Top new features to look for in your hotel’s booking engine

To evolve with the industry, hoteliers must prioritize features that enhance convenience, personalization, and flexibility. Here’s an in-depth look at the top new features that can elevate your hotel’s booking engine, ensuring you maximize guest satisfaction and boost bookings.

1. Mobile-first design and usability

With the majority of travelers using mobile devices to book their stays, having a mobile-friendly platform is no longer optional—it’s a requirement. However, being mobile-friendly is not enough. Today’s booking engines must offer a seamless, intuitive experience on smartphones and tablets, ensuring guests can quickly find and reserve their room, no matter the device. Examples of this include: 

• Fast loading times 

• Mobile payment integration 

• Customer support 

• Streamlined booking process 

Hotels that prioritize a mobile-first design can significantly reduce booking abandonment rates and see higher mobile conversion rates. Given that mobile bookings account for over 50% of all online hotel reservations globally, this is a critical area for investment. 

2. Buy Now, Pay Later options

The rise of flexible payment solutions like “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) is transforming how consumers approach large purchases. BNPL allows guests to split their payments into manageable installments, making it easier to book higher-value stays or premium packages without the upfront financial commitment. 

Offering BNPL options on booking engines can attract a broader range of guests, particularly those who are budget-conscious or seeking a more flexible payment structure. This flexibility helps reduce booking abandonment by providing additional financial options during the booking process, making it easier for guests to complete their reservations. 

Through our partnership with FlexPay, we help hotels integrate BNPL capabilities, allowing guests to split payments into manageable installments. This option can make larger bookings more accessible and provide a solution for guests who may be hesitant to pay upfront in full. 

By offering these flexible payment options, we enable hotels to meet the growing demand for alternative payment methods, creating a smoother and more inclusive booking experience. As a result, hotels can see higher conversion rates, more completed bookings, and an overall improved guest experience. 

Personalization through AI-powered recommendations

Personalization has transitioned from being a nice-to-have to an essential feature for modern booking engines. Today’s travelers not only appreciate but also expect booking experiences that cater directly to their unique preferences. With Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered recommendation systems, personalization is elevated to new heights, benefiting both patrons and hoteliers. 

AI enables booking engines to analyze vast amounts of guest data, including search history, booking behaviors, and stated preferences. This allows the system to present guests with options and suggestions that feel uniquely tailored to their needs. 

For guests:

Personalization enhances convenience and creates a seamless, intuitive booking process. Imagine a frequent business traveler seeing a recommendation for the same room type they booked on their last trip, complete with a discounted offer for early check-in. Similarly, a family planning a vacation might be presented with suite options that include complimentary breakfast for kids or access to a nearby theme park. These tailored suggestions make guests feel valued, reducing decision fatigue and enhancing satisfaction. 

For hoteliers:

Personalization provides a golden opportunity to boost revenue through upselling and cross-selling. By presenting curated add-ons—such as spa treatments for couples or discounted late check-outs for weekend travelers—hotels can increase average booking value. AI-driven personalization also fosters loyalty, as guests are more likely to return to hotels that deliver experiences aligned with their preferences. 

The broader impact

SynXis Retailing takes personalization to a new level by combining insights from guest behaviors, loyalty data, and market trends to deliver hyper-relevant choices throughout the booking journey. For example, a guest booking a romantic getaway might receive suggestions for spa packages or wine tastings, seamlessly integrated into their reservation process. This AI-driven approach enhances the guest experience while helping hoteliers maximize revenue through strategic upselling and cross-selling.  

Beyond increasing satisfaction and profitability, personalization creates operational efficiency by automating complex data analysis and offer generation, allowing hotel staff to focus on delivering exceptional service. By crafting consistent and tailored interactions, SynXis Retailing not only elevates individual stays but also strengthens long-term guest loyalty and brand reputation. 

4. Weather guarantee solution

One of the most innovative features you can offer your guests is a Weather Guarantee Solution. Travel plans are often affected by unexpected weather changes, and providing flexibility around this can set your hotel apart. Our Weather Guarantee solution allows guests to make adjustments to their bookings or even cancel without penalty based on weather conditions. 

In 2024, we rolled out this feature with Sensible Weather, a solution designed to give guests the peace of mind to adjust their plans if the weather takes an unexpected turn. This feature not only enhances guest satisfaction but also helps reduce last-minute cancellations and potential revenue loss for the hotel. 

Weather Guarantee is a win-win for both the guest and the hotel, helping you maintain steady bookings even during unpredictable weather events.  

5. Seamless third-party integrations: More important than ever

Your booking engine doesn’t operate in a vacuum—it must work seamlessly with your hotel’s other key platforms to be successful. As the need for efficiency and accuracy grows, it’s more important than ever to look for booking engines that integrate effortlessly with these systems, enabling real-time syncing of rates, availability, and guest preferences. 

Recent improvements in third-party integrations have made it easier than ever to connect these platforms, streamlining hotel operations and minimizing manual errors. These integrations ensure a cohesive experience across all touchpoints, from booking to check-out, for both your staff and your guests. With better communication between your booking engine and other systems, you can offer a more connected and efficient experience, ultimately boosting guest satisfaction and operational performance. 

6. Loyalty program integration

Loyalty programs remain a cornerstone of guest retention strategies. Hotels with booking engines that fully integrate loyalty features can offer a streamlined experience where guests can: 

• Redeem points during checkout 

• Access exclusive offers or upgrades 

• View their loyalty status in real-time

Conclusion

In an industry defined by rapid innovation, having a robust, feature-rich booking engine is essential to stay competitive. From mobile-first design to personalized recommendations and flexible payment options, today’s booking engines are equipped to meet the demands of modern travelers. 

If you’re ready to explore how the SynXis Booking Engine can transform your hotel’s booking experience, we invite you to request a demo. Discover the tools and features that will set your property apart and help you succeed in a dynamic hospitality landscape. 

Want to learn more about how the SynXis Booking Engine can transform your guest experience? Explore Sabre’s SynXis Booking Engine today and discover the future of hotel booking technology. 

Related articles:

• Strategies to increase hotel revenue 

• Why every hotel needs a top-notch booking engine 

• 10 tips to increase hotel revenue through improved guest experience 

• Top 5 things to look for in a hotel management software

Written by Maura Valentine and Kaitlin Brennan