The purpose of this article is to provide a high-level overview of the commonalities, and differences, between configuring channels with the new Boost interface.
What Gets Configured
All configurations are done on a channel-by-channel basis. That means things like fees, taxes, and amenities will have to be setup for each channel (i.e. if you are distributing to 3 channels, you will map amenities 3 times). When making configurations changes, you are only impacting one channel at a time.
How To Get Started
Check out this How to Get Started document for an introduction, and some general information about the new Boost interface.
Once logged in, select your channel:
Channel-By-Channel Configurations
For each channel you will see a common set of tabs that need to be configured on the left hand side of the page. In the upper left corner you will see what channel you are currently configuring.
Channel specific Settings will include things like Merchant Name, Accepted Payment Types, Booking Policy’s, etc.
Payment Schedule
HomeToGo and VRBO are the only channels that permit a customized payment schedule - expand this article here to learn more about setting this up
This article provides detailed instructions on how to create a Payment Schedule for Vrbo and HomeToGo.
About Payment Schedules
Payment schedules are available for Vrbo and HomeToGo.
You may have a max of 5 payments in a payment schedule.
They can be configured on the global or listing level.
Payment Schedules on the global level are located on the Settings page. https://bluetent.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/RUKB/pages/1722024025#Once-logged-in%2C-select-your-channel%3A
Payment Schedules on the listing level are located in the listing configuration. Editing Listings (Boost New UI)
How to setup a Payment Schedule
Payment Schedule has 3 sections as shown below.
At Booking and Balance Due sections are required fields.
You may add 3 additional payments using the 6 options under Additional Payments
At Booking
Enter the Amount and Amount Type for payment due at the time of booking
Additional Payment Schedules
To add an additional payment - Click the option name, Click the blue + and enter required information for that option.
There are 6 options for adding additional payment schedules.
Before Checkin
After Booking
After Checkin
After Checkout
Enter the Number of Days, Amount and Amount Type for payment due
At Checkin
At Checkout
Enter the Amount and Amount Type for payment due
Balance Due
Select due type from the drop list and add the number of days.
Note: If the policy is 100% paid at time of booking, select “At check in” for the Balance due and enter “0” in the field
Examples of payment schedules
50% due at time of booking
balance due 30 days prior to arrival
25% due at time of booking
25% due 30 days after booking created
50% due at checkin
There is a maximum of 5 payment selections, i.e. 25% at time of booking, 25% 60 days prior to arrival, 25% 30 days prior to arrival, 25% 7 days prior to arrival
More common choices are 50% at time of booking, 25% 30 days prior, 25% at check in
A client may also set up an individual payment plan at the listing level vs at the channel setting level
These Fee Mapping, Tax Mapping, and Amenity articles will further outline some of the considerations for completing those configurations.
Fee, Tax, and Amenity mappings will be done at a global level, meaning these are settings that impact all listings distributed on that channel. Some settings like booking policies, content, and price modifications can be modified under the Listings tab for individual, or groups, of units. This article here will outline more information about these sorts of bulk configuration settings.
Best Practices for Channel Configuration
Booking Lead Time (Booking Lead Time Hours)
This setting will only be needed if you are trying to override what you have set in your PMS. If no value is set, Boost will default to the booking lead time pulling from your PMS.
In order to accept bookings in Boost - Boost must be set EQUAL or MORE RESTRICTIVE than your PMS
If Boost is set as LESS RESTRICTIVE, this can cause bookings to fail
For example if you have your Boost settings set at 2 days notice and your PMS is set for 3 days notice, this may cause a booking failure.
NOTE: For clients using rate management platforms such as RevMax or Beyond Pricing, please note that your booking lead time settings will override your PMS settings