labs@atheron:~/industries/hospitality$ book --direct --guest-app --pms

Hotel and travel apps

Built so your guests book with you directly.

Your guests find you through agencies, message you in their own language at midnight and expect the room ready when they arrive. We build the booking engines, guest apps, messaging agents and staff tools that make each stay go smoothly, connected to the property system you already run.

Start a project See the example projects

// what you are up against

The problems we hear most.

Guests who belong to the agency

Most bookings arrive through online travel agencies, which keep the guest relationship and charge for every stay, while the hotel's own site is slow to book.

The same questions, every language

Front desk staff answer the same questions about parking, breakfast and late checkout all day, by phone, email and text, in many languages.

Housekeeping on a printed list

Room status travels by radio and paper, so a guest waits in the lobby for a room that was ready an hour ago.

Loyalty too small to matter

An independent hotel's points programme gives guests little reason to come back, because it only works at one property.

// example projects

Systems we could build for you.

Each one is hypothetical, labelled as such, and priced live from our rate card. Open any of them in the estimator and make it yours.

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Direct booking and a guest app

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A group of boutique hotels takes most bookings through online travel agencies, and its own booking page is slow, clumsy on a phone and loses guests at the payment step.

// What we would build

A fast direct booking engine on the group's own site, and an iOS and Android guest app for check-in, digital keys where the locks allow, requests and offers, connected to the property management and channel manager.

// What is in it

Booking in a few steps on a phone, with live rates and availability
Member rates and packages for guests who book direct
Online check-in, ID upload and digital keys where the locks support them
Requests and upgrades from the app during the stay
Every screen in the guest's language and currency
Connected to your property management system and channel manager

// Stack

Next.js
React Native
PostgreSQL
Property management system interface
Stripe
AWS

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$149,000 to US$227,000, delivered within 32 weeksCAD 211,700 to 323,700
Hosting: ≈ US$492 a monthCAD 700 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 9.4 to 16.4 weeks
Core features: 1.9 to 2.9 weeks
Full build: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
First build on devices: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 to 0.9 weeks
Store submission: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week
Certification or API access from your PMS vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 42,340 to 64,740
Discovery 9.2%: CAD 19,476.40 to 29,780.40
Design approved 9.2%: CAD 19,476.40 to 29,780.40
Core features 7.6%: CAD 16,089.20 to 24,601.20
Full build 5%: CAD 10,585 to 16,185
First build on devices 20.1%: CAD 42,551.70 to 65,063.70
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 5,292.50 to 8,092.50
Store submission 6.7%: CAD 14,183.90 to 21,687.90
Launch 9.7%: CAD 20,534.90 to 31,398.90
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 21,170 to 32,370

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appAIFrontier model

Guest messaging agent

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A resort's front desk answers the same questions about parking, breakfast, spa times and late checkout by phone, email and text, in many languages, around the clock.

// What we would build

A messaging agent on the website, the guest app and text messages that answers from the property's own information, books spa times and late checkouts through the hotel's systems, and hands to the front desk with the conversation attached. It uses a frontier model through its API: hotel information is public, guests write in many languages, and it is the fastest way to start.

// What is in it

Answers from your property information, menus and policies
Replies in the guest's language, day and night
Spa, restaurant and late checkout requests through your systems
Handoff to the front desk with the full conversation
No card details in the conversation, ever

// Stack

Frontier model API
Next.js
PostgreSQL with pgvector
Property management system interface
SMS provider

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$102,000 to US$155,000, delivered within 21 weeksCAD 144,800 to 221,400
Hosting: ≈ US$558 a monthCAD 795 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route: Frontier model
Model running cost: ≈ US$383 a monthCAD 545 a month

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification and evaluation plan: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Working pilot: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Production: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Certification or API access from your PMS vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 28,960 to 44,280
Discovery 2%: CAD 2,896 to 4,428
Specification and evaluation plan 10.2%: CAD 14,769.60 to 22,582.80
Design approved 2%: CAD 2,896 to 4,428
Core features 6.2%: CAD 8,977.60 to 13,726.80
Full build 4.1%: CAD 5,936.80 to 9,077.40
Working pilot 30.7%: CAD 44,453.60 to 67,969.80
Testing and fixes 2%: CAD 2,896 to 4,428
Launch 2%: CAD 2,896 to 4,428
Production 10.8%: CAD 15,638.40 to 23,911.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 14,480 to 22,140

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appMobile app

Housekeeping and maintenance app

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Room status moves by radio and paper between housekeeping, maintenance and the front desk, so guests wait for rooms that are already clean.

// What we would build

An Android app for housekeepers and maintenance staff, and a live board for supervisors and the front desk, so a room marked clean is ready to sell at once and a broken fixture is photographed and assigned on the spot.

// What is in it

Room assignments by floor and priority, with arrivals first
Room marked clean or inspected from the phone, shown at the front desk at once
Maintenance issues photographed and assigned, with the room blocked if needed
Lost and found logged with photos
Every screen in the languages your staff speak

// Stack

React Native (Android)
Next.js
PostgreSQL
Property management system interface
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$94,500 to US$144,000, delivered within 26 weeksCAD 134,500 to 205,700
Hosting: ≈ US$176 a monthCAD 250 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 4 to 4.5 weeks
Design approved: 4.5 to 7.5 weeks
Core features: 2.5 to 4 weeks
Full build: 1.5 to 2.5 weeks
First build on devices: 3 to 5.5 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.5 to 1.5 weeks
Store submission: 1.5 to 2 weeks
Launch: 1.5 to 2 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

App store review: 1 week
Certification or API access from your PMS vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 26,900 to 41,140
Discovery 9.1%: CAD 12,239.50 to 18,718.70
Design approved 9.1%: CAD 12,239.50 to 18,718.70
Core features 9.2%: CAD 12,374.00 to 18,924.40
Full build 6.1%: CAD 8,204.50 to 12,547.70
First build on devices 18%: CAD 24,210 to 37,026
Testing and fixes 3%: CAD 4,035 to 6,171
Store submission 6%: CAD 8,070 to 12,342
Launch 9.5%: CAD 12,777.50 to 19,541.50
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 13,450 to 20,570

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appBlockchain

Loyalty across independent hotels

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

Independent hotels in a region each run a small points programme that guests ignore, and none wants a rival to control the shared balance.

// What we would build

One loyalty programme across the member hotels, with points recorded on a private permissioned ledger each hotel runs a node of, so a guest earns at one and redeems at another, and no hotel can create points or rewrite another's records. If one company runs the programme and the others trust it, a database is simpler.

// What is in it

One guest account and balance across every member hotel
Points earned and redeemed through each hotel's property system
Each transaction recorded on a private chain with a node per hotel
Settlement between hotels worked out from the shared record
Rules for joining, earning and expiry agreed by the members

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
Hyperledger Besu (private, permissioned)
Property management system interfaces
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$120,000 to US$183,000, delivered within 25 weeksCAD 170,200 to 260,200
Hosting: ≈ US$344 a monthCAD 490 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Architecture: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 4.4 to 7.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Devnet: 2.4 to 4.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.4 weeks
Testnet: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Mainnet: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Certification or API access from your PMS vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 34,040 to 52,040
Discovery 2.5%: CAD 4,255 to 6,505
Architecture 6.7%: CAD 11,403.40 to 17,433.40
Design approved 2.5%: CAD 4,255 to 6,505
Core features 7.5%: CAD 12,765 to 19,515
Full build 5%: CAD 8,510 to 13,010
Devnet 20.2%: CAD 34,380.40 to 52,560.40
Testing and fixes 2.5%: CAD 4,255 to 6,505
Testnet 13.4%: CAD 22,806.80 to 34,866.80
Launch 2.5%: CAD 4,255 to 6,505
Mainnet 7.2%: CAD 12,254.40 to 18,734.40
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 17,020 to 26,020

Start from this example

Example projectWeb appAIFrontier model

Booking in your guests' languages

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

A resort's booking site and pre-arrival emails are in English and French only, while a growing share of its guests book from Mexico, Germany, Japan and Korea.

// What we would build

Booking pages, confirmation and pre-arrival messages localised into your guests' languages with native review, prices and dates shown the way each guest expects, and an assistant that answers common questions in the guest's language from your own policies.

// What is in it

Booking pages and guest messages in each guest's language
Dates, currencies and formats shown the local way
An assistant that answers from your own policies
Native review before any page goes live

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
Crowdin
Claude API
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$109,000 to US$167,000, delivered within 21 weeksCAD 155,600 to 237,900
Hosting: ≈ US$218 a monthCAD 310 a month
Support: ≈ US$2,500 a monthCAD 3,565 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

AI route: Frontier model
Model running cost: ≈ US$42 a monthCAD 60 a month

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Specification and evaluation plan: 0.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 1.4 to 1.9 weeks
Full build: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Working pilot: 3.9 to 6.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.9 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Production: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Certification or API access from your PMS vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 31,120 to 47,580
Discovery 2%: CAD 3,112 to 4,758
Specification and evaluation plan 10.2%: CAD 15,871.20 to 24,265.80
Design approved 2%: CAD 3,112 to 4,758
Core features 6.2%: CAD 9,647.20 to 14,749.80
Full build 4.1%: CAD 6,379.60 to 9,753.90
Working pilot 30.7%: CAD 47,769.20 to 73,035.30
Testing and fixes 2%: CAD 3,112 to 4,758
Launch 2%: CAD 3,112 to 4,758
Production 10.8%: CAD 16,804.80 to 25,693.20
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 15,560 to 23,790

Start from this example

Example projectWeb app

Revenue and channel dashboard

Hypothetical. Not a client, not a result.

// The problem

An independent hotel group pulls occupancy, rates and channel commissions from its PMS and booking channels into spreadsheets every Monday, and the picture is a week old by the time anyone reads it.

// What we would build

A dashboard loaded every night from your PMS and channels, showing occupancy, average rate and revenue per available room by property, what each channel costs in commission, and the pace of bookings for the weeks ahead.

// What is in it

PMS and channel data loaded every night
Occupancy, average rate and RevPAR by property
Commission cost by channel
Booking pace for the weeks ahead

// Stack

Next.js
PostgreSQL
dbt
Metabase
DigitalOcean

// estimate

Build: ≈ US$59,700 to US$91,300, delivered within 15 weeksCAD 85,000 to 130,000
Hosting: ≈ US$344 a monthCAD 490 a month
Support: ≈ US$1,000 a monthCAD 1,425 a month

Prices in your currency are estimates from today's Bank of Canada rate. All invoicing is in CAD or USD.

Timeline by milestone

Discovery: 2.9 to 3.4 weeks
Design approved: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Core features: 2.4 to 3.4 weeks
Full build: 1.4 to 2.4 weeks
Testing and fixes: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks
Launch: 0.9 to 1.4 weeks

Outside our hands, and added to the calendar

Certification or API access from your PMS vendor: 1 to 4 weeks

How it is paid

Deposit 20%: CAD 17,000 to 26,000
Discovery 7.7%: CAD 6,545 to 10,010
Design approved 7.7%: CAD 6,545 to 10,010
Core features 23.3%: CAD 19,805 to 30,290
Full build 15.5%: CAD 13,175 to 20,150
Testing and fixes 7.7%: CAD 6,545 to 10,010
Launch 8.1%: CAD 6,885 to 10,530
Holdback, 30 days after launch (10%): CAD 8,500 to 13,000

Start from this example

// by service

Go deeper on one kind of work.

Pages for the services we have the most to say about in this industry.

~/apps

Hotel booking apps

Direct booking engines and iOS and Android guest apps for hotels and resorts: fast booking on a phone, online check-in, digital keys, requests during the stay and a staff app for housekeeping.

~/ai

AI hotel messaging

A guest messaging agent on a frontier model that answers in every guest's language from your own property information, takes requests through your systems and hands to the front desk.

~/chains

Shared hotel loyalty

One loyalty programme across independent hotels, with points on a private permissioned ledger each hotel runs a node of, so guests earn at one and redeem at another and no member controls the balance.

// questions

What buyers in this industry ask us.

Do you work with single independent hotels?

Yes. A booking engine or a messaging agent suits a single property, and the estimator shows the range for your scope.

Can you work with our property system vendor?

Yes. We work through their interface or integration programme and agree the boundary with them early.

How do payments work?

A deposit to start, then payments at agreed milestones, with 10% held until 30 days after launch. The deposit is a smaller share on larger projects.

Who owns the code?

You do, once the work is paid for.

// other industries

Nearby industries.

~/food-beverage

Food and beverage

Food safety and traceability apps, wholesale ordering apps, label review agents and shared cold-chain records on a private ledger.

See the examples

~/retail

Retail and e-commerce

Headless storefronts with shopping apps, customer service agents, authenticity certificates for resale and Discord drop bots.

See the examples

~/aviation

Aviation and aerospace

Digital task cards for your technicians, a custom model for tech log entries, back-to-birth parts records on a private ledger and apps for flight schools.

See the examples

All industries

// where we work

Find your market.

We work from Kelowna with clients across Canada, the United States and further afield. Each market page covers working hours, hosting, the privacy law that applies, and prices in your currency.

Every market

// next

Not quite your project?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will come back to you with a range and the questions that would narrow it. Or book a call and talk it through.

Start a project Book a call