Configuring Channels

You can use Channels to create a new channel for your property or to manage the controls for existing channels.

Depending on your subscriptions, specific channels will be listed for activation. Some channels may require assistance from the Oracle Distribution Services team to enable them. This feature is available at the Property level and not at the Hub level.

Note:

Ensure you have the necessary Channel Management tasks at the property level assigned in OPERA Cloud Distribution.

Channel Summary

You can view the channel summary provisioning across all properties within a HUB Location. This page is available only at the HUB Location.

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.
2. The page lists channels provisioned to properties within the HUB Location.
3. Summary Dashboard: Shows the number of channels provisioned to properties by status.
   1. New: Channels newly provisioned to one or more properties.
   2. Test: Channels currently in Test status with one or more properties.
   3. Active: Channels actively provisioned with one or more properties.
   4. Maintenance: Channels in maintenance mode with one or more properties.
   5. Inactive: Channels inactive across all properties.
4. Click any status count in the Connection Status column for a channel to open the Provisioned Channels view showing the properties for that channel filtered by the selected status.

Provisioning New Channels 

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.

2. Provisioned: All existing provisioned channels are displayed.

3. Available: You can view all the available channels provided. Depending on your subscription, you can initiate the provisioning of a new channel by clicking the Provision Channel in Actions column and complete the following steps:

   1. Provision Status: Select the Provision Status.

   2. Start Date: By default, today's business day is set. 

   3. End Date: You can select date from the calendar. 

   4. Options: You can select or deselect values from the list of values.

   5. Channel Property Code: You can enter the channel's property code. This is required field.

   6. Channel Property Name: You can enter channel's property name. This is optional field.

   7. Channel Brand Code: You can enter channel's brand code. This is optional Input text field

   8. Channel Chain Code: You can enter channel's chain code. 

   9. Click Provision a Channel, read and accept terms and conditions and the channel is provisioned successfully.

Updating Provisioned Channels

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.

2. Click the Provisioned tab, search and select the channel, then click the icon.

3. Update the details.

4. Click Update.

5. Click Save.

Updating Controls Provisioned Channels

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.

2. Click the Provisioned tab, search and select the channel, then click the icon.

3. Update the details.

4. Click Update and fill the details for following fields for Controls:

   1. Default Market Code: Select the value from the list (this field is optional). 

   2. Default Source Code: Select the value from the list (this field is optional). 

   3. ARI Future Days: This is a numeric field. The field is set to the minimum ARI future days by default, you can increase or decrease the ARI future days to set maximum limit. 

   4. Travel Agent ID: Enter the value (this field is optional).

   5. Origin Code: Enter the value (this field is optional).

   6. Sell Limits: This shows Disabled by default, select the value from list.

   8. Hurdle Rates Evaluation for Restriction Publication: Select this option to publish ARI restrictions based on hurdle evaluation. This option is available only for channels eligible for Hurdle Rates evaluation.

   9. Click Save.

Configuring Booking Engine Channels

Note:

This feature is available only for OPERA Cloud Central subscription, or Distribution subscription covering Direct booking channels.

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.

2. Click Booking Engine Channels. All Existing Booking Engine Channels are displayed.

Creating a Booking Engine Channel

Note:

This feature is only available to OPERA Cloud Central customers.

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.

2. Click Booking Engine Channels.
3. Click Create Booking Engine Channel and fill the following:
   1. Channel Name: Enter a name for the channel. This is a mandatory field.
   2. Use Sell Limits : When enabled, you can define per date sell limits for this channel.
   3. Use Channel Room Type Templates: When enabled, you can define a list of standard channel room type codes that would be used for setting up channel room types.
   4. Click Submit.

      Note:

      You can create three Booking Engine Channels for an enterprise.

Updating Booking Engine Channel

1. From the Administration menu, select Distribution, then select Channel Distribution and then select Channels.

2. Click Booking Engine Channels.
3. Search and select the channel, and then click the icon.
   1. Update the details.
   2. Click Save.