What's new?
This month's updates regarding rate configuration workflow and it's benefits, Booking.com direct connection and chain manager time zone clarity.
Streamlined policy management in rate configuration
We're adding more capabilities to the rate configuration workflow by bringing a policy tab directly into the rate setup screen. You can now view, delete, and assign tax policies, cancellation policies, and guarantee policies without navigating away from rate configuration to bring a more streamlined approach. This is an additional option and all existing functionality remains.
Benefits:
Faster rate setup with all policy options accessible in one location.
Improved workflow efficiency by eliminating menu navigation between rate and policy screens for applying policies for all dates.
Complete visibility of previously assigned policies and date ranges.
Existing flexibility for advanced policy date management through the dedicated policy menu remains.
This enhancement accelerates rate configuration while maintaining full control over policy management, allowing you to build complete rate structures more efficiently without compromising on policy customization options.
Booking.com direct connection
Call for volunteers: Booking.com reservation reporting test.
We’re looking for two hotels to help us test a Booking.com feature within our reservation reporting tool. Specifically, we need live examples of real reservations from hotels that have one or both of the following scenarios:
A guest reservation with an invalid credit card.
A guest stay that requires modification, which can then be reported through the tool.
Some criteria must be met for the stay modification, and our team will provide full guidance and support. If you're interested in volunteering, let us know and we’d greatly appreciate your partnership in testing this functionality.
Some criteria must be met for the guest stay change.
A stay can be changed if:
The guest has already checked in.
The status of the reservation allows modifications.
The reservation is not overbooked.
The property does not use payments by Booking.com or online payments.
The change does not involve setting a new check-out date for a stay whose check-out date was already changed in the last 24-hour period.
The new stay must meet these conditions:
The stay length is at least one night.
If the reservation is non-refundable, the new price must not be lower than the original price.
Preparation for Access digital assistant
What's changing: The existing information icons were removed in September. All content has been carefully moved to our knowledge articles over time to ensure you have uninterrupted access to the information you need.
What's coming next: This change paves the way for the Access Digital Assistant - our AI powered in-application support system that delivers help directly within your workflow. This will be implemented for the CRS in the coming months with the CRM and RMS to follow.
The Benefits: Contextual assistance exactly where you're working, eliminating the need to navigate away from your tasks. You'll get faster, more relevant help that keeps you focused on delivering excellent guest experiences.
This upgrade represents our commitment to making your daily operations smoother and more efficient.
An example of how the Access Digital Assistant is already in place and helping users of the Independent Booking Engine.
Chain manager time zone clarity
We're improving time displays throughout the Central Reservation System at Chain level where hoteliers routinely are working with properties across time zones. All time stamps will soon include clearer indicators showing whether you're seeing system time or local hotel time. Additionally, we're updating labels like time to be more descriptive, specifying whether times represent system-generated events or user activity.
Benefits:
Instant clarity on time zones for multi-property operations.
Streamlined workflow when managing portfolios spanning multiple time zones.
Enhanced operational confidence with clear timing context for all events.
Faster decision-making with immediate understanding of when activities occur across your properties.
This enhancement empowers chain managers to work seamlessly across time zones with precise timing context for booking management, reporting and property coordination.
How to access this update
Updates are automatically updated and available in the CRS.