Configuration

The Configuration option provides the provisioning of channels, the configuration of channel controls, and conversion of room types and rate plans between your property and the channel. The option also allows you to send a data synchronization request to your Property Management System (PMS). To use this option, select the OPERA Exchange Interface (OXI) channel.

From the Channels main menu, select Configuration. The screen is split under the Provisioned Channels and Available Channels tabs. By default, the Provisioned Channel tab is selected.

Prerequisites

Appropriate permissions are required to access Channels. From the Role Manager menu, select Role permissions. The permissions for Channel Provisioning are listed in the Channel Management module. For further information, see: Role Permissions.

Managing Channel Provisioning

• Provisioned Channels tab: By default, you can view all provisioned channels.

• Available Channels tab: By default, you can view all active non-provisioned channels and edit a channel to make further configuration.

• Filter option: Use the filter by any entered text. Filtering starts as soon as you type text in the field.

Provisioning Channels

Select the Available Channels tab and use the pencil on the right-hand side to provision a channel. The pencil is available only for channels that can be self-provisioned by properties.

• Partner ID: Shows the Partner ID. This field is read-only.

• ARI Message Format: Shows the ARI Message Format defined in Channel Registry accessible for OPERA Cloud Distribution only. This field is read-only.

• Invoice To: Shows whether your property receives invoices for reservations from this channel or a partner. This setting is defined on the Partner Registry, which is accessible for OPERA Cloud Distribution only. This field is read-only.

• Start Date: Enter the date of channel activation. This field is required.

• End Date: Enter the date of channel de-activation. If no end date is defined, leave the field blank.

• Provision Status: Select New. You can change the status on the Provisioned Channels tab once the channel is provisioned.

• Channel Property Code: Enter the code provided by the channel. The code can be used only once per channel. If the code already exists for another property in the same channel, a message appears. This field is required.

• Channel Property Name: Enter the name provided by the channel. If no name is provided, your property name will be filled in when you click Submit.

• Option: Select ARI PUSH to push OPERA Cloud Distribution data to the channel and/or Reservation Delivery to get reservations from the channel. This field is required.

• Channel Brand Code: Enter the code provided by the channel. This field allows a maximum of 10 characters.

• Channel Chain Code: Enter the code provided by the channel. This field allows a maximum of 10 characters.

• Invoice Override: This setting is defined in the Channel Registry accessible for OPERA Cloud Distribution only. This field is used internally and is read-only.

• Offer Validation: This setting is defined in the Channel Registry accessible for OPERA Cloud Distribution only. This field is used internally and is read-only.

The following fields are available only when the channel type is GDS:

• Property Return Limit: Enter the maximum number of hotels returned in an availability request.

• Property Limit per Booking: Enter the maximum number of rooms that can be booked in one transaction.

• Max Nights Availability: Enter the maximum number of nights a reservation can be booked.

• Alternate Rates: Determines whether the channel supports alternate rates functionality. This setting is defined in the Channel Registry accessible for OPERA Cloud Distribution only. This field is read-only.

• Alternate Property: Determines if the channel supports alternate property functionality. This setting is defined in the Channel Registry accessible for OPERA Cloud Distribution only. This field is read-only.

• Submit: Click Submit to display the Terms and Conditions. You must read the Terms and Conditions and select the check box to acknowledge your review and acceptance of the Terms and Conditions. The Accept button is accessible after you select the check box.

• Accept: Click Accept to provision the channel. The channel is now listed on the Available Channels tab.

Updating a Channel Provisioning

As soon as you provision a channel on the Available Channels tab, the provisions appear on the Provisioned Channels tab.

Select the Provisioned Channels tab and use the pencil icon on the right-hand side of each record to view or update the provisioning and access the following options:

• Controls

• Room Types

• Rate Plans

• Offers Distribution

Note:

You can edit the channel provisions and make updates until the provision status is Active. If further changes or adjustments are required, contact Oracle Support.

For further information, refer to the Provisioning Channels section above. All fields and data are the same except for the following:

• Provision Status: While provisioning a channel, the only status you can select is New. After provisioning the channel, you can select an appropriate status from the following options:

  • New: This is the status when you provision a channel on the Available Channel tab. You can only change status to Test.

  • Test: Select this status when you are in the test phase. Push out data to the channel for your property to validate accuracy. During the test period, reservations are collected if you selected Reservation Delivery in the Option field. You can change this status to Active.

  • Active: Select this status when the channel is Active and ARI Push is selected on the Option field.

Creating and Editing Channel Controls

Select the Controls tab to view the channel controls. Select the Edit button on top next to the Actions button to edit the controls.

• Market Code: Select the code for the channel. This field is required.

• Source Code: Select the code for the channel. This field is required.

• ARI Future days: Enter the number of days. The value must be between the minimum and maximum ARI days configured for the channel.

• Travel Agent ID: Enter the Travel Agent ID.

• Origin Code: Enter the origin code.

• Sell Limits: Select to enable or disable the channel to be used for Sell Limits on Availability > Inventory and Configuration > Inventory > Sell Limits. By default, the setting from registering the channel is overtaken.

• Channel LOS Arrival Date: Enable or disable the field. This field is only present for a specific channel.

Click Submit to save your edits on existing records.

Creating and Editing Room Types

Select the Room Type tab to view the channel controls. Select the Add icon on the tool bar to create a new record. Select a Room Type and click the Edit icon on the tool bar to edit the record.

• Active: By default, the check box is selected when creating a new record. Deselect the check box to set the channel room type as Inactive.

• Property Room Type: Select the Property Room Type configured in your Property Management System (PMS).

• Channel Room Type: Enter the Channel Room Type to map against the selected Property Room Type. In case of external mapping channels, a drop-down list enabled with data from the channel enables you to select. For channels with code handling set to External mapping, you can select the room type code from the list of values that displays directly from the channel. For channels with code handling set to Conversion template, you can select the room types from the list of values configured for the channel in the Channel Registry or if the code handling is Free Conversion, you can view the pre-populated channel room type code. You can overwrite it or create a new one. In other cases, you can type in your channel room type. If max room type length is configured for the channel, the room type length must be equal to the configured value without using lower case, special characters, or spaces. In case no max room type length is configured, you can enter up to 20 digits typed with upper case characters, special characters, or spaces. This field is required.

• Start Date: Enter the booking start date for the room type mapping. By default, it is set to your system date. This field is required.

• End Date: Enter the booking end date for the room type mapping.

• Channel Room Name: Enter the Room Name for the mapped room. By default, the Property Room Type Name appears as soon as the Property Room Type is selected but can be overwritten. If the channel is an external mapping channel, by default, the Channel Room Name appears as soon as the Channel Room Type is selected and cannot be overwritten. In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears.

• Channel Room Order: Enter the room order for the channel. By default, it shows the value from Room Content Level of room type configuration. In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears.

• Channel Sell Sequence: Enter the sell sequence of the room type.

• Additional Fields for GDS/Switch channels:

  • Channel GDS Room Description (Line1): Enter the Channel GDS Room Description Line1. The default value is taken from content level for room type configuration. If the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. It is limited to 45 characters.

  • Channel GDS Room Description (Line 2): Enter the Channel GDS Room Description Line2. The default value is taken from content level for room type configuration. If the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. It is limited to 45 characters.

  • Channel GDS Room Description (Line 3): Enter the Channel GDS Room Description Line 3. The default value is taken from content level for room type configuration. If the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. It is limited to 45 characters.

Additional Fields only for non-room rate mapping enabled channels

• Select all Rate Plans for Offer Distribution: Select this check box to distribute the room type against all the rate plans for which valid mapping exists. By default, this is selected when creating new records. You can deselect this or remove the rate plans from the field below.

• Rate Plans: Select one or multiple Rate Plans. This enables you to add or remove the rate plans for which you want to create the offer distribution.

Click Submit to create the record. Click Update to save your edits on existing records.

Deleting a Room Type

Select one or multiple Room Types or select all records and select the Delete icon in the tool bar. A message appears offering the option to Keep or Delete the record.

Note:

The Delete icon is available only with the appropriate permissions.

Rate Plans

Select the Rate Plans tab to configure Channel Rate Plans. By default, you can view all Rate Plans. You can filter Rate Plans. Additional fields for Property Room Type and Property Alternative Rate Plan are displayed for a specific channel.

Note:

The Channel Rate Plans tab is available only with the appropriate permission.

Creating and Editing Rate Plans

Select the Add icon on the tool bar to create a new record. Select a Rate Plan and click the Edit icon on the tool bar to edit the record.

• Active: By default, the check box is selected when creating a new record. Deselect the check box to set the rate plan to inactive.

• Property Rate Plan: Select the Property Rate plan configured in your Property Management System (PMS). This field is required.

• Channel Rate Plan: Enter the Channel Rate plan to map against the selected Property Rate Plan. In case of lookup-enabled external mapping channels, a drop-down list enabled with data from the channel enables you to select or, if the code handling is Free Conversion, you can view the pre-populated channel rate plan code. You can overwrite it or create a new one. If the max rate code length is configured for the channel, the rate code length must be equal to the configured value without using lower case, special characters, or spaces. In case no max rate code length is configured, you can enter up to twenty digits typed with upper case characters, special characters, or spaces. This field is required.

• Start Date: Enter the rate plan start date. By default, it is set to your system date. This field is required.

• End Date: Enter the end date of the rate plan mapping.

• Channel Rate Plan Name: Enter the Channel Rate Plan name. By default, the rate plan name from Pricing > Rates > Distribution Attribution appears as soon as the Property Rate Plan is selected but can be overwritten. If the channel is an external mapping channel, by default, the Channel Rate Plan Name appears as soon as the Channel Rate Plan is selected and cannot be overwritten. In case the default value is altered, an indicator appears below the field for Overridden value.

• Channel Rate Plan Order: Enter the channel rate plan order. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level for rate plan configuration. In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears.

• Publish Restriction: Select this check box to mirror the restriction to the channel rate plan as of the property rate plan. By default, this is set when creating a new record.

• Publish Rate: Select this check box to publish the rate. By default, this is set when creating a new record.

The following fields are available only for one specific channel:

• Property Room Type: Since this specific channel has a room rate level mapping, this field enables you to make an additional selection of the Property Room Type that the rate plan mapping will be linked to. This list comprises of the property room types for which a valid mapping already exists. This field is required.

• Property Alternative Rate Plan: Enter the Property Alternative Rate Plan used for reservation delivery.

Additional Fields for GDS/Switch Channels:

• Channel Rate Plan Level: Enter the Channel Rate Plan Level. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level for rate plan configuration, In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears.

• Channel Rate Plan Order: Enter the channel rate plan order. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level for rate plan configuration, In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears.

• GDS Rate Plan Description (Line1): Enter the channel GDS Rate Plan Description Line 1. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level, In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. This field is limited to 63 characters.

• GDS Rate Plan Description (Line 2): Enter the channel GDS Rate Plan Description Line 2. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level, In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. This field is limited to 45 characters.

• GDS Rate Plan Description (Line 3): Enter the channel GDS Rate Plan Description Line 3. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level. In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. This field is limited to 45 characters.

• GDS Rate Plan Description (RPD): Enter the channel GDS Rate Plan Description RPD. The default value is taken from Distribution attributes in the rate plan level. In case the default value is altered, an indicator below the field for Overridden value appears. This field is limited to 620 characters.

Additional Fields only for non-room rate mapping enabled channels

• Select all Rate Plans for Offer Distribution: Select this check box to distribute the room type against all the rate plans for which valid mapping exists. By default, this is selected when creating new records. You can deselect this or remove the rate plans from the field below.

• Rate Plans: Select one or multiple Rate Plans. This enables you to add or remove the rate plans for which you want to create the offer distribution.

Click Submit to create the record. Click Update to save your edits on existing records.

Deleting a Rate Plan

• Select one or multiple Rate Plans or select all records and select the Delete icon in the tool bar. A message appears offering the option to Keep or Delete the record.

  Note:

  The Delete icon is available only with the appropriate permissions.

Offers Distribution

Select the Offers Distribution tab to view the offers distribution. By default, you can view all records. If the channel room type is made inactive or its end date is expired, the offer distribution displays as inactive.

Note:

The Channel Offers Distribution tab is only available for non-room rate mapping channels. This tab can be viewed with the View Rate Plan mapping permission. By default, the tab displays both the active and inactive offer distributions for the channel ordered by channel rate order.

Managing Offers Distributions

Use the following to search:

• Property Rate Plan: Enter the rate plan.

• Channel Rate Plan: Enter the rate plan.

• Property Room Type: Enter the room types.

• Channel Room Type: Enter the room types.

• Start Date: Select the booking start date.

• End Date: Select the booking end date.

• Display Inactive: By default, this is set. Deselect the check box to display only active records.

Click Search to get search results. Only records matching all selected criteria appear. Click Reset to reset the search data.

Editing Channel Offers Distribution

Click the Edit icon on the right-hand side of each record. The editable fields are listed below. The fields from the channel rate plan level are read only.

• Active: Select this check box if the offer is Active.

• Publish Restriction: Select this check box to mirror the restriction to the channel rate plan as of the property rate plan. By default, this is based on the selection made in the channel rate plan level.

• Publish Rate: Select this check box to mirror the restriction to the channel rate plan as of the property rate plan. By default, this is based on the selection made in the channel rate plan level.

• Offer Name: Enter the Offer Name.

Click Update to save your edits on existing records.