Zaplar compared to VisBook
VisBook started in 1995 as a booking system for a Norwegian campsite and has since grown into a full hotel system. It supports the hotel floor: POS, restaurant and conference bookings, with spa sold as an add-on. For the rest, it relies on other products and partners: the channel manager comes through sister product BookVisit, revenue management through Mews-owned Atomize, and guest messaging and online check-in through separate vendors. Zaplar took a different route: one system built around AI from day one. That means fewer vendors and a level of connection that makes automation across the whole hotel possible.
Every room, table, event space, booking and task is a connected node in a single graph. Zaplar Spatial also models the building itself: its floors, rooms and corridors. The AI can see how everything in the hotel relates, both operationally and physically. That shared picture is what lets Zaplar take on more of the daily work and carry out truly powerful automations. See below how Zaplar compares to VisBook.
AI
AI Action Feed
Native
The Action Feed is the central log of everything Zaplar's AI does in the hotel. Each time the system takes an action or proposes one, such as replying to a guest, adjusting a rate or creating an invoice, an entry appears in the feed. Each entry describes what was done or proposed, when, and why.
Not available
AI Action Feed
Zaplar
Native
The Action Feed is the central log of everything Zaplar's AI does in the hotel. Each time the system takes an action or proposes one, such as replying to a guest, adjusting a rate or creating an invoice, an entry appears in the feed. Each entry describes what was done or proposed, when, and why.
VisBook
Not available
Routines
Native
Turn your hotel's multi-step processes into Routines that run the same way every time. A Routine starts on a schedule or when something happens in the hotel, such as a new booking, a check-in or a cancellation, and carries out every defined step without anyone lifting a finger.
Not available
Routines
Zaplar
Native
Turn your hotel's multi-step processes into Routines that run the same way every time. A Routine starts on a schedule or when something happens in the hotel, such as a new booking, a check-in or a cancellation, and carries out every defined step without anyone lifting a finger.
VisBook
Not available
Routine suggestions
Native
Zaplar detects actions staff repeat and suggests turning them into a routine. Accept the suggestion, and the routine is set up automatically.
Not available
Routine suggestions
Zaplar
Native
Zaplar detects actions staff repeat and suggests turning them into a routine. Accept the suggestion, and the routine is set up automatically.
VisBook
Not available
Spatial reasoning
Native
Zaplar Spatial models floors, rooms, corridors and doors, so the AI can answer questions that depend on the physical layout of the property.
Not available
Spatial reasoning
Zaplar
Native
Zaplar Spatial models floors, rooms, corridors and doors, so the AI can answer questions that depend on the physical layout of the property.
VisBook
Not available
AI voice agents
Native
AI voice agents take guest requests, handle room service orders and update bookings.
Not available
AI voice agents
Zaplar
Native
AI voice agents take guest requests, handle room service orders and update bookings.
VisBook
Not available
Autonomous task completion
Native
Dynamic automations: agents decide what needs doing from live hotel data.
Not available
Autonomous task completion
Zaplar
Native
Dynamic automations: agents decide what needs doing from live hotel data.
VisBook
Not available
Data in plain language
Native
Ask the Zaplar AI Assistant anything about the hotel in plain language and get the answer, drawn from bookings, folios, analytics, reports and the spatial model of the property.
Not available
Data in plain language
Zaplar
Native
Ask the Zaplar AI Assistant anything about the hotel in plain language and get the answer, drawn from bookings, folios, analytics, reports and the spatial model of the property.
VisBook
Not available
External vendor coordination
Coming soon
Zaplar contacts vendors and collects quotes automatically.
Not available
External vendor coordination
Zaplar
Coming soon
Zaplar contacts vendors and collects quotes automatically.
VisBook
Not available
Guest
Unified guest inbox
Native
Email, SMS, WhatsApp and OTA messages land in one shared unified team inbox.
Not available
Unified guest inbox
Zaplar
Native
Email, SMS, WhatsApp and OTA messages land in one shared unified team inbox.
VisBook
Not available
AI auto-replies
Native
Messaging Agent Mode drafts a reply to every new guest message, using the booking and context from previous stays. In settings, you choose which message types it handles and whether replies are sent automatically or wait for staff approval.
Not available
AI auto-replies
Zaplar
Native
Messaging Agent Mode drafts a reply to every new guest message, using the booking and context from previous stays. In settings, you choose which message types it handles and whether replies are sent automatically or wait for staff approval.
VisBook
Not available
Guest profiles and personalization
Native
Every guest and company has a record with full booking history, preferences, notes, a timeline and all conversations. Zaplar's AI uses the context from previous stays to personalise each new one.
Not available
Guest profiles and personalization
Zaplar
Native
Every guest and company has a record with full booking history, preferences, notes, a timeline and all conversations. Zaplar's AI uses the context from previous stays to personalise each new one.
VisBook
Not available
Online check-in and check-out
Native
Integration
Online check-in and check-out
Zaplar
Native
VisBook
Integration
Self-service kiosk
Native
Integration
Self-service kiosk
Zaplar
Native
VisBook
Integration
Digital key
Integration
Integration
Digital key
Zaplar
Integration
VisBook
Integration
Operations
Staff scheduling / rostering
Coming soon
Not available
Staff scheduling / rostering
Zaplar
Coming soon
VisBook
Not available
Long-stay
Coming soon
Not available
Long-stay
Zaplar
Coming soon
VisBook
Not available
Spa module
Native
Add-on
Spa module
Zaplar
Native
VisBook
Add-on
Maintenance and task delegation
Native
Zaplar identifies which tasks need doing and assigns each one to the right person automatically. The PMS, housekeeping and maintenance share one architecture, so nothing is entered twice.
Partial
Maintenance and task delegation
Zaplar
Native
Zaplar identifies which tasks need doing and assigns each one to the right person automatically. The PMS, housekeeping and maintenance share one architecture, so nothing is entered twice.
VisBook
Partial
Housekeeping
Native
Zaplar's housekeeping system and mobile app run on Zaplar Spatial, a floor-plan model of your hotel. It calculates the distances between cleaning and maintenance tasks and plans routes that keep walking to a minimum.
Native
Housekeeping
Zaplar
Native
Zaplar's housekeeping system and mobile app run on Zaplar Spatial, a floor-plan model of your hotel. It calculates the distances between cleaning and maintenance tasks and plans routes that keep walking to a minimum.
VisBook
Native
POS (F&B and retail)
Native
Native
POS (F&B and retail)
Zaplar
Native
VisBook
Native
Inventory management
Coming soon
Native
Inventory management
Zaplar
Coming soon
VisBook
Native
Finance
Bookkeeping on autopilot
Native
Every sale is posted to your accounting system with the right account and VAT, automatically. No manual exports, no miscoded revenue.
Not available
Bookkeeping on autopilot
Zaplar
Native
Every sale is posted to your accounting system with the right account and VAT, automatically. No manual exports, no miscoded revenue.
VisBook
Not available
Events
BEOs, contracts and welcome letters
Native
BEOs, contracts and welcome letters fill in automatically from the booking. Every item on the schedule gets its own section in the BEO, so the whole event fits in one document. No copying between systems, no outdated versions.
Not available
BEOs, contracts and welcome letters
Zaplar
Native
BEOs, contracts and welcome letters fill in automatically from the booking. Every item on the schedule gets its own section in the BEO, so the whole event fits in one document. No copying between systems, no outdated versions.
VisBook
Not available
Run sheet and kitchen view
Native
Zaplar automatically generates a daily run sheet by time window with venue, headcount and dietary tags, plus a printable kitchen view with covers, sittings and dietary requirements.
Not available
Run sheet and kitchen view
Zaplar
Native
Zaplar automatically generates a daily run sheet by time window with venue, headcount and dietary tags, plus a printable kitchen view with covers, sittings and dietary requirements.
VisBook
Not available
Proposals and offers
Native
Send a personalized offer as an expiring link. The guest can only select what is still available, and staff are warned if another confirmed booking takes a resource in the offer. Track when the offer is opened, extend its validity and take payment on acceptance.
Not available
Proposals and offers
Zaplar
Native
Send a personalized offer as an expiring link. The guest can only select what is still available, and staff are warned if another confirmed booking takes a resource in the offer. Track when the offer is opened, extend its validity and take payment on acceptance.
VisBook
Not available
Guest planning forms
Native
Send the guest a personal link to complete the schedule, attendee roster, dietary requirements, room setup and add-on upsells. Answers flow directly into the booking.
Not available
Guest planning forms
Zaplar
Native
Send the guest a personal link to complete the schedule, attendee roster, dietary requirements, room setup and add-on upsells. Answers flow directly into the booking.
VisBook
Not available
Guest portal for event bookings
Native
Once an event is booked, the organiser signs in to the Zaplar guest portal to manage the attendee list and invitations, send allergy forms with each confirmed invitation, follow updates on the booking, message the events coordinator and plan table seating.
Not available
Guest portal for event bookings
Zaplar
Native
Once an event is booked, the organiser signs in to the Zaplar guest portal to manage the attendee list and invitations, send allergy forms with each confirmed invitation, follow updates on the booking, message the events coordinator and plan table seating.
VisBook
Not available
Events / MICE planned end to end
Native
Events are planned end to end by AI. Record the planning meeting and Zaplar drafts the run sheet and BEOs based on the transcription, then requests quotes from your vendors. For returning clients, it pre-fills room setups and AV from their past events. Your team reviews and confirms instead of starting from scratch.
Not available
Events / MICE planned end to end
Zaplar
Native
Events are planned end to end by AI. Record the planning meeting and Zaplar drafts the run sheet and BEOs based on the transcription, then requests quotes from your vendors. For returning clients, it pre-fills room setups and AV from their past events. Your team reviews and confirms instead of starting from scratch.
VisBook
Not available
Revenue
Revenue management & dynamic pricing
Native
Built into the PMS, Zaplar RMS reprices within minutes when demand shifts. Every suggested rate shows the signals behind it, such as events, pace and competitor prices, so your revenue manager can see why and override with confidence.
Integration
Revenue management & dynamic pricing
Zaplar
Native
Built into the PMS, Zaplar RMS reprices within minutes when demand shifts. Every suggested rate shows the signals behind it, such as events, pace and competitor prices, so your revenue manager can see why and override with confidence.
VisBook
Integration
Channel manager
Integration
Integration
Channel manager
Zaplar
Integration
VisBook
Integration
Booking engine
Native
Build booking pages in your own branding from ready-made blocks, or start from a template and adjust it. For each page, choose whether guests book directly or send an enquiry, which suits rooms as well as events and groups. Coming soon: describe the page you want in natural language, upload a folder with your current packages, images and videos, and Zaplar builds a complete booking flow from it.
Native
Booking engine
Zaplar
Native
Build booking pages in your own branding from ready-made blocks, or start from a template and adjust it. For each page, choose whether guests book directly or send an enquiry, which suits rooms as well as events and groups. Coming soon: describe the page you want in natural language, upload a folder with your current packages, images and videos, and Zaplar builds a complete booking flow from it.
VisBook
Native
Payments
Embedded payments
Native
Native
Embedded payments
Zaplar
Native
VisBook
Native
Terminals
Native
Native
Terminals
Zaplar
Native
VisBook
Native
Reporting
Promptable custom reports
Native
Describe the report you need in plain language and Zaplar builds it.
Not available
Promptable custom reports
Zaplar
Native
Describe the report you need in plain language and Zaplar builds it.
VisBook
Not available
Custom dashboards
Native
A drag-and-drop KPI board; build any card from bookings, folio charges, stays, contacts or tasks, shown as a line, bar, table or stat tile. Daily, period and OTA commission reports export to CSV.
Not available
Custom dashboards
Zaplar
Native
A drag-and-drop KPI board; build any card from bookings, folio charges, stays, contacts or tasks, shown as a line, bar, table or stat tile. Daily, period and OTA commission reports export to CSV.
VisBook
Not available
Live operational view
Native
One view of the hotel's live status and key figures. Tailor it to what you want to see, and set up separate views for each role in the hotel.
Native
Live operational view
Zaplar
Native
One view of the hotel's live status and key figures. Tailor it to what you want to see, and set up separate views for each role in the hotel.
VisBook
Native
Support
Onboarding
On-site go-live with Zaplar engineers, plus personal training for your staff.
Onboarding
Zaplar
On-site go-live with Zaplar engineers, plus personal training for your staff.
VisBook
Helping exceptional hoteliers do their best work.
We believe great hospitality is about being present with the guest, not spending time infront of a screen.
