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 231 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 when it comes to functionality and features — especially for brand properties (5.0/5) , with exclusive features like On premise and Guest CRM.
SkyTouch Technology shines in ease of use and customer support — especially for independent properties (4.0/5) , with exclusive features like Tablet/Kiosk Check-in.
Side-by-side ratings based on 231 verified hotelier reviews on HTR.
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| Starting Price | From $500/mo | From $600/mo |
| Verified Reviews | 108 | 123 |
After analyzing 231 verified reviews, Planet users most value its functionality and features, ease of use, multi-property management, while SkyTouch Technology users highlight user-friendly interface, customer support responsiveness, remote access. Click any theme to see what reviewers say.
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Functionality and Features
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User-friendly interface
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Ease of Use
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Customer support responsiveness
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Multi-property Management
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Remote access
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Tape chart
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Support Issues
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Customizability limitations
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Customization and Flexibility
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Bugs and glitches
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System Performance and Reliability
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Reporting capabilities
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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) ▾ | #27 32 reviews | #19 41 reviews |
| Mid-Size (25-74 rooms) ▾ | #15 50 reviews | #10 72 reviews |
| Large (75-199 rooms) ▾ | #15 10 reviews | #21 5 reviews |
| X-Large (200+ rooms) | #17 3 reviews | #23 2 reviews |
By Property Type
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| Boutique ▾ | #21 42 reviews | #18 47 reviews |
| Luxury ▾ | #21 34 reviews | #22 27 reviews |
| Branded / Chain ▾ | #17 33 reviews | #10 45 reviews |
| Extended Stay ▾ | #20 9 reviews | #22 7 reviews |
By Region
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| North America ▾ | #29 6 reviews | #7 120 reviews |
| Europe ▾ | #10 79 reviews | #60 0 reviews |
| Asia Pacific | — | #38 1 reviews |
| Middle East | #15 2 reviews | — |
Choosing the right property management system (PMS) can significantly impact your hotel's operations, guest experience, and revenue. Both protel PMS by Planet and SkyTouch Technology aim to streamline hotel management tasks, but they differ considerably in approach, features, and market presence. Your team needs a solution that aligns with your hotel’s size, complexity, and growth plans—so which one fits best?
Protel PMS offers extensive integration, customization, and support for multi-property setups, while SkyTouch emphasizes ease of use, quick onboarding, and a strong reporting interface. Which system provides the value and reliability your hotel requires?
Both products address core hotel management needs like reservations, billing, and guest communication, but they diverge sharply in scale and specialization. Protel PMS is a flexible, cloud-native platform with a focus on integrations, automation, and multi-lingual support, making it suitable for diverse hotel types. SkyTouch, by contrast, is designed for simplicity, with an emphasis on fast onboarding and straightforward operations, primarily targeting North American properties.
Protel’s strengths lie in its extensive features (23 unique offerings) and over 1,200 integrations, but reviews highlight slow support responses and complex customization for multi-property setups. SkyTouch, with a higher overall rating (3.5/5 vs 4.11/5 for Protel) and more recent reviews (though fewer in number), boasts a user-friendly interface and rapid deployment, but with fewer advanced features.
Are you prioritizing deep integration and customization, or looking for ease of use and quick results?
If your hotel needs robust multi-property management, extensive integrations, and advanced automation, go with protel PMS. It excels for hotels that operate across different regions and require flexible, scalable solutions with comprehensive reporting.
If your hotel values fast onboarding, intuitive operation, and a strong rate and reservation management system, SkyTouch is the better choice. It fits well for properties that want to reduce staff training time and focus on guest experience without complex customization needs.
For large, multi-location hotels or brands seeking extensive integrations, protel is the safer bet. Smaller hotels or properties with limited IT resources should lean toward SkyTouch for simplicity.
SkyTouch’s ease of use is reflected in its 4.64/5 UI rating and numerous positive comments about quick staff onboarding. Users praise how new employees can learn the system in less than a day, and the system’s cloud-based design facilitates remote access and management.
Protel’s interface scores 4.12/5, and while it offers a broad set of features, some reviewers note that complex customization and integration processes can slow staff adoption. Its UI is considered user-friendly for daily operations but requires training for advanced functions.
Edge: SkyTouch.
Protel offers 23 features exclusive to its platform, including multi-currency support, guest CRM, digital registration, GDPR compliance, automated space optimization, and integrated payment terminals. It also supports on-premise deployment and offers extensive automation, rate management, and shift planning tools.
SkyTouch provides 4 unique features: channel management, automated night audit, EPoS, and tablet/kiosk check-in, focusing on ease of reservations, guest management, and operational efficiency. However, it lacks the breadth of automation and advanced tools found in protel.
Edge: protel PMS.
SkyTouch receives higher support ratings (4.5/5) and recent positive feedback about their 24/7 support team, with comments highlighting professionalism and helpfulness. Users appreciate quick responses, though some mention delays and long-standing unresolved issues.
Protel’s support rating is 3.95/5, with reviews pointing out long response times, delayed bug fixes, and dissatisfaction with post-acquisition support. Some users find support inconsistent, especially during complex multi-property setups.
Edge: SkyTouch.
Protel boasts 195 verified partners, including major brands like GuestCentric, SiteMinder, Revinate, and Oracle Hospitality. Its ecosystem supports a wide range of third-party applications, making it highly adaptable for different hotel needs.
SkyTouch has only 33 verified integrations, with common partners like SiteMinder and Revinate, but fewer options overall. Its ecosystem is more limited, affecting hotels with complex or diverse system requirements.
Edge: protel PMS.
Protel holds a higher overall rating (4.11/5) from 105 reviews, with independent hotels and resorts rating it particularly well (4.5/5). Recent reviews praise its reliability and customizable features for complex setups.
SkyTouch’s rating is 3.5/5 from 119 reviews, with many users in the boutique and budget hotel segments highlighting its user-friendliness. However, many reviews also mention bugs and limited customizability, especially for larger or multi-property hotels.
Edge: protel PMS.
Protel’s base pricing starts at $500/month, with no mention of additional implementation fees or per-room charges. It does not offer a free trial, and costs may increase with modules and integrations.
SkyTouch’s base price is $600/month, also without a free trial or per-room fees. Pricing is straightforward but slightly higher, with some users citing value for money tied to ease of use and rapid deployment.
Not ideal if you prefer simple interfaces or your property is small with minimal tech needs.
Not ideal if your hotel requires deep integrations or advanced automation capabilities.
Protel PMS offers a comprehensive, adaptable platform suited for larger, multi-property hotels or those seeking extensive integrations and automation. Its strengths include detailed customization, broad ecosystem, and robust reporting—ideal for complex operations.
SkyTouch excels for smaller hotels or properties aiming for fast deployment, easy staff onboarding, and straightforward reservation management. Its user-friendly interface and strong support make it suitable for hotels that want quick results with minimal fuss.
If your hotel needs a scalable, feature-rich system, go with protel. If simplicity and speed are your priorities, SkyTouch is the smarter choice.
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 | From $600/mo |
According to HTR's product database, protel PMS (by Planet) and SkyTouch Technology share 23 features. Here are the key differences — features one has that the other lacks.
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| Automated night audit | ||
| Channel Manager | ||
| EPoS | ||
| Gift Vouchers | ||
| Guest CRM | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Multi-lingual | ||
| On premise | ||
| Tablet/Kiosk Check-in |
Showing top differences. 15 more features differ between these products.
We analyzed 5 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 finding great value and payback versus anything else out there on the market, and I have seen them all."
"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."
No published case study for this goal yet.
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
Users consistently praise SkyTouch for its intuitive, easy-to-navigate system. Many highlight how quickly new staff members can be trained, thanks to... Users consistently praise SkyTouch for its intuitive, easy-to-navigate system. Many highlight how quickly new staff members can be trained, thanks to the interface's simplicity. This aspect makes SkyTouch particularly well-suited for properties that frequently onboard new employees.
SkyTouch's customer support receives mixed feedback. Many users commend the support team for their professionalism and helpfulness. However, others cr... SkyTouch's customer support receives mixed feedback. Many users commend the support team for their professionalism and helpfulness. However, others criticize the extended waiting times and the fact that long-standing issues remain unresolved despite multiple reports.
SkyTouch's cloud-based system is appreciated for its remote access capability. This allows hotel managers to monitor operations, make rate changes, an... SkyTouch's cloud-based system is appreciated for its remote access capability. This allows hotel managers to monitor operations, make rate changes, and check reports from any location with internet access, which is a significant advantage for multi-property managers.
Where hoteliers push back
While SkyTouch offers a range of features, users report that the system's customizability is limited. Specific areas of concern include the inability... While SkyTouch offers a range of features, users report that the system's customizability is limited. Specific areas of concern include the inability to tailor reports, user interface layouts, and reservation processes to meet unique property needs.
Many users express frustration with SkyTouch due to recurring software bugs and glitches. These issues range from intermittent system crashes and logi... Many users express frustration with SkyTouch due to recurring software bugs and glitches. These issues range from intermittent system crashes and login problems to malfunctioning features like the tape chart and housekeeping modules. Users cite the need for more robust bug fixes and quicker resolutions from the support team.
Ranks higher for
Unique capabilities
Where the ratings diverge most
It depends on your requirements. protel PMS (by Planet) and SkyTouch Technology share many core Property Management Systems features, but each has unique capabilities. protel PMS (by Planet) offers 194 verified integration partners, while SkyTouch Technology offers 33. Review the feature comparison above to see where they differ before switching.
Small hotels should prioritize ease of use and fast onboarding. SkyTouch Technology leads in ease of use at 4.7/5 vs 4.1/5. 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. SkyTouch Technology: 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 33 and SkyTouch Technology has 77. 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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