Posted on 26th September, 2023

Cost To Build A Hotel Booking Mobile App- A Complete Guide

Due to the pandemic, the travel and tourism industry faces many challenges; however, after the pandemic, the market is growing steadily. It is expected to reach $8335 billion by 2025. 45% of this market share comes through mobile booking systems. Only for hotels, 80% of people use the hotel booking mobile app. According to a report, the conversion rate on mobile phones is 5% higher than any other platform. 

By keeping this in mind many hotel owners start investing in hotel booking mobile apps and make a fortune. If you want to invest in the same but wondering about the cost of development, we are here with the solutions. 

In this blog, we will discuss the development cost of a hotel booking mobile application and related factors. 

Cost of Hotel Booking Mobile App Development 

Depending on the type of application and the complexity involved, the cost of developing a hotel booking mobile app can stand between $10k to $90k. However, there are many factors you need to consider to get a comprehensive idea of the cost of development. 

Let’s start with the different types of hotel booking mobile apps that can be developed

To get a complete idea about the cost of development you need to finalize the type of application you want. The main three types of hotel booking apps are as follows, 

Online Travel Agencies App

This is a broad-spectrum app that covers everything that can be involved in the travel and tourism business. Whether you want to book a travel package with lodging, food, or any travel-related facilities you can get all of them here, suppose you want to go out of the station for a trip and need a flight or train ticket, this app will help you cover everything that you possibly want on that trip. 

Apps, like Make My Trip, Agoda.com, and Trip Advisor, are some examples of travel agencies applications. To develop this type of hotel booking mobile app you need to have a significant budget. Because you need to integrate a lot of facilities that involve partnering with many other applications. 

The complexity of developing this type of application is more than any other type. So if you are ready to invest a massive amount then you can go for this type of application. 

Hotel Chain Application 

If you have multiple hotels in different locations and you need a mobile application to handle the bookings and other aspects then a hotel chain application will do that. In this type of application, users can get all the related information about a particular brand of hotels. 

This app will help the users to book any services that the hotel can provide. It includes hotel bookings, restaurant bookings, food ordering, and many more. Suppose a user prefers hotel brands like Taz or Hilton, so they can get to their application and know about all the hotels in their name. 

For example, Taj Group of hotels, Hilton, and Ramada are some of the hotels that use hotel chain applications. Development of this type of application costs less than a travel agency app. However, you can cut down more budget by choosing the right mobile app development agency.

Aggregator application 

This type of hotel application is used by many hotels these days. This application avails the services of various hotels registered with them for the users. Suppose a traveller wants a hotel in a particular range, the app will compare all the registered hotels available and show it to the users. They can use this application to get a better deal within their budget. 

The search results of this application can be filtered by price, ratings, and facilities with detailed information and images of the hotel. So that users can make an informed decision for their stay.

Trivago and Booking .com are some examples of aggregator applications. . development of this type of application costs the least amount. 

 

If you finalize the type of hotel booking application you want then you need to go on to the next part where you can understand the various factors which influence the budget of hotel booking mobile app development. 

Technical Cost Influential Factors of Hotel Booking Mobile App Development

In recent years, the hotel industry has witnessed a significant shift towards mobile app development to enhance customer experience and increase revenue. With the rise in smartphone usage and the convenience of booking hotels on the go, hotel booking mobile apps have become a necessity for many businesses. However, developing a hotel booking mobile app involves various factors that can influence its overall cost. Some of them are written below.

Platform Selection

One of the primary factors that affect the cost of developing a hotel booking app is the choice of platform. Generally, mobile apps are developed for iOS and Android platforms, but targeting both platforms simultaneously can significantly increase the cost. The development process for each platform differs, requiring separate coding, testing, and maintenance efforts. 

However, choosing a cross-platform development framework can mitigate some of these costs by enabling code sharing across platforms.

App Features and Complexity

The features and complexity of a hotel booking app have a direct impact on its development cost. A basic hotel booking app typically includes features like hotel search, booking, payment integration, user profiles, and reviews. 

However, if you aim to differentiate your app and provide additional functionalities such as real-time availability updates, push notifications, loyalty programs, social media integration, or augmented reality (AR) experiences, the cost will increase accordingly. It is essential to prioritize features based on your target audience and business objectives to optimize costs.

UI/UX Design of Mobile Applications

An intuitive and visually appealing UI/UX design is crucial for the success of any mobile app, including hotel booking apps. The complexity of the app’s design, the number of screens, and the level of customization desired influence the overall cost. 

Investing in professional UI/UX designers can enhance the app’s usability and aesthetics, but it may come at an additional cost.

Integration with Third-Party Services

Hotel booking apps often integrate with various third-party services to provide a seamless experience to users. These services can include payment gateways, map services, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, channel managers, or property management systems (PMS). 

The complexity of integrating these services into your app and the availability of APIs or SDKs provided by the service providers can impact development costs.

Backend Development and Database Management

The backend development of a hotel booking app involves creating APIs, setting up servers, and managing databases. The complexity of the backend architecture, the scalability requirements, and the need for data encryption and security measures affect the development costs. 

Additionally, if you plan to integrate cloud services for data storage or use a backend as a service (BaaS) platform, it can impact the overall cost.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Thorough testing and quality assurance (QA) are essential to ensure the app functions flawlessly across different devices and platforms. The cost of testing and QA depends on the number of devices, operating system versions, and test scenarios required. It is crucial to allocate sufficient resources and time for testing to identify and fix any bugs or performance issues.

Non-technical Cost Influential Factors of Hotel Booking Mobile App Development  

Apart from the technical factors mentioned above, several non-technical factors can influence the cost of developing a hotel booking mobile application. 

Let’s explore some of these additional cost-influential factors. 

Project Scope and Requirements

The scope and requirements of the project have a significant impact on the overall cost of hotel booking mobile app development. Clearly defining and documenting the project scope, including the number of screens, user flows, and functionalities required helps in estimating the development effort accurately. 

If you introduce changes or additions to the scope during the development process that can lead to increased costs and delays.

Team Size and Expertise

The size and expertise of the development team involved in building the app can affect the cost. Hiring experienced developers, UI/UX designers, quality assurance professionals, and project managers with a track record in mobile app development services may require higher investment. 

However, their expertise can result in a higher-quality app and potentially reduce long-term maintenance costs.

Project Timeline and Development Methodology

The timeline allocated for developing the hotel booking app influences the cost. If you require faster development, additional resources may be required, leading to increased costs. Similarly, the choice of development methodology can impact the development time and associated costs.

Localization and Internationalization

If your hotel booking app is intended for a global audience, localization, and internationalization become important. Adapting the app to different languages, currencies, and cultural preferences involves additional development effort and costs. It may require hiring translators, implementing localization frameworks, and conducting usability testing specific to the target regions.

Marketing and Promotion

Developing your hotel booking app is not enough; it also needs to be marketed and promoted effectively to reach the target audience. Marketing efforts, including app store optimization (ASO), online advertising, social media campaigns, and influencer partnerships, require a separate budget. 

Allocating funds for marketing and promotion ensures that your app gains visibility and attracts users, ultimately driving revenue.

Ongoing Maintenance and Updates

Once your hotel booking app is developed and launched, it requires ongoing maintenance and updates to keep up with evolving technologies, security patches, and user expectations. Budgeting for post-launch support, bug fixes, feature enhancements, and compatibility updates is essential to ensure your app’s long-term success and user satisfaction.

Wrapping Up

The cost of a hotel booking mobile app is influenced by several factors. By understanding these factors and prioritizing the essential features, businesses can effectively manage the development cost of hotel booking apps while delivering a high-quality mobile app that meets the needs of their target audience. 

You can always rely on the best mobile app development agency like Futuristic Bug for proficient results. So without further ado look for the best mobile app development agency today.

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