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 139 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:
M1 Intel shines in ease of use and customer support .
Thynk shines when it comes to integration and scalability — especially for brand properties (0.0/5) , with exclusive features like Contact Management/CRM and Mobile Sales CRM.
Side-by-side ratings based on 139 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
| HTScore |
|
|
| Likelihood to Recommend |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Customer Support |
|
|
| Value for Money |
|
|
| Starting Price | From $400/mo | From $600/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 20 | 119 |
After analyzing 139 verified reviews, M1 Intel users most value its , while Thynk users highlight integration and scalability, comprehensive crm capabilities, layout and design. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Pros | |
|
+
Integration and Scalability
▾
|
|
|
+
Comprehensive CRM Capabilities
▾
|
|
|
+
Layout and Design
▾
|
|
|
+
Centralized Sales Management
▾
|
|
| Cons | |
How each product ranks among Hotel Sales Software 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) ▾ | — | #6 6 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #9 9 reviews | #4 52 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #10 2 reviews | #1 46 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) ▾ | — | #3 13 reviews |
By Property Type
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Boutique ▾ | #9 7 reviews | #5 31 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #11 1 reviews | #2 61 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #9 7 reviews | #4 42 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #8 3 reviews | #2 19 reviews |
By Region
| Segment |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| North America ▾ | #7 9 reviews | #5 15 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | — | #3 65 reviews |
| Asia Pacific ▾ | — | #1 6 reviews |
| Middle East ▾ | — | #1 23 reviews |
Choosing between Matrix SMS by M1 Intel and Thynk Groups & Events by Thynk hinges on your hotel’s specific needs in sales management and operational complexity. Both products aim to streamline sales workflows, but they diverge significantly in features, user experience, and market focus. Your team must weigh the importance of ease of use, integration capabilities, and the depth of sales automation when making this decision.
While Matrix SMS currently has fewer reviews and less recent feedback, Thynk boasts a larger, more current review set. Does this mean Thynk is the safer choice, or does Matrix’s focused approach serve a specific segment better? Let’s compare the two.
Matrix SMS is a straightforward, highly rated sales management system designed explicitly for hotel teams seeking speed and visibility. It offers real-time reporting, Kanban boards, and deep search features to help manage leads and deals effectively. Conversely, Thynk provides a broader, more comprehensive platform that manages the entire sales lifecycle, from inquiry to payment, with AI-driven automation and extensive CRM capabilities.
Matrix’s reviews are mostly positive but limited, with just 18 total reviews and 9 in the last six months, reflecting early-stage feedback. Thynk, on the other hand, has over 105 reviews, with 17 recent ones, indicating a more established presence and stronger confidence from users. Do these review counts influence your confidence in the product’s ongoing support and development? The recent reviews favor Thynk, which currently holds a higher rating and greater market confidence.
If your hotel needs a sales platform focused on high-level pipeline management, quick access to deals, and clear performance tracking, Matrix SMS is the ideal fit. Its intuitive interface and automation tools appeal to hotels that prioritize efficiency without extensive customization. Thynk suits larger, more complex hotel operations that require comprehensive sales lifecycle management, MICE handling, and AI-driven automation.
For boutique hotels or properties looking for streamlined sales oversight, Matrix’s simplicity and ease of onboarding make it appealing. For multi-property groups with complex sales processes, Thynk’s wide array of features and scalability provide the necessary depth and control.
Matrix SMS scores a 4.94/5 for ease of use, reflecting its sleek, intuitive interface and smooth onboarding experience. Reviewers praise its straightforward navigation, quick setup, and minimal learning curve, which helps your staff adopt it rapidly. Thynk’s interface, while user-friendly, receives a slightly lower score of 4.39/5, with some feedback indicating room for aesthetic improvements and more streamlined report creation.
Given the recent reviews, Matrix’s ease of use is more highly rated and more recent, indicating it might be better suited for teams with limited technical resources or those seeking quick adoption. Edge: Matrix SMS.
Thynk offers a broader suite of features—11 unique capabilities—such as advanced CRM, content management, client portals, task management, e-signatures, and integrated payments. These features enable comprehensive sales and event management from inquiry to invoicing. Matrix, with zero exclusive features, focuses on core sales pipeline management, lead tracking, and reporting.
If your hotel needs detailed CRM, automated proposals, or digital contract handling, Thynk’s expanded feature set makes it the clear choice. For high-level sales tracking and performance insights, Matrix’s simpler, targeted tools suffice. Edge: Thynk.
Matrix’s support ratings are slightly higher (4.89/5) than Thynk’s (4.39/5), with reviews frequently highlighting responsiveness and proactive assistance. Users appreciate the ongoing feedback loop and the team’s industry knowledge, which fosters confidence in long-term support. Thynk support is also well-regarded but less consistently reviewed, with some users mentioning the need for more integration help.
Given the recent review counts, Matrix’s support reputation appears more robust. Edge: Matrix SMS.
Thynk boasts 14 verified integrations, including stayntouch, Oracle Hospitality, Mews, and others, which can significantly extend its functionality. Its integrations cover property management, booking, and payment systems, providing more flexibility for hotel operations. Matrix, with no verified integrations, may require manual data entry or custom development to connect with your existing systems.
If seamless, out-of-the-box integrations are critical, Thynk’s extensive partner network is advantageous. For a standalone, easy-to-manage system, Matrix’s approach may be sufficient. Edge: Thynk.
Thynk’s customer reviews are far more numerous (105 reviews) and recent (17 in the last 6 months), with an overall rating of 92.76, whereas Matrix’s ratings are less current and more limited. Thynk’s reviews consistently praise its usability, feature depth, and support, especially within luxury and large-scale hotels. Matrix’s reviews, although positive, are fewer and older, reflecting a smaller user base.
For confidence in ongoing support and product maturity, Thynk’s higher and more recent review count makes it the stronger choice. Edge: Thynk.
Matrix’s base price is $400, with no freemium option or additional charges, making it predictable and straightforward. Thynk costs $600 as a base, with no free tier or trial, but offers a more extensive feature set. Both pricing models are similar, but the value depends on the features you need.
If your hotel seeks a budget-friendly, simple sales tool, Matrix’s lower price is attractive. For hotels requiring advanced features and automation, Thynk’s higher price reflects its broader capabilities.
Not ideal if your hotel requires extensive CRM, event management, or integrated payments. Larger, multi-property chains with complex workflows might find Matrix’s scope too narrow.
Not ideal if your property is small, with minimal sales complexity, or if you prefer a simple, stand-alone tool.
Matrix SMS offers a focused, high-rated sales management solution for hotels requiring quick, efficient pipeline oversight. Its ease of use and strong support make it suitable for smaller or less complex team setups that value simplicity.
Thynk delivers a comprehensive, feature-rich platform that manages the entire sales cycle, integrates with many systems, and caters to larger, multi-property hotels handling complex events and MICE business. Its broader scope and recent, robust reviews position it as the more mature, scalable option.
Choose Matrix if your hotel prioritizes simplicity, speed, and core sales tracking with lighter integration needs. Opt for Thynk if your operations demand automation, detailed CRM, and seamless multi-property management. Both platforms have their merits, but Thynk’s recent market presence and extensive reviews give it a decisive advantage today.
According to HTR's product database, Matrix SMS and Thynk Groups & Events share 9 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
| Feature |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Communication Portal | ||
| Contact Management/CRM | ||
| Content & File Management | ||
| Itinerary Printouts | ||
| Meal Planning | ||
| Task Management (Tasks & Reminders) |
We analyzed 3 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.
"As we were expanding, it was crucial to optimize our processes. We were way back when it came to the industry on the topic of digitalization. I think a lot happened during the pand..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"The system works great for multi-properties and a big advantage for us is the combination with salesforce. We have CRM+Events now in single system. Furthermore processes are tailo..."
What hoteliers love
While the Salesforce integration offers scalability, reviewers express a desire for additional integrations for handling specific tasks like B2B Tour... While the Salesforce integration offers scalability, reviewers express a desire for additional integrations for handling specific tasks like B2B Tour Operator contracting, underscoring a potential area for enhancement.
Built on the Salesforce foundation, Thynk Cloud's CRM capabilities offer reliability and customization, essential for personalizing guest experiences... Built on the Salesforce foundation, Thynk Cloud's CRM capabilities offer reliability and customization, essential for personalizing guest experiences and managing customer relationships effectively. Users acknowledge its powerful CRM functions.
A recurring theme is the need for an improved aesthetic design and layout without compromising its functionality, as users find the current design ove... A recurring theme is the need for an improved aesthetic design and layout without compromising its functionality, as users find the current design overly monotone.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. Matrix SMS and Thynk Groups & Events share many core Hotel Sales Software features, but each has unique capabilities. Matrix SMS offers 0 verified integration partners, while Thynk Groups & Events offers 14. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Matrix SMS leads in ease of use at 5.0/5 vs 4.4/5. 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.
Matrix SMS: No. Thynk Groups & Events: No. Neither product currently offers a free tier. Most Hotel Sales Software 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. M1 Intel has an HT Score of 0 and Thynk has 92. 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