M3 (Insight) vs. Mastel:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between M3 (Insight) by M3 and Mastel Hospitality hinges on your hotel’s specific needs for data analysis, ease of use, and integration. M3’s platform is more established, with a broader feature set and a significant recent review base, while Mastel offers a flexible, Qlik-powered solution that may appeal to smaller or more tech-savvy teams. Which aligns better with your operational goals?

Quick Verdict

M3 outpaces Mastel in reviews, recent user feedback, and overall ratings, making it the more reliable choice at this stage. With 237 reviews and a 4.16/5 rating in the last six months, M3 clearly demonstrates broader acceptance and ongoing support.

Is M3 (Insight) or Mastel Hospitality Better for Hotels?

Both products aim to enhance hotel performance through data insights, but they approach this goal differently. M3 focuses on a comprehensive, dedicated hospitality BI environment with extensive reporting, budget, and forecasting features. Mastel, built on Qlik, emphasizes quick dashboard development without the need for extensive setup, leaning into flexible data visualization.

M3’s core strength is its deep integration with industry-specific systems like M3 Accounting Core, STR, and labor management, allowing detailed financial and operational insights. Conversely, Mastel’s strength lies in its speed and simplicity, enabling hotels to develop dashboards rapidly without heavy investment, ideal for teams that prioritize quick deployment.

Where they diverge significantly is in maturity and scope. M3’s platform is more mature, with 47 unique features and widespread adoption, while Mastel’s focus on rapid dashboard creation and flexible licensing serves niche or smaller-scale operations. Does your team need a full-fledged BI system or a quicker, less complex visualization tool?

M3 (Insight) vs Mastel: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel requires a robust, industry-tailored BI platform with extensive features like financial reporting, budgeting, payroll integration, and multi-property management, M3 is the clear choice. Its high rating (4.16/5) and 237 reviews, mostly recent, reflect ongoing satisfaction and support.

If your team values ease of use, fast development of dashboards, and flexible licensing, Mastel might appeal more. However, with no recent reviews or ratings available, it’s harder to gauge its current performance or user satisfaction.

For larger hotel chains or management companies needing comprehensive visibility, M3’s proven track record makes it the safer bet. Smaller hotels or teams with limited technical resources, seeking rapid insights, might find Mastel’s approach suitable, but beware of the lack of recent user feedback.

Is M3 or Mastel Easier to Use?

M3 scores a 4.46/5 in ease of use, with many users praising its straightforward login, report retrieval, and onboarding process. Reviewers mention that the platform’s intuitive design and helpful support staff make daily use smooth, with some requesting more ongoing training.

Mastel’s interface is built on Qlik, known for its user-friendly dashboards and quick development capabilities. Yet, with no recent reviews or detailed user feedback, it’s difficult to confirm how accessible or intuitive the platform remains in practice.

Edge: M3

Which Has Better Features: M3 or Mastel?

M3’s platform includes 47 distinct features exclusive to its system, such as daily reporting, PMS mapping, general ledger, accounts payable, budgeting, forecasting, detailed analytics, and multi-property management. These tightly integrated tools support in-depth financial, operational, and labor analysis.

Mastel offers no specific feature count but relies on Qlik’s flexible dashboard creation, emphasizing speed rather than depth. It provides essential business discovery tools but lacks the extensive, industry-specific functionalities of M3.

For comprehensive, hotel-specific BI, M3’s feature set delivers more value. If rapid dashboard setup is your priority, Mastel’s lighter approach may suffice, but at a possible cost to depth.

Edge: M3

Which Has Better Customer Support: M3 or Mastel?

M3’s support scores a 4.48/5, with recent reviews praising quick, personal, and ongoing support. Many users highlight that M3’s customer service has been instrumental in resolving issues promptly and providing helpful onboarding, though some mention a desire for more ongoing training.

Mastel’s support details are not available, and with no recent reviews, it’s impossible to assess the quality of their customer service. This lack of feedback makes M3 the safer choice for reliable, well-supported service.

Edge: M3

Which Has More Integrations: M3 or Mastel?

M3 boasts 39 verified partners, including industry-standard solutions like HotelTime, STR, Birchstreet, and innRoad. Its open API and extensive integrations enable Hotels to unify financial, operational, and revenue data seamlessly.

Mastel currently has no verified integrations, relying on Qlik’s general capabilities. This limits its ability to connect with hotel-specific systems, reducing its usefulness for complex, multi-system environments.

For hotels that depend on a multitude of integrated systems, M3’s ecosystem is clearly superior. Smaller operations with minimal integration needs might manage with Mastel, but it’s not ideal for complex setups.

Edge: M3

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: M3 or Mastel?

M3’s recent reviews show a 4.16/5 overall rating, with 89% of reviewers willing to recommend it. Hotels across various segments, especially branded and independent properties, rate it positively for usability, support, and feature richness.

Mastel’s ratings are unavailable, and with no recent reviews, hoteliers lack data on user satisfaction. The absence of feedback suggests it’s a less established or less widely adopted solution.

Given the demonstrated satisfaction and recent review volume, M3 is clearly the higher-rated platform by hoteliers.

Edge: M3

How Much Do M3 and Mastel Cost?

M3 charges a $300 monthly fee, with no implementation or trial fees, offering a straightforward subscription model. Its pricing includes access to a comprehensive suite of features, with ongoing support included.

Mastel’s pricing details are not publicly available, which complicates direct comparison. Likely, costs vary depending on licensing and customization, but the lack of transparency makes valuation and budgeting harder.

For clarity and predictable budgeting, M3’s fixed pricing provides an advantage.

What Type of Hotel Should Use M3?

Hotels that:

• Require deep, industry-specific analytics and reporting.
• Manage multiple properties or brands needing centralized oversight.
• Benefit from extensive integrations with PMS, labor, and revenue systems.
• Want ongoing support, training, and a proven track record.

Not ideal if you:

• Have a small, single-property operation with limited technical staff.
• Need only basic reporting or dashboards.
• Seek a quick, lightweight solution without extensive feature requirements.

M3 suits larger, data-driven hotels aiming for comprehensive insights.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Mastel?

Hotels that:

• Need fast dashboard development without heavy investment.
• Have a smaller portfolio or simpler data needs.
• Are comfortable with a less integrated, more flexible BI setup.
• Want a solution based on Qlik’s platform for quick responsiveness.

Not ideal if you:

• Require extensive, industry-specific features like budgeting, payroll, or multi-property management.
• Depend on complex integrations with multiple hotel systems.
• Need ongoing, dedicated support or detailed user feedback.

Mastel is best for hotels prioritizing speed and flexibility over deep specialization.

M3 vs Mastel: The Bottom Line for Hotels

M3 offers a mature, feature-rich platform tailored specifically for the hospitality industry. It excels in comprehensive financial and operational analysis, supported by a broad user base and recent positive reviews.

Choose M3 if your hotel needs detailed, multi-system insights, robust support, and proven reliability. Its extensive integrations and mature features make it suitable for larger or multi-property operations.

Mastel provides a flexible, quick-to-deploy BI environment built on Qlik technology, ideal for smaller teams or properties valuing speed over complexity. Its lack of recent reviews and limited integrations make it less suitable for hotels with advanced data needs.

Select M3 if you prioritize detailed, industry-specific tools and support. Opt for Mastel if your focus is rapid dashboard development within a smaller, less complex environment.