The verdict in three sentences
A custom multi-site PMS runs between 70,000 and 160,000 EUR in 2026, depending on the number of properties, integrations and booking engine. The payback shows mostly on RevPAR (+6 to +8 %) and on front-desk admin hours saved. Plan for a 5 to 9 month project and annual maintenance of 15 to 20 % of the build.
What a group PMS covers and what it costs
An operations director no longer wants one system per hotel, a rented channel manager and three spreadsheets. The 2026 goal is unification: a single guest database, group-level pricing, automatic accounting consolidation.
| Module | Role | 2026 order of magnitude (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-site PMS core | Planning, check-in/out, housekeeping | 25,000 - 45,000 |
| Direct booking engine | Commission-free bookings | 12,000 - 25,000 |
| Channel manager (OTA connectors) | Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb | 10,000 - 22,000 |
| Yield / dynamic pricing | Price by occupancy and season | 8,000 - 20,000 |
| Accounting / ERP integration | Export to Sage, Cegid, Pennylane | 6,000 - 15,000 |
| Guest portal & loyalty CRM | History, targeted offers | 7,000 - 18,000 |
| Front-desk / housekeeping app | On-site, offline | 9,000 - 20,000 |
A group of 4 to 6 hotels usually lands in the 90,000 - 130,000 EUR range once the direct engine and channel manager are included.
The real math: OTA commissions and RevPAR
Profitability comes not from the software but from avoided OTA commissions and a higher occupancy rate. Here is an order of magnitude for a 5-hotel group, 320 rooms total.
| Metric | Before unified PMS | After (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Direct booking share | 22 % | 35 % |
| Average OTA commission | 17 % | 17 % |
| Annual room revenue | 9,200,000 EUR | 9,700,000 EUR |
| OTA commissions paid / year | 1,220,000 EUR | 1,070,000 EUR |
| Front-desk admin hours / week | 210 h | 150 h |
| Average RevPAR | 78 EUR | 84 EUR |
Gaining 13 points of direct bookings here represents roughly 150,000 EUR of commissions saved per year — more than the cost of a Growth PMS in under 12 months.
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Mini case study
Laurent, operations director of a 5-hotel group in Nantes and Rennes. He invests 112,000 EUR in a custom PMS (multi-site core, direct engine, channel manager, Cegid integration). Goal: move from 22 % to 33 % direct bookings. On 9.2M EUR of room revenue, that shifts around 1,010,000 EUR of volume off OTAs, i.e. about 170,000 EUR in avoided commissions in year one. Add 60 front-desk hours/week freed up (about 78,000 EUR/year of payroll). The project pays back in 8 to 10 months, with 18,000 EUR/year maintenance included.
FAQ
What does a hotel group PMS really cost in 2026? Plan for 70,000 to 160,000 EUR for custom multi-site software. A 4-to-6 hotel group most often sits around 90,000 - 130,000 EUR, direct booking engine included.
Isn't an off-the-shelf SaaS PMS enough? For a single hotel, often yes (30 to 120 EUR/room/month). For a group wanting centralized pricing, a unified loyalty CRM and zero commission on direct sales, custom becomes worthwhile beyond 200 rooms.
What RevPAR gain should I expect? A realistic order of magnitude is +6 to +8 % over 12 to 18 months, driven by dynamic yield and more direct bookings.
How long does delivery take? Between 5 and 9 months depending on OTA and accounting integrations. A pilot on one hotel can ship in 3 months, then the rollout extends across the group.
Should I migrate everything at once? No. Best practice is a hotel-by-hotel rollout with gradual migration of guest and booking history, to protect the front desk during the switch.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of properties, current channel manager and accounting software: we'll frame a PMS with an indicative budget and timeline. 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.
