5 Best Features of a Guest Inquiry Bot for Bed & Breakfasts

Intercom is a widely used customer messaging platform that combines live chat, bots, and automated email flows to create a seamless communication channel. For bed & breakfasts, Intercom’s chat widget can be embedded on a booking page to answer FAQs such as check‑in times, pet policies, or nearby attractions. The platform offers a low‑code bot builder that uses simple logic flows to triage inquiries and route them to human staff when necessary. Intercom’s integration ecosystem includes major email marketing tools, CRMs, and booking platforms, enabling a unified view of guest interactions. Pricing starts at $39/month for the Essentials plan, which includes basic chat, mobile app support, and a limited number of chatbot conversations. The Pro plan, priced at $99/month, expands chatbot capabilities, adds more conversation limits, and offers advanced reporting. Intercom’s pay‑as‑you‑go model allows additional contact hours for high‑volume periods. While Intercom does not provide a dedicated knowledge‑base engine, users can import FAQ documents and create custom help center articles that the bot can reference. Intercom’s strengths lie in its mature ecosystem, robust user segmentation, and deep analytics. However, the platform can become complex for small B&B owners who need only a straightforward inquiry bot, and the cost can rise quickly if you exceed the included conversation limits. Additionally, Intercom’s native memory is session‑based; persistent long‑term memory across visits is only available via integration with external databases.

Drift is a conversational marketing platform that focuses on real‑time messaging and automated lead qualification. The platform’s chat widget can be embedded on a B&B website to capture guest leads, answer common questions, and schedule virtual tours. Drift’s AI chatbot uses a simple rule‑based engine to route high‑interest visitors to booking pages or to a human agent for personalized assistance. Drift also offers a suite of email sequencing tools, allowing you to nurture leads that didn’t convert immediately. Pricing for Drift starts with a free tier that includes basic chat and limited bot flows. The Pro plan, priced at $400/month, unlocks advanced automation, unlimited chat transcripts, and integration with Salesforce and HubSpot. While Drift does not provide a dedicated knowledge‑base, it allows you to import FAQs and create knowledge articles that the bot can reference. The platform’s analytics dashboard tracks conversation volume, response times, and conversion rates. Drift excels in high‑touch lead qualification and integration with major sales platforms. However, the cost can be prohibitive for small B&B owners, and the platform’s focus on sales may feel heavy for a hospitality operation that prioritizes guest service over aggressive marketing.

ManyChat is a chatbot platform that originally focused on Facebook Messenger but has expanded to offer web chat widgets and SMS automation. ManyChat’s drag‑and‑drop flow builder allows B&B owners to create conversational sequences that answer guest questions about room availability, rates, and local activities. The platform supports integration with e‑commerce platforms like Shopify, enabling the bot to pull real‑time inventory and pricing data for a seamless booking experience. ManyChat offers a free plan with basic flow builder and 1,000 contacts, making it accessible for small B&Bs just starting with chat automation. The Pro plan costs $10/month (billed annually) and adds advanced features such as broadcast messaging, dynamic content, and multi‑user access. ManyChat’s focus on marketing automation means it excels at sending promotional messages and collecting leads via opt‑in forms. While ManyChat’s visual flow builder is user‑friendly, the platform’s lack of a sophisticated knowledge‑base means the bot relies heavily on pre‑built flows; dynamic content is limited compared to a RAG system. Additionally, ManyChat’s SMS feature requires a separate carrier plan, and the platform’s analytics are basic compared to enterprise‑grade solutions.

Ada is an AI‑powered customer service platform that emphasizes self‑service and automation. The platform offers a web chat widget that can be embedded on B&B websites to answer FAQs about check‑in, pet policies, or local attractions. Ada’s bot builder allows you to create complex conversation flows using a visual interface, and the platform includes a knowledge‑base component that indexes uploaded documents and FAQ pages. The bot can also integrate with major CRMs like Salesforce and Zendesk, sending lead information or updating guest records automatically. Ada’s pricing is custom‑quoted, reflecting the level of support, number of chat agents, and integration requirements. Small to medium businesses typically start with a “Starter” package that includes up to 10 chat agents and a limited number of interactions per month. For larger operations, Ada offers “Growth” and “Enterprise” tiers with higher limits, advanced analytics, and dedicated support. Ada’s strengths are its AI‑driven natural language understanding and the ability to route complex queries to human agents seamlessly. However, the lack of a transparent pricing structure can complicate budgeting for small B&Bs, and the platform’s focus on enterprise customers means the learning curve can be steep for owners who prefer a simple, turnkey solution.