Glossary · Distribution

PMS (property management system)

PMS (property management system) — Property Management System
  • A PMS is the operational hub for running rentals: reservations, guest messages, cleaning tasks, invoices and reporting in one system, usually with a channel manager built in.
  • Category: Distribution

PMS vs channel manager

The channel manager moves availability between sites; the PMS is everything around it — inbox, task scheduling, owner statements. Small hosts often need only the sync; larger operations live in the PMS.

Do independent hosts need one?

With one or two listings, a full PMS is usually more admin than it saves. The alternative is a managed service where the "system" is someone else's problem.

Part of the Stays short-term rental glossary.

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