Tired of investing hours and your valuable skills in managing the administrative side of creating experiences? Streamline your operations with a tour operator software.
In our complete tour operator software guide, we’ll review some of the best software for tour operators, explain what it does, why it’s essential for your tour business, and discuss what features to look for when choosing the best solution.
Overview of advancements in tour operator software as of 2024
According to Statista, an overwhelming 83% of consumers now favor online ticket purchases, driving a significant surge in the travel sector.
Projections suggest over 700 million people have contributed to this growth by 2023. Additionally, online sales are anticipated to constitute 76% of the tourism industry’s total revenue.
In 2022, the global online travel market reached a staggering $474.8 billion, with forecasts indicating it could surpass the trillion-dollar mark by 2030.
This exponential growth underscores the pivotal role of online platforms in the travel industry, emphasizing the importance of businesses adopting efficient tour operator software.
As you can see, online reservations are here to stay. So, it’s time to ditch the notebook-and-spreadsheet combo and take up data-based automation.
Criteria for Selecting the Best Software for Tour Operators
The effectiveness and success of your tour operations are greatly influenced by your ability to select the best tour operator software. To help you make a decision, take into account these important factors:
A. Key features and functionalities to consider: Evaluate the tour operator software’s capabilities in crucial areas such as itinerary planning, booking management, customer relationship management (CRM), inventory management, reporting tools, and communication channels. Look for features that align with your business requirements and can effectively streamline your operations.
B. Scalability and flexibility for different business sizes and types: Ensure that the software can adapt to the changing needs of your business as it grows. It should be able to accommodate an increasing volume of transactions, users, and data without compromising performance. Additionally, consider whether the tour operator software is suitable for different types of tour businesses, such as group tours, adventure tours, or custom itineraries.
C. Integration capabilities with other systems and platforms: Check if the software offers integration with essential systems and platforms such as payment gateways, accounting software, customer communication tools, and third-party booking platforms. Seamless integration can improve efficiency, reduce manual tasks, and provide a cohesive experience for your team and customers.
D. User experience and interface design: Evaluate the user interface of the software to ensure that it is intuitive, user-friendly, and easy to navigate. A well-designed interface can enhance productivity, reduce training time for staff, and minimize the risk of errors. Look for features such as customizable dashboards, drag-and-drop functionality, and mobile responsiveness to improve usability.
E. Cost-effectiveness and return on investment: Consider the total cost of ownership, including upfront costs, ongoing fees, and additional expenses such as implementation, training, or customization. Evaluate the software’s potential to deliver a positive return on investment through improved efficiency, increased sales, enhanced customer satisfaction, and reduced operational costs. Additionally, consider any potential savings or revenue opportunities that may result from using the tour operator software, such as upselling opportunities, cross-selling capabilities, or improved customer retention.
Best Tour Operator Software for 2024
FAREHARBOR
FareHarbor is a cloud-based tour and activity booking solution designed to assist tour operators in managing their day-to-day business operations efficiently. It offers a range of features to streamline booking processes, enhance customer experiences, and optimize business management.
Features:
- No Subscriptions, Contracts, or Hidden Fees: FareHarbor’s pricing model ensures transparency and simplicity by not charging monthly fees or startup costs. This allows businesses to focus on their operations without financial constraints.
- 24/7 Customer Support: FareHarbor prides itself on providing exceptional customer support. It offers assistance via phone, email, and an extensive online Help Center to ensure that clients’ queries are promptly addressed and resolved.
- Streamlined Booking Process: The software’s user-friendly interface and integration with websites make it easier for customers to book online, increasing conversions and improving overall customer experience.
- Customized Business Solutions: FareHarbor offers highly customizable features tailored to the unique needs of businesses, allowing for personalized solutions that cater to specific requirements, such as guest seating assignments or specialized tour operations.
- Resources for Business Growth: FareHarbor provides a suite of resources, like FareHarbor Compass, to help businesses grow and optimize their online presence through digital marketing advice, SEO guidance, and industry insights.
- Robust Reporting Functionality: The software offers comprehensive reporting tools that allow businesses to manage, track, and analyze booking activity efficiently, providing valuable insights for accounting, marketing, and sales purposes.
- Seamless API Connections: FareHarbor facilitates seamless API connections to expand businesses’ reach and enhance connectivity with other systems, enabling operators to streamline operations and improve efficiency
Limitations:
Users have reported over-promised sales revenue and complexities in setup, reporting, and user-friendliness with FareHarbor, impacting operational efficiency.
Navigational challenges and dissatisfaction with gift card functionality further hinder user experience and revenue generation.
Pricing:
The payment processing service costs a rate of 1.9% of the credit card transaction value plus an extra fee of 30 cents per transaction. There is no upfront setup cost.
ADVENSURE
Advensure is a tour operator software that offers a range of features to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences in the travel industry.
This software is designed to assist travel companies in efficiently managing their day-to-day operations, from itinerary personalization to seamless bookings and prompt communication.
Advensure focuses on providing a comprehensive solution that caters to the needs of tour operators, helping them drive growth and stay competitive in the market.
Features:
- Efficient Booking and Inventory Management: Advensure offers tour operators a comprehensive solution for managing real-time availability, booking confirmation, customizable itineraries, and an easy booking experience for customers.
- Payment Processing with Multiple Gateway Options: Advensure provides flexibility with various payment gateway options to enhance the booking experience, potentially leading to higher conversions and customer satisfaction.
- Multilingual and Multi-currency Support: Advensure recognizes the importance of serving a global audience and offers robust multilingual and multi-currency support to meet diverse needs and empower travel businesses.
- Travel Website Builder: Advensure offers a travel website builder feature that requires no coding, allowing users to create customized websites for their tour and travel businesses effortlessly. With intuitive tools and template tailored to the industry, it empowers businesses to showcase their destinations, itineraries, and booking options without the need for coding expertise. This no-code approach streamlines website development, enabling businesses to establish a professional online presence and attract customers efficiently.
- Partial Payments: The software allows customers to pay a portion of the total cost as a deposit during booking, offering more flexible payment options and enhancing the overall booking experience.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: Advensure focuses on facilitating itinerary personalization, seamless bookings, and prompt communication to enhance the overall customer experience and increase satisfaction rates.
- Scalability: As travel businesses grow, Advensure can adapt to changing needs, making it a scalable solution that accommodates expansion and business growth.
- Competitive Advantage: By offering efficiency, personalization, and seamless experiences, Advensure provides a competitive edge to tour operators in the travel industry, helping them stay updated and responsive to market demands.
Limitations:
Advensure’s travel website builder feature currently does not support third-party bookings and vendor management. This aspect may limit certain functionalities but still offers a streamlined platform for showcasing destinations, itineraries, and booking options directly through the business’s own channels.
Pricing:
Commencing at $49 per month with a complimentary 30-day trial. This service also extends a 20% discount for those opting for annual pricing.
PEEK PRO
Peek Pro is an online booking software designed specifically for tour operators of all types, offering a range of features to optimize the booking process and enhance customer experiences.
This cloud-based solution is tailored to drive conversions, increase online revenue, and streamline business operations in the travel and tourism industry.
Features:
- Mobile-Optimized Booking System: Peek Pro tour operator software is optimized for mobile devices, allowing customers to easily book tours and activities from their smartphones or tablets. This enhances accessibility and convenience.
- Real-Time Availability and Allocation: The software prevents overbooking by managing reservations in real-time, ensuring accurate availability and resource allocation, leading to improved operational efficiency.
- Customized Reports: Peek Pro offers personalized and detailed reports that track conversions, website performance, and booking trends. These reports provide valuable insights for business growth and decision-making.
- Direct Booking Integration: Customers can book tours directly through a company’s website or Facebook page, eliminating the need for third-party platforms and simplifying the booking process for both businesses and customers.
- Integrated Digital Waivers: Peek Pro streamlines the waiver process by integrating digital waivers, reducing paperwork, enhancing customer experience, and improving team productivity by automating administrative tasks.
- Automated Emails: The software sends automated emails to customers, guides, and agents, keeping all parties informed and updated on bookings, schedules, and notifications, improving communication and customer engagement.
- Event Scheduling and Notifications: Peek Pro enables efficient event scheduling and guide notifications, ensuring smooth operations, timely communication, and enhanced customer satisfaction throughout the booking process.
Limitations:
Online booking systems like Peek Pro rely on consistent internet access, which can be challenging in remote areas. While they attract new customers, rapid growth can strain resources if not managed well.
Quality and support vary among providers, so choosing the right one is crucial. Additionally, ensuring the system attracts quality customers for sustained growth is essential.
Pricing:
There is no initial set-up price. Instead, the payment processing service charges 2.3% on credit card transactions plus a 30-cent fee per transaction.
REZDY
Rezdy is an online booking and reservation system designed for tour operators, offering a range of features to streamline booking processes, enhance customer experiences, and optimize business operations. It serves as a comprehensive solution for managing reservations, availability, and communication with customers.
Features:
- Ease of Use: Rezdy stands out for its user-friendly interface, which makes it easy to set up, navigate, and use compared to other tour booking software options. This enhances operational efficiency and user experience.
- Comprehensive Support: Users praise Rezdy for its outstanding customer support, providing assistance with integrating the booking system into businesses and addressing everyday queries promptly, offering a personalized and reliable support experience.
- Marketplace Integration: Rezdy offers a marketplace feature, which is uncommon in the world of booking software. This feature allows businesses to expand their reach and connect with a broader network of customers and partners, enhancing visibility and revenue opportunities.
- Professionalism and Simplification: Users highlight how Rezdy has simplified their booking processes, improved the professionalism of their business operations, and provided a seamless experience for operators and customers, contributing to increased efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Customization and Concept: Rezdy’s design and concept, originating from a tour operator business owner, reflect a deep understanding of the industry’s needs. It offers a tailored booking platform that aligns with tour operators’ requirements, ensuring a more personalized and effective solution.
Limitations:
Users are concerned about Rezdy’s increasing pricing without notable feature additions, which is impacting its value proposition.
Feature limitations and slow responsiveness to user feedback hinder operational flexibility and user experience.
Additionally, daily login requirements inconvenience users, suggesting a need for improved usability.
Pricing:
The service begins at a monthly rate of $49, accompanied by a charge of 2% for each online booking, with a complimentary 21-day trial period.
BOKUN
Bokun is a cloud-based booking management system tailored for travel and tourism businesses, offering a comprehensive solution to handle reservations, pricing, inventory, and more.
It caters to a wide range of users, from small single-person tour providers to large international OTAs and resellers, providing an all-in-one software platform to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences.
Features:
- All-in-One Solution: Bokun offers a centralized platform to manage reservations, inventory, resources, content, images, pricing, payments, and more, simplifying operations and reducing the need for multiple systems.
- Robust Reporting: The software provides detailed reporting features that allow users to monitor key performance indicators like revenue growth and website traffic, enabling data-driven decision-making and business optimization.
- Online Booking Engine: Bokun’s online booking engine enables users to effortlessly create custom booking websites, publish real-time availability across various channels, and connect with major OTAs to reach a broader customer base.
- Mobile-Friendly Widgets: Bokun’s mobile-friendly widgets allow customers to book products on any device at any time, enhancing accessibility and convenience for travelers and boosting conversion rates.
- Flexible Pricing Features: Bokun offers flexible pricing options for managing multiple currencies and rates, catering to diverse customer needs and simplifying the booking process for businesses operating in various markets.
- Efficiency and Automation: By centralizing all bookings in one location and automating processes, Bokun improves operational efficiency, reduces manual tasks, and enhances tour operators’ overall productivity.
Limitations:
Users express pricing concerns about Bokun, questioning its value for smaller businesses.
Feature limitations, slow feedback implementation, and daily login requirements hinder user experience, emphasizing the need for improvements.
Pricing:
Beginning at $49 per month, this service includes a 1.5% charge for each online booking, alongside a 14-day free trial period.
Conclusion:
A good tour operator software goes beyond a simple reservation system. It allows a more extensive and practical distribution network, frees your time and resources, and increases customer satisfaction.
The truth is that an increasing number of consumers are making their reservations and bookings online. Tour operator software will play an increasingly pivotal role in enabling businesses to thrive in a competitive market as the travel industry continues to evolve.
With technological advancements, we can expect to see further innovation in features such as AI-driven itinerary recommendations, personalized customer experiences, and real-time data analytics. Additionally, the integration of emerging technologies such as VR (Virtual Reality) and AR (Augmented Reality) for immersive experiences may reshape the landscape of tour operating software.
Ultimately, businesses that embrace cutting-edge software solutions tailored to their needs will be best positioned to succeed and adapt to the ever-changing demands of the travel industry.
Need help to grow your tour business?
Sweata Deb Barman is a passionate Economist turned Digital Marketing Enthusiast with a knack for driving brand growth through innovative strategies. With a joyful spirit and a love for exploration and culinary delights, she brings a unique blend of creativity and analytical prowess to her work.
