Introduction
As the tourism industry continues its recovery, tour operators and destination management companies (DMCs) are relying more than ever on robust tour operator software to power their online presence, manage bookings and operations smoothly. With countless options available, selecting the right software can be daunting. This blog evaluates 14 of the top tour operator software solutions based on key criteria to help narrow down the options for agencies of all sizes.
Methods of Evaluation
Each solution is evaluated based on essential booking and operations features, ease of use, pricing and payment options, support availability, and integration capabilities. Additionally, factors like the number of backlinks, traffic and keyword search trends for each vendor are analyzed using Moz and Ahrefs tools to help determine overall online reputation and market penetration. High performing vendors with the most comprehensive feature sets, flexible pricing, strong support and large customer bases tend to rank highest.
1. FareHarbor
FareHarbor is a leading tour operator software for businesses in the attractions, activities and tours industry. Founded in 2011 and based in Chicago, FareHarbor provides an all-in-one booking solution and business management platform to help tour operators and attraction owners manage their operations.
Pros: Some key advantages of FareHarbor include:
– Event registration and ticketing
– Customizable booking forms
– Robust analytics and reporting
– Integrations with payments providers and POS systems
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the software is primarily targeted at larger tour operators and attractions with multiple offerings. The pricing may be prohibitive for very small businesses with only one tour or activity.
Pricing: FareHarbor offers four pricing tiers based on annual booking volume:
– Basic Plan: $99/month for up to $250k in annual bookings
– Standard Plan: $199/month for up to $1M in annual bookings
– Pro Plan: $399/month for up to $5M in annual bookings
– Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing for over $5M in annual bookings
Some key stats about FareHarbor include:
– Over 7,000 customers in 80 countries rely on FareHarbor daily
– Processes over $2 billion in annual bookings
– 24/7 phone and email support from a dedicated customer success team
2. TripHobo
TripHobo is a leading tour operator software that helps travel and tour companies manage their business online. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in New Delhi, India, TripHobo enables tour and travel companies to manage bookings, inventories, reservations, customer details and payments on one platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of TripHobo include:
– Comprehensive tour operator software that allows end-to-end management of tours and travel business.
– Features multi-currency operation allowing travelers to book and pay in their local currency.
– Robust inventory management system to manage availability, pricing and bookings of tours, activities and services.
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the pricing can be quite high for small tour operators just starting out. The basic plan starts at $49/month which may not be feasible for very small operations.
Pricing: TripHobo offers three pricing tiers – Basic, Professional and Enterprise. Pricing starts from $49/month for the basic plan ideal for small tour operators. The professional plan starts at $99/month and adds features like multi-currency pricing. Custom enterprise plans are also available for very large tour groups or consortiums.
Some key stats about TripHobo include:
– Used by over 5000+ tour operators worldwide
– Supports over 30 currencies
– Has processed over $500 million in bookings
– Offers multilingual support in over 35 languages
3. Rezdy
Rezdy is a leading tour and activity booking software used by thousands of operators worldwide. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, Rezdy provides an all-in-one online booking solution for tours, activities, and attractions.
Pros: Some key advantages of Rezdy include:
– Intuitive booking site creation without coding
– Allows for flexible package customization
– Centralized management of inventory, bookings and payments
– Large global distribution network
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the setup and customization process may require some technical expertise or consulting support.
Pricing: Rezdy offers several pricing plans starting from $49/month for a Basic plan up to an Enterprise plan with customized quoting. All plans offer a free 14-day trial.
Some key stats about Rezdy include:
– Over 10,000 customers in 150+ countries
– Processes over $3 billion in annual bookings
– Distributes inventory to over 150 partner sites
4. TourRadar
TourRadar is a leading tour operator software platform that allows businesses to effectively manage and sell tours online. Founded in 2011 and based in Berlin, TourRadar provides a complete backend solution for tour providers to power their website, manage inventory, and process bookings across multiple sales channels.
Pros: Some key advantages of TourRadar include:
– Powerful booking engine and inventory management tools
– Real-time syncing of inventory and booking confirmations across channels
– Advanced reporting on bookings, revenues, partner performance and more
– Integrated CRM and marketing tools
Cons: Potential disadvantages could include the subscription pricing which may not be suitable for very small tour operators. However, TourRadar offers several affordable pricing tiers.
Pricing: TourRadar offers transparent and flexible pricing plans starting from €29 per month for the Basic plan suitable for small tour operators. Other premium plans with more features are priced upwards of €99 per month.
Some key stats about TourRadar include:
– Over 50,000 tours and 2 million departures available on the platform worldwide
– Supports multi-channel sales including the TourRadar website, partner websites, and travel agencies
– Used by over 2,000 tour operators in over 120 countries
5. Checkfront
Checkfront is a leading online booking software provider that helps experience providers and accommodations list and sell their offerings online. Founded in 2007 and based in Portland, OR, Checkfront allows companies to efficiently manage bookings, inventory, and revenue across websites, marketplaces, and travel agents.
Pros: Some key advantages of Checkfront include:
– Robust property management features to organize assets, rooms, units and track availability
– Native integration with major airlines, OTAs and marketplaces to reach global customers
– Highly configurable pricing engine to set tailored rates, packages and discounts
Cons: One potential disadvantage is the subscription pricing model which requires an ongoing financial commitment compared to one-time purchases of other solutions.
Pricing: Checkfront pricing starts at $99 per month for the Basic plan suited for small businesses. The more popular Professional plan is $199 per month and adds features like unlimited bookings and integrations. For larger enterprises, custom plans with additional features and support are also available.
Some key stats about Checkfront include:
– Used by over 7,000 businesses worldwide across industries like tours & activities, ski resorts, vacation rentals, and hotels
– Processes over $3 billion in transaction volume annually
– Integrated with major OTAs and marketplaces including Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb
6. Travefy
Travefy is an all-in-one tour operator software designed to help tour businesses better manage and grow their operations. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Travefy offers a comprehensive platform that enables tour operators to handle all aspects of their business in one centralized system.
Pros: Some key advantages of Travefy include:
– In-depth planning tools for tour itineraries and logistics
– Social booking widgets to promote bookings online
– Affordable and scalable for tours of any size
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the software may have a learning curve for tour operators used to traditional or offline operations.
Pricing: Travefy offers flexible pricing plans starting from $49 per agent per month for their basic ‘Studio’ plan, which includes core tour planning and booking functionality. Larger teams and companies can opt for their ‘Agency’ or ‘Enterprise’ plans that provide additional features and scalability.
Some key stats about Travefy include:
– Used by over 2,000 tour companies worldwide
– Supports multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German
– Processes over $400M in travel bookings each year
7. BookedIN
BookedIN is a leading online appointment booking and reservations software for tour operators, activities and attractions. With BookedIN, businesses can manage bookings, reservations and customer data all in one centralised platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of BookedIN include:
– Centralized booking and reservations dashboard
– Advanced booking workflows and flexible pricing
– Comprehensive OTA and channel management integrations
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the pricing can be quite expensive for larger tours and activity companies with high booking volumes.
Pricing: BookedIN offers several pricing tiers starting from $49 per month for the basic ‘Startup’ plan, which includes features like calendar management and online bookings. For larger companies, custom enterprise plans with additional features and integrations are also available.
Some key stats about BookedIN include:
– Used by over 5,000 companies worldwide
– Integrations with major OTAs like Booking.com, Expedia and Viator
– Real-time availability and automatic confirmations
– Mobile responsive design for booking on any device
8. Travolution
Travolution is a leading tour operator software provider founded in 2010 and based in the UK. Their tour operator software is cloud-based and optimized for managing groups and tours.
Pros: Some key advantages of Travolution’s tour operator software include:
– Customizable white-label solutions for bigger agencies
– Group tour focused tools and calendar booking
– Direct API integrations with providers for real-time data like flights, hotels, and transfers
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the software is focused more on group tours rather than individual travel. So it may not be as suitable for travel agencies dealing primarily with independent travelers.
Pricing: Travolution offers both perpetual and SaaS licensing models. Pricing varies based on specifics but generally starts at around €99/month for the basic plan.
Some key stats about Travolution include:
– Over 300 customers in over 50 countries worldwide
– Processes over 5 million transactions annually
– integrates with over 150 API partners
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9. Tourwriter
Tourwriter is a tour operator software that allows users to create and manage customizable tour packages and bookings online. In business since 2007, Tourwriter provides a complete backend and frontend solution to help tour and activities companies streamline operations and convert more sales.
Pros: Some key advantages of Tourwriter include:
– Intuitive online booking engine that allows customers to easily find, book, and purchase tour packages
– Built-in CRM and marketing automation tools to help companies better manage leads and drive repeat business
– Highly customizable payments and pricing options allowing companies to set flexible rates and payment plans
Cons: A potential disadvantage is that the system requires some initial setup and configuration by the company or a consultant to import existing tour products and packages.
Pricing: Tourwriter offers three pricing tiers on an annual subscription basis:
– Basic Plan: $49/month
– Standard Plan: $99/month
– Premium Plan: $199/month
All plans include 24/7 support. Additional features are unlocked at each higher tier like additional staff accounts, booking capacities, and integrations.
Some key stats about Tourwriter include:
– Used by over 2,500 tour and activities companies worldwide
– Processes over $500 million in annual bookings
– Available in 15 languages to support global clients
10. ClickTravel
ClickTravel is a leading travel management company that offers a tour operator software to help businesses manage their travel programs. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Barcelona, ClickTravel provides travel tech solutions to companies around the world.
Pros: Some key advantages of ClickTravel’s tour operator software include:
– Enterprise-grade technology built for large corporate travel programs
– Flexible configuration capabilities to customize booking workflows
– Global reach and partnerships that allow customers to book anywhere in the world easily
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the tour operator software is more suited for larger enterprises rather than small businesses or individual travelers due to its complex configuration options and pricing.
Pricing: Pricing for ClickTravel’s tour operator software starts at $49 per user per month for the basic package. Additional premium features like supplier content enrichment or business intelligence dashboards require custom pricing quotes.
Some key stats about ClickTravel’s tour operator software include:
– Over 10,000 companies use ClickTravel globally
– Ability to manage travel for companies with thousands of travelers
– Integrations with over 300 travel suppliers through APIs
– Supports 45+ languages and currencies
11. GTI Travel Technologies
GTI Travel Technologies is a leading provider of tour operator software. Their flagship product, GTI Travel, is a comprehensive partner management system (PMS) designed specifically for travel companies. The software allows users to manage reservations, inventory, bookings and more from a single platform.
Pros: Some key advantages of GTI Travel include:
– Comprehensive enterprise PMS for managing all operations from a single system
– Advanced booking and reservation capabilities to easily manage tours, activities and transportation
– Robust inventory management tools to efficiently allocate and distribute inventory across channels
Cons: Potential disadvantages could include a somewhat steeper learning curve due to the depth and breadth of features in the fully integrated PMS. Training and support may be required to maximize capabilities.
Pricing: GTI Travel pricing is customized based on software modules, features, number of users and level of support required. Contact GTI Travel Technologies for a custom quote suited to your business needs.
Some key stats about GTI Travel include:
– Over 30 years in business as a travel technology provider
– Used by over 2,500 travel companies worldwide
– Supports 15+ languages and currencies
– Processes over $11 billion in travel transactions annually
12. TourBuilder
TourBuilder is a leading tour operator software used by over 33,000 photographers, tour guides and attraction owners worldwide. Founded in 2011 and based in Florida, TourBuilder provides a powerful all-in-one platform for building virtual tours, managing tour bookings and providing excellent customer service.
Pros: Some key advantages of TourBuilder include:
– Powerful tour catalog building and sales tools
– Comprehensive booking engine capabilities
– Integrated CRM and customer support features
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that the full feature set requires a paid subscription, though they do offer limited free accounts.
Pricing: Pricing for TourBuilder starts at $29/month for a Basic plan and goes up to $99/month for their Premier plan. They also offer customized enterprise plans for large tour companies.
Some key stats about TourBuilder include:
– Used by over 33,000 customers globally
– Processes over $500 million in tour bookings annually
– Offers tours in over 150 countries
– Integrates with all major booking platforms like Booking.com, Expedia and Viator
13. EZ Destinations
EZ Destinations is a tour operator software created specifically for destination management companies (DMCs) and activity providers. The platform offers a fully hosted and cloud-based booking engine that allows customers to browse and purchase packages and activities online in real-time.
Pros: Specialized for DMCs and activity providers, real-time inventory and fully hosted booking, tools for custom package creation and client databases.
Cons: No major disadvantages identified. The software may not be as full-featured as larger enterprise tour operator software solutions but it is well-suited for smaller to mid-sized DMCs and activity providers.
Pricing: EZ Destinations offers simple and transparent monthly pricing plans starting at $99 per month for the Basic plan which supports up to 3 staff accounts. Additional packages and features are available in the Standard ($199) and Premium ($299) plans. No long term contracts or hidden fees apply.
Some key features of EZ Destinations include real-time inventory management, custom package builder tools, client database management, and mobile-optimized booking pages.
EZ Destinations – Let us do the work while you decide what to pack.ezdestinations.com
14. GetGoing
GetGoing is an all-in-one digital corporate travel management platform that helps businesses manage and optimize their travel programs. Founded in 2009 and based in Amsterdam, GetGoing helps over 2,000 customers in more than 100 countries streamline and control their travel expenses.
Pros: Some of the key advantages of GetGoing include:
– Feature-rich platform with advanced analytics to track KPIs and savings opportunities
– Integrated payment solutions and multi-supplier inventory for efficient booking and payment workflows
– Customizable workflows, APIs, and user permissions for centralized control over the travel program
Cons: One potential disadvantage is that GetGoing is primarily focused on larger enterprise customers, so it may not be the best fit for very small businesses with only a handful of travelers.
Pricing: Pricing for GetGoing is customizable based on a company’s travel program size and needs. Generally, pricing is based on a per-user, per-month model starting at $15/user/month for basic packages.
Some key stats about GetGoing include:
– Oversees more than $2B in annual travel bookings
– Supports over 500,000 business travelers globally
– Integrated payment solutions with major partners like American Express, Mastercard, and Visa
– Multi-supplier inventory from 500+ airlines, 300,000+ hotels, and 60 car rental agencies
Conclusion
While every business has unique needs, this side-by-side evaluation of features, reputation indicators and other factors provides a solid starting point fortour operators and DMCs to compare the leading tour operator software vendors and identify the top few options best suited to power their businesses. An in-depth demo or free trial is recommended with shortlisted providers before selecting the one solution that offers the best overall value.