Connecting Online Channels
Overview
Our channel management allows you to control which online channels you are connected to.
You have the ability to connect and disconnect channels at your leisure without having to contact RMS.
All available Channels are displayed ready for you to connect and each includes connection information and knowledge base articles to assist you with your connection.
Register with RMS Online
Before you can start taking online reservations with RMS Online Bookings and Channels you need to sign up for the basic module.
Click once on the link below to be taken to our Registration page, complete the questions and choose Submit. Once done one of our sales team will contact you finalize your registration.
http://www.rms.com.au/our-products/rms-online/register-online/
Watch this short Video on what Channel Management is!
Activating your Availability
From any screen within RMS9
Click once on Setup on the navigation bar
Choose Categories/Areas from the list
To give channels access to your Categories (Room Types) you will need to edit each one in turn, tick the option 'Available to RMSOnline', then if you wish enter a number of Areas to hold from RMSOnline.
The option 'No of Areas to Hold from RMSOnline' ensure that no online channel can book the last available area within this category. RMS recommends that you leave this set to 1, however the figure can be changed if you wish to do so. Where you only have 1 area within a category this number will be ignored.
Getting to the Channel Management screen
From any screen within RMS9
Click once on Setup on the navigation bar
Choose Online Bookings from the list
Choose Channel Management from the sublist
Screen Overview
The Channel Management screen will display for you a list of online channels RMS currently interfaces with.
Those channels you have already connected with will show at the top of the list in alphabetical order and display an EDIT button to the right of the channel name.
Those channels you have not yet connected to will show below also in alphabetical order and display a CONNECT button to the right of the channel name.
The information column will supply extra information including if the channel also controls other pages or if the channel is current under development.
Availability Options
Each new channel connected, will by default use the option 'Do Not Use Allotments', this option is the RMS Recommended setting.
When this option is chosen the availability your channel will see is the number of Areas (Rooms) in each Category (Room Type) less the number of rooms you have chosen to hold back from RMSOnline.
If you wish to use allotments for your channels CLICK HERE to find out how.
Connecting a Channel
Find the Channel you wish to connect in the list and click the 'Connect' button to the right of their name.
A screen of information will appear on the right with instructions at the top on how to connect to this channel.
Assigning a Color - RMS recommends that this is done with each channel that you connect to. By assigning a color to your channel you will be able to color code your booking chart to show the reservations on-screen made by each channel.
Depending on the connection you choose different information will need to be provided.
RMS Book Now Button - RMSOnline
For the below view simply move the rate types you wish this channel to have access to, to the right hand column using the > or >> buttons.
Retail Channels (Booking.com, Expedia, Wotif)
Information for each channel is provided at the top left of the screen explaining the information that is required to connect to that channel, once you have entered your Ref No., Login & Password, click once on the 'Connect to retrieve Room Types' button. Once connection is complete a list of your Room Types setup with this channel will show in the left hand column.
Simply select the RMS Room Type and Rate Type you wish to apply to each.
NOTE: Only Tariff/Availability Chart Rate Types will appear in the Rate Type list. If you have not setup your Tariff/Availability Rates CLICK HERE to find out how.
WHAT DOES THE NO UPDATES OPTION DO?
Every Retail Website Room Type that comes back from the Channel you are connecting too MUST be linked to an RMS Room Type and Rate Type.
In the event that you have a Retail Website Room Type that you do not want RMS to update the Availability and Rates for you will need to tick the option NO UPDATES against that Retail Website Room Type.
Distributor Channels (Siteminder, Pitchup, Netroomz, Turu)
For the below view, select the Rate Type you wish to assign this channel using the drop down box provided on the right of the screen.
NOTE: Only Tariff/Availability Chart Rate Types will appear in this list. If you have not setup your Tariff/Availability Rates CLICK HERE to find out how.
Once you have entered the information required, select Save at the bottom of the screen.
You can now select another agent to connect on the left of your screen or simply choose exit to close the screen.
RMSOnline Client Installation
If you host your own RMS database you WILL be required to install the RMSOnline Client, CLICK HERE to be taken to the article on how to install this module.
If you are using RMS Cloud (where your database is hosted by RMS) please disregard this step.
Testing your Connection
Once all of the above steps are completed, to ensure that your setup will achieve maximized online bookings, please contact your primary support person, they will walk you through your setup to ensure the following; you will also need to contact the channel you are connecting with to repeat the same;
- Ensure that your Rates and Availability are showing online correctly
- Perform an online reservation to ensure that your bookings are flowing through to your RMS system
Related
- AA NZ Information
- Whether you are an existing AA NZ customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with AA NZ easy!
- AAA Tourism Information - Is no longer operational
- Whether you are an existing AAA Tourism customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with AAA Tourism easy!
- Agoda Information
- Whether you are an existing Agoda customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Agoda easy!
- Best Western Information
- Interface coming soon to RMS9!
- BookDirect2Save Information
- Whether you are an existing BookDirect2Save customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with BookDirect2Save easy!
- Bookeasy Information
- Whether you are an existing Bookeasy customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Bookeasy easy!
- Booking.com Information
- Whether you are an existing Booking.com customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Booking.com easy!
- Bookit Information - Coming soon
- Whether you are an existing TravelClick customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with TravelClick easy!
- Check-In.com.au Information (now called JETMAX)
- Whether you are an existing Check-In.com.au customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Check-In.com.au easy!
- Entertainment/My Bookings - Coming Soon
- Whether you are an existing Entertainment Book customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Entertainment Book easy!
- eTourism Information
- Whether you are an existing eTourism customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with eTourism easy!
- Expedia Information
- Whether you are an existing Expedia customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Expedia easy!
- GoldenChain Information
- Whether you are an existing GoldenChain customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with GoldenChain easy!
- InnLink Information
- Whether you are an existing TravelClick customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with TravelClick easy!
- Jetstar Information
- Whether you are an existing Jetstar customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Jetstar easy!
- Levart Information
- Whether you are an existing Levart customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Levart easy!
- Lido Information
- Whether you are an existing Lido customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Lido easy!
- Netroomz Information
- Whether you are an existing Netroomz customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Netroomz easy!
- Orbitz Information - Connection Coming Soon
- Whether you are an existing Orbitz customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMS Online interface with Orbitz easy!
- Pitchup.com Information
- Whether you are an existing Pitchup.com customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Pitchup.com easy!
- Quickbeds now called Flight Centre Travel Group Information
- Whether you are an existing Quickbeds customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Quickbeds easy!
- RatesToGo Information
- Whether you are an existing RatesToGo customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with RatesToGo easy!
- ReserveGroup Information
- Whether you are an existing ReserveGroup customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with ReserveGroup easy!
- Roamfree Information
- Whether you are an existing Roamfree customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Roamfree easy!
- Siteminder Information
- Whether you are an existing Siteminder customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Siteminder easy! Connection Information for Siteminder In order for Siteminder to be able to connect your RMS system to your Siteminder account you will need to provide them with two pieces of information, these are; Your RMS Room Type IDs Your RMS Rate Type ID Retrieving your Room Type IDs From any screen in RMS9 Select Setup from the Navigation bar Select Room Types / Rooms from the list You will now see a list of your Room Types within RMS, the first column on this screen is titled ID, this is the Room Type ID you will be required to provide to Siteminder. Retrieving your Rate Type ID From any screen in RMS9 Select Charts from the Navigation bar Select Rate Availability Chart from the list This will open your Rate Availability Chart, select the Rate Type button on the bottom right of the screen You will now see a list of your Rate Types within RMS, The first column on this screen is titled ID, this is the Rate Type ID that you will be required to provide to Siteminder for the Rate you have chosen to give them on the Siteminder Channel management screen. NOTE: Even if you have chosen to control your rates in your Siteminder account you will still need to provide them with a Rate Type ID from the Rate Availability Chart so that when reservations are passed through a Rate Type can be assigned to them.
- Stay247.com Information
- Whether you are an existing Stay247.com customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMS Online interface with Stay247.com easy!
- Tourism Exchange Australia (TXA) Information
- Whether you are an existing Tourism Exchange Australia (TXA) customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Tourism Exchange Australia (TXA) easy!
- TourismExchange Information
- Whether you are an existing TourismExchange customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with TourismExchange easy!
- TravelClick Information
- Whether you are an existing TravelClick customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with TravelClick easy!
- TripAdvisor with TripConnect Information
- RMS is pleased to announce that we are a TripConnect Premium Partner! Whether you are an existing TripAdvisor customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMS Online interface with TripAdvisor easy!
- Turu Information
- Whether you are an existing Turu customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMS Online interface with Turu easy! All reservations sent to RMS from Turu have been paid in full. Please see the below link for Turu's remittance cycle: http://turu.com.au/media/121405/turu_-_park_remittance_cycle.pdf
- Update247 Information
- Whether you are an existing Update247 customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Update247 easy!
- UseROSS Information
- Whether you are an existing UseROSS customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMS Online interface with UseROSS easy!
- Using Allotments
- Allotments are no longer required to be setup in order to connect to an online channel. By simply ticking the option to 'Available to RMSOnline' and setting a 'No of Rooms to hold from RMSOnline' at the category level, your channels will then see the number of rooms in the category less what you have elected to hold back. However if you wish to set specific allotments this article will take you through the steps to do this.
- Wotif Information
- Whether you are an existing Wotif customer or you wish to sign up with them, this article will take you through the steps to make the process of using the RMSOnline interface with Wotif easy!
- Control Panel
- A Control Panel Overview
- The control panel allows you to change allotments, rates, minimum night stays and more! Make changes for a single room type, for a specific day, for selected channels or close off the entire property for a week with a few mouse clicks. Changes instantly update across all of your channels as well as to the front office!
- Applying a Closed to Arrival
- New feature coming soon to the RMS9 control panel! Once implemented this feature will allow you to stop arrivals on a specific day or date range. A Closed to Arrival however will not stop someone from staying over the same period.
- Applying a Rate Adjustment
- This article will show you how you can Increase or Decrease your Rates by either a Percentage or Amount of the current base rate using the Control Panel.
- Applying a Rate Override
- After completing this tutorial you will be able to override the base rate in your Rate/Availability Chart using the Control Panel.
- Applying an Online Sale
- After completing this tutorial you will be able to advertise an Online Sale on both your Rate/Availability Chart and your RMS Book Now Button using the Control Panel.
- Current Future Restrictions Screen
- The Current/Future Restrictions screen is the gateway to the Control Panel. This screen gives you a one stop shop to find all of the different allotments and restrictions you have set through out your Rate / Availability Chart.
- Edit Delete Restrictions from the Control Panel
- After completing this tutorial you will be able to quickly and easily edit or delete any restrictions from one screen.
- Setting a Minimum Nights Stay (MLOS)
- After completing this tutorial you will have the ability to quickly over-ride the minimum nights stay currently set within your Rate/Availability Chart using the Control Panel. MLOS or Minimum Length of Stay is activated from the arrival date of the booking. For Example, you have set an MLOS of 4 on 2 October, if a reservation was arriving on 1 October and departing on 3 October the RMS system would NOT enforce a 4 night minimum stay. But if a reservation was arriving on 2 October and departing on 3 October the RMS system WOULD enforce a 4 night minimum stay.
- Setting a Minimum Nights Stay (Soft Close)
- Coming Soon to RMS9! After completing this tutorial you will have the ability to quickly over-ride the minimum nights stay currently set within your Tariff/Availability Chart using the Control Panel. A Minimum Nights Stay (Soft Close) will be applied to a booking on any day within the bookings stay. For Example, you have set a soft close of 4 on 2 October, if a reservation was arriving on 1 October and departing on 3 October the RMS system would enforce a 4 night minimum stay.
- Setting Allotments
- After completing this tutorial you will be able to quickly and easily set/ change Allotment settings for any of the following from one screen: A specific, a Selection Of, or All Categories A specific, a Selection Of, or All Online Agents A specific, a Selection Of, or All Days of the week For any date range you desire.
- Using the Rate Availability Chart
- This article will show you how to use and read the Rate Availability Chart.
Classifications
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