Choosing the right Revenue Management System (RMS) is one of the most important technology decisions a hotel can make. The stakes are high. Get it right, and you unlock smarter pricing, stronger forecasting, and measurable revenue lift.
But with a crowded marketplace of vendors offering everything from basic rule-based tools to advanced AI-driven platforms, evaluating your options can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve created this Essential RMS Evaluation Checklist—a concise, actionable guide to the most critical questions every hotel owner, operator, or revenue manager should ask during the procurement process.
Use this checklist interactively—score each RMS on these criteria to compare vendors side-by-side, factoring in both strategic fit and ease of execution.
❑ Does the platform use real-time data to dynamically adjust pricing by room type, segment, and channel?
❑ Can it learn from historical performance, market signals, and user inputs to improve recommendations over time?
❑ Are there customizable guardrails to enforce business rules or brand strategies?
❑ Is the platform’s decision-making logic transparent and explainable?
❑ Can custom reports be generated for unique business questions (e.g., promotions by segment, pickup trends)?
❑ Does it allow ad hoc data analysis beyond pre-built dashboards?
❑ Can it simulate “what-if” scenarios to test the impact of different pricing strategies?
❑ Does it detect early warning signs like spikes in cancellations or unusual booking patterns?
❑ Does it integrate bi-directionally and in real time with your PMS, CRS, and channel manager?
❑ Can it ingest third-party demand signals?
❑ Does it connect with CRM systems for personalized pricing and loyalty offers?
❑ Can it be integrated quickly and easily by non-technical staff?
❑ What is the total cost of ownership (TCO) (license, integration, training, support)?
❑ What kind of ROI (RevPAR, ADR, efficiency gains) have similar properties seen?
❑ Can the vendor provide customer case studies and references?
❑ What is their client renewal rate and support satisfaction score?
❑ Is the system user-friendly for non-technical staff?
❑ What onboarding and training resources are provided?
❑ How responsive is customer support, and what are typical resolution times?
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