Switching Your Hotel PMS Without Losing a Booking
The reason hotels stay on software they've outgrown is fear of the switch — double bookings, lost reservations, staff chaos. This is the exact playbook FrontDesko uses to move properties safely, and it's free on every plan.
Pricing and feature notes reflect public information as of mid-2026; confirm current pricing with each vendor.
Coming from Excel or Google Sheets instead of a paid PMS? That's a simpler move with no old system to export from — see hotel PMS for spreadsheet users.
The five-step migration playbook
1. Export from your current system. Every major PMS (Cloudbeds, Mews, eZee, Hotelogix, Little Hotelier, OPERA) can export reservations and guest data as CSV. Do this on a quiet day; it takes minutes.
2. Import through the onboarding wizard. Sign up free, add your property and room types, and import the CSV. Your future reservations appear on the FrontDesko calendar alongside rates you set.
3. Reconnect your channels. If you sell on OTAs, connect the channel manager (Basil plan) to Booking.com, Expedia and your other channels. Direct bookings switch instantly — the commission-free booking engine is free.
4. Run in parallel for 7–14 days. Keep the old system read-only as your reference while the front desk works in FrontDesko. Compare the calendars daily; discrepancies surface here, harmlessly, instead of at check-in.
5. Cut over. When two weeks of calendars match, cancel the old subscription. You're done — and the core system you're now on costs nothing, forever.
Coming from a specific system?
We keep honest, current comparisons — including where your current system is better: Cloudbeds, Mews, eZee, Hotelogix, Little Hotelier, Oracle Opera, StayNTouch, MiniHotel — or browse the alternatives guides: Cloudbeds, Mews, eZee, Hotelogix, Little Hotelier, Opera PMS, MiniHotel.
Start the free import today
PMS, booking engine, guest app and POS — free forever, unlimited rooms. Import your data and see your calendar before you decide anything.
Start Free Get a Guided DemoFrequently asked questions
Does FrontDesko charge for migration?
No — free setup and migration are included on every plan, including the free one.
Will I lose bookings during the switch?
The playbook is designed so you can't: you import existing reservations first, then run both systems in parallel for 7–14 days while channels reconnect, and only cut over once the new calendar has proven itself against the old one.
How long does switching actually take?
Most independent properties are operational the same day they import, and fully cut over within two weeks including the parallel run. The pacing is set by your comfort, not by the software.
Planning the Move
The checklist and what support to expect
PMS Migration Checklist
What to export before you cancel, the migration sequence, and the go-live day runbook.
Learn More →PMS Onboarding Support
What good support looks like during a migration, and the warning signs.
Learn More →Hotel PMS Cost Comparison
What you pay now versus the alternatives, all-in.
Learn More →Budgeting the switch The seven one-time cost lines, and which are negotiable.
Coming from self-hosted? What open source gives you, and what it costs instead.