What HS/3 Hotelsoftware does

HS/3 Hotelsoftware GmbH & Co. KG is a German on-premise Property Management System (PMS) vendor founded in 2009 and headquartered in Detmold, with regional sales offices in Berlin and Tegernsee and an exclusive Swiss distribution partner (ITworks GmbH). The company serves approximately 3,500-5,000 hotel and accommodation properties across roughly 20 countries, with the majority concentrated in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Its product addresses reservation, front-desk operations, guest administration, housekeeping, invoicing, marketing, and reporting for small-to-mid-market hotels, including typical German use-cases such as KassenSichV (TSE/fiskaltrust) compliance, DATEV/Lexware/Sage accounting exports, X-Rechnung e-invoicing, and German/Austrian/Swiss VAT handling.

The technology core is an on-premise application built on a Firebird SQL database, packaged in three licensing editions - Basic (capped at 20 rooms), Professional, and Premium - with an extensible module catalog covering finance, group reservations, voucher management, packages, template design, foreign-language correspondence, and quota management. Two complementary products extend the surface: the smartWebEngine direct-booking engine and the BLUEBOX hardware appliance, which hosts HS3 in an isolated environment with UPS, automated backups, analytics, and a 36-month hardware-replacement cycle. A broad pre-built integration ecosystem spans channel managers, POS systems, payment terminals, accounting suites, electronic locks, telephone systems, yield-management tools, and TSE/fiskaltrust - representing a key competitive asset.

HS3 monetizes through a mix of recurring software subscriptions, multi-tier support contracts (standard, 24/7 extended, pay-per-incident), mandatory annual update contracts, one-time module and template licenses, hardware sales (BLUEBOX), and professional training services. Go-to-market is sales-led, with regional account managers covering specific DACH territories, supplemented by events (Intergastra, Internorga, Alles für den Gast) and DEHOGA co-marketing. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. In May 2024, HS3 was acquired by Mews, a cloud-native hospitality platform that had raised $110M at a $1.1B valuation in March 2024; HS3 continues to operate as a subsidiary with a multi-year support commitment while existing customers are offered migration to the Mews Hospitality Cloud, and the combined entity reports covering approximately 15% of available rooms in German hotels, apartments, and hostels.

Name

HS/3 Hotelsoftware

Legal name

HS/3 Hotelsoftware GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://hs3-hotelsoftware.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HS/3 Hotelsoftware is a German on-premise Property Management System (PMS) vendor serving approximately 3,500-5,000 small and mid-market hotels across the DACH region and roughly 20 countries, offering modular editions (Basic, Professional, Premium), the BLUEBOX hardware appliance, and a broad hospitality integration ecosystem. Acquired by Mews in May 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hotel Property Management Software (PMS)

SIC

Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Property Management Systems (PMS) (THALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sales & Catering / Group & Event Management (THALACAM), Direct Booking Platforms & Booking Engines for Hosts/Managers (THAMALAE)

Keywords

• Hotel property management software
• On-premise PMS system
• Hotel booking engine
• Hospitality revenue management
• Hotel channel manager integration

Headquarters

HQ city

Detmold

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses: Perpetual or subscription-based software licenses sold in three tiers (Basic, Professional, Premium) with room-based or user-based pricing. The Basic edition is limited to 20 rooms, while Professional and Premium support unlimited rooms.
2. Support Contracts: Multiple support tiers including standard support package (fixed service conditions with guaranteed callback times), extended 24/7 support package (365 days/year), and pay-per-incident support. Support is delivered via phone, email, and remote assistance.
3. Update Contracts: Annual update contracts required to receive new software versions and security updates. Updates are not possible without a valid update contract.
4. Modules and Extensions: Additional modules such as Finance, Group Reservations, Voucher Management, Arrangements, Extended Template Designer, Foreign Languages, Contingent Management, and Online Banking. Modules are available for Professional and Premium editions.
5. Hardware (BLUEBOX): Sale of dedicated hardware appliance for running HS3 software with included 36-month warranty and automatic technology exchange.
6. Training Services: On-site and online training sessions conducted by software trainers, tailored to individual hotel needs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HS3 Hotelsoftware provides an on-premise Property Management System (PMS) for hotels and accommodation providers, built on a Firebird SQL database and sold in three licensing editions (Basic for up to 20 rooms, Professional, and Premium). The platform covers reservations, front-desk operations, guest management, housekeeping, invoicing, and marketing, and is extended by optional add-on modules, the smartWebEngine direct-booking engine, the BLUEBOX dedicated hardware appliance, and a broad library of integration interfaces for channel managers, POS, payment terminals, accounting software, and lock and telephone systems.

Product overview

HS3 Hotelsoftware is a modular, on-premise Property Management System (PMS) designed for the German-speaking Mittelstand hotel market. The core HS3 platform is available in three editions — Basic (limited to 20 rooms), Professional, and Premium — covering reservation, front desk, guest management, housekeeping, billing, and marketing. The platform is extended through optional add-on modules including Finance, Comfort Group Reservations, Voucher Management, Arrangements, Extended Template Designer, Foreign Languages, and Quota Management (Professional/Premium only). Two complementary products extend the core offering: smartWebEngine is an online direct-booking engine for hotel websites, and BLUEBOX is a hardened hardware appliance hosting HS3 in an isolated, secure environment with automated maintenance, UPS, and 36-month hardware replacement. The product portfolio is supported by a broad ecosystem of pre-built Schnittstellen (interfaces) covering channel managers, POS systems, accounting software, payment terminals, lock systems, telephone systems, TSE/fiskaltrust compliance, and more. Since May 2024, HS3 has been a subsidiary of Mews, a cloud-native hospitality platform, and HS3 customers are being offered migration to the Mews Hospitality Cloud.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HS3 Hotelsoftware (Core PMS) On-premise Property Management System covering reservation, booking, guest management, housekeeping, billing, and marketing for hotels and accommodation providers. Available in three editions — Basic (up to 20 rooms), Professional, and Premium — with optional modular expansion.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 5,000 customers trust HS3 hotel software
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration142 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MewscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Mews, a cloud-native hospitality platform, acquired HS3 Hotelsoftware in May 2024. The acquisition strengthens Mews' presence in Germany and the DACH region. HS3 products continue to be supported while customers are offered migration to the Mews Hospitality Cloud. Mews has committed to supporting HS3 products for approximately 3 years following the acquisition.
• ITworks GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution and support partner for Switzerland, handling sales and customer service for Swiss hotel customers of HS3 Hotelsoftware.
• DEHOGA (German Hotel and Restaurant Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerHS3 participates as a partner in DEHOGA state association events, including DEHOGA Niedersachsen and DEHOGA Bayern events.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• protel hotelsoftware: protel is a long-established German PMS vendor serving hotels of all sizes in the DACH region with both on-premise and cloud deployments. It is one of HS3's closest direct competitors, competing for the same mid-market German hotel segment with overlapping features around reservations, billing, and channel management.
• Mews: Mews is the cloud-native hospitality platform that acquired HS3 in May 2024. As HS3's parent and the cloud migration target, Mews is both the most strategically relevant peer and the primary competitive alternative for HS3's own customers over time.
• HotelNetSolutions: HotelNetSolutions is a German hospitality technology vendor offering PMS, booking engines, and website solutions to the DACH mid-market. It directly competes with HS3's smartWebEngine and PMS offerings for the same small and mid-sized German hotel customer segment.
• guestline: guestline is a UK-headquartered hospitality technology provider offering a cloud PMS, booking engine, and distribution solutions to hotels and groups across Europe. It is a relevant peer as a European-focused cloud PMS alternative competing for similar independent and mid-market hotel customers.
• RMS Cloud: RMS Cloud is a global cloud-based PMS serving hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments. It is comparable to HS3 in addressing small to mid-sized accommodation operators and represents a cloud-native alternative in markets where HS3 has historically been strong.

Broad incumbents

• Oracle OPERA Cloud: Oracle OPERA is the dominant global incumbent in hotel PMS, particularly for chain-scale and luxury properties. While it serves a different end of the market than HS3's Mittelstand focus, it competes for larger German hotel groups and represents the on-premise-to-cloud migration benchmark HS3/Mews is challenging.

Emerging players

• Cloudbeds: Cloudbeds is a global cloud-native PMS targeting independent hotels and small chains. While not DACH-focused, it is increasingly winning deals in the German independent segment that HS3 has historically served, representing the cloud-first competitive threat to HS3's installed base.
• RoomPriceGenie: RoomPriceGenie is a revenue management solution that integrates with HS3 and competes with HS3's own Dynamic Pricing Navigator module. It represents the emerging point-solution competitive threat where third-party cloud apps are encroaching on features historically bundled inside the PMS.

Others

• SiteMinder: SiteMinder is a global hotel distribution and revenue platform whose channel manager is integrated with HS3. While not a direct PMS competitor, it is a key ecosystem partner and increasingly expanding into adjacent PMS/booking engine capabilities that overlap with smartWebEngine.

Regional players

• DIRS21: DIRS21 is a German/Austrian channel manager and reservation system widely used in the DACH hotel market. It integrates with HS3 today but is itself expanding into broader PMS-adjacent functionality, making it both a partner and a partial competitive threat in the DACH region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HS/3 Hotelsoftware