Benvida
Voicemail, mobile, answering service or Benvida: what suits a small property
An honest comparison of the five ways a small hotel or B&B can handle the phone, including when Benvida is not the right choice. If nights are your main problem, read how to answer your hotel phone at night too.
| Benvida | Voicemail | Forward to your mobile | Answering service | Night receptionist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Answers at night and on holidays | Yes, 24/7 | Records a message | Only if you're awake | Depends on contract | Only on shift |
| Takes booking details | Yes, and sends them to you | If the guest leaves a message | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | 70+ | The one in the message | Yours | Depends on contract | Theirs |
| Knows your property | What you tell her and your website | No | Yes | From a script | Yes |
| Human judgement for complaints | Transfers the call to you | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Check-in and face-to-face service | No | No | If you're there | No | Yes |
| Cost | From €99/month, no contract | Almost free | Your time | Quoted per contract | A salary |
The cost of an answering service or a member of staff depends on the contract and the country, so we don't quote figures.
Benvida suits you if
- You miss calls that would have been bookings.
- Guests call in languages you don't speak.
- You want to keep answering yourself when you can and let her take the rest.
It doesn't suit you if
- You get very few calls: voicemail is enough.
- You have staff on the desk 24 hours.
- You need price and availability confirmed without anyone from the property checking.
Frequently asked questions
Is voicemail better than an AI receptionist?
Voicemail is almost free, but most people calling to book don't leave a message; they call the next place. If you hardly get any calls, voicemail may be enough.
What about forwarding calls to my mobile?
It works while you can pick up. It fails at night, when you're with another guest or driving. Benvida can answer only when you don't and pass you the call if a guest asks for a person.
What doesn't Benvida do?
She doesn't confirm price or availability without you, doesn't do check-in in person and doesn't connect to your PMS out of the box: bookings reach you by email, ready to confirm.
Other countries
- Benvida
- AI receptionist for B&Bs in Ireland
- AI receptionist for B&Bs and small hotels in the UK
- AI receptionist for hotels and holiday cottages in Finland
- AI receptionist for small hotels and B&Bs in Sweden
- AI receptionist for small hotels and guesthouses in Norway
- AI receptionist for B&Bs and inns in Canada