{"id":3046,"date":"2026-07-17T14:05:47","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:05:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/?p=3046"},"modified":"2026-07-17T14:05:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T12:05:51","slug":"open-pricing-what-it-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/blog\/open-pricing-what-it-is\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Pricing for hotels: What it is and how it works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Open Pricing<\/strong> is a modern hotel pricing strategy that removes the restrictions of predefined rate levels. Instead of moving between fixed BAR rates, hotels can adjust room prices with complete flexibility, allowing their Revenue Management System (RMS) to recommend or automatically publish the optimal rate based on real-time market conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today&#8217;s hospitality market changes faster than ever. Demand can shift within hours due to concerts, sporting events, rail strikes, weather, airline disruptions or local festivals. Hotels that still rely on fixed BAR pricing often struggle to respond quickly enough. For hotels, from independent boutique properties and country house hotels to city-centre business hotels and large hotel groups, Open Pricing has become an essential part of modern hotel revenue management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i\"><\/span>What is Open Pricing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional <strong>BAR (Best Available Rate) pricing<\/strong> limits hotels to predefined pricing levels such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a3119<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a3129<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a3139<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a3149<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem is simple. If market demand indicates the ideal selling price is <strong>\u00a3136<\/strong>, the hotel cannot use it. Instead, the Revenue Manager must choose either \u00a3129 or \u00a3139, sacrificing pricing precision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open Pricing removes these limitations. With Open Pricing, an RMS can recommend virtually any price, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a3132<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a3136<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a3147<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u00a3153<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This allows hotels to respond far more accurately to changes in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>market demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>booking pace (pickup)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>competitor pricing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>local events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lead time<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>occupancy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>guest segments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>channel performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than forcing demand into rigid pricing grids, Open Pricing enables hotels to sell each room at the price the market is willing to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-2\"><\/span>How does Open Pricing work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A modern <strong>Hotel Revenue Management System (RMS)<\/strong> continuously analyses thousands of data points before recommending or automatically adjusting prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Typical inputs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Market demand<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The system monitors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>search demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>booking pace<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>seasonal trends<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>competitor availability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>market occupancy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, if a major football match at Wembley Stadium, an exhibition at ExCeL London, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or a conference at the NEC Birmingham drives demand, the RMS can increase prices long before manual intervention would normally occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Booking pickup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pickup measures how quickly new reservations are arriving. If bookings suddenly accelerate, the RMS may automatically:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>increase room rates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reduce promotional discounts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>adjust minimum stay requirements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>modify availability rules<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This responsiveness is one of the biggest advantages Open Pricing offers over traditional BAR pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lead time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different pricing strategies are required depending on how far in advance guests book. Pricing decisions may differ significantly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>90 days before arrival<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>30 days before arrival<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>7 days before arrival<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>same-day bookings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open Pricing allows pricing to evolve smoothly throughout the booking window rather than jumping between fixed rate levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Competitor rates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many Revenue Management Systems integrate with <strong>rate shopping<\/strong> solutions that monitor competitors almost in real time. If competing hotels:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>increase prices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>sell out<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>close availability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>introduce promotional offers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">your RMS can immediately recommend appropriate pricing adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-3\"><\/span>Open Pricing vs BAR Pricing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The table below explains the difference between Open Pricing and BAR Pricing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Feature<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Open Pricing<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>BAR Pricing<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fixed pricing levels<\/td><td>No<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Flexible room rates<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Limited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Pricing precision<\/td><td>Very high<\/td><td>Moderate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Market responsiveness<\/td><td>Real-time<\/td><td>Slower<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Revenue Management automation<\/td><td>Advanced<\/td><td>Limited<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ability to optimise every booking<\/td><td>Yes<\/td><td>Limited<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Revenue Managers, the difference is significant. Instead of choosing the nearest predefined rate, Open Pricing allows hotels to publish the exact rate supported by demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-4\"><\/span>Why does Open Pricing increase hotel revenue?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many hotels do not lose revenue because they fail to change prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They lose revenue because pricing changes are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>made too late<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>too infrequent<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>based on incomplete information<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>adjusted in large pricing jumps<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open Pricing enables hotels to react almost instantly to changing demand. The results are typically stronger RevPAR, higher GOPPAR, improved occupancy quality, less manual work, better pricing consistency across channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-5\"><\/span>Open Pricing for different hotel types<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although Open Pricing is often associated with large hotel chains, it delivers value across virtually every accommodation type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It works particularly well for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>independent hotels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>boutique hotels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>aparthotels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>serviced apartments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>resorts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>country hotels<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>multi-property hotel groups<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The system can optimise pricing for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>individual room types<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>suites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>apartments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>selected arrival dates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>guest segments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>distribution channels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This level of flexibility is difficult to achieve using traditional BAR grids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-6\"><\/span>Is Open Pricing suitable for small hotels?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Absolutely. Many independent hotels have limited revenue management resources. Without a dedicated Revenue Manager, pricing decisions often rely on manual reviews that may only happen once per day, or even once per week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An RMS using Open Pricing automates much of this work, allowing smaller hotels to compete more effectively with larger brands while maintaining full control over pricing strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-7\"><\/span>Implementing Open Pricing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A typical implementation includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Integrating the RMS with the PMS and Channel Manager<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analysing historical booking data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Defining the hotel&#8217;s pricing strategy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Setting minimum and maximum pricing limits<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automating pricing recommendations or rate updates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Monitoring ongoing performance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many hotels integrate their RMS with widely used property management systems and channel managers to enable fully automated pricing workflows across direct bookings and OTAs. Modern solutions such as Qualpro <a href=\"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/prorms\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1388\">proRMS<\/a> allow hotels to adopt Open Pricing without maintaining complex BAR rate grids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-8\"><\/span>Common Open Pricing mistakes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open Pricing is highly effective, but only when configured correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Setting pricing limits that are too wide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without sensible minimum and maximum price thresholds, hotels may experience pricing that is either too aggressive or too conservative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ignoring market segmentation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business travellers, leisure guests, groups and corporate accounts all respond differently to price changes. Open Pricing performs best when combined with market segmentation, booking pickup analysis, lead time optimisation and competitor benchmarking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Continuing manual pricing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If Revenue Managers continue adjusting prices manually throughout the day, much of Open Pricing&#8217;s value is lost. Automation should handle routine pricing while humans focus on commercial strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will Open Pricing replace Revenue Managers?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No. Open Pricing enhances Revenue Managers, it does not replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The RMS excels at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>analysing large volumes of data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>detecting market changes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recommending optimal prices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>automating repetitive tasks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Revenue Managers remain responsible for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>commercial strategy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>hotel positioning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>segmentation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pricing policies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>business decisions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technology supports better decisions; it does not replace expertise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-9\"><\/span>Discover Open Pricing with proRMS<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Qualpro <a href=\"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/prorms\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1388\">proRMS<\/a> enables hotels to implement Open Pricing without the complexity of managing traditional BAR grids. By combining real-time market analysis, automation and intelligent pricing recommendations, proRMS helps hotels respond faster to demand, increase RevPAR and streamline revenue management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you operate an independent hotel, serviced apartments or a multi-property portfolio, proRMS gives your team the tools to make smarter pricing decisions based on data, not guesswork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-10\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open Pricing is rapidly becoming the standard approach to hotel revenue management. Instead of relying on rigid BAR pricing structures, hotels gain the flexibility to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>respond faster to market demand<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>optimise every booking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>increase RevPAR and GOPPAR<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>automate pricing decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reduce manual workload<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>make better use of real-time data<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As competition intensifies across the hospitality sector, flexible pricing strategies are becoming a key competitive advantage. If you&#8217;re looking to modernise your hotel&#8217;s pricing strategy, adopting Open Pricing through an advanced Revenue Management System could be one of the most effective ways to improve commercial performance.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1783073604285\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is Open Pricing in hotels?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Open Pricing is a hotel pricing strategy that allows Revenue Management Systems to recommend or publish any room rate based on market demand, rather than restricting hotels to predefined BAR pricing levels.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784289551070\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How is Open Pricing different from BAR pricing?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>BAR pricing relies on fixed pricing tiers, while Open Pricing enables continuous pricing adjustments. This allows hotels to respond more accurately to demand, competitor pricing and booking pace.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784289559117\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Can independent hotels benefit from Open Pricing?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. Independent hotels often benefit the most because automation reduces manual pricing work while improving pricing accuracy and competitiveness.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784289566070\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Does Open Pricing work with hotel PMS and Channel Managers?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. Most modern Revenue Management Systems integrate with leading Property Management Systems (PMS) and Channel Managers, enabling automated pricing updates across direct booking engines and OTAs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1784289573840\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Does Open Pricing improve RevPAR?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>When supported by quality data and a well-configured RMS, Open Pricing helps hotels capture additional demand more effectively, which can contribute to higher RevPAR, stronger occupancy quality and improved profitability.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Discover how Open Pricing helps hotels maximise revenue through dynamic pricing, and why more UK hotels are moving beyond traditional BAR pricing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":3047,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-revenue-management"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3046"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3046\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3054,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3046\/revisions\/3054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qualpro.co\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}