Modern hotel POS platforms connect the dots between departments. From the lobby café to the rooftop bar to the gift shop, everything is tracked, reported, and analyzed in one place. A modern hotel POS keeps your outlets connected, your data organized, and your guests happy without making your staff jump through hoops.
Let’s break down what makes a hotel-ready POS different—and which systems are worth considering.
Best POS for Hotels in 2025
⭐ Toast: Best for high-volume hotel food and beverage operations
⭐ Square: Best for small hotels and quick-service setups
⭐ Clover: Best for simple, plug-and-play hotel POS solutions
⭐ Lightspeed: Best for multi-outlet hotels with inventory and reporting needs
⭐ TouchBistro: Best for boutique hotels with full-service dining
⭐ Revel: Best for large hotels needing advanced control and customization
What Is a POS System in Hotel Management?
A point of sale (POS) system is a combination of hardware and software that allows hotels to accept payments, track sales, manage products, and connect departments in real time. While most people think of POS as a simple checkout tool, in the hospitality industry, it’s so much more.
In hotels, a POS system is often used in:
- Restaurants and bars – to handle orders, split bills, track tabs, and manage menu items
- Room service – to route orders directly to the kitchen and post charges to guest rooms
- Retail outlets and gift shops – to manage sales, inventory, and customer data
- Poolside or mobile ordering – using mobile devices for on-the-go service
- Front desk – for extras like parking, late checkouts, or event tickets
What makes a hotel POS system different from a standard restaurant POS system is the ability to integrate with your property management system (PMS). This lets staff charge items to rooms, view guest reservations, and access preferences that personalize the experience.
Key functions include:
- Real-time reporting – See what’s selling, who’s selling it, and when
- Stock management – Monitor supplies across outlets and auto-reorder as needed
- Integrated payments – Accept credit cards, Apple Pay, and other payment solutions
- Customer relationship management – Track guest data and reward loyalty
- Operational efficiency – Reduce manual entry, prevent errors, and improve business management
As legacy systems phase out, more hotels are switching to modern, cloud-based point of sale setups to stay competitive, reduce downtime, and connect their entire business under one platform.
What hardware does a hotel POS system use?
The hardware options in a hotel POS setup depend on where and how you’re serving guests. Here are common setups and what they’re used for:
- POS terminals at the front desk – Used to accept payments for parking, upgrades, or event tickets. Often integrated with the hotel’s PMS for seamless billing.
- Mobile POS devices – iPads or handheld devices used by staff in restaurants, poolside, or even for in-room dining. Great for mobile ordering and reducing wait times.
- Self-service kiosks – Found in hotel cafés or quick-service outlets, allowing guests to order and pay on their own. Helps reduce labor costs.
- Kitchen display systems (KDS) – Replaces printed tickets in the kitchen, improving operational efficiency during peak food and beverage service.
- Receipt printers and cash drawers are still essential in many point-of-sale systems, depending on your preferred payment solutions and location type.
Our Top Picks
Not every point of sale system hotel management teams use is designed with hotels in mind. Some are made for restaurants, others for retail. But hotels are unique—they need a POS that can handle multiple outlets, sync with a property management system, and still deliver a smooth experience for both staff and guests.
These are our top picks for the best hotel POS systems:
- Toast – Best for high-volume hotel food and beverage operations
- Square – Best for small hotels and quick-service setups
- Clover – Best for ease of use and fast setup
- Lightspeed – Best for multi-outlet hotel properties with advanced stock management
- TouchBistro – Best for boutique hotels focused on full-service dining and guest experiences
- Revel – Best for large or enterprise-level hospitality industry businesses
Each of these POS hospitality systems offers different strengths, depending on how you run your property. Some are better for front-of-house speed, others shine in back-of-house reporting or integrated payments. The right choice depends on how many POS terminals you need, how you handle service, and what kind of support your staff needs to operate smoothly.
Quick Comparison
| POS System | Best For | Built for Hospitality? | PMS Integration | Offline Mode |
| Toast | High-volume hotel F&B service | ✅ | ✅ (via partners) | ✅ |
| Square | Small hotels and simple F&B | ✅ | ⚠️ (limited) | ✅ |
| Clover | Quick setup and casual dining | ✅ | ⚠️ (via apps) | ⚠️ |
| Lightspeed | Multi-outlet, inventory-heavy hotels | ✅ | ✅ (via API) | ✅ |
| TouchBistro | Boutique hotels with table service | ✅ | ⚠️ (limited) | ✅ |
| Revel | Enterprise-level hotel businesses | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
1. Toast: Best for hotel restaurants and bars
Start for free
Customize your package Toast POS is one of the top choices for hotels with serious food and beverage operations. Originally built for restaurants, it has evolved into a full-featured POS system that supports hotel restaurants, bars, lounges, poolside dining, and more. For hotels that rely on good service and high-volume dining, Toast brings the tools needed to keep the line moving while keeping operations tight behind the scenes.
Toast supports multiple outlets, integrates with PMS platforms, lets staff take orders and fire tickets to the kitchen, and charges rooms from a single system. Its durable hardware is built for high-volume hotel environments like bars, restaurants, and cafés, perfect for the demands of a hotel kitchen or bar.
Key Features
- Room charge integration – Post orders from any outlet directly to a guest’s folio via PMS integrations
- Kitchen display system (KDS) – Orders flow instantly to the kitchen, improving speed and operational efficiency
- Menu management – Manage, customize, and update menus across outlets in real time
- Mobile ordering + payments – Great for poolside, patio, or in-room dining with mobile devices
- Inventory tracking – Monitor ingredients and stock levels to reduce waste and automate reorders
- Real time reporting – Sales, labor, item performance, and more available by shift, location, or employee
- Guest engagement tools – Loyalty programs, feedback collection, and digital receipts built-in
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Built for speed—ideal for busy hotel restaurants and bars
- Strong integrations with top PMS platforms
- Durable, commercial-grade POS hardware
- Full suite of tools for food and beverage management
- Easy to train staff and scale across outlets
Cons
- Some hotel-specific features require third-party integrations
- Pricing can scale quickly with multiple modules or add-ons
- Not designed to manage room reservations or full hotel operations (PMS required)
Who It’s For
Toast is ideal for hotels that have one or more food and beverage outlets and want to deliver fast, seamless guest service. If you’re running a full-service hotel restaurant, a high-traffic bar, or offering poolside and room service, Toast gives you the tools to move fast, stay accurate, and keep guests happy. It’s best for properties that want a powerful, restaurant-grade POS that still works well within a larger hospitality ecosystem.
2. Square: Best for small or independent hotels
Free setup & no hidden fees
Create customer profiles in seconds Square is a user-friendly POS system that’s ideal for smaller hotels, boutique properties, and limited-service operations. Its biggest advantage is simplicity—it’s quick to set up, easy to train staff on, and doesn’t require a tech team to maintain. Whether you’re running a lobby café, small restaurant, or gift shop, Square covers the basics with clean design and solid functionality.
While it isn’t built specifically for hotel environments, many independent hotels use Square for things like front desk extras, in-store purchases, and food and beverage service at smaller outlets. It’s affordable, flexible, and works great with mobile devices like iPads and card readers.
Key Features
- Touchscreen POS terminals – Use iPads or countertop registers with built-in payment solutions
- Integrated payments – Accept credit, debit, gift cards, Apple Pay, and contactless
- Basic inventory tracking – Stay on top of stock levels in shops or cafes
- Digital receipts + tipping – Improve guest service with sleek, easy checkout
- Square Dashboard – Real time insights into sales, peak hours, and staff activity
- App marketplace – Add features like loyalty, marketing, CRM, and some light PMS integrations
- Mobile POS – Staff can take orders or accept payments anywhere on property
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Very easy to set up—no tech support needed
- Modern, intuitive interface for fast training
- Works well on mobile devices and tablets
- Transparent, flat-rate pricing model
- Good for single-location setups or hotels just getting started
Cons
- Lacks built-in hotel-specific features like room charges or block reservations
- Limited direct integrations with full property management systems
- Not designed for complex, multi-outlet hotel operations
Who It’s For
Square is a smart option for smaller hotels, boutique properties, or hospitality business owners who want an affordable, no-fuss point of sale system for basic guest service touchpoints. It’s best for properties that offer grab-and-go food, casual dining, or small retail, and don’t need deep integration with a full management system or revenue management tools.
3. Clover: Best for fast deployment
Cloud-hosted & accessible from anywhere
Accept payments & track inventory Clover is a flexible, user-friendly POS system that works well for hotels with casual dining, gift shops, or small front desk transactions. It’s not built specifically for hotels, but it’s easy to set up, offers a variety of POS stands and hardware, and supports processing payments across different outlets. With access to an app marketplace, hotel owners can customize features like loyalty programs, inventory tools, or basic PMS integrations. It’s a practical choice for independent hotels that want reliable performance and transparent pricing without a complicated learning curve.
Key Features
- Touchscreen POS terminals – Fast training and low maintenance
- Inventory and staff tools – Track sales and hours
- App integrations – Add features for loyalty programs, CRM, and PMS
- Online ordering – For hotel restaurants or room service
- Mobile payments – Accept Apple Pay, contactless, and split bills
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Plug-and-play system
- Small footprint—good for limited space
- Mobile and countertop options
- Easy to scale
Cons
- Requires third-party tools for full hotel functionality
- Limited enterprise reporting
Who It’s For
Hotels needing a simple, reliable point of sale system for casual F&B and small shop operations.
Lightspeed: Best for multi-outlet and retail
Advanced inventory management capabilities
Smarter sales & reporting Lightspeed is a powerful, cloud-based POS system built for hotels that need more control across multiple outlets. It’s especially strong when it comes to inventory management, detailed sales reporting, and managing separate menus across restaurants, bars, and gift shops. With integrations into property management systems, CRMs, and accounting software, it helps hotel teams stay organized and make smarter decisions. For hotels with layered operations and multiple service points, Lightspeed delivers the tools to manage it all in one place—without losing visibility or speed.
Key Features
- Multi-location menu management – Useful for hotel restaurants and cafes
- Ingredient-level stock tracking – Great for beverage operations
- PMS + ERP integrations – Open API and partner network
- Custom workflows – Match to your business management style
- Mobile POS hardware – Accept orders and payments anywhere
Pros
- Deep customization options
- Strong for retail + F&B
- Works well for growing hotel brands
- Excellent reporting tools
Cons
- More setup and training required
- May be too advanced for single-location hotels
Who It’s For
Hotels with complex operations, multiple outlets, or that need advanced stock management.
5. TouchBistro: Best for boutique hotels
Manage tables with smart floor plan tools
Boost loyalty with custom rewards plans TouchBistro is a restaurant-first POS system that fits well in hotels with full-service dining, room service, or smaller on-site cafes. It runs on iPads, making it easy to set up and use for staff, and it includes built-in tools like tableside ordering, menu management, and a kitchen display system.
Key Features
- Table service tools – Fire by course, manage table layout
- Offline functionality – Works even without internet
- Real-time updates – Tracks ticket progress live
- Menu flexibility – Ideal for rotating or seasonal menus
- Front of house + kitchen sync – With optional KDS add-on
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Easy for staff to learn
- Clean iPad interface
- Affordable
- Great for guest engagement through tableside service
Cons
- Limited PMS support
- Best for small-to-midsize operations
Who It’s For
Boutique or single-location hotels offering seated dining or high-touch service.
6. Revel: Best for enterprise hotel groups
Securely access your data from the cloud
Get powerful analytics on real-time sales Revel is a high-powered, enterprise-level POS system designed for hotels with complex operations and multiple revenue streams. It’s a strong fit for properties that need advanced features like centralized management across outlets, custom workflows, and deep integrations with property management systems, CRMs, and accounting tools. With real-time data, built-in scalability, and options for tailored configurations, Revel supports large hotel teams looking to streamline multi-outlet operations while staying in control of performance, service, and growth.
Key Features
- Enterprise-level integrations – Connect to PMS, CRM, and revenue management tools
- Multi-location dashboard – Manage multiple hotels from one place
- Custom POS workflows – Fine-tuned to your exact needs
- Employee tracking and performance – Monitor KPIs across outlets
- Integrated payments and real-time reporting – One system for everything
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Highly customizable
- Scales with your business
- Deep reporting
- Powerful back-end system
Cons
- Complex setup
- Requires training and onboarding
Who It’s For
Hotel groups or larger properties that need a powerful, centralized POS to manage guest experiences, block reservations, and revenue streams.
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Benefits of a Hotel POS System
A modern hotel POS system does more than ring up sales—it becomes a key part of how your property runs. With the right tools in place, you can simplify day-to-day tasks, reduce mistakes, and improve both the guest and staff experience.
- Streamline operations across hotel restaurants, bars, front desk, and gift shops
Centralize your outlets under one system to reduce miscommunication, duplicate work, and slow service.
- Improve guest service with faster, more accurate orders
Orders go directly from POS to the kitchen or bar, minimizing delays and helping your staff deliver a smoother experience. - Manage inventory with real-time stock tracking
Get full visibility into your hospitality inventory so you know what’s selling, what’s running low, and when to restock. - Track employee performance and sales by location
Access detailed sales reporting and labor data to make smarter scheduling and staffing decisions. - Support mobile payments and modern checkout experiences
Let guests pay with debit cards, Apple Pay, or contactless—whether they’re at the bar, at the pool, or checking out.
- Boost revenue with better data, smarter decisions, and connected tools
With clear analytics and integrated payments, you can track trends, upsell smarter, and adjust operations based on what’s really working. - Improve business management with seamless system integrations
Connect your POS system with your PMS, accounting software, or CRM to get one big-picture view of your hotel’s performance.
FAQ: POS System for Hotels
Q: What is a hotel POS system?
A: A hotel POS system processes sales and integrates with your PMS to support guest reservations, room service, and other hotel departments like gift shops and restaurants.
Q: How many POS terminals does a hotel need?
A: It depends on your outlets. A small hotel may only need one or two. A larger property may use 10+ across food, beverage, retail, and front desk.
Q: What’s the difference between a hotel POS and a restaurant POS system?
A: A restaurant POS system handles dining transactions. A POS for hospitality industry adds room charges, PMS integrations, and support for multiple outlets under one roof.
Q: Can I use mobile devices for POS?
A: Yes, most systems now support mobile devices, tablets, and cloud-based access for mobile ordering and payments.
The Bottom Line
Here’s a quick recap of the best hotel POS systems:
- Toast – Best for hotel restaurants and bars
- Square – Best for small or independent hotels
- Clover – Best for ease of use and fast deployment
- Lightspeed – Best for multi-outlet and retail + dining
- TouchBistro – Best for boutique hotels with seated dining
- Revel – Best for enterprise hotel groups
The right POS system for hotel management should improve your guest experience, help staff perform better, and make your hospitality business easier to run.