Level Up Your Glamping Business With A Robust Property Management System (PMS)
In a world where time is money, delegating your day-to-day business duties to an automated property management system (PMS) can make all the difference. While your competitors are struggling to get up and running, a robust PMS will allow your glamping business to soar.
At the 2022 Glamping Show Americas, Kathleen Walsh of Advanced Outdoor Solutions touched on this very topic. An expert in this area, Kathleen has seen it all. So today, I want to share some of her key suggestions that will help you set your glamping business apart.
What Is A Property Management System?
First, let’s discuss what a PMS actually is and what it can do for you. A property management system is software that helps businesses efficiently manage their properties, reservations, and operations. For a glamping business, it streamlines booking processes, tracks availability, manages guest preferences, handles payments, and monitors maintenance, enhancing customer experiences and operational effectiveness. Basically, it handles all of the tedious bookkeeping so you can spend more time flexing your creative muscles and interacting with guests.
What Are Some Must-Have Features of A PMS?
With so many PMS options on the market, it’s hard to tease out which one might be best for your glamping business. So, while considering your options, keep these must-have features in mind:
Choose a PMS that gives you the freedom to use your own credit card processor; don’t let one be forced upon you.
The PMS layout and flow should be intuitive and allow the guest to book their unit with as few clicks as possible.
Your PMS should include a robust revenue management tool with comprehensive reporting; I discuss this more below.
Prioritize systems that allow for modern integrations, especially those that work with online travel agencies (OTAs); I discuss this more below too.
Look for a company that offers excellent customer service support that is easily accessible and responsive.
Your PMS pricing plan should be clear and transparent; beware of “pay as you go” plans.
Let’s Talk Revenue Management Tools
Not only can a PMS allow you to streamline your day-to-day operations, but it can also allow you to make better and more strategic business decisions. As an automated system, a PMS is constantly creating and tracking important data. Why not also have it compile this data into detailed reports to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie?
For example, you can ask your revenue management tool to measure how many bookings you obtained from a particular marketing campaign - knowing which campaigns are generating the strongest leads allows you to direct your advertising budget towards proven avenues. Or, the revenue management tool can compare your prices against your competitors and alert you when there is a demand or lack of demand across given date ranges, so you can adjust your prices accordingly.
Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) Are Your Friend
Understandably, there is always a debate around whether you should be utilizing online travel agencies like Airbnb, VBRO, or Glamping Hub. The most obvious downfall is that OTAs will usually take 12-18% of your booking revenue, which quite fairly, is a substantial amount. The way Kathleen frames this dilemma is this: it’s always better to bring in 85% of your asking revenue than 0%. Therefore, you should be embracing OTAs; view them as your friend. They drive business to your venue, help build brand recognition, and can lead to repeat customers. That is always a good thing.
Some top PMS options in the glamping industry are NewBook, ResNexus, WebRezPro, and Cloudbeds. With each offering a slightly different experience, it’s important to do your research and choose one that best matches your operating style. Remember, you will live and breathe your PMS, so by putting in the work on the front end, you will save yourself time and energy later on.
