New advancements in automation technology and the recent COVID-19 outbreak have changed the way customers engage with businesses.
Statistics have shown that up to 83% of adults now prefer to book their tickets online, with over 700 million people estimated to fuel a surging online booking industry by 2023. More than that, online sales are estimated to comprise 72% of the total revenue for the tourism industry.
As you can see, online bookings are here to stay, so you risk getting left behind if you still don’t incorporate them into your business. If you’re really serious, it’s time to ditch the notebook-and-spreadsheet combo and take up data-based automation.
In this article, we’ll discuss why you need the best tour operator software. We’ll also include top software options to choose from in 2023 and list advantages and disadvantages of the best tour operator software according to existing user reviews.
Let’s dive right in!
Who Needs The Best Booking Software for Tour Operators?
Booking software allows tour companies to handle their day-to-day processes in a more seamless and efficient way. It can help you do various tasks like manage reservations, handle bookings, and even conduct marketing efforts, giving you more time for other important duties within the company.
You can also use booking software to process payments quickly and safely. Some booking solutions can even help you claim a bigger share of both international and domestic markets through focused marketing efforts.
In other words, choosing the best tour operator software will give you the competitive edge you need to not only survive but also to prosper in this post-COVID, technologically advanced arena.
Ready to see the best tools for tour operators this year? Let’s go!
The Best Tour Operator Software for Your Company
Regiondo
If you want an all-in-one solution to your booking needs, consider Regiondo tour booking software. Regiondo is an online booking system built for tours, activities, and attractions. Whatever business you might have – from boat tours, museums, and more – Regiondo’s got everything you need and more.
Pros:
- Regiondo features a comprehensive system that is highly customizable, integrable, and optimized for mobile. It comes with a comprehensive booking management function, complete with attendee, calendar, and channel management modules, just to name a few. You can also use it as a lightweight CRM.
- One area where Regiondo stands out is online marketing. If your aim is to build a stronger online presence for your business, reach a bigger audience, and increase your sales, Regiondo should be at the top of your list: the system offers more than 200 sales channels (e.g., GetYourGuide, Viator, Google Things to Do) and 3,000+ app integrations.
- Finally, Regiondo also provides a Website Builder for tour operators who do not have a website, and POS for on-site payments.
- High-quality onboarding and multi-language customer support 24/7 via chat, email and phone.
Cons:
- Basic accounting reports
- Limited mobile experience.
Pricing:
Regiondo offers three pricing tiers. The Starter package comes at €49.00 per month, the Advanced package at €99.00 per month, and the Enterprise at €199.00 per month. Regiondo also offers a free 30-day trial in case you want to give it a spin first.
FareHarbor
If you want a business management solution designed to make you happy and your customers satisfied, FareHarbor is a good choice.
Pros:
- Catering primarily to attractions, activities, and tour services, Fareharbor’s main strength is its robust customer support and attractive credit card processing rates.
- It’s a complete business management platform that doesn’t just manage your reservations but also your inventory and staff schedules.
Cons:
- Unresponsive technical support.
- Booking widget integration and whiletabeling options are limited.
- FareHarbor is based on Lightbox technology with obtrusive pop-ups, which results in higher bounce rates, low speed and poor mobile experience.
Pricing:
Fareharbor doesn’t have a fixed rate.
Checkfront
Say goodbye to messy spreadsheets, grumbling customers, and mishandled bookings with Checkfront. A sleek operator software specializing in booking, automation, and analytics, Checkfront makes your business run like a well-oiled machine, even as you sleep.
Pros:
- Dynamic pricing, automated customer notifications, multi-channel distribution, and real-time inventory management.
- Digital waivers for activity services, a selection of over 32 payment gateways covering 230 countries, and a mobile app.
- Integrations to various widgets and apps.
Cons:
- High booking fees (about 5.00%)
- Limited number of bookings
- Only 5 OTA connections available.
Pricing:
Checkfront has four price plans. You can start with Soho at €39 monthly, followed by Pro at €79 monthly and Plus at €149 monthly (+ booking fees). If you feel like you want some customizations, you can also ask for custom pricing. All plans come with a 21-day free trial period.
XOLA
If you want something that will prime your business for growth, then Xola is a good choice. A reservation system that is designed for conversion above everything else, Xola will push your marketing to the next level.
Pros:
- One of Xola’s best features is its collection of growth and marketing tools that are built around its reservation system. These tools employ conversion tracking, automated remarketing, and automated emails.
- Customizable discount, gift, and coupon generator.
- Online, mobile, and in-person booking system, POS, CRM, and analytics.
Cons:
- Inflexible pricing policy
- Buggy and frustrating mobile experience
- Unresponsive technical support
- Very little customization available for booking widgets
- Limited marketing features
- Not customizable reports
Pricing:
Xola only offers variable pricing, which you can get after you book a free demo.
TrekkSoft
A cloud-based and mobile-optimized solution for all your booking and reservation needs, TrekkSoft turns website visitors into customers in a matter of minutes.
Pros:
- TrekkSoft can be integrated with your website to provide a seamless system.
- It’s easily accessible through iOS and Android apps and even offers a website builder for all your branded content.
- Highly customizable payment gateway and a credit card reader.
Cons:
- No quality customer service
- Bad mobile experience
- Limited application functionality
- Inconvenient CRM system
Pricing:
Another of TrekkSoft’s highlight features is its per-booking payment scheme. This means that prices are passed on to each booking price instead of a monthly subscription. If you’d like a more advanced and tailored solution, you can also check out the demo for the Enterprise plan. You also have to pay €799 setup fee.
Peek Pro
A system designed by business owners for business owners, Peek Pro is an especially great resource for smaller tour operators who are just starting out in the industry.
Pros:
- Peek Pro’s primary goal is to keep time and resource costs low while still encouraging growth. It does this by using cutting-edge automation solutions that make emails, review requests, and digital waivers work for you 24/7.
- On the front end, the UI is sleek and easy to use. It utilizes QR technology similar to what airlines use to avoid lines and delays.
- On the back end, Peek Pro has a user-friendly and comprehensive system that includes multi-channel management, customizable reports, and easy integrations to analytics software.
Cons:
- Is not a good fit for equipment-rental based business
- Inaccurate sales reports
- Limited payment features
- Poor onboarding and customer service.
Pricing:
Peek Pro gives you the option to pay for the service yourself, or pass the fee to your customers through each booking. While there’s no set price for the service, you can get a quotation quite easily by booking a free demo.
Rezgo
Scalability is the name of the game when it comes to Rezgo. Rezgo grows with your business, allowing you to pay only for what you need, when you need it.
Pros:
- Rezgo offers a wide variety of solutions that you can customize depending on the level of your business. It doesn’t matter if you’re an aspiring startup or a well-known tour operator – you can find tools that work for you with Rezgo. These include marketing tools, booking systems, POS, management tools, distribution networks, payment gateways, waivers, merchandise, and support.
Cons:
- Not the best option for large businesses
- High per transaction costs
- Outdated UI
Pricing:
Rezgo has a performance-based pricing scheme, which means that it only takes a cut whenever there’s a booking – nothing more, nothing less. If you want to try it, you can easily book a free demo.
Palisis
If you want something tailor-made for your sightseeing and activity operations, then Palisis will happily make a product that will fit your business like a glove.
Pros:
- Palisis offers a comprehensive ticketing solution that lets you upsell and issue tickets, redeem both paper and electronic vouchers, and allow cash and credit payments.
- In addition to this, it has an extensive network of partners that can provide redeemable discounts, vouchers, and coupons to your customers to enhance your traffic. It also offers reservations and distribution solutions.
Cons:
- Small customer base
- Limited booking features
- No advanced CRM tools
Pricing:
Palisis doesn’t have set pricing since every plan is customized. That said, you can get a quotation by getting in contact with the sales team.
Bókun
Bókun is built especially for operators who want to strengthen their online presence. It offers a complete solution for all your booking management needs.
Pros:
- Bókun offers a strong suite of reservation tools, such as an online booking module, a channel and inventory management tool, and an analytics tool.
- There’s also a 1-click website builder for those who haven’t gotten around to creating a website yet.
Cons:
- Not user-friendly software
- Inability to edit bookings and invoices
- Limited and basic email options
- No product sorting feature
- Unresponsive technical support.
Pricing:
Bókun has only two pricing plans: Free and Pro. The Free version includes product management, tracking, analytics, connection to Viator, and standard user support. The Pro version costs $49.00 per month (+ booking fees) and comes with a lot more features, including a B2B marketplace, an advanced website builder, booking widgets, and a mobile app. It has a free 14-day trial that you can use upon signing up.
Choosing the Best Tour Operator Software
Good tour operator software is more than just a booking system. It frees up time and resources, gives you a wider and more convenient distribution network, and makes your customers happy and satisfied.
More and more people are making their bookings and reservations online – that’s the truth. And in a world where information and connectivity are becoming the most sought-after resources, you can’t afford to fall behind. With the pandemic still lingering, customers and operators alike are now realizing the value of an automated online system.
To say it simply, if you’re serious about being a tour operator, you need the right software to give you a distinctive advantage over your competitors. It’s time to ditch your notebooks and spreadsheets – choose the best tour operator software for your business now!
