When COVID-19 sent the industry into a state of tumult, many hoteliers were forced to postpone typical budgeting and planning exercises and focus on urgent operational concerns.

But now, with a recovery seemingly gaining traction, hoteliers are returning to tasks that were put on hold. Chief among them is considering IT upgrades.

To help with that effort, Oracle Hospitality has partnered with Starfleet Research to publish its annual Smart Decision Guide to Hotel Property Management Systems. Always a trusted industry resource, this year's edition is noteworthy, because it highlights buying considerations – influenced by demands of the current pandemic – that should be top of mind for hoteliers as they navigate an altered marketplace.

As part of the publishing project, Starfleet surveyed hotel executives on the front lines, gathering feedback to prioritize PMS functionality and attributes essential for business agility and adaptability. The Smart Decision Guide also includes a list of "must-ask" questions for the buying process and an evaluation chart to efficiently compare various PMS solutions.