Chester Hospitality Tech Firm Nets Half a Million Bookings

A Chester hospitality tech firm has targeted increased global share after its property management system processed nearly half a million room bookings in 2024.

Annual reporting analysis by Hop Software also showed over £170m worth of hospitality transactions being driven through its systems last year – the highest since it started trading in 2017.

Despite challenges in the hospitality sector, the Cheshire-based firm founded by UK hoteliers has now set its sights on accelerated growth in 2025, in UK and international markets.

The data report comes as Hop prepares to integrate automated room pricing within its new Booking Engine through a partnership with award winning revenue management firm, roompricegenie.

The integration will enable hotels and accommodation providers to benefit from the Booking Engine’s capacity to automatically alter room prices, up or down, depending on demand.

Roompricegenie has a strong sector reputation having overseen a 22% rise in revenue for its hotel customers by charging more for bedrooms at times of peak demand and less when there is reduced need.

Hop is also introducing two further new integrations into its award winning property management system following a listening exercise with customers.

A new solution to organise rotas for hotel staff and a customer Loyalty Scheme offering are set to be launched shortly through integration partnerships with rotaready.com and Inspire Loyalty.

Hop believes it is progressive partnerships such as these which will attract more new customers within hospitality- and more records for transactions through its systems.

“Like the hospitality sector itself, Hop continues to evolve and develop,” said Chief Operating Officer, Sharon Smith.

“The room bookings and transactions through our systems last year was the best yet. We are delighted with the figures and we are aiming for further expansion, both domestically and in other continents, this year.”

Hop Software was launched 8 years ago and was the brainchild of hotel owners Richard Drummond and Jon Erasmus, alongside co-founder and Director, Ronald Tweedie.

Their experience of operating hotel businesses themselves led them to design a more cost-effective, all-in-one system which could run all aspects of hospitality, from bookings to payments and staffing.

Since then the tech company has secured over 200 hotel clients, including several Bannatyne Group establishments in England, and has secured deals in four continents including a unique Arctic tie-up in Greenland.

“It is through having direct experience of what is it like to succeed in hospitality that we know what hotels and accommodation providers need from property management systems. We walk the walk ourselves every day so that gives us insights which we can develop as we evolve,” said Co-Director, Richard Drummond.

Hop Software will be demonstrating its Property Management System and new Booking Engine to visitors at the 48th Lakes Hospitality Trade Show at Crooklands in Cumbria on 26th and 27th February.