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 271 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:
Planet shines in functionality and features — especially for vacation rental properties (4.3/5), with exclusive features like On premise and Mobile Device Notes & Tasks (Voice-to-Text).
Access Hospitality shines in Ease of Use and Customer Support — especially for RV park properties (4.9/5), with exclusive features like Mobile App and Tablet/Kiosk Check-in.
Side-by-side ratings based on 271 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $500/mo | Contact sales |
| Verified Reviews | 128 | 143 |
After analyzing 271 verified reviews, Planet users most value its functionality and features, ease of use, multi-property management, while Access Hospitality users highlight customer support, intuitive cloud-based pms, integration with third-party systems. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Functionality and Features
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Customer Support
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Ease of Use
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Intuitive Cloud-based PMS
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Multi-property Management
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Integration with Third-party Systems
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User Training and Onboarding
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Support Issues
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System Speed and Reliability
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Customization and Flexibility
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Room Management and Booking
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System Performance and Reliability
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Customizable Features
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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) ▾ | #24 38 reviews | #18 63 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #14 62 reviews | #15 57 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #12 15 reviews | #20 11 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #37 1 reviews | #35 1 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #20 51 reviews | #19 54 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #20 37 reviews | #17 46 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #17 38 reviews | #15 41 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #19 11 reviews | #44 2 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #30 6 reviews | #51 10 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #10 100 reviews | #9 118 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #18 4 reviews |
| Middle East | #14 2 reviews | #25 1 reviews |
protel PMS by Planet and Guestline’s Rezlynx PMS both target mid-sized to large properties seeking cloud-enabled property management, but they diverge in feature focus and user experience. protel emphasizes extensive customization, integrated payments, and robust multi-property support, fitting hotels with complex operations, including resorts and branded chains. Guestline prioritizes streamlined operations, dynamic pricing, and end-to-end management with simpler onboarding, ideal for smaller independents and medium-sized groups focused on ease of use and revenue optimization.
Both systems solve core PMS needs: managing reservations, billing, room assignments, and guest profiles. They integrate with third-party tools to enable seamless distribution and reporting. However, protel’s strength lies in its extensive integrations and on-premise/cloud flexibility, while Guestline offers tighter channel management, guest messaging, and mobile apps out-of-the-box. Your choice depends on operational complexity and staff tech adaptability.
If your hotel is a small to medium independent or boutique property in Europe or Asia Pacific, Guestline’s cloud-based Rezlynx PMS is preferable given its higher overall rating (4.5/5 across 143 reviews) and better ease of use (4.5/5) and support scores (4.5/5). Hotels emphasizing mobile access, streamlined guest communication, and integrated channel management will benefit from Guestline’s 13 unique features like mobile apps, guest messaging, and automated night audit. The data from 54 boutique hotel reviews averaging 4.3/5 supports this fit.
Conversely, if you manage a luxury resort or a multi-property branded hotel across broader geographies including the Americas, protel PMS suits your needs better. It has 196 verified integrations—more than double Guestline’s 96—and supports on-premise deployment, essential for properties with complex infrastructure needs. protel’s integrated payment processing and automated space optimization address operational complexity and revenue management. Despite a slightly lower overall rating (4/5) and fewer recent reviews (20 in last 6 months), it excels in customization and scalability, confirmed by case studies reporting doubled reservations and €543,000 upsell revenue for Bergwelt Grindelwald Resort.
For hotel segments with fewer than 5 reviews (e.g., casinos, RV parks), data is insufficient to inform a definitive choice, urging caution.
Guestline leads in ease of use with a 4.5/5 rating over protel’s 4.2/5, backed by 143 reviews versus protel’s 128. Reviewers praise Guestline’s intuitive cloud interface and streamlined workflows that reduce front desk workload; one calls Rezlynx “heads and shoulders above the rest, easy to learn and train staff.” Conversely, protel users appreciate its powerful features but note an outdated UI and occasional system crashes during complex tasks. Some report protel’s interface as “old and pixelated,” and training as insufficient for new users.
Onboarding scores echo this: Guestline rates 4.2/5, protel 3.8/5, with Guestline’s training described as “fantastic and stress-free,” while protel’s onboarding often requires more time and customization expertise. The higher recent review volume for protel (20 in 6 months) versus none for Guestline means protel’s usability reflects current updates more reliably.
Edge: Access Hospitality.
Both share 38 features common to modern PMS systems, but Guestline offers 13 unique features such as a built-in Channel Manager, EPoS, automated night audit, mobile app, guest messaging, online check-in/out, and housekeeping mobile apps. These features directly reduce labor at the front desk and housekeeping by automating guest communication and check-in processes. For example, Guestline’s lobby kiosk and centralized messaging enable front desk staff to manage guest interactions remotely, streamlining operations and enhancing guest satisfaction.
protel PMS includes 8 exclusive features like on-premise deployment, integrated ID and passport scanning with registration pre-fill, mobile device notes with voice-to-text, shift planning, rules-based room assignments, automated space optimization, and SOC2 compliance. These features cater to hotels requiring strict security, detailed operational control, and flexible room management. Automated space optimization and rules-based assignments optimize housekeeper workflow and maximize room utilization, critical for larger properties and multi-property setups.
Given the count and operational impact of Guestline’s unique features focused on guest-facing automation and daily task simplification, Guestline has a feature advantage for independents and small chains. protel’s unique features favor hotels needing high control, compliance, and multi-location management.
Edge: Access Hospitality.
Guestline scores higher in customer support and onboarding with 4.5/5 each compared to protel’s 4/5 and 3.8/5. Guestline users describe support as “superb,” “always quick, polite, and resolving issues,” with staff willing to “stay over shift to sort problems.” Positive comments about streamlined onboarding and continuous training reinforce Guestline’s strong support reputation.
protel users report competent support but also frequent long wait times and difficulty reaching phone support post-Planet acquisition. Some mention “terrible” phone help and recommend improvements. While protel offers 24/7 multilingual assistance with a single point of contact for PMS and payments, reviews indicate inconsistent response quality and slow issue resolution.
Edge: Access Hospitality.
protel PMS has 196 verified integrations, more than double Guestline’s 96. They share 61 partners including Right Revenue, Profitroom, Bookboost, and Customer Alliance. Unique to protel are integrations with Innspire, Planet, Omnibees, 4SUITES, NightsBridge, and HotelRunner, which support advanced revenue management, channel distribution, and booking engine enhancements suited for large, multi-channel operations.
Guestline’s unique integrations include Criton, AdsHotel, Sage, FLEXIPASS Keyless Mobile Access, and Digital Hotelier, which benefit hotels focusing on mobile key technology, marketing, and scalable digital solutions.
Hotels with complex distribution needs or large multi-property portfolios benefit from protel’s broader ecosystem. Smaller to mid-sized hotels valuing guest experience enhancements and mobile integrations may prefer Guestline’s curated set.
Edge: protel PMS (by Planet).
Guestline has a higher overall rating of 4.5/5 across 143 reviews versus protel’s 4/5 from 128. Guestline’s last six months rating is not available due to zero recent reviews, while protel maintains 4/5 over 20 recent reviews, indicating stable satisfaction.
Segment breakdown shows Guestline’s ratings exceed protel’s in boutique hotels (4.3 vs 3.9 across 54 and 51 reviews), luxury hotels (4.6 vs 4.1 across 46 and 37 reviews), resorts (4.8 vs 4.1 across 27 and 20 reviews), and bed & breakfasts (4.7 vs 3.7 across 52 and 35 reviews). protel rates slightly higher in limited service & budget hotels (4.1 vs 4.4 Guestline, but Guestline counts 44 reviews; data close enough for even call) and motels (both 5/5 but low review counts).
Guestline’s higher likelihood to recommend (90% vs 80%) and superior support and ease of use ratings underpin its better overall reception. The lack of recent Guestline reviews suggests caution, but the volume and segment coverage favor Guestline.
Edge: Access Hospitality.
Neither protel PMS by Planet nor Guestline publish transparent pricing on a per-room or monthly flat fee basis. protel lists a $500 base price without freemium or trial options, but no implementation or per-room pricing. Guestline does not disclose any base or recurring fees publicly and offers no trial.
Both systems require custom quotes based on property size, modules selected, and integrations. This lack of pricing transparency means hotels must engage vendors directly to assess total cost of ownership. Reviewers note Guestline as cost-effective, while protel is described as relatively expensive with added costs for customization and integrations.
Not ideal if:
Not ideal if:
protel PMS and Guestline both deliver core property management solutions with cloud capabilities, but their focus and strengths differ fundamentally. protel excels in integration breadth, flexible deployment options, and operational depth, targeting larger, more complex properties and multi-property portfolios. Guestline offers a more user-friendly, guest-centric system with advanced automation features and higher satisfaction scores, suited to smaller, boutique, and independent hotels.
Choose protel PMS if your hotel needs extensive integrations (over 190 partners), integrated payment processing, and on-premise options to support complex workflows and compliance. Its automation of space optimization and detailed reporting aid large resorts and branded chains. Case studies document meaningful efficiency gains and revenue uplift in these environments.
Choose Guestline if your hotel values ease of use, rapid onboarding (4.2/5), and a richer set of guest-facing features like mobile apps, online check-in/out, and centralized messaging. Its higher overall rating (4.5/5) across 143 reviews and strong customer support (4.5/5) reflect better user satisfaction. Boutique and independent hotels looking to improve guest experience and operational simplicity will find Guestline a better fit.
The decision hinges on your property’s size, operational complexity, and preferred balance between customization and usability. protel empowers scale and control; Guestline delivers simplicity and guest engagement.
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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| EPoS | ||
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Spa
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| Spa & Wellness Module |
We analyzed 11 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.
"We are delighted with the Guestline platform. We were looking for a system that quickly brought efficiencies to the operation as well as setting us up for the future, as guests loo..."
"It feels like a partnership, not a product. Our feedback is always heard and acted on. We’re working together for the shared goal of great guest service."
"It allows us the flexibility to know weddings, food and beverage and rooms information are all on the one platform. Anyone can access the system from any place and at any time and..."
No published case study for this goal yet.
"We were so impressed with the support offered by Guestline. The installation of both solutions was easy and stress-free."
What hoteliers love
Users appreciate Protel's extensive features for managing single properties, with comprehensive tools for reporting, room plans, and rate management.... Users appreciate Protel's extensive features for managing single properties, with comprehensive tools for reporting, room plans, and rate management. However, many reviews expressed disappointment that a lot of these functionalities are incomplete, buggy, or missing entirely when dealing with more complex setups or multi-property environments. Custom reports and seamless integration with other tools are also highlighted as beneficial.
The user interface is generally praised for being intuitive and easy to navigate. Many users found Protel Air particularly user-friendly and noted the... The user interface is generally praised for being intuitive and easy to navigate. Many users found Protel Air particularly user-friendly and noted the efficiency in managing daily operations. However, certain updates have made certain functions more complex and less intuitive than before.
Protel's performance in catering to multi-property environments received mixed feedback. While some users praised its organizational tools and interfa... Protel's performance in catering to multi-property environments received mixed feedback. While some users praised its organizational tools and interfaces, many found the system frustratingly limited for multi-location setups, highlighting significant bugs and reduced functionalities.
Where hoteliers push back
Customer support is a consistent area of concern. Reviews mentioned long waiting times for support requests, lack of phone availability, and poor resp... Customer support is a consistent area of concern. Reviews mentioned long waiting times for support requests, lack of phone availability, and poor response times after the acquisition by Planet. Users recommend improving the speed and reliability of customer service.
Users are generally happy with the level of customization available in Protel, allowing them to adapt the system to better fit their specific needs. H... Users are generally happy with the level of customization available in Protel, allowing them to adapt the system to better fit their specific needs. However, this flexibility often comes at a high cost, and some required features are only available through paid custom development.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
What hoteliers love
Good customer support is frequently mentioned as a positive aspect of Guestline, with many users appreciating the fast and helpful responses. Neverthe... Good customer support is frequently mentioned as a positive aspect of Guestline, with many users appreciating the fast and helpful responses. Nevertheless, some users report inconsistencies in support quality and response times.
Users appreciate Guestline’s cloud-based PMS for its accessibility from anywhere and its user-friendly nature. The system’s flexibility ensures that h... Users appreciate Guestline’s cloud-based PMS for its accessibility from anywhere and its user-friendly nature. The system’s flexibility ensures that hoteliers can manage operations seamlessly, improving staff efficiency and allowing for better guest experiences. Hoteliers generally find it reliable, though some mention a learning curve initially.
Guestline’s capability to integrate with various third-party software like OTAs, EPOS, and payment systems is highly appreciated. This integration fac... Guestline’s capability to integrate with various third-party software like OTAs, EPOS, and payment systems is highly appreciated. This integration facilitates smoother operations and consolidates data management. Hoteliers benefit from seamless connections, although some integrations still require improvement.
Where hoteliers push back
While the system is generally robust, users have reported occasional slowdowns and system crashes. These issues, although not frequent, highlight area... While the system is generally robust, users have reported occasional slowdowns and system crashes. These issues, although not frequent, highlight areas where the system’s reliability could be improved.
The system allows for effective management of room bookings and groups, but some users find the process lengthy and the multi-room booking functionali... The system allows for effective management of room bookings and groups, but some users find the process lengthy and the multi-room booking functionality cumbersome. Suggestions for streamlining these processes are common among users.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. protel PMS (by Planet) and Guestline (Rezlynx PMS) share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. protel PMS (by Planet) offers 196 verified integration partners, while Guestline (Rezlynx PMS) offers 96. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. Guestline (Rezlynx PMS) leads in ease of use at 4.5/5 vs 4.2/5. 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.
protel PMS (by Planet): No. Guestline (Rezlynx 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. Planet has an HT Score of 74 and Access Hospitality has 18. 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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