Booking Engine | Custom HTML

Working With HTML to Customize the Booking Engine

The BookingCenter Central Reservation System (CRS) provides the ability for webmasters and developers to make specific use of many functions if they are willing to understand the underlying coding technique.

BookingCenter XML Web Services API (Application Programming Interface)

Want to ‘paint the screen’ of your Booking Engine web pages as you wish?  Then use our OTA XML API (a standard XML schema built on the Open Travel Alliance) that allows you to create your own unique ‘wrapper’ ( or ‘web service’) making a Booking Engine entirely custom for your website.  Either your web developer can build it, or we will do so according to your design guidance. Ask us how and Get more details on XML Web Services API.

BookingCenter HTML API (Application Programming Interface)

Use BookingCenter’s Booking Engine HTML API (Application Programming Interface) to query the Central Reservation Service using common HTML techniques such as FORM POST and GET commands to show customized ‘web services’ such as, a photo album of your property, a New Year’s Package, or rooms that can each hold 6 guests, etc.  Using the ‘HTML API’ is less complex than the XML web services, and any webmaster proficient in HTML design and coding techniques can use this spec. Get more details on the Booking Engine API Option

If you need greater control than what is offered in the examples below, please see our interface document that enables even greater control of the Booking process. Click here for an HTTP and XML (including SOAP service) specification intended for developers and webmasters to replace our Booking Engine layouts with their own custom forms.

Here are a few examples of common uses of basic HTML

Making 'Quick Reservation' HTML for your website

Web traffic analysis shows that each page of a property website ought to have a clear 'call to action' accepting "Arrival Date" and "Departure Date" and, when submitted, the user gets availability results from the Booking Engine for those dates.  Because BookingCenter supports a few different Booking Engine technologies (advertised at: http://www.bookingcenter.com/interfaces-and-modules/bookingengine-api/), the Quick Reservation code specification is a bit different between the Booking Engine services. 

For detailed information on setting up and using Quick Reservaton with BookingCenter Booking Engine Templates, see https://support.bookingcenter.com/staff/index.php?/Knowledgebase/ViewKnowledgebase/Article/353

We also provide a detailed document that enables even greater control of the Booking process. Click here for an HTTP and XML (including SOAP service) specification intended for developers and webmasters to replace our Booking Engine layouts with their own custom forms. Quick Reservation in place of an availability 'calendar'.  In this example, a simple JavaScript utility script provides 'today's date' and the user chooses their arrival date and number of nights.

Use Market Codes to deliver specific rates to a 'verified users. We have two ways to accomplish this: NOTE: The URL you use will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. See Booking Engine | Custom URL Links

1. You make Discounts available to all users through your Booking Engine so they can enter a Promo/Discount/Market Code. This is built into BookingCenter with specific instructions at: https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/486
2. You build code and display the code on specific web pages (ie, not all Booking Engine requests need know you have a Market option). In this example, JavaScript sends a unique URL to each code validated, and an error if the correct code is not provided *note: use code: "jdav" ('base' rate) , "cdil"(-10% discount rate) , "tisb"(20% 'loaded' rate) in the 'Market' box and watch how rates vary when you make an entry. The 'Agent Allocation' feature in BookingCenter allows you to deliver unique combinations of Rates, Packages or Rooms to each URL.
   1. if($promo == "jdav"){?><script language="javascript">window.location="http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO"</script><?}
   2. if($promo == "cdil"){?><script language="javascript">window.location="http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&agent=BCM"</script><?}

   3. if($promo == "tisb"){?><script language="javascript">window.location="http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&agent=WR"</script><?}

Display Package Details with Amenities and Photographs. Display the details of each Package. In this example, it's a "Room and Dinner for Two Package" (rate: MYPMSDORD) available any day of the week. NOTE: The URL you use will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. See Booking Engine | Custom URL Links

http://requests.bookingcenter.com/display_rate.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&RATE_PKEY=MYPMSDORD

http://requests.bookingcenter.com/display_room.phtml?port=DEMO&site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING

Source and Agent links to allocate rooms and rates.

These links provide detailed info on using Source Tracking in your online marketing and working directly with Agents.

Using Google Analytics

'Tracking Code' to manage your web referrals and 'ROI' from marketing campaigns. Click here for details.

Using iFrames with the Booking Engine, and iFrames with the QuickReservation code

There are times when it's best to place the Booking Engine into an iFrame to control the URL and also the design around the Booking Engine. We have a demonstration of the use of iFrames so you can see how it might look with your 'header' and 'footer' wrapped around a common Booking Engine.  Click here for an example of the 02 template used in an iFrame.

We also provide a detailed document that enables even greater control of the Booking process. Click here for an HTTP and XML (including SOAP service) specification intended for developers and webmasters to replace our Booking Engine layouts with their own custom forms.

The BookingCenter Booking Engine can be used to deliver selected Rates and Availability  to a guest, agent, group, etc. by creating unique URL or link. When this URL is opened, it will display your Booking Engine with the selected allocation of rates and availability. For example, if you only want to make the KING Room Type available to a particular guest, agent, group, etc. You would insert the Room Type ID in the URL as follows: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING

1. Promo Code: Promo codes are used to access a "channel" with a unique set of room types and rates. Use Promo codes for specials, discounts, negotiated rates, etc. I.e. RETURN
2. Agent: Create an Agent and set up a "channel" with a unique set of room types and rates only available to that agent.
3. Room Type: Insert a Room Type ID into the URL and availability will only display for the selected Room Type. 
4. Source: Used to track bookings by a specific Source. Adding this parameter to the URL will automatically import the selected Source with the Booking.
5. Guest Type: Used to track bookings by a specific Guest Type. Adding this parameter to the URL will automatically import the selected Guest Type with the Booking.

For detailed instructions, see Booking Engine | Custom URL Links