Salesforce vs. STS Cloud (by SalesandCatering.com):
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing the right hotel sales software can dramatically impact your team's efficiency and revenue. Salesforce by Salesforce and STS Cloud by SalesandCatering.com are two options aimed at streamlining sales and catering operations, but they serve different needs and hotel profiles. Both aim to improve lead management, booking, and reporting, yet their approaches and strengths vary significantly.

Salesforce is a global CRM platform that’s highly customizable and well-known for customer relationship management across industries. In contrast, STS Cloud is a purpose-built, all-in-one sales and catering platform designed specifically for hospitality, emphasizing ease of use, affordability, and seamless integration with hotel operations.

Are you looking for a broad CRM solution with deep customization, or an intuitive, cost-effective system specialized for hospitality? Your choice hinges on your property’s size, complexity, and specific operational needs.

Is Salesforce or STS Cloud Better for Hotels?

Salesforce offers a comprehensive customer relationship management platform with over 11 reviews mostly from business users and large corporations. Its strengths lie in connecting multiple properties, sharing data, and integrating with enterprise systems. However, hotel-specific features are limited, and many users find it less tailored to hospitality workflows.

STS Cloud, with 96 recent reviews, dominates the review count and emphasizes hospitality-specific features like BEO management, contract automation, and event handling. It’s praised for its simplicity, affordability, and ease of onboarding—making it a favorite among hotels seeking a straightforward, all-in-one sales tool.

Both products aim to boost your sales efficiency, but Salesforce’s enterprise focus may lead to complexity, while STS Cloud’s hospitality focus offers more tailored functionalities. Which better aligns with your hotel’s operational complexity?

Salesforce vs STS Cloud: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly customizable, scalable CRM integrated into a broader enterprise platform, Salesforce is the way to go. It suits larger hotel groups or properties that already use Salesforce for other business functions and require extensive data sharing and automation.

If your hotel requires a user-friendly, budget-friendly, and tailored sales and catering solution, STS Cloud is the clear choice. It’s ideal for properties of all sizes—especially those that want quick setup, strong event management features, and seamless integration with existing hotel systems.

For hotels focused on improving sales workflows with minimal fuss, STS Cloud’s simplicity and affordability make it the most practical option. Conversely, if your team needs extensive, customizable CRM capabilities, Salesforce’s enterprise-grade features might justify its complexity.

Is Salesforce or STS Cloud Easier to Use?

User experience is critical for quick adoption and team productivity. Salesforce’s UI scores a 4.36/5, with many users noting it’s “not very user friendly” and that report creation can be challenging. Its onboarding process can be lengthy, especially for smaller teams unfamiliar with complex CRM systems.

STS Cloud outperforms significantly with a 4.74/5 ease-of-use rating, and reviews praise its straightforward interface, quick learning curve, and intuitive workflows. Many users mention that their staff can start using it effectively within minutes, reducing training time.

Edge: STS Cloud.

Which Has Better Features: Salesforce or STS Cloud?

Salesforce’s core strength is its extensive customization and broad functionality, but it lacks pre-built hospitality-specific features. It offers basic contact sharing and integration, but users highlight poor reporting as a major drawback.

STS Cloud offers 11 unique features tailored for hospitality, including contract management, BEO handling, e-signatures, workflow automation, and CRM capabilities designed specifically for hotels. These features directly address common sales and catering needs without requiring extensive customization.

Edge: STS Cloud.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Salesforce or STS Cloud?

Customer support can significantly influence your experience. Salesforce’s support scores just 3.18/5, with some reviews citing difficulty in resolving issues and lack of hospitality-specific support.

In contrast, STS Cloud boasts a 4.72/5 support rating, with reviews emphasizing quick, friendly responses and personalized service. Many users appreciate the dedicated North American support team, which helps resolve issues swiftly and effectively.

Edge: STS Cloud.

Which Has More Integrations: Salesforce or STS Cloud?

Integration options can determine how seamlessly your sales platform fits into your existing tech stack. Salesforce offers 2 verified partners, including Hapi, but its limited integrations may restrict flexibility.

STS Cloud provides 7 verified integrations, including major PMS systems like Opera, RoomKey, and SkyTouch Technology, plus hospitality-specific tools like Stayntouch, Oracle Hospitality, and Cloudbeds. This broad range enhances its ability to connect with your existing hotel management systems.

Edge: STS Cloud.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Salesforce or STS Cloud?

Recent reviews clearly favor STS Cloud, which has a 4.68/5 rating from 91 reviews, compared to Salesforce’s 4.64/5 from just 11 reviews. Hotel segments like boutique, branded, and conference hotels rate STS higher, often citing its ease of use and tailored features.

Salesforce’s ratings are primarily from general business users, with some noting its lack of hospitality focus. The substantial review volume and recent positive feedback for STS Cloud demonstrate its strong reputation among hoteliers.

Edge: STS Cloud.

How Much Do Salesforce and STS Cloud Cost?

Salesforce’s pricing is not publicly listed and typically involves custom quotes, implementation fees, and per-user costs. This can make budgeting difficult for small or mid-sized hotels.

Conversely, STS Cloud charges a flat $300 monthly fee, offering transparent, predictable costs for unlimited users. Its affordability makes it accessible to hotels of various sizes without sacrificing essential features.

Edge: STS Cloud.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Salesforce?

• Hotels that are part of large hotel groups or management companies needing enterprise-wide CRM solutions.
• Teams that require extensive customization, automation, and integration with other corporate systems.
• Hotels with dedicated IT resources capable of implementing and maintaining complex platforms.
• Properties aiming for data centralization across multiple brands and regions.

Not ideal if:

• You operate a small or mid-sized property with limited staff.
• Seamless, hospitality-specific features are a priority.
• Your team prefers quick onboarding and simple workflows.

What Type of Hotel Should Use STS Cloud?

• Hotels of all sizes looking for an affordable, easy-to-use sales and catering platform.
• Properties needing strong event management, BEO handling, and contract automation.
• Teams that want quick implementation without complex customization.
• Hotels managing multiple properties or brands under a single platform.

Not ideal if:

• You require a broad enterprise CRM with extensive customization.
• Your team is deeply integrated with other complex corporate systems outside hospitality.
• You need advanced business intelligence or marketing automation beyond sales and catering.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Salesforce excels as a versatile, highly customizable CRM suited for large, complex hotel organizations with existing Salesforce infrastructure. Its capabilities extend beyond hospitality, offering extensive automation and integration options, but at the cost of complexity and higher expense.

STS Cloud is a dedicated hospitality sales and catering solution, praised for its simplicity, affordability, and features tailored specifically for hotels. It’s ideal for properties seeking a straightforward, quick-to-adopt system that improves operational efficiency and enhances guest experiences.

Choose Salesforce if your hotel demands enterprise-scale CRM integration and customization. Opt for STS Cloud if your primary goal is a user-friendly, cost-effective system designed specifically for hospitality sales and catering.

Final recommendation: For most hotels, especially those seeking ease of use, affordability, and industry-specific features, STS Cloud remains the stronger choice based on recent reviews, higher customer satisfaction, and broader integrations. Salesforce, while offering robust CRM capabilities, is better suited for larger, enterprise-level hotel groups needing extensive customization.