Crave Mobile Platform (acq by HCN) vs. The Digital Hotelier:
Lequel vous convient le mieux ?

The Decision

Both Crave Mobile Platform by Crave Interactive and The Digital Hotelier aim to enhance guest engagement through digital solutions. They solve the core challenge of providing contactless, mobile access to hotel services, but they diverge significantly in scope and sophistication. Crave offers a broad, feature-rich platform with substantial integration capabilities, while The Digital Hotelier focuses on a web-based, multilingual guest experience. Are you prioritizing a comprehensive in-house system or a simple, scalable web app?

Crave has amassed a strong user base with 48 reviews, all recent within the last six months, and an overall rating of 4.75/5. In contrast, The Digital Hotelier has only 2 reviews, with no recent feedback, and does not currently have an overall rating. Given the recency and volume of reviews, Crave’s data provides a more reliable picture of performance.

Is Crave Mobile Platform or The Digital Hotelier Better for Hotels?

Crave is designed for hotels seeking a high-functionality, customizable guest engagement platform, especially those with complex or multi-service needs. Its extensive feature set—ranging from contactless ordering to NFC and mobile payments—caters to hotels that want to automate and streamline multiple guest touchpoints. In contrast, The Digital Hotelier serves hotels that prefer a web-first, no-download interface primarily for simple service requests and upsells, often suitable for properties with a minimal tech footprint.

Crave’s integration with 17 hotel systems and its presence across six continents demonstrate its scalability and robustness, making it ideal for properties that want a deeper, more connected guest experience. Meanwhile, The Digital Hotelier’s core strength lies in its ease of access and multilingual support, which might appeal to hotels with international guests wanting quick, contactless interactions. Do you need a feature-rich platform or a straightforward, accessible guest interface?

Crave vs The Digital Hotelier: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a highly customizable, multi-feature guest engagement platform with extensive integrations, go with Crave. Its high review count and recent positive feedback affirm its reputation among hotels that value detailed reporting, contactless payments, and in-venue ordering, especially in luxury and branded hotel segments.

If your hotel focuses on providing a simple, web-based experience without the need for extensive system integrations, The Digital Hotelier might be better. It suits vacation rentals, villas, or boutique hotels that prioritize ease of access and multilingual support over deep feature sets, although its limited reviews and absence of recent feedback make it less proven at scale.

Edge: Crave Mobile Platform.

Is Crave or The Digital Hotelier Easier to Use?

Crave’s user interface is rated 4.61/5, with many reviewers citing its intuitiveness and helpful onboarding process. Users praise Crave for its straightforward setup, especially for staff training, and mention that guests find it easy to navigate, even during busy periods.

The Digital Hotelier receives a slightly lower rating of 4.5/5, with reviews highlighting its web-based simplicity and multi-language support as strengths. However, users note that its onboarding can be inconsistent, and some report needing additional support to maximize its features.

Edge: Crave Mobile Platform.

Which Has Better Features: Crave or The Digital Hotelier?

Crave boasts 18 unique features, including mobile checkout, QR codes, Apple Pay, digital menus, in-venue ordering, contactless payments, and NFC. These features enable a hotel to automate multiple touchpoints, from ordering to payments, directly impacting revenue and guest satisfaction.

The Digital Hotelier offers 7 core features mainly centered around guest requests—ordering food, booking services, and requesting housekeeping—plus built-in upsell tools and external service management. It lacks the broad set of in-venue ordering and payment features Crave provides.

Edge: Crave Mobile Platform.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Crave or The Digital Hotelier?

Crave’s support team scores 4.79/5, with reviews emphasizing quick, polite responses and proactive assistance. Hoteliers report that Crave’s technical team resolves issues swiftly, often going above expectations.

The Digital Hotelier’s support scores 3.5/5, with reviews suggesting that service can be inconsistent, and some users express frustration over slow responses and unresolved issues. Given its limited review volume, the support experience remains less validated.

Edge: Crave Mobile Platform.

Which Has More Integrations: Crave or The Digital Hotelier?

Crave integrates with 17 verified partners, including major systems like Oracle Hospitality, Infor, and Amadeus, covering a broad range of hotel operations. Its extensive integrations enable real-time data sharing and automation across property management, POS, and other systems.

The Digital Hotelier has only 3 verified integrations, including Shiji Group and its own platform, limiting its ability to connect with broader hotel systems. Its narrower scope may restrict advanced automation for larger or more complex properties.

Edge: Crave Mobile Platform.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Crave or The Digital Hotelier?

Crave’s overall rating of 4.75/5 is supported by recent reviews from diverse hotel segments, including luxury and branded hotels, which rate it highly for usability and support. Hoteliers in these segments appreciate its customizable features and reliable support.

The Digital Hotelier has no recent reviews or overall ratings, making it difficult to gauge satisfaction. Its limited feedback suggests a lack of widespread trust or proven performance at scale.

Edge: Crave Mobile Platform.

How Much Do Crave’s and The Digital Hotelier’s Solutions Cost?

Crave’s base price is $400 per month, with no free tier, trial, or implementation fees. Its higher cost reflects its extensive feature set and broad integrations.

The Digital Hotelier charges a $100 monthly base fee, with no mention of setup or additional costs. However, the lack of recent reviews and fewer features suggest it may be more suitable for smaller properties or those with limited budgets.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Crave?

• Hotels that want an all-in-one guest engagement platform with extensive features and integrations.
• Properties aiming to automate multiple services like ordering, payments, and messaging.
• Hotels in need of detailed analytics and reporting to optimize operations.
• Luxury, branded, or large independent hotels with complex service needs.
• Teams that want to customize interfaces and workflows to match brand standards.

Not ideal if:

• You prefer a simple, minimal-setup solution.
• Your property is small and only requires basic contactless features.
• You lack the budget for a higher-cost platform.

What Type of Hotel Should Use The Digital Hotelier?

• Hotels or vacation rentals prioritizing quick, multilingual, web-based guest interactions.
• Properties looking for a contactless platform that requires no app downloads.
• Small or boutique hotels with limited integration needs.
• Hotels seeking to add simple upselling and external service management.

Not ideal if:

• You need advanced in-venue ordering, payment, or hardware integration.
• You require deep customization or robust analytics.
• Your hotel is in markets where the platform lacks local service support.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Crave’s platform excels in delivering a feature-rich, deeply integrated, and well-supported solution, making it suitable for larger, upscale, or tech-savvy hotels. Its recent reviews and high ratings make it a reliable choice for properties seeking to elevate guest experiences through automation.

The Digital Hotelier offers a straightforward, web-based interface ideal for smaller hotels or vacation rentals that need simple, multilingual interactions. Its limited features and support history suggest it’s less suitable for properties with complex operational needs or larger guest volumes.

Choose Crave if you want a comprehensive, scalable system that can evolve with your hotel’s needs. Opt for The Digital Hotelier if you prefer an easy-to-deploy, basic guest engagement tool with minimal setup.

This comparison aims to clarify your decision based on current data, reviews, and your specific property needs. Whichever you choose, ensure it aligns with your hotel’s operational scale, guest expectations, and growth plans.