The verdict in three sentences
A custom management platform for a multi-site hotel group costs between EUR 35,000 and 60,000 in 2026, versus a SaaS PMS at EUR 8-25 per room per month. The ROI does not come from the software itself but from cutting OTA commissions (Booking, Expedia) that reach 15-22 % of revenue. For a 150-250 room portfolio, every point of direct booking recovered is worth EUR 30,000 to 60,000 per year.
What the project actually costs
The budget breaks down by functional module. A hotel group need not build everything at once: the direct booking engine and channel manager come first, the multi-site PMS in phase two.
| Module | Range (EUR) | Timeline | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct booking engine (no OTA) | 8,000 | 4-6 wks | High |
| Channel manager / OTA integration | 6,000 | 3-5 wks | High |
| Multi-site PMS (planning, housekeeping) | 12,000 | 6-8 wks | Medium |
| Online payment + deposits | 4,000 | 2-3 wks | High |
| Dynamic pricing (yield) | 5,000 | 3-4 wks | Medium |
| Consolidated multi-property reporting | 4,000 | 2-3 wks | Medium |
| Full project total | 35,000-60,000 | 14-22 wks | — |
Add annual maintenance of roughly 15-20 % of development cost, i.e. EUR 6,000 to 12,000 per year, hosting and evolutions included.
SaaS PMS vs custom: the real trade-off
A SaaS PMS (Mews, Cloudbeds, Opera Cloud) deploys fast but bills per room and per module. Custom pays off above a certain volume and when direct distribution is strategic.
| Criterion | SaaS PMS | Custom (Kolonell) |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | EUR 0-5,000 | EUR 35,000-60,000 |
| Recurring cost (200 rooms) | EUR 40,000-120,000/yr | EUR 6,000-12,000/yr |
| Direct engine commission | 0-2 % of revenue | 0 % |
| Journey customization | Limited | Full |
| Time to launch | 4-8 wks | 14-22 wks |
| ROI break-even | — | 18-30 months |
Run the math over three years: above 150 rooms, cumulative SaaS subscriptions almost always exceed the cost of an amortized proprietary tool.
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Mini case study
Sophie, distribution director of a 3-hotel group in Nice (210 rooms, EUR 8.4M revenue), paid 19 % average OTA commission, i.e. EUR 1.05M per year on the EUR 5.6M going through platforms. After a direct booking engine and a loyalty push, she shifts 12 points of volume to direct over 18 months. Annual gain: around EUR 640,000 in saved commissions. The EUR 52,000 project pays back in under 3 months on the commission differential alone.
FAQ
How much is a standalone direct booking engine? Budget EUR 8,000 to 12,000 for a high-performing engine with deposit payment, upsell and FR/EN/IT multilingual support, excluding the channel manager. It is the highest-immediate-ROI brick.
Can we keep Booking and Expedia in parallel? Yes. The channel manager syncs availability and rates in real time between your direct engine and the OTAs, avoiding overbooking. The goal is not to remove OTAs but to cut their share from 60-70 % to 45-55 %.
Realistic timeline for a 3-hotel group? Between 14 and 22 weeks depending on scope. A phased rollout (direct engine first, PMS later) lets you capture direct bookings from week 8.
Is custom justified under 100 rooms? Rarely. Below 100 rooms a SaaS PMS stays cheaper. Custom makes sense from 120-150 rooms or for a strong brand positioning.
How are payments and deposits handled? Via Stripe for international cards, with pre-authorization, configurable deposit and per-rate cancellation policy. Refunds are automated per defined rules.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your portfolio (number of hotels, rooms, current OTA share) and your priorities between direct engine, channel manager and PMS; indicative budget EUR 35,000-60,000. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
