Orbitz vs. SiteMinder Booking Engine:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right booking engine is crucial for your hotel’s direct revenue and operational efficiency. Orbitz by Orbitz aims to be a broad travel solution, but it has no recent reviews or ratings, making it difficult to gauge its current effectiveness. In contrast, SiteMinder Booking Engine boasts over 1,200 reviews, with recent feedback from 72 hotels in the last six months, indicating active user engagement. Given the gap in recent data and user satisfaction, SiteMinder clearly leads the comparison.

What ultimately matters is which product aligns best with your hotel’s needs, resources, and growth plans. Orbitz offers a travel-centric platform with minimal feedback, whereas SiteMinder specializes in hotel distribution and direct booking optimization, making it a more reliable choice based on current customer experiences.

Is Orbitz or SiteMinder Better for Hotels?

Orbitz, as a travel booking platform, largely focuses on aggregating flights, hotels, and packages, but it lacks dedicated hotel-specific features and recent hotel user reviews. Its interface and support seem untested recently, and the absence of recent feedback raises questions about its current reliability for hoteliers.

SiteMinder, on the other hand, is a well-established platform with over 1,200 reviews, most recent in the last six months. Hotels consistently praise its ease of use, robust distribution network, and helpful support. The recent reviews reinforce its standing as a trusted, hotel-focused solution with proven results.

Would you want a product with unverified recent performance, or one with a proven track record and active user base?

SiteMinder Booking Engine vs Orbitz: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel prioritizes direct bookings, distribution management, and scalable integrations, go with SiteMinder. Its extensive feature set, including PMS connectivity, multi-channel management, and detailed analytics, directly supports hotel revenue growth.

If you're seeking a platform that primarily offers broad travel booking options without hotel-specific customization, Orbitz might seem appealing. However, given the lack of recent hotel-specific reviews and features, SiteMinder offers a more targeted, reliable solution for hoteliers aiming to optimize online distribution and guest acquisition.

Is Orbitz or SiteMinder Easier to Use?

SiteMinder is rated 4.6 out of 5 for ease of use, with many recent reviews highlighting its user-friendly interface, intuitive onboarding, and quick setup process. Hotels report that even staff unfamiliar with technology find SiteMinder accessible, with some praising its straightforward channel management.

Orbitz, by comparison, has no recent reviews or ratings, leaving its usability and onboarding processes unverified. Its absence of current feedback suggests it may lack the user-friendliness and support that hoteliers now expect.

Edge: SiteMinder.

Which Has Better Features: Orbitz or SiteMinder?

SiteMinder offers 39 hotel-specific features like room and rate filtering, performance reporting, rate intelligence, PMS connectivity, multi-currency support, and automated emails. Its platform is designed to optimize distribution, revenue, and guest engagement, with features tailored specifically for hotels.

Orbitz, with no unique hotel features or recent feature updates, appears limited to basic booking aggregation without the comprehensive toolset that SiteMinder provides. The depth and relevance of SiteMinder’s features give it a clear advantage.

Edge: SiteMinder.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Orbitz or SiteMinder?

SiteMinder’s support ratings are strong at 4.43 out of 5, with recent reviews praising its responsiveness and helpfulness. Hotels like Olive House Apartments value the 24/7 multilingual support, which helps resolve issues quickly and minimizes downtime.

Orbitz has no recent customer support reviews or ratings, making it impossible to assess its service quality. The lack of recent feedback suggests it may not match the dedicated, responsive support hoteliers require.

Edge: SiteMinder.

Which Has More Integrations: Orbitz or SiteMinder?

SiteMinder boasts 245 verified integrations, including direct PMS links, OTAs, and other hotel systems. Its open API allows seamless connectivity with popular property management and revenue systems, supporting complex distribution needs.

Orbitz, with zero verified partners or integration options, falls short in this area. For hotels seeking a connected, scalable system, SiteMinder’s extensive integration network is a decisive advantage.

Edge: SiteMinder.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Orbitz or SiteMinder?

SiteMinder’s recent reviews reflect an average rating of 4.48 out of 5, with a 92% likelihood to recommend. Hotels across segments, especially boutique, city center, and resorts, report high satisfaction and measurable results like increased direct bookings and operational efficiency.

Orbitz, lacking recent reviews, cannot provide current satisfaction data. The active, positive feedback for SiteMinder makes it the clear choice for hoteliers focused on guest experience and revenue.

Edge: SiteMinder.

How Much Do Orbitz and SiteMinder Cost?

Orbitz does not provide clear pricing information, which suggests a custom or less transparent model. Conversely, SiteMinder charges a base fee of $500 per month, with no implementation or additional monthly per-room charges, making costs predictable.

The transparency and clarity of SiteMinder’s pricing make it easier for hotels to budget and assess ROI, whereas Orbitz’s opaque pricing model is a disadvantage.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Orbitz?

• Hotels that need a general travel booking solution, not solely hotel distribution.
• Teams seeking a broad travel platform for integrated bookings.
• Properties with minimal distribution needs and no requirement for extensive hotel-specific features.

Not ideal if:

• Your hotel relies heavily on direct bookings.
• You require advanced hotel-specific features, integrations, or management tools.
• You want recent, proven support and user feedback.

What Type of Hotel Should Use SiteMinder?

• Hotels aiming to expand their global distribution reach.
• Teams focused on maximizing direct bookings and revenue.
• Hotels with multiple properties that need centralized management.
• Properties seeking detailed analytics, rate management, and automation tools.

Not ideal if:

• You prefer a simple, low-cost booking solution without extensive features.
• Your hotel operates solely within a single local market.
• You do not require integrations with PMS or other systems.

SiteMinder & Edgar Suites: The Bottom Line for Hotels

SiteMinder stands out as the more proven, feature-rich, and actively supported platform, making it the smarter choice for most hotels today. Its extensive integrations, recent positive reviews, and global reach provide a solid foundation for growth and operational efficiency.

If your hotel needs detailed distribution control, real-time rate management, and reliable support, SiteMinder is the clear winner. Orbitz, lacking recent data and hotel-specific features, isn’t advisable for hotels seeking robust, scalable solutions.

For hotels prioritizing direct booking growth, operational simplicity, and future scalability, SiteMinder remains the recommended choice.