HotelRunner Review: Channel Manager & Booking Engine for STRs (2026)
Overview
HotelRunner is a channel manager and booking platform that bridges the gap between hotels and vacation rentals. It offers 150+ OTA connections, a direct booking website builder, payment processing, and a basic PMS — all in one platform.
- Originally built for boutique hotels, it has expanded into vacation rentals with features that suit professional operators managing multiple properties. Pricing is custom-quoted, positioning it as a mid-market solution between budget channel managers and enterprise platforms.
At a glance
- 150+ OTA connections with hotel-grade channel management reliability.
- Built-in direct booking website with payment processing — no separate tool needed.
- All-in-one platform combining channel manager, booking engine, and basic PMS.
- solo hosts
- growing teams
- multi-property managers
- Extreme budget hunters
Pros & Cons
Highlights and considerations for HotelRunner.
- 150+ OTA connections with hotel-grade channel management reliability.
- Built-in direct booking website with payment processing — no separate tool needed.
- All-in-one platform combining channel manager, booking engine, and basic PMS.
- Hotel heritage means strong distribution and revenue management capabilities.
- Custom pricing only — cannot see costs without contacting sales, making comparison shopping difficult.
- Hotel-centric interface that does not feel purpose-built for short-term rental workflows.
- Limited STR-specific features like guest messaging automation and smart lock integrations.
- Smaller STR user community compared to platforms like Guesty, Hostfully, or Lodgify.
Scores
Strong in integrations and channel sync; weaker in data export for property management software.
Hands-on Review Notes
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Base includes |
|---|---|---|
| Custom quote | Contact sales for pricing (typically $10-30/property/month) | 150+ OTA connections, booking engine, payment processing, basic PMS, reporting |
Integrations
Common integrations supported by HotelRunner.
Channels
- 150+ OTAs including Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, and regional platforms
Smart locks & devices
Accounting
Other integrations
- Direct booking website builder with payment processing
- API access for custom integrations
Trial Guide: What to Test
During your trial or demo, focus on data export and confirm daily workflows.
- Connect all channels and verify calendar sync both ways
- Set price floors/ceilings (or connect your pricing tool) and review 14–30 day windows
- Test guest messaging automations end-to-end, including review requests
- If using locks, confirm auto-code creation, delivery and expiry
Alternatives
If you need stronger data export, consider these alternatives to HotelRunner.
FAQ
Answers to common questions about setup, pricing, and deployment.
Community experiences
Real-world notes from hosts who have used HotelRunner.
Share your experience
Submissions are reviewed before they appear publicly.
Sources
Documentation and references used in this review.
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