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 427 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:
ICG FrontHotel stands out with exclusive features like Guest CRM and Payment Requests.
ThinkReservations shines in customer support and account management — especially for bed & breakfast properties (4.9/5), with exclusive features like Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) and Mobile App.
Side-by-side ratings based on 427 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $500/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 427 |
After analyzing 427 verified reviews, ICG FrontHotel users most value its , while ThinkReservations users highlight customer support and account management, ease of use and daily operations, reservations, calendar, and availability management. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Customer support and account management
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Ease of use and daily operations
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Reservations, calendar, and availability management
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Direct booking engine and website integration
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Feature requests and product flexibility
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Billing, payments, and accounting integrations
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Channel management and OTA connectivity
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How each product ranks among Property Management Systems vendors for different property sizes, types, and regions — based on verified reviews from hoteliers in each segment.
By Hotel Size
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| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #4 148 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #9 25 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | — | #7 3 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #6 1 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | — | #7 105 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #7 72 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | — | #7 26 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #11 8 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | — | #1 399 reviews |
| Europe | — | #59 1 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #35 0 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #34 0 reviews |
ThinkReservations stands out as a proven solution with 424 verified reviews averaging 4.8/5 overall, including a 4.9 rating from 38 recent reviews in the last six months. It serves predominantly small to medium independent properties, especially bed & breakfasts, with a strong focus on ease of use, guest communication, and channel connectivity. ICG FrontHotel, in contrast, has no verified reviews on Hotel Tech Report, making it impossible to assess its user satisfaction or operational impact from independent sources.
Both systems aim to simplify hotel operations by integrating reservations, guest management, and housekeeping workflows. ThinkReservations emphasizes channel management and integrated guest messaging to increase direct bookings and revenue, while ICG FrontHotel offers deeper tools for guest ID scanning and mobile housekeeping apps. The choice hinges on property size, market presence, and need for proven customer support versus specialized operational features.
If you operate a small to medium independent hotel, especially a bed & breakfast or boutique inn in North America, ThinkReservations is the data-backed choice. It has a user base where 63% of properties are B&Bs, boasting a 4.9/5 rating across 375 reviews in that segment and a 97% likelihood to recommend. This reflects strong customer satisfaction and operational benefits in similar property types. Conversely, ICG FrontHotel lacks review data, making it harder to verify fit or performance.
If your property requires specific tools such as integrated ID and passport scanning, automated space optimization, or synchronized mobile housekeeping apps—features unique to ICG FrontHotel—and you operate in regions beyond North America and Europe, ICG FrontHotel may suit your needs better. However, without verified user feedback, these advantages carry some operational risk. For hotels prioritizing channel management, guest messaging automation, and cloud-based flexibility with proven support, ThinkReservations is the safer choice.
ThinkReservations scores 4.8/5 for ease of use and 4.7/5 for onboarding across 424 reviews, with user comments emphasizing intuitive interfaces that enable front desk staff and owners to manage reservations and guest communications efficiently. Reviewers mention that staff with limited technical skills can quickly learn and operate the system, reducing training time. ICG FrontHotel has no verified user ratings, so no direct comparison is possible.
Both systems are described as user-friendly by their vendors, but only ThinkReservations has independent data reflecting actual user experience. Its system enables users to update pricing, manage bookings, and pull reports without agent intervention, supporting operational agility.
Edge: Even.
ICG FrontHotel offers 10 unique features, including integrated ID and passport scanning with registration pre-fill, automated space optimization for room assignments, synchronized mobile housekeeping apps, employee messaging, and an integrated CRS. These features target operational workflows at the front desk and housekeeping, potentially reducing manual data entry and increasing productivity through automation.
ThinkReservations provides 12 unique features, notably a cloud-based platform, a built-in channel manager connecting to OTAs like Booking.com and Airbnb, an integrated booking engine promoting direct bookings, guest communication tools with SMS messaging, task management, PCI compliance, GDPR compliance, and ancillary revenue tracking. These features directly impact marketing reach, compliance, guest engagement, and financial operations.
While ICG FrontHotel focuses on operational automation and guest check-in efficiency, ThinkReservations prioritizes distribution, guest messaging, and regulatory compliance. Both share 27 core PMS features, but ThinkReservations’ channel manager and booking engine are critical for properties seeking to grow direct bookings and reduce OTA commissions.
Edge: ThinkReservations.
ThinkReservations holds a 4.8/5 rating for customer support and 4.7/5 for onboarding from 424 reviews. Users consistently praise the responsiveness of support teams, noting quick access to knowledgeable agents via phone, chat, or email. Reviewers describe support as proactive, helpful, and tailored to small property operations. Training materials such as video tutorials assist self-paced learning.
ICG FrontHotel has no verified reviews reporting on customer support responsiveness or quality, leaving a knowledge gap for buyers who rely on ongoing vendor partnership.
Edge: Even.
ThinkReservations has 17 verified integrations including major OTAs and platforms: Sojern, Whistle, TrustYou, Triptease, Canary Technologies, INTELITY, Tripadvisor, Airbnb, and Expedia. These integrations enable wide distribution, guest reputation management, and unified guest experience tools, critical for hotels seeking to maximize occupancy and online presence.
ICG FrontHotel integrates with 13 partners such as Dingus, HiJiffy, SiteMinder, RoomCloud, RateGain, and Onity, focusing more on channel management, guest communication, and access control hardware. The lack of overlap in verified partners indicates divergent integration ecosystems.
Hotels emphasizing online distribution and guest feedback platforms benefit more from ThinkReservations’ broader OTA and reputation management integrations. Properties requiring specific access control and rate management integrations may find ICG FrontHotel’s partners more relevant.
Edge: ThinkReservations.
ThinkReservations commands a 4.8/5 overall rating across 424 reviews with 38 recent reviews in the last six months rated 4.9/5, indicating high and current user satisfaction. Its likelihood to recommend is 97%. Ratings for bed & breakfasts (4.9/5, 375 reviews), boutique hotels (4.7/5, 111 reviews), and luxury hotels (4.9/5, 74 reviews) confirm broad approval across segments.
ICG FrontHotel has no reviews on Hotel Tech Report, so no rating comparison is possible. This lack of data is a significant limitation for hoteliers evaluating proven performance.
Edge: Even.
ThinkReservations publishes a base price of $500 with no implementation fee, no freemium option, and no monthly flat or per-room fees listed. No free trial is available. The pricing model suggests a single flat fee or subscription suitable for independent hotels.
ICG FrontHotel does not publish pricing on Hotel Tech Report, leaving buyers without transparent cost data. There is no information on implementation fees, monthly pricing, or trials.
Without comparative pricing data, properties must contact ICG FrontHotel directly for cost estimates, whereas ThinkReservations offers upfront pricing transparency.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
The fundamental difference is that ThinkReservations delivers a highly rated, cloud-based PMS with extensive OTA connectivity, guest communication, and compliance features backed by hundreds of verified reviews, primarily serving small to medium independent hotels. ICG FrontHotel offers specialized operational tools like ID scanning and mobile housekeeping apps but lacks verified user feedback and pricing transparency.
Choose ICG FrontHotel if your hotel prioritizes operational automation around guest check-in and housekeeping workflows and you operate in a market where its integrations and features align with your needs. However, be mindful of the absence of independent performance data.
Choose ThinkReservations if your property requires a proven PMS with broad channel management, direct booking tools, and responsive customer support, especially if you run a bed & breakfast or boutique hotel in North America. The volume and recency of reviews provide confidence in operational efficiency and guest satisfaction improvements.
In summary, ThinkReservations is the safer, data-validated choice for most small to medium independent hotels, while ICG FrontHotel may fit niche operational needs where specialized features outweigh the lack of public review evidence.
Property Management Systems 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.
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| Starting Price | — | From $500/mo |
These are the features each vendor has configured, organized by feature group — the same data shown in the vendor dashboard. Expand a group to compare features side by side.
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Accounting & Finance
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| Direct billing | ||
| RevPaR & ADR Reports | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) | ||
| Automated night audit | ||
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Marketing & Ecommerce
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| Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) | ||
| Native Email Marketing | ||
| Guest profiles | ||
| Guest CRM | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Booking Engine | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) | ||
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Administration & Configuration
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| Centralized user & role management | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Cloud based | ||
| On premise | ||
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Customer Management
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| Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) | ||
| Guest profiles | ||
| Centralized Messaging | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) | ||
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Front Office
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| Mobile Device Notes & Tasks (Voice-to-Text) | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Automated night audit | ||
| Calendar view | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| Task Management | ||
| Automated reminders | ||
| Guest profiles | ||
| Tablet/Kiosk Check-in | ||
| Payment Requests | ||
| Centralized Messaging | ||
| Automated Space Optimization | ||
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Groups Management
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| Group functionality | ||
| Automated Space Optimization | ||
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Guest Experience
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| Integrated ID & Passport Scanner | ||
| Digital Registration | ||
| Guest App | ||
| Online Check-in | ||
| Online Checkout | ||
| Guest Messaging | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) | ||
| ID Scanning & Registration Pre-fill | ||
| Lobby Kiosk | ||
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Housekeeping
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| Housekeeping module | ||
| Housekeeping Mobile App | ||
| Real-Time Status Updates | ||
| Automated Assignments | ||
| Real Time Reporting | ||
| Shift Planning | ||
| Employee Messaging | ||
| Online Checkout | ||
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Payments
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| Integrated Payment Terminal & Card Reader | ||
| Direct billing | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Payment processing | ||
| Payment Requests | ||
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Reservations Management
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| RevPaR & ADR Reports | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Integrated CRS | ||
| Drag-n-Drop Tapechart | ||
| Rate Management | ||
| Automated Space Optimization | ||
| Rules Based Room Assignments | ||
| Transactional Emails (booking, folios, etc) | ||
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Revenue Management
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| RevPaR & ADR Reports | ||
| Custom rates | ||
| Ancillary revenue tracking | ||
| Revenue management module | ||
| Base Pricing | ||
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Taxes & Compliance
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| PCI Compliant | ||
| GDPR Compliant | ||
| SOC2 Complaint | ||
| Tax Configuration | ||
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Support & Training
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| Online 24/7 support | ||
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Food & Beverage
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Spa
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| Spa & Wellness Module |
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.
"I became aware of ThinkReservations at a trade show in the US, and I could see right away that it would help Blue Tang Inn streamline our operations, increase our booking and upsel..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"ThinkReservations Digital Registration has streamlined our check in process, making my job so much easier. Being able to ask guests for their ID and credit card ahead of time, agre..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"We try to take care of all the needs of our guests so that they have an experience rather than just a stay"
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Users repeatedly say ThinkReservations’ support team is exceptionally responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to reach by phone, chat, or email. Many revi... Users repeatedly say ThinkReservations’ support team is exceptionally responsive, knowledgeable, and easy to reach by phone, chat, or email. Many reviewers cite live-person help, proactive guidance, and account managers who understand innkeeping and help solve issues quickly.
Reviewers consistently describe ThinkReservations as intuitive, easy to learn, and simple to use for daily property operations. They say it helps them... Reviewers consistently describe ThinkReservations as intuitive, easy to learn, and simple to use for daily property operations. They say it helps them manage reservations, assignments, and routine workflows faster, which reduces staff effort and makes small-property operations smoother.
The calendar and reservation tools are a major strength, with users praising the clear visual view of check-ins, check-outs, stays, and room status. S... The calendar and reservation tools are a major strength, with users praising the clear visual view of check-ins, check-outs, stays, and room status. Several reviewers also mention wanting more calendar flexibility, better vacancy visibility, or refinements to reservation editing and availability handling.
Where hoteliers push back
A significant number of reviews ask for more customization, including templates, dashboards, mobile app access, configurable fields, better unit prior... A significant number of reviews ask for more customization, including templates, dashboards, mobile app access, configurable fields, better unit prioritization, and more flexible workflows. While many users appreciate the steady product evolution, they also note that niche property types often need more adaptable tools than the default setup provides.
Users mention financial workflows such as QuickBooks integration, credit card handling, deposits, folios, and tax/accounting reporting. A recurring th... Users mention financial workflows such as QuickBooks integration, credit card handling, deposits, folios, and tax/accounting reporting. A recurring theme is the desire for more flexibility in expense/revenue categorization, better payment hardware support, and less manual payment entry.
Unique capabilities
It depends on your requirements. ICG Fronthotel and ThinkReservations PMS share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. ICG Fronthotel offers 13 verified integration partners, while ThinkReservations PMS offers 17. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
ICG Fronthotel: No. ThinkReservations PMS: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Property Management Systems 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. ICG FrontHotel has an HT Score of 0 and ThinkReservations has 90. 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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