosystem is smaller, it covers key systems like PMS and POS, with ongoing future plans.

Edge: Hub OS, thanks to its significantly larger and more diverse integration footprint, offering broader connectivity.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Hub OS or SmartStay?

Hub OS’s 27 reviews, predominantly from various hotel types, yield an average rating of 4.69/5, with a 97% likelihood to recommend. Reviewers from luxury, boutique, and resort hotels praise its operational impact and ease of use.

SmartStay has only 7 reviews with an overall rating of 0, making its data less reliable. The limited feedback suggests a need for more user input to gauge true satisfaction.

Edge: Hub OS, with more recent reviews and a higher, more consistent rating across segments.

How Much Do Hub OS and SmartStay Cost?

Hub OS does not publicly disclose pricing, implying its cost may be customized based on hotel size and needs, often typical for enterprise solutions.

SmartStay charges a base price of $500 per month, with no indication of tiered pricing or additional fees. Its transparent pricing simplifies budgeting for smaller or mid-sized hotels.

If precise costs are critical, Hub OS’s custom quotes may be a barrier, while SmartStay’s flat fee offers clarity.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Hub OS Guest in Touch?

• Hotels that want to streamline internal communication and incident management.
• Properties aiming to reduce downtime with real-time fault reporting.
• Hotels with multiple departments needing coordinated workflows.
• Large resorts or branded hotels with complex operational needs.

Not ideal if you prioritize guest-facing technology over internal communication or have a small property with simple operations.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Guest Services by SmartStay?

• Hotels focused on elevating guest experience through digital check-in and upselling.
• Properties seeking to increase ancillary revenue via in-room food and beverage ordering.
• Hotels with tech-savvy guests expecting mobile keys and self-service options.
• Chain hotels aiming for consistent guest engagement across locations.

Not ideal if your hotel does not prioritize digital guest interactions or lacks the infrastructure for mobile-focused services.

Hub OS vs SmartStay: The Bottom Line for Hotels

Hub OS’s strength lies in operational management, with high-quality incident reporting and departmental coordination. Its broader integration network and higher user ratings make it a reliable choice for hotels seeking efficiency and internal communication.

SmartStay excels in guest engagement, offering a broad suite of features to enhance the guest journey through digital check-in, upselling, and in-room services. Its lower rating and fewer reviews suggest it may still be maturing, but the feature set is promising for future growth.

If your primary goal is operational efficiency, Hub OS is the safer, more proven option. If elevating guest experience and generating ancillary revenue are your priorities, SmartStay offers a compelling, feature-rich platform worth monitoring.

In conclusion, choose Hub OS if your hotel needs a trusted system for internal communication and maintenance. Opt for SmartStay if your focus is on creating a modern, interactive guest journey with upselling and in-room service capabilities. Both have their merits, but current data and review volume favor Hub OS as the more established solution.