Inn and B&B software: room inventory, channel parity and guest operations — buying checklist
From: https://www.iwantmywebsitenow.com/industry/lodging/inn/
Workflow sources checked: 2026-10-02. Prices have separate capture dates.

Use this with a vendor or a builder. These are proposed evaluation tests, not claims that any product passed them.

YOUR BUSINESS
Current software:
What must work differently:
Records to bring across:
Budget and timing:

QUESTIONS TO TEST
1. Room and rate inventory
Ask: Can room types, named rooms, occupancy and seasonal rules publish consistently across channels?
Demonstrate: Set one room out of service and change a weekend minimum stay; test direct and OTA searches.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

2. Reservation and guest record
Ask: Can guest contacts, arrival time, requests, deposits and messages stay linked to the same reservation?
Demonstrate: Change an OTA booking’s arrival details and check whether the front desk sees the update and source channel.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

3. Housekeeping and handoff
Ask: Can staff see dirty, inspected and ready states without exposing private guest notes?
Demonstrate: Check out one room, assign cleaning, fail inspection and check how the next arrival is protected.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

4. Payment and reporting
Ask: Can deposits, cancellation charges, taxes, channel commissions and payouts reconcile?
Demonstrate: Simulate an OTA partial refund and direct-booking deposit; compare guest folio, tax and net payout.
Observed result:
Follow-up:

DEMO SCENARIO (SYNTHETIC)
Test a direct booking beside an OTA reservation
1. Create three room types with seasonal rate and minimum-stay rules.
2. Book one room directly and one through an OTA; change the OTA arrival date and inspect inventory sync.
3. Check out one guest, assign housekeeping and leave a room blocked pending inspection.
4. Reconcile a deposit, cancellation refund, occupancy tax and channel commission at close.

MIGRATION
Plan a controlled data move
Import room and rate definitions, active reservations and guest notes, deposits and balances, OTA IDs, cancellation policies, availability, housekeeping states, taxes, gift certificates and payout mappings. Reconcile arrivals for the next month across every channel; retain folios and guest record exports before ending the previous service.

A POSSIBLE FIRST BUILD
Property systems do not establish accessibility, fire safety, food handling or lodging-tax compliance. Verify local requirements and ensure guest-facing rates, fees, amenities and cancellation terms are accurate.

SOURCES
Little Hotelier small-property PMS
https://www.littlehotelier.com/hotel-management-software/
Vendor overview of small hotel front desk, direct booking and channel management.

ResNexus lodging software
https://www.resnexus.com/
Vendor overview of reservation management for independent lodging.

Cloudbeds hospitality PMS
https://www.cloudbeds.com/hospitality-platform/
Vendor overview of property management and distribution tools.

Research by Don, I Want My Website Now.
A product description is not hands-on testing. Verify the plan, current price and export access before committing.