With the "Max Availability" and "Availability Offset" options in the channel manager, you can strategically adjust the availability of your rooms across different booking channels. Below, we explain how these options work and in which cases they can help you.
Max Availability
This feature allows you to limit the number of rooms that the connected channels will display, even if you have more rooms available on your property.
Example:
Imagine you have 10 rooms, but you only want to show 5 available on the connected platforms. By setting "Max Availability" to 5, the channels will only show those 5 rooms. Even if bookings are made, the channel will still show a maximum of 5 rooms until the available number drops below that limit.
Why use it?
To avoid large group bookings by limiting the number of visible rooms.
To create a sense of scarcity on the channels, generating a perception of demand.
Availability Offset
The "Availability Offset" feature allows you to reduce the availability of rooms by a specific number, regardless of the total number of rooms.
Example:
If you have 10 rooms and set an offset of 2, only 8 rooms will be shown on the channels (10 - 2 = 8). When you have 2 rooms left, the availability will show as 0, which can help you better manage occupancy on high-commission channels.
Why use it?
To avoid showing availability on high-commission channels when few rooms are left.
To reserve the last rooms only for preferred channels or your own website.
Setting Up Availability Rules: Step-by-Step Instructions
These advanced features are available in the Daily Rates per Unit section. To set them up, follow these steps within the calendar:
Access Availability Rules:
In the calendar, select the "Actions" option and then click on "Availability Rules."
Create a New Rule:
Click on "Create" to start a new availability rule. This will open a form to customize the rule details.
Configure Rule Details:
Fill in the following information:
Identifier Name: Enter a name that allows you to easily identify the rule.
Date Range: Select the dates to which you will apply the rule.
Rule Type: Choose the type of rule, either Max Availability or Availability Offset, depending on the strategy you prefer.
Value: Enter the value for the rule (e.g., 5 for Max Availability or 2 for Availability Offset).
Affected Channels: Select the booking channels where you want to apply this rule.
Room Types: Choose the room types that will be affected by this rule.
Save the Rule:
Once all fields are completed, click "Save" to save and activate the rule in the calendar.