Discount Code/Rate Plans Overview
A discount code or rate plan is a specific identifier or category used in hotel or property management systems (PMS) to apply discounts or special pricing to reservations. These codes or plans can be created by the property itself or obtained from external sources such as channel managers or online travel agencies (OTAs). They are typically associated with certain parameters or conditions, such as stay dates, room types, or booking channels, and are used to offer discounted rates to guests when making reservations.
Rate Plans Setup
Visual Matrix provides three types of discount codes:
- Percentage Discount: This type allows you to apply a percentage discount to the applicable rack rate at the moment of reservation. For example, if the rack rate for a room is $100 and you apply a 10% percentage discount, the guest will be charged $90.
- Flat Discount: With this type, you can apply a fixed amount discount to the applicable rack rate at the moment of reservation. For instance, if the rack rate for a room is $100 and you apply a $20 flat discount, the guest will be charged $80.
- Exception/Fixed Discount: This option does not involve a percentage or flat discount but applies a specific rate, overriding the current pricing. It allows you to set a fixed rate for the reservation, regardless of the rack rate or other discounts.
You will find an separate article for each setup in the knowledge base:
Rate Plans Mapping
For your online channels to recognize the same rate plans, they must be created both in your Channel Manager and in your OTA's Channel. Once this step is completed, you'll need to complete a mapping (click here if you are a BW property) in Visual Matrix to ensure that the rate plans associated with your online reservations are recognized by the system. If you are still using the Visual Matrix PMS Desktop version, please submit your mapping request through a ticket.
Related Articles
FAQ - Management / Discount Codes/Rate Plans
How to assign a discount code/rate plan to a reservation? There are two methods to add a discount code or rate plan to a reservation. The first method involves adding it directly to the reservation from the "Rate Information" section. The second ...Mapping Discount Codes Request
If you use Cloud PMS, you have the option to map the discount code on your own. However, if you'd rather reach out to our Client Experience team for assistance, please ensure that you provide answers to the following questions: What is the Rate Code? ...Access to the 2Way Mapping Tables (BW)
Rate Plan Mapping In VM Desktop, to access the rate plan mapping table, you must have access to the Best Western PRM (Property Revenue Management) Service. This service is available for a fee through Best Western. Access to the mapping tables is ...Mini-POS - Overview
A Point of Sale (POS) system combines software and hardware to facilitate sales transactions, commonly used in restaurants and retail stores. POS systems cater to specific industries, with features tailored to their needs. Visual Matrix offers an ...Calculate a Rate before Tax
The easiest way to calculate a rate/price before tax is to use an online sales calculator like this one: https://www.omnicalculator.com/finance/sales-tax