Booking Engine
Booking Engine Link
We provide a shortened URL that redirects to the booking engine associated to an event. This URL is unique to each event, and includes the event ID in the URL. The shortened URL redirects to a URL that contains all the parameters associated with an event. The shortened URL is usually used on event website, or used in any email campaigns.
Some entities will be able to edit the parameters of the URL, please contact a representative if you would like this functionality enabled.
Booking Engine Display Options
Alliance has dozens of supply sources, GDS, Expedia, Priceline, Tour Operators etc. When a bid is accepted GPS creates a contracted supply source for a property, that is related to a single event. The booking link by default will display all the available supply sources ***I don't think that it does, I think it shows contracted and then all inventory, look into this ***. The Booking Engine Display Options allow you to restrict the supply to only your contracted group rate (Only show contracted block inventory), show all supply for the properties you contracted with ***What option is this?***, or show all supply for all properties in the inventory database. These can be updated at any time by using the following options:
- Only show contracted block inventory - Booking site will display only the rates and availability you contract within GPS.
- Only show contracted properties, but show non-contracted block inventory once contracted block inventory is unavailable - Booking site will display only the rates and availability you contract within GPS until it is sold out, or released, then display other rate options
- Show all properties and block inventory, but list contracted properties first - Booking site will display all rate options including contracted block inventory.
Number of Properties to Display
Choose how many properties you would like to display on each booking page; for example, if you have contracted with 11-15 properties, change the drop-down to 15 to have all properties will display on the same page. The maximum number of properties you can display is 25 per page, so as not to affect page load speeds.
Max Distance from Primary Venue
The Max Distance from Primary Venue input sizes the map on the booking engine page to a desired radius. Note: If you set the radius to a number of miles/kilometers that is less than the distance from one of your contracted properties, those properties will not display on the booking page.
Distance Measurement Unit
Select units of length/distance in Miles or Kilometers.
Default Display Currency
Rates must be contracted in USD, but can be converted and displayed on the booking engine in any currency.
Location Label
Allows you to customize the label of the primary venue push pin on the map. A push pin is placed on the Google map to show your venue, add a label to identify it.
Add an HTML file to my booking engine page
This allows you to add a custom image and/or text to the booking engine page, that will display above the map. We refer to this as a "message" file. You "call" the message to your booking page by adding the word "message", all lower case ***Are you saying that the only text that the users should enter in the input is "message"?***. See http://www.alliancereservations.com/skinning-app.html for more information.
Display Settings
Prompt for Check in date and number of nights
This adds a pop-up box to the booking engine page allowing guests to choose their desired check in date, number of nights, number of rooms before they got to search results.
Display the map on the search results screen by default
Map will display open when adding this parameter. To have the map hidden by default leave this box unchecked.
Show a pin for each of the secondary venues on the map
If you have multiple venues for your event, enabling this will display a separate push pin for each location.
Display waitlist option when block is sold out
This feature allows you to capture guest information if they wish to be added to a "Waiting List" for a sold out property. This feature requires some additions to the site skin, contact [email protected] with the site ID in question to implement.
Rooms On-Hold
Master Bill Sub-Block Site ID
Use A "Master Bill Sub-Block" For This Event, If event admin clicks on this button a new unique private site ID will be generated, based off of original Site ID for the event, a link to this booking engine can be found on the Rooms Manager page (see Master Bill).
Max Number of Days On-Hold Blocks Are Released
Hold Blocks release at 11:59 pm on date of release. Adjust number in input to control how many days you would like guests to be able to hold rooms. The default number of days is set to 7.
Enter the fixed expiration date by which all Rooms on Hold request must be filled or the balance of unreserved rooms will be released back into the parent block ***Are we going with parent block?***. Set the calendar picker to a future date, you will allow hold blocks to be held before releasing them. This is not compatible with number of days above. You may use one, or the other.
Save Settings
Any changes to the settings page must be saved before leaving the page.
Property Display
Property Display Order
Order By Distance From Primary Venue - Set the display order by distance from your primary venue in a radius. The default display is determined by the order you accept an RFP.
Hotel Style
Select how you want a property labeled and displayed on the booking site. Hotel Style offers 3 options for controlling the visual style of that property in the booking engine. The first radio button (None) disables all styling from the property.
- Tier one: Usually for Special Event Rate styling. (Also known as style "z")
- Tier two: Usually for Host Hotel styling. (Also known as style "x")
- Tier three: Usually for Co-Host styling. (Also known as style "y")
Use the up and down arrows, or the move to position drop down to change the display order of accepted properties.
Exclusive Properties List
Exclusive Properties link takes you to the exclusive properties page, where you can view and edit the properties which will display on a given site ID. Remember only the properties on the list will display for this site ID, if none are listed, all properties in the search area will display.
