Hospitality Terms Explained

What Does PMS
Mean in Hospitality?

In the hotel and rental industry, PMS stands for Property Management System. It is the core software used by hotels, guesthouses, hostels, and rental operators to manage day-to-day operations.

Get a Free PMS

PMS / Definition

"A software application used to automate hotel functions such as guest bookings, online reservations, point of sale, telephone, accounts receivable, sales and marketing, banquets, food and beverage costing, materials management, HR and payroll, maintenance management, quality management and other amenities."

Reservations

Check-in/out

Housekeeping

Billing

What Is a Property Management System (PMS)?

A PMS replaces spreadsheets, paper calendars, manual check-in logs, and disconnected tools by bringing everything into one organized platform.

It helps accommodation providers manage:

Reservations and bookings

Room and unit availability

Guest check-in and check-out

Cleaning and housekeeping tasks

Payments and invoices

Pricing, restrictions, and inventory

Reporting and analytics

It is the heart of modern hospitality management.

Why PMS Is Important

Without PMS

Double-bookings & lost reservations
Time-consuming admin work
Miscommunication with cleaners
Missing invoices & disorganized financials

With PMS

Synchronized calendars & availability
Automated tasks & communication
Professional invoices & reports
Peace of mind & organized business

What PMS Does in Practice

Manage Your Reservations

All bookings — from OTAs, your website, and manual entries — appear in one real-time calendar.

Automate Guest Communication

Send confirmations, arrival instructions, payment reminders, and review requests automatically.

Handle Payments & Invoices

Generate invoices instantly and track who has paid or still owes. Keep financials clear.

Control Prices & Availability

Adjust your rates and nights-required rules in one place — updates sync everywhere.

Manage Cleaning & Staff

Check-outs trigger tasks for housekeeping automatically. Staff can see tasks on their phones.

Access From Any Device

Modern PMS systems (like NOBEDS) are cloud-based and mobile-friendly. Work from anywhere.

Types of PMS

Recommended

1. Cloud-based PMS

Runs in any browser, no installation needed.
Accessible from phones, tablets, laptops.
Automatic updates & backups.
Usually lower monthly cost or free.

2. Installed Desktop PMS

Requires installation on specific computers.
Difficult to access remotely.
Manual updates required by IT.
Often expensive upfront licenses.

Most modern businesses choose cloud PMS because it is faster, cheaper, and easier to use.

PMS vs. Channel Manager vs. Booking Engine

Channel Manager

Syncs availability and prices across Booking.com, Airbnb and other OTAs.

PMS (Core)

Handles the internal operations: bookings, guests, cleaning, and invoicing.

Booking Engine

Lets guests book directly from your website commission-free.

NOBEDS includes all three in one platform.

Who Uses a PMS?

HotelsGuesthousesHostelsVacation rentalsAirbnb hostsServiced apartmentsProperty managersAparthotels

Any accommodation business benefits from a PMS.

Why Start with NOBEDS PMS?

If you want a simple, affordable, and modern solution, NOBEDS offers a free PMS, free booking engine, and integrated channel manager — all in one place.

Start Managing for Free