OpenStays

AI booking engine and guest ID management for property owners

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About OpenStays

OpenStays is a cutting-edge AI-powered booking and guest management platform designed specifically for property owners in the hospitality industry. It integrates a comprehensive direct booking engine with conversational AI capabilities to automate guest interactions and streamline reservation workflows. Featuring seamless availability management, flexible payment processing, and guest ID collection compliant with local regulations, OpenStays empowers property managers to increase direct bookings, reduce dependence on third-party channels, and maximize revenue with minimal operational effort.

Developed by property owners for property owners, OpenStays embeds easily into existing websites and business communication channels such as WhatsApp Business. From onboarding properties to managing reservations and handling payments, the centralized dashboard offers complete control and visibility. The platform is recognized for its innovation, winning notable tourism awards and trusted by properties like Areca County, offering a full end-to-end reservation experience that spans from inquiry and booking to guest reviews and compliance management.

Use Cases

A boutique hotel owner uses OpenStays to embed the direct booking widget on their website, enabling guests to check real-time availability and book rooms without commission fees.
A homestay located in a remote region leverages OpenStays' conversational AI on WhatsApp Business to automatically answer guest inquiries, send booking quotes, and follow up, reducing manual customer support workload.
A property manager utilizes the guest ID collection feature to automatically capture, flag, and export compliant guest records for local authorities, streamlining legal requirements.
A villa rental service employs OpenStays' flexible payment options, offering guests the choice between partial advance and pay-at-property, improving booking conversion rates.
A resort owner integrates OpenStays alongside OTA listings to maintain visibility yet redirect traffic to their website’s direct booking engine to save on commission and improve profit margins.
A multi-property operator uses the centralized dashboard to manage seasonal rates, room availability, and bookings across all listings, consolidating operations efficiently.

Key Features

Direct booking engine embedded on websites
Conversational AI for guest inquiries and follow-ups
Flexible payment options including partial advance and pay-on-property
Guest ID collection with Form C flags and register exports
Centralized booking and reservation management dashboard

Pricing

OpenStays offers a freemium pricing model allowing property owners to start using core features at no cost. Advanced capabilities and usage beyond free quotas require an annual subscription, details of which are available upon inquiry or on their pricing page. There is zero commission charged on direct bookings, making it financially attractive. Payment provider fees (e.g., Razorpay, UPI transaction charges) are additional and depend on the selected payment gateway and methods. Optional AI conversational responses use credit-based plans scaling with message volume. The subscription includes access to the booking engine, guest ID management, dashboard tools, and integrations, with no hidden setup fees.

Pros & Cons

Pros

+ Zero commission on direct bookings, increasing profitability for property owners.
+ Conversational AI integration automates guest communications, reducing time spent responding to inquiries.
+ Flexible payment options including partial advances and pay-on-property accommodate diverse guest preferences.
+ Comprehensive guest ID collection with compliance features simplifies regulatory adherence.
+ Seamless coexistence with WhatsApp Business allows property owners to maintain existing communication workflows.
+ Centralized dashboard provides intuitive management of bookings, rates, availability, and guest records.

Cons

- The AI conversational follow-up requires credits, potentially incurring additional costs at scale.
- Limited global marketing exposure compared to large OTA platforms – property owners must actively promote their booking links.
- iCal synchronization may not support real-time rate updates, risking occasional booking conflicts.
- While freemium is available, some advanced features require paid subscription, which may be a barrier for smaller properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does OpenStays handle guest payments?

OpenStays supports flexible payment options including full upfront payment, partial advance, or pay-at-property. Guests can pay directly via UPI (with manual verification) or a supported payment gateway like Razorpay for automatic confirmation.

Can I use OpenStays without a dedicated website?

Yes, property owners can use their listing page on OpenStays.in to receive bookings. However, embedding the booking widget on your own website is recommended to capture direct bookings under your brand.

Is using conversational AI on WhatsApp mandatory?

No, using the AI-powered guest interaction on WhatsApp Business is optional and uses credit-based messaging. You can continue manual communication or bypass AI if preferred.

What kinds of properties is OpenStays best suited for?

OpenStays is ideal for small to medium sized hotels, homestays, villas, and boutique accommodations looking to automate bookings and guest management while maximizing direct revenue.

Does OpenStays integrate with OTAs or channel managers?

OpenStays supports coexistence with third-party platforms. It can be used alongside OTA listings by synchronizing availability via iCal, though direct rate synchronization requires manual updates.

How does OpenStays ensure compliance with guest ID regulations?

It captures guest ID information via WhatsApp or booking forms and flags records requiring Form C submissions, providing register exports to assist with local legal compliance.

Are there any commission fees for bookings made through OpenStays?

No, OpenStays charges zero commission on direct bookings. Fees apply only for subscription, optional usage credits, and third-party payment provider charges.