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 395 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 shines , with exclusive features like Guest CRM and Payment Requests.
ThinkReservations shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) and Mobile App.
Side-by-side ratings based on 395 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | Contact sales | From $500/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 0 | 395 |
After analyzing 395 verified reviews, ICG FrontHotel users most value its , while ThinkReservations users highlight customer support, operational efficiency, data and reporting. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Customer Support
▾
|
|
|
+
Operational Efficiency
▾
|
|
|
+
Data and Reporting
▾
|
|
|
+
Integration with OTAs
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
|
−
Pricing and Fees
▾
|
|
|
−
Security Features
▾
|
|
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
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Small (10-24 rooms) ▾ | — | #4 145 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | — | #9 25 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) | — | #6 3 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | — | #5 1 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | — | #7 100 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | — | #7 70 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | — | #7 24 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | — | #11 8 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | — | #1 386 reviews |
| Europe | — | #57 0 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #32 0 reviews |
| Middle East | — | #32 0 reviews |
Choosing the right property management system (PMS) is critical for your hotel's efficiency, guest experience, and profitability. Both ICG FrontHotel and ThinkReservations aim to streamline operations, but they serve different hotel types and feature sets. Your decision depends on your hotel’s size, complexity, and specific needs. Do you need a broad feature set with strong OTA integration, or an all-in-one PMS tailored for smaller properties?
ICG FrontHotel offers extensive functionality and wide regional coverage, while ThinkReservations emphasizes ease of use, reliability, and superior support. Which system aligns best with your operational goals and guest service standards?
ICG FrontHotel and ThinkReservations are both designed to manage reservations, guest data, billing, and staff workflows. However, ICG FrontHotel’s strengths lie in its integrated features like guest CRM, ID scanning, automated space optimization, and employee messaging, making it suitable for hotels needing comprehensive control. ThinkReservations, on the other hand, excels at booking management, OTA connectivity, and revenue boosting with upselling tools, making it ideal for smaller properties focused on online distribution.
While ICG FrontHotel’s reviews are nonexistent and its user ratings are zero, ThinkReservations boasts a 4.88/5 rating from 356 reviews, with recent feedback emphasizing its ease of use, support, and revenue impact. Given the limited data on ICG FrontHotel, ThinkReservations appears more reliable for current hotel operations. Are you looking for a system with proven user satisfaction and real-world success stories?
If your hotel needs a user-friendly interface, strong OTA connectivity, and a focus on increasing online bookings, opt for ThinkReservations. Its features like booking engine, channel manager, guest messaging, and integrated payment processing are tailored for small to mid-sized hotels, inns, and B&Bs aiming to boost revenue and guest engagement.
If, however, your property requires detailed CRM, automated space management, ID verification, and mobile housekeeping tools, ICG FrontHotel might be better. Its extensive features cater to larger or more complex hotels that want a unified platform to manage all operational aspects. Based on reviews, ThinkReservations is the clearer choice for most hoteliers today.
ThinkReservations scores a 4.82/5 in ease of use, with recent reviews praising its intuitive interface, straightforward onboarding, and excellent customer support. Many users say it feels like "adding another employee" due to its ease of operation and helpful training resources. Conversely, ICG FrontHotel’s usability data is nonexistent, leaving its user-friendliness uncertain.
Given ThinkReservations’ high ratings and recent positive reviews, it is clearly easier for your staff to adopt and operate. Edge: ThinkReservations.
ThinkReservations offers 12 features exclusive to its platform, including a booking engine, channel manager, guest communication via SMS, and GDPR compliance. ICG FrontHotel has 10 unique features like guest CRM, ID scanning, automated space optimization, and integrated CRS, appealing to hotels needing detailed operational control.
Both products share 27 features, but ThinkReservations’ broader OTA and revenue tools give it an advantage for hoteliers focused on distribution and sales. However, ICG FrontHotel’s specialized features suit larger hotels with complex management needs. Edge: ThinkReservations.
ThinkReservations consistently receives 4.82/5 ratings for support, with reviews emphasizing its responsiveness, knowledgeable staff, and helpful onboarding. Customers describe the support team as "accessible," "friendly," and integral to their positive experience. ICG FrontHotel’s support data is unavailable, which raises concerns about its reliability and responsiveness.
In the current review landscape, ThinkReservations shows a clear lead in customer support quality. Edge: ThinkReservations.
ThinkReservations integrates with 16 verified partners, including major OTAs like Airbnb, Expedia, and TripAdvisor, as well as channels like Sojern and TrustYou. ICG FrontHotel connects with 12 partners, including SiteMinder, RateGain, and Onity, but lacks many of the widely used OTAs.
For hotels relying on extensive OTA and channel integrations, ThinkReservations offers a more comprehensive ecosystem. Edge: ThinkReservations.
With 356 recent reviews, ThinkReservations holds a 4.88/5 rating, with small properties like B&Bs and inns particularly satisfied. Hoteliers praise its ease of use, support, and revenue features, often calling it "the best" and "easy to use." ICG FrontHotel’s ratings are unreported, making it impossible to judge user sentiment.
Given the volume and recency of ThinkReservations reviews, it clearly enjoys higher ratings from users. Edge: ThinkReservations.
ICG FrontHotel does not publicly list pricing, leaving potential users uncertain about costs and contract terms. ThinkReservations charges a flat monthly fee of $500, with no setup or implementation fees, making its costs transparent and predictable.
For budget-conscious hotels or those seeking clear pricing, ThinkReservations offers better clarity. Edge: ThinkReservations.
Not ideal if your hotel is small or seeks simple online booking and revenue tools without extensive operational complexity.
Not ideal if your hotel needs advanced CRM, ID scanning, or large-scale operational controls found in ICG FrontHotel.
ICG FrontHotel is a comprehensive PMS built for complex, large-scale properties that demand detailed control and integration. Its lack of recent reviews and user ratings suggest it’s less tested in today’s hotel environment, making it a riskier choice without extensive validation.
ThinkReservations is the clear leader in current satisfaction, support, and feature breadth, especially for small to mid-sized hotels looking to grow revenue and streamline operations. Its proven track record with over 350 reviews and recent positive feedback makes it the more reliable option at this time.
If your hotel prioritizes ease, support, and proven performance, Choose ThinkReservations. If you operate a large, complex hotel with specific operational needs, ICG FrontHotel could be considered—but proceed with caution due to limited recent user feedback.
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.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | — | From $500/mo |
According to HTR's product database, ICG Fronthotel and ThinkReservations PMS share 27 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Automated Space Optimization | ||
| Booking Engine | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| Cloud based | ||
| EPoS | ||
| Guest CRM | ||
| Guest Communication (SMS Messaging) | ||
| ID Scanning & Registration Pre-fill | ||
| Integrated ID & Passport Scanner | ||
| Lobby Kiosk | ||
| Payment Requests | ||
| Task Management |
Showing top differences. 10 more features differ between these products.
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
Though already noted as excellent by many, a few reviews express the desire for additional support on weekends to better handle urgent inquiries.
ThinkReservations aids in streamlining operations through digital registration, night audits, and easy management of booking and check-in processes, a... ThinkReservations aids in streamlining operations through digital registration, night audits, and easy management of booking and check-in processes, allowing staff to focus more on guest interactions.
The system offers comprehensive data and reporting features, enabling hoteliers to make informed decisions on pricing, guest satisfaction, and strateg... The system offers comprehensive data and reporting features, enabling hoteliers to make informed decisions on pricing, guest satisfaction, and strategy planning.
Where hoteliers push back
Some reviews highlight issues with the pricing structure, including dissatisfaction with channel manager fees and the high price of features like Thin... Some reviews highlight issues with the pricing structure, including dissatisfaction with channel manager fees and the high price of features like ThinkMessenger.
Mandatory two-step authentication is a point of frustration for some users, who find it burdensome and wish for lower security settings.
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
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 12 verified integration partners, while ThinkReservations PMS offers 16. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. ThinkReservations PMS leads in ease of use at 4.8/5 vs 0.0/5. Look for transparent pricing and a trial or demo option. Filter reviews on each product page by property size to hear from hotels like yours.
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 89. Here is how the score is calculated.
| Criteria Group | Weight | What It Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Ratings & Reviews |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
|
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 →
Product recommendations advisor