A Closer Look at POS Systems Used by Hospitality Groups

Written By Akash Patel

Hospitality groups face unique challenges when it comes to POS. Unlike a single-location restaurant, hotels and multi-location operators need systems that tie together restaurants, bars, room service, events, and even retail outlets. A POS is more than a cash register, it’s a critical connector between property management systems (PMS), accounting, and payments.

Here’s a look at the most widely used POS systems in hospitality groups today, with details on typical costs, strengths, and weaknesses.

Oracle MICROS Simphony

Overview
A legacy giant in the hotel and resort sector, Oracle MICROS is designed for scale. It integrates deeply with Opera PMS and is standard in many global hotel brands.

Costs

  • Hardware: $1,500–$3,000 per terminal.

  • Licensing: $200–$500+ per month per outlet.

  • Installation and setup: $10,000+ for multi-property rollouts.

  • Processing: Usually interchange-plus with Oracle’s partners.

Pros

  • Best-in-class PMS integration.

  • Scalable across properties worldwide.

  • Strong enterprise reporting.

Cons

  • Very high upfront costs.

  • Dated interface compared to modern cloud systems.

  • Locked into Oracle’s ecosystem.

Best For
Large hotel groups and resorts.

Toast

Overview
Toast is a cloud POS built for restaurants, but its enterprise tools make it a strong contender for hotels with heavy food & beverage operations.

Costs

  • Hardware: $900–$1,500 per location.

  • Subscription: $69–$99 per terminal per month.

  • Add-ons (loyalty, payroll, marketing): $25–$100+ per month.

  • Processing: 2.49% + $0.15 in-person, 3.5% + $0.25 online/keyed.

Pros

  • Modern design, easy to use.

  • Commission-free online ordering.

  • Scales well across multiple restaurants.

Cons

  • Locked into Toast processing.

  • Costs rise quickly with add-ons.

  • Not built for PMS integration.

Best For
Restaurant groups, independent hotel F&B outlets.

Lightspeed Restaurant

Overview
Cloud-first POS built for restaurants, with flexibility to handle boutique hotel outlets and multi-location setups.

Costs

  • Hardware: $1,000–$2,000 per outlet.

  • Subscription: $69–$199/month depending on tier.

  • Processing: 2.6%–2.9% + $0.10 with Lightspeed Payments, or interchange-plus with third-party.

Pros

  • Modern, user-friendly interface.

  • Strong analytics and integrations.

  • Cloud-based with centralized reporting.

Cons

  • Internet dependent.

  • Some features require paid add-ons.

  • Not as robust for enterprise hotels.

Best For
Boutique hotels, mid-sized restaurant groups.

Clover

Overview
Clover is a hardware-driven POS owned by Fiserv, popular with operators who want countertop reliability and the ability to negotiate merchant rates.

Costs

  • Hardware: $749–$1,399 per station.

  • Software: $14.95–$85/month.

  • Processing: Negotiable (interchange-plus or flat, often 2.5–2.9% + $0.10–$0.30).

Pros

  • Durable, recognizable hardware.

  • App marketplace for customization.

  • Rate flexibility with merchant accounts.

Cons

  • Hospitality features often need third-party apps.

  • Not built specifically for hotel groups.

  • Contracts can limit flexibility.

Best For
Operators wanting traditional hardware and rate negotiation.

SpotOn

Overview
SpotOn has become a strong competitor in restaurants and hospitality by combining POS, loyalty, marketing, and online ordering in a single cloud system. It positions itself as a modern alternative to Toast and Lightspeed.

Costs

  • Hardware: $850–$1,300 for terminals and printers.

  • Subscription: $65–$135/month depending on features.

  • Processing: Often interchange-plus with markup (negotiated per client).

Pros

  • Built-in online ordering and loyalty.

  • Transparent pricing compared to Toast.

  • Strong customer support.

Cons

  • Still maturing in enterprise hotel integrations.

  • Fewer PMS integrations compared to Oracle.

  • Can get pricey with add-ons.

Best For
Restaurant groups, bars, and boutique hotels wanting modern features without Oracle-level complexity.

Square for Restaurants

Overview
Square is the entry-level favorite thanks to its ease of setup and transparent pricing. It’s not tailored for hotels but is common in bars, cafes, and satellite outlets.

Costs

  • Hardware: $49–$799.

  • Subscription: Free to $69/month.

  • Processing: 2.6% + $0.10 in-person, 2.9% + $0.30 online.

Pros

  • Fast to launch, no contracts.

  • Simple, intuitive design.

  • Strong add-on ecosystem.

Cons

  • Flat rates are expensive at scale.

  • Limited PMS integration.

  • Less suited for enterprise groups.

Best For
Small hospitality outlets, satellite bars, or pop-ups.

Final Takeaway

  • Oracle MICROS dominates full-service hotels but requires major investment.

  • Toast, SpotOn, and Lightspeed give restaurant groups and mid-sized operators modern, cloud-first options.

  • Clover is hardware-heavy but allows rate negotiation.

  • Square makes sense for smaller outlets needing speed and simplicity.

No single POS is right for every hospitality group the best choice depends on your scale, PMS requirements, average ticket size, and appetite for upfront vs. ongoing costs.

Akash Patel
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