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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

There are several unique parameters that can be used in the URL string to deliver specific rates and availability as follows:

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.

To learn how to insert these parameters into the Custom URL, see below.

NOTE: If you need greater control than what is offered in the examples above, please see our interface APIs that enable even greater control of the Booking process so you can make your own Booking Engine process.  An especially common request is the ability to retrieve a calendar view of availability, and even the lowest rate available on a day, so that you can display it for your entire property or for a specific Room Type. See our interface APIs and note the one themessage: "OTA_ HotelAvailCalendarRQ/RS -" message to retrieve and format this data as you wish.

To use the Quick Reservation Feature for "Discount/Agent", "Source", "Room Type", and "Guest Type" tracking, see Booking Engine | Quick Reservation

How to create a Custom URL with a specific parameters to send to guests or agents.

The Custom URL you create must start with the correct URL for the Booking Engine Template you are using, contain your Site ID (exactly as shown in the setup area of MyPMS) and then the specific Parameter ID and Value for the rate and availability search you want to display. This example is using Booking Engine Template 1 (option 1), the MYPMS Demo Site and an agent parameter called "ABCTRAVEL". Use this model to create your custom URL by inserting your site specific values.

Step 1: The specific URL (link) you create using the Promo Code will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. For example, if you are using Booking Engine 1, then the URL must start with the correct address of the Booking Engine Template you are using. There are six Booking Engine Templates available as listed below. Note: The MyPMS Demo Site with Site ID=MYPMSDO is used as the site for these examples.

Booking Engine Template URL Link. Each Booking Engine Template has a unique URL as follows:

Booking Engine 1: Multi Room Type Bookings/Multiple Rate Plans and Packages

• Option 1: Hotel Description https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO
• Option 2: Availability Calendar https://book.bookingcenter.com/04/?site=MYPMSDO

Booking Engine 2: Single Room Type Bookings /One Rate Plan

• Option 1: Hotel Description https://book.bookingcenter.com/01/?site=MYPMSDO
• Option 2: Availability Calendar https://book.bookingcenter.com/03/?site=MYPMSDO

Booking Engine 3: “Legacy” – Lists Room Types and Rates Individually

• URL (link):http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO

Then, you can add the selected Parameter ID and identifier. For example, https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&promo=ABCTRAVEL

Custom Parameter ID and Values:

• Promo Code: Once the Promo Codes are created in MyPMS, you can then allocate the Room Types/Rate Plans to the Promo Code. Follow these steps to Set up a Promo Code and Allocate Room Types and Rates to Promo Code (Agent)
  
  • &promo=<Promo Code ID>
  • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 1: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&promo=RETURN
    

  • Max Character Limit: 10

• Agent: Once the Agent is created in MyPMS, you can then allocate the Room Types/Rate Plans to the Agent. Follow these steps to Set up Agent URL Links and Allocate Room Types and Rates to Promo Code (Agent)
  • &promo=<Agent ID>
  • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 1: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&promo=ABCTRAVEL
  • Max Character Limit: 20
• Room Type: Use the Room Type ID exactly as shown in Setup Room Types
  
  • &room_type=<Room Type ID>
  • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 2: https://book.bookingcenter.com/04/?site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING
  • Max Character Limit: 20
• Source: Used to track bookings by a specific Source. Adding this parameter to the URL will automatically import the selected Source with the Booking.
  
  • &source=<Source ID>
  • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 2:: https://book.bookingcenter.com/04/?site=MYPMSDO&source=GROUP
  • Max Character Limit: 25
• 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.
  
  • &guest_type=<Guest Type ID>
  • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 2: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&guest_type=CORP
  • Max Character Limit: 20

• Combination: You can also combine parameters to create a unique URL. This example combines Room Type, Source and Guest Type: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING&source=WALK&guest_type=CORP