Every online reservation has a rate code assigned to it. Mapping Rate Codes is the process of creating the link between the rate code from your Channel Manager (CM) and the rate/discount code in Visual Matrix. It is important that setups remain in sync with the Channel Manager (CM). Selecting or deselecting rate plans for a room type that are not configured the same on your Channel Manager (CM) will generate Two Way errors.
Prior to initiating the process, it's essential to verify that you have the
necessary privilege to access rate plan mapping in your interface.
Path: Management > Interfaces > All Interfaces > Select your Channel Manager (CM)
Step1 - Map Rate Plan/Discount Codes
1. Click on "Rate Plan Setup" from the right side of the interface screen.
2. A warning popup will display. Click ok.
The Rate Code has to be already created in Visual Matrix and in the Channel Manager to be mapped. Every field is mandatory. One field missing might prevent a reservation from pulling down into Visual Matrix.
3. Click New.
5. Enter the name of the rate plan created in the Channel Manager.
6. Enter the description of the rate plan. This field will not display anywhere else.
7. Check the box to activate the mapping.
8. The "Last RM" (Last Room Availability) is a setting that is not applicable anymore and should always be checked.
This setting was meant to allow the rate plan to be available to the last room available while those that are unchecked could be closed.
9. The "Req" (Required) is a setting that is not applicable anymore and should always be checked.
This setting was meant to flag rate plans that were required to be offered in CRS.
10. Select the marketing segments that will apply to any reservation pulled down with this rate plan. If one of those fields is empty, reservations with that code will not pulled down.
11. Check the "Update Rate" box if the rate is managed and updated by Visual Matrix to the Channel Manager.
12. Check the "Update Status" box if the rate plan status is managed and updated by Visual Matrix to the Channel Manager.
13. Check the "Update Guarantee" box if the guarantee and cancellation policies of this rate plan are managed and updated by Visual Matrix to the Channel Manager.
14. Check the "Private" box if the rate plan is a rate private. Once checked, the reservation will be marked as "Private".
15. Check the box if the rate plan is link to tax-included reservation (FX).
16. Scroll right to see the column. If a Reservation using this rate plan is supposed to be "Tax Exempt", click on the check circle, select the tax(es) to exempt, enter the reason and click Save.
17. Click Save.
Step2 - Populate Rate Plan/Discount Codes
18. Now that the rate plan is mapped, it needs to be populated to the room types with which the rate plan is applicable. Click again on "Rate Plan Setup" from the right side of the interface screen.
19. Select the rate plan.
20. Click on "Populate" at the bottom.
21. If the Guarantee and Cancellation policy are updated from VM to the CM, it can be customized here. Uncheck the box and select the policies.
Most of the Channel Managers set up those settings in their portals and not from Visual Matrix.
22. To apply the mapping to specific room types, check each box independantly.
23. To populate the mapping to every room type, use "Select All".
24. Those settings comes from the room type mapping. They cannot be changed.
25. To allocate a lower number of rooms to the rate plan online, enter here the number of rooms to allocate. Number can only be lower than the number in the previous field "# of Rooms".
26. Those 3 fields will only show for Excp/Fixed Rate Plans. Use the following fields to enter a specific rate (Rate), a max number of person to apply this rate (Upto # Guests) and the amount for each person over (Addl Guests).
It will populate an exception/fixed rate to the discount setup screen, for all seasons that are mapped instead of having to setup the excp/rate room type by room type, season by season.
27. Click OK.