Setting market code and distribution channel

In many properties, the market codes and distribution channels are of great importance for the statistical evaluation of their reservations.

In order to create the most accurate database possible, the two reservation codes in each reservation can be separately set for the individual days of the guest's stay. You can also default the market segment and distribution channel by using the rate code, so that the appropriate codes are automatically assigned during the booking process.

Define different market codes and distribution channels in the rate by day grid

Reservation dialog > Rate by day grid

In the RBD grid, you can manually assign various market codes or distribution channels for the individual days of a guest's stay.

Select one or more days in the RBD grid and click Edit. The market code and distribution channel can be assigned in the following dialog box:

Once a code has been changed in the RBD grid, the respective code is displayed in bold in the Reservation tab to indicate that various codes exist.

If you then change the code in the Reservation tab, you will be notified that several codes exist and that the codes stored in the RBD will be overwritten.

In the Reservation tab, the reservation code valid for the current business day is always displayed.

Displaying market code and distribution channel in the Rate by day grid

To display the market segment and distribution channel in the RBD grid, you must insert the relevant columns - see the following graphic.

Then select the Save current list view command.

Inherit Market code and Distribution channel from Rate Configuration

You can save various market codes or distribution channels for the individual days of a guest's stay in the RBD grid (see above).

In addition, protel Air provides the ability to default market codes and distribution channels in the rate settings. If the rate code of a reservation is subsequently changed, protel Air adopts the preset  market code and distribution channel of the new rate code.

Benefit:This feature allows hotel management to predefine default values that shall be populated automatically during the manual booking process, improving accuracy and statistics, while reducing risk of user error and increasing workflow efficiencies.
The codes are also transferred to the RBD grid when a reservation is booked via an interface, such as the protel Air WBE, IDS connect, WBE5, etc.

Reservation behaviour changes

The Market Code / Distribution channel is populated automatically during the following booking processes (provided a default code is set in the rate settings)

• Creating a single reservation in the Reservation Enquiry

• Creating a single reservation in the Room type plan

• Creating a single reservation in the Room plan

Set default value for market code / distribution channel

For advanced pricing rate codes, the Market Code / Distribution channel can be set on the rate and on the calculation levels - see the following examples.

1. Market Code / Distribution channel on Rate level

System data > Reservation > Pricing > Rates > Advanced Pricing > [Rate Code] > Rules tab

2. Market Code / Distribution channel on Calculation level

System data > Reservation > Pricing > Rates > Advanced Pricing > [Rate Code] > Calculations > [Room rate calculation] > Rules tab

In addition, the default value can be set to the hotel level - see the following example. This is the traditional way, which has now been enhanced with the rate code settings mentioned above.

3.  Market Code / Distribution channel on Hotel level (reservation codes default settings)

System data > Reservation > Reservation codes > Default settings > Hotel management

Rules

1. The Market Code / Distribution channel which is defined on the Calculation level has first priority,

2. The Market Code / Distribution channel which is defined on the Rate level has second priority,

3. The Market Code / Distribution channel which is defined on the Hotel level has third priority.

This logic applies when a new reservation is made or when a reservation's rate code is changed.

What you need to know

Reservation Dialog Box

• Reservation tab | Once a code has been changed in the RBD grid, the respective code is displayed in bold in the Reservation tab to indicate that various codes exist.

• If you then change the code in the Reservation tab, you will be notified that several codes exist and that all of the codes stored in the RBD will be overwritten.

• Rooms tab | If you change the rate code in the Rooms tab, the default Market / Distribution code from the new rate code will apply.

• Rate by day grid | You can set individual Market / Distribution codes for one or more selected days. If you change the rate code in the Rate by day grid the default Market / Distribution code from the new rate code will apply for the selected day.

Group reservations

[Topic: Inherit Market code and Distribution channel from Rate Configuration | What you need to know]

If you default the market code and distribution channel in the rate settings, the following points must be considered with regards to group reservations:

• The group master inherits the distribution channels/market codes defined at the Rate Level. Distribution channels / market codes defined at the calculation level in the price code are not taken into account for group reservations.

• If varying market codes or distribution channels are to apply to a group reservation, this can be set in the group reservation dialog box at the group member level (Select group members > [Edit] > [RBD])

• In the Group overview tab, the distribution channel and market code can be centrally set for the entire group.

Allotment reservations

You can also "inherit" market code and distribution channel in allotment reservations. When creating the allotment, choosing the rate code will result in automatically populating market code and distribution channel. You can always change it by hand afterwards.

To simplify the workflow while adding a new allotment, we slightly changed the sort order of the fields: "Rate code" climbed up.

If a reservation is created for this allotment, market code and distribution channel are set by default.

Please keep an eye on the following specials:

• Only codes that have been defined at rate level are inherited for the allotment dialog.

• You can override codes in the reservation dialog.

• If you want to assign different codes for a stay, set this in the reservation. (Reservation > RBD)

Active lists

• If you change a Rate code in one of the reservation based active lists, the default Reservation codes will be applied as well.

Use cases from everyday hotel life

• A rate code could have a market code: 'Corporate' on rate level and market Code: 'Leisure' for room type: 'double room' on calculation level.
  Result: If a reservation is created for a double room, then the 'Leisure' market code is taken as the calculation level has higher priority.

• A hotel may have market segmentation for midweek (Sunday to Thursday) and weekend (Friday to Saturday). If a reservation is created from Sunday for 7 nights, the market code will automatically change during the night audit on Thursday to accommodate the difference in market segmentation.

Using mandatory Market Code and Distribution channel

In general the following applies: If market code/distribution channel are defined as mandatory fields (XSetup system setting), a default value must be defined in the system data (System Data >Reservation > Reservation codes > Default settings > Hotel management) - see point 3 above.

If you use interfaces such as the protel Air WBE, WBE5, IDS, or BWI, please set an appropriate default value there as well.