Channel Manager and how it works
Channel Manager is a tool that synchronizes connected OTAs with the Property Management System. It automatically updates data on the availability, prices, restrictions, as well as incoming reservations.
Please note prior to connecting HotelFriend with your OTAs, and to avoid any connection and/or reservation issues, you have to think about the “Mirror Concept”. This means what you have in HotelFriend and what you have in the channels must be the same. If you have a single room, a double room and a family room at HotelFriend, booking.com must be the same (or vice versa). So please decide how you want to sell your room types before requesting the connection of your OTAs and HotelFriend, and organize your room types in the different sources accordingly.
HotelFriend will send only availability, prices and restrictions. However, you will have to match the same cancellation policy that you have in HotelFriend with the one you have in your OTAs.
- Before you add synchronization with the OTAs, you need to create the room stock in your PMS. Moreover, you need to set the base Room Rates and import all bookings into the system (except for reservations from booking.com ).
- If your PMS is ready for sync, select the necessary channels from the list and send a request. Upon receiving a synchronization request, our team will set up an account in the WuBook Channel Manager for you, and then connect it to the PMS. After that, we will contact you to finish synchronization with the OTAs.
- If the OTAs are not synchronized, send a request for synchronization to the HotelFriend system. Next, go to the Channel Manager module in the Extranet OTA, select the WuBook or WooDoo Channel Manager in the search bar and submit a synchronization request.
- As soon as the synchronization is completed, the HotelFriend employee will inform you about it and you will need to activate the Extranet connection. After activating the channel, our channel manager uploads data on the availability of free rooms, prices, and restrictions right to the OTA system. Due to the 2XML connection, all OTA bookings will be automatically generated in the PMS. Any changes made to the bookings by guests will be instantly displayed in the PMS system as well.
Important: If you plan to sync with Airbnb, you need to assign a specific Room Type for each individual room.
Important: Make sure your OTA channels are disconnected from the old channel manager. If the OTAs are synchronized with one, you need to deactivate them. In case of any difficulties, contact the OTA support service.
If you have any further questions or additional requests regarding functionality, please do not hesitate to contact Support.
