Advanced Packages | Introduction

Advanced packages allow you to offer package rates where charges can be posted from an external interface (e.g. an EPOS) and offset against a consumption allowance amount.

The allowance is the amount which the guest can consume against. Any overage above the allowance amount will be posted as an overage charge to the guest’s invoice.

Dialog box extensions in the item calculation

[System Data > Reservation > Pricing > Advanced pricing > Calculations > Item calculation > "Item" tab]

When using the advanced packages function, the following settings are added to the item calculations in the Advanced pricing (for a more detailed explanation, see section"3. Create rate code for Advanced Packages").

• Allowance entry field - If the package has an allowance, amount of the allowance. The allowance defines the amount which the guest can consume against.

• Package Allowance checkbox - activates the allowance function, as well as the following additional fields.

• Next Day option checkbox - specifies that the offsetting entry (executed either by the interface, or manually) is only allowed to take place on the next day.

• Package Profit drop down list - item for package profits

• Package Loss drop down list - item for package losses

Video Tutorial

Example of an advanced package

Rate code: "Dinner and Accommodation for 1 night"

The Dinner Package including VAT is created. The price is for up to two persons. We assume that the guests will consume dinner every day of their stay. The package is calculated per person and the price increases with each additional occupancy. The dinner is offered at a price of 15 Euros per person and the guest is granted an allowance of up to 25 Euros. The guest can have dinner at the restaurant for up to 25 Euros without having to pay extra. This is the so-called "Allowance" and corresponds with the amount the guest would normally be required to pay.

The package is booked by selecting the rate codes which were created for this package.

The following scenarios can occur with a booked package:

1. The guest does not consume the package element.

The guest books an overnight stay for the above mentioned rate code (dinner and accommodation for 1 night). The guest arrives and checks in. Because the guest isn't feeling well, he decides to have an early night and chooses to skip dinner.

Outcome: At the End of Day, 100 Euros are posted. 85 Euros are assigned for accommodation and 15 Euros for dinner. Because the guest did not have dinner, we can credit the unused dinner amounting at 15 Euros to an additional item code deemed as package profit.

2. The consumed amount is below the actual price of the package element.

The guest books an overnight stay for the above mentioned rate code (dinner and accommodation for 1 night). The guest arrives and checks in. After a long and tedious drive, the guest decides to have a light dinner at the restaurant and only consumes some fast-food for a value of 13 Euros. The amount consumed at the restaurant is then posted respectively to the guest's room number.

Outcome: As soon as the restaurant check is posted by means of the POS or the user, the system detects an intended calculated price of 15 Euros and the guest is allowed to consume a value of 25 Euros. Because only 13 Euros is posted by the POS (or the user),  2 Euros can be credited as package profits during the end of day procedure.

3. The consumed amount exceeds the actual price of the package element, but remains within the limit of the allowance.

The guest books an overnight stay for the above mentioned ratecode (Dinner and 1-Night Stay) for two persons. The two guests arrive and check in. Both of them eat dinner at the restaurant and each consumes the fixed-price menu for 25 Euros. The restaurant consumption is then respectively posted to the guests' room number and balanced with the calculated price and the granted allowance.

Outcome: In accordance with the price configuration, the two guests are permitted an allowance of up to 50 Euros. The calculated price of the dinner is 2 x 15 Euros = 30 Euros, whereby the actually consumed amount is  50 Euros. According to that, 20 Euros are going to be posted as package-loss, because this is the difference between the calculated amount of 30 Euros and the permitted allowance of 50 Euros.

4. The consumed amount exceeds the allowance amount.

A guest books an accommodation for the above mentioned rate code (dinner with stay) for two persons. The two guests arrive and check in. Both of them eat dinner at the restaurant à la Carte for a total of 70 Euros. The restaurant consumption is then respectively posted to the guests' room number and balanced with the calculated price and the granted allowance.

Outcome: In accordance with the price configuration, both guests are permitted an allowance of up to 50 Euros. The calculated price of the dinner is 2 x 15 Euros = 30 Euros, whereby the actually consumed amount is 70 Euros. According to that, 20 Euros are going to be posted as package loss, because this is the difference between the calculated amount of 30 Euros and the permitted allowance of 50 Euros. Because the posted consumption of 70 Euros exceeds the allowance by 20 Euros, the remaining 20 Euros will be posted as an overage to the invoice (with a clear note for the user). When checking out, the guest will have to pay this price from his own pocket.

Further application possibilities:

• creating rate codes for accommodation with breakfast, where the breakast is consumed in the restaurant and automatically credited by the POS against the defined allowance. However, the consumption date is one day ahead of the arrival date.

• creating mixed rate codes (breakfast as normal package, dinner as advanced package: While the breakfast is generally charged, the dinner is posted by the POS in the restaurant and charged against the package price. 

Example for rate code logic

Let's assume a guest books the above mentioned rate code (dinner with accommodation) for five nights. The amount of the rate code varies, because this is intended in the Daily Rates. The granted allowance amount in this case will be considered on a daily basis for posting the price.

Assuming the guest makes a booking for 4 nights. He books two nights with the dinner package and two nights normal accommodation without dinner. In this case, only the allowance amount used for the first two nights is used for the calculation.

Related topics

Advanced Packages | Configuration

Advanced Packages | Switch to Advanced Packages

Advanced Packages | Front Office Use