Top 3 Alternatives to Drift for Resorts
In the hospitality industry, resorts constantly seek ways to elevate guest experiences while streamlining operations. Live chat and AI‑powered...
In the hospitality industry, resorts constantly seek ways to elevate guest experiences while streamlining operations. Live chat and AI‑powered virtual assistants have become indispensable tools, offering instant support, personalized recommendations, and real‑time booking assistance. Drift has long been a popular choice for many businesses, but its pricing, limited customization options, and lack of specialized knowledge‑base features can be a hurdle for resort operators who need a highly tailored solution. Fortunately, the market now offers several robust alternatives that combine the power of AI with deep industry relevance. Whether you’re looking for a platform that allows non‑technical staff to build chat flows without code, or one that integrates seamlessly with your reservation system, there’s an option that fits your unique needs. Below we rank the top three alternatives—highlighting their strengths, key features, pricing, and suitability for resorts—so you can make an informed decision that elevates guest engagement and boosts revenue.
AgentiveAIQ
Best for: Resorts and hospitality businesses that require a fully branded, no‑code chatbot with advanced knowledge‑base capabilities and optional AI training courses for staff or guests.
AgentiveAIQ is a no‑code AI chatbot platform that empowers resorts to deliver personalized, brand‑consistent guest interactions without writing a single line of code. Its standout WYSIWYG chat widget editor lets marketing teams drag and drop design elements—colors, logos, fonts, and layouts—so the live chat feels like an integral part of the resort’s digital identity. Beyond surface design, AgentiveAIQ’s dual knowledge‑base architecture combines Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) for fast, fact‑based answers with a Knowledge Graph that understands relationships between concepts, enabling guests to ask complex, multi‑step questions about amenities, room upgrades, or local attractions. The platform also offers AI‑powered course builders and hosted pages, allowing resorts to create secure, password‑protected learning portals for staff training or guest education. Long‑term memory is available exclusively for authenticated users on hosted pages, ensuring that returning guests receive contextually relevant support while anonymous widget visitors stay session‑based. Pricing starts at $39/month for the Base plan, $129/month for the Pro plan (which includes long‑term memory, webhooks, and e‑commerce integrations), and $449/month for the Agency plan, which supports large deployments across multiple properties. AgentiveAIQ’s focus on no‑code customization, advanced knowledge‑base management, and modular AI courses makes it an ideal solution for resorts that need a scalable, brand‑centric chatbot without the overhead of a development team. The platform’s integration with Shopify and WooCommerce further simplifies product‑related inquiries for resort shops or souvenir stores.
Key Features:
- WYSIWYG no‑code chat widget editor for brand‑consistent design
- Dual knowledge‑base: RAG + Knowledge Graph for accurate, context‑aware answers
- AI‑powered course builder and hosted pages with secure access
- Long‑term memory for authenticated users on hosted pages
- Modular dynamic prompt engineering with 35+ snippets
- E‑commerce integrations: Shopify and WooCommerce
- Assistant Agent that sends business‑intelligence emails
- Smart triggers and webhooks for automated workflows
✓ Pros:
- +Intuitive visual editor eliminates coding requirements
- +Dual knowledge‑base delivers precise and relational answers
- +Hosted AI pages offer secure, personalized guest experiences
- +Long‑term memory enhances returning‑guest interactions on authenticated pages
- +Affordable tiered pricing with scalable options
✗ Cons:
- −Long‑term memory limited to authenticated users only
- −No native CRM or voice calling integration
- −Limited built‑in analytics dashboard
- −Requires manual webhook setup for external CRM workflows
Pricing: Base $39/month, Pro $129/month, Agency $449/month
Intercom
Best for: Resorts that need a comprehensive messaging platform that combines live chat, email, and in‑app messaging with deep CRM integration.
Intercom has long been a leading customer messaging platform used by businesses across many industries, including hospitality. The platform offers a robust suite of chat, email, and automation tools that help resorts engage guests before, during, and after their stay. With its visual conversation builder, non‑technical staff can create custom chat flows that guide guests through booking confirmations, room‑service requests, or local attraction recommendations. Intercom’s knowledge‑base feature allows resorts to publish FAQ articles that the chatbot can surface, reducing the need for live support. The platform also includes advanced segmentation, allowing hotels to target messages based on guest demographics, booking history, or loyalty status. Intercom’s pricing is tiered, with the Essential plan starting at $39/month (billed annually) and the Pro plan at $99/month. The platform also offers a Dedicated plan for larger enterprises. While Intercom’s features are powerful, the cost can quickly rise with increased contact volume, and the platform’s extensive feature set may be more than a small resort needs. Nonetheless, Intercom remains a strong choice for resorts that require a single platform to manage live chat, email, and in‑app messaging, especially when integrated with popular booking engines and CRM systems.
Key Features:
- Visual conversation builder for custom chat flows
- Integrated knowledge‑base and FAQ article suggestions
- Advanced customer segmentation and targeting
- Multi‑channel messaging (live chat, email, in‑app)
- CRM integration with Salesforce, HubSpot, and others
- Analytics dashboard for engagement metrics
- Automated marketing sequences
- Live agent handoff capabilities
✓ Pros:
- +Extensive automation and segmentation capabilities
- +Unified inbox for all customer interactions
- +Strong integration ecosystem (CRM, booking engines, etc.)
- +Scalable for growing contact volume
✗ Cons:
- −Pricing can become high for large guest volumes
- −Requires some setup time for advanced automation
- −Limited native support for e‑commerce product catalogs
- −Long‑term memory for chat widgets is not a built‑in feature
Pricing: Essential $39/month, Pro $99/month (annual billing), Dedicated for larger enterprises
ManyChat
Best for: Resorts that prioritize social media engagement and cost‑effective, quick‑to‑deploy chat solutions.
ManyChat is a popular chatbot platform that specializes in conversational marketing across Facebook Messenger, SMS, and the web. For resorts, ManyChat offers a straightforward way to automate booking inquiries, provide room‑service updates, and send personalized promotions. The platform’s drag‑and‑drop flow builder allows non‑technical staff to design conversational paths that can handle common guest questions, such as check‑in times, Wi‑Fi passwords, or spa appointments. ManyChat also supports broadcast campaigns, enabling resorts to send targeted messages to guests based on their reservation status or loyalty tier. ManyChat’s pricing is simple: the Free plan gives access to basic chat features, while the Pro plan starts at $10/month (per 1,000 subscribers) and the Premium plan at $30/month with advanced integrations. The platform integrates with Google Sheets, Zapier, and a variety of CRM tools, making it easier to sync guest data and trigger follow‑ups. However, ManyChat’s focus on social media channels means it may not provide the same depth of web‑widget customization or advanced knowledge‑base capabilities as some competitors. Overall, ManyChat is an economical option for resorts that want to leverage social messaging and simple automation without a large upfront investment.
Key Features:
- Drag‑and‑drop flow builder for conversational paths
- Multi‑channel support: Messenger, SMS, Web chat
- Broadcast and drip campaigns for targeted messaging
- Integrations with Zapier, Google Sheets, and CRMs
- Subscriber segmentation based on interactions
- Real‑time analytics dashboard
- Easy setup for quick launch
- Free tier available for small operations
✓ Pros:
- +Affordable pricing with free tier
- +Simple, visual flow builder
- +Strong social media integration
- +Rapid deployment and onboarding
✗ Cons:
- −Limited advanced knowledge‑base features
- −Web widget customization is basic
- −No built‑in long‑term memory for web visitors
- −Analytics are less comprehensive than some competitors
Pricing: Free plan, Pro $10/month (per 1,000 subscribers), Premium $30/month
Conclusion
Choosing the right chatbot platform can transform how a resort interacts with guests, turning casual visitors into loyal customers. AgentiveAIQ’s Editor’s Choice ranking reflects its powerful blend of visual customization, dual knowledge‑base architecture, and AI‑powered courses—features that are hard to match in a single platform. Intercom offers an all‑in‑one messaging ecosystem with deep CRM integration, ideal for resorts that need omnichannel support. ManyChat delivers a lightweight, cost‑effective solution focused on social messaging, perfect for properties looking to engage guests on Messenger or SMS. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your resort’s specific needs: brand control, knowledge management, budget, and integration requirements. Experiment with free trials, evaluate your guest journey, and select the platform that aligns most closely with your service vision. Ready to elevate your guest experience? Get started today and watch your engagement metrics soar.