On Behalf Booking

On Behalf booking is a process that allows users with login rights and permission (Bookers) to make reservations for (on behalf) other specified people (Companies/Travel Agents/Bookers), based on established relationships. This functionality is available in ORS and OWS. Booker information will be included in the reservations as the caller information.

Bookers with permission can:

• Create travelers' profiles (employees who can be attached to a reservation)
• Create/Modify/Cancel reservations
• Manage employee (travelers) profiles

To access the screens where the Booker users and groups can be viewed, modified and associated, select Profiles>On Behalf>Groups or Users.

Preliminary Setup

Application Settings

• Activate the application setting Function ON BEHALF BOOKING (Application Settings>OWS Group>Functions).  When this function is activated, a check box displays on the Setup>User Configuration>User>Details tab to create users for On Behalf bookings. The Bookers will be able to have access to negotiated rates, create traveler profiles, make reservations for those travelers, and search for existing reservations through Web Services.

This application setting function also enables the menu items of ORS>Profiles>On Behalf>Groups and Users.  

• The Application Function NEGOTIATED RATES (Application Settings>RATE Group>Functions) must be activated for the proper passing of the Rate Codes for On Behalf bookings.  If the Rate Code should only be seen by those Profiles attached to the Rate Code, the Negotiated check box will need to checked.  If the Rate Code is just a default for the Profile, then leave the Negotiated check box unchecked and the rate is available as a Public Rate.  The Negotiated tab will be visible, but the user will not be allowed to attach Profiles to the rates from here.  Within the Profile screen, the Rate Code will need to be attached to the Profile and thus populate the rate_header_negotiated table.

Permissions

• OWS - Assign Users with permissions to book reservations through OWS. These users will not be allowed to access the application through the OPERA front end, but only through web services.
• ORS - ORS has a set of permissions already built in the system. SID data will insert an internal user group BOOKER.  This user group has been granted all Reservation and all Profile permissions.  The User Group will not be displayed in the application.  The Group itself is linked to the check box ‘On Behalf User’ in the User Configuration screen.  When the check box is checked, the user is granted the user group of BOOKER internally.

Relationships Hierarchy

Refer to Relationship Types for more information.

Create the Companies and Subsidiaries that will be part of an 'On behalf' program. Examples follow:

- ABC Company

- ABC1 Subsidiary

- ABC2 Subsidiary

- ABC3 Subsidiary

- ABC4 Subsidiary

Build the relationships between the above Company profiles

- ABC is the top node

- ABC is parent for ABC1, ABC2, ABC3, ABC4

- ABC2 is parent for ABC3 and ABC4

Set up a hierarchy for relationships that belong to the same group, such as a hierarchy for a Master Company and all of its Subsidiaries and Bookers.  The hierarchy is built with existing Company/Travel Agent profiles, using predefined relationship types.

Two relationships used to create the link between users and companies for booker functionality are SID data inserts.  The ‘From Relation’ and ‘To Relation’ are hard coded but the user is allowed to change the description and assign attributes (such as the Inherit Rate check box).  These relationships cannot be deleted within the application.

1.  Bookers of Companies

FROM TYPE	D
FROM RELATION	C-BOOKER
FROM DESCRIPTION	Booker of Company
TO TYPE	COMPANY
TO RELATION	C-COMPANY OF BOOKER
TO DESCRIPTION	Company of Booker

2.  Bookers of Travel Agents

FROM TYPE	D
FROM RELATION	T-BOOKER
FROM DESCRIPTION	Booker of Agent
TO TYPE	TRAVEL_AGENT
TO RELATION	T-AGENT OF BOOKER
TO DESCRIPTION	Agent of Booker

The existing SID relationships of C-Master to C-Sub and T-Master to T-Sub are used to internally create the link from Master to the Subsidiaries.  This is important to note because if the Inherit Rates check box is selected in the Relationship configuration, the channels will receive the negotiated rates from the linked Profiles of Subsidiaries/Master.

Viewing and Associating ORS On Behalf Groups and Users

Configure the appropriate hierarchy based on Users and linked Groups of either companies or travel agents.  Access the Group Users and Users screens by accessing Profiles>On Behalf>Groups or Users.

Note: The hierarchy/links may be created for users from either Profiles>On Behalf>Groups or Users or directly from within the User Configuration screen (Setup>User Configuration>Users>On Behalf User check box and Group button).

Group Screen

On the Group screen, create the user permissions and links to companies with the established hierarchy.  New Users are created in the user configuration by accessing Setup>User Configuration>Users>New>On Behalf User check box.

Buttons

New. Select this button to create the user permissions and links to companies with the established hierarchy. The Group User -New screen appears.

User Name. Select the On Behalf user from the LOV.

• Parent Group Name.  Select the Parent Group that this user will be booking.  The Hierarchy tree will display, where you select which Company/Travel Agent Group this user should be joined.  
• Permission. Select the appropriate permission from the LOV.
• Booker Group:  Access to ALL Reservations and Profiles for anyone in the Group.
• Booker Tree:  Access Reservations and Profiles for anyone in the Group and any subsidiaries of that Group
• Booker User:  Access Reservations and Profiles created by this user only.

Can book public rates. When this check box is selected, the user can book both negotiated rates and any other available rates.  When not selected, the user can only book the negotiated rates associated within the Group.

Edit. Displays the Users-Edit screen where you can view or edit permissions.

Delete. Deletes the highlighted user and parent group link.

Hierarchy. Displays the entire Group Hierarchy screen where you can view the group hierarchy and relationship of the highlighted user.

Groups Screen

Create the Company or Travel Agent profile links with the established Parent Group Company or Travel Agent hierarchy. Select from existing Profiles or create New Profiles.

Buttons

New. Select this button to link a new travel agent or company profile to the parent travel agent or company group. The Group - New screen appears.

• Select the Group Type from the LOV: Company or Travel Agent.
• Select the Group Name LOV. The Profile Search screen appears where you can select an existing company or travel agent or create a new one. Select OK when you are through.
• Select the Parent Group Name you want as the Parent Group from the LOV. The Group Hierarchy screen appears.
• Select OK when you are through.

Edit. Select this button to view or edit the travel agent or company group profile link to the parent travel agent or company group. The Group-Edit screen appears.

Delete. Deletes the highlighted travel agent or company group profile and its link to the parent travel agent or company group.

Hierarchy. Displays the Group Hierarchy screen where you can view the group hierarchy and relationship of the highlighted Company or Travel Agent Group and Parent Group.