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ManagingRates andAvailability

Working with Expedia

Managing Rates and Availability

2

Table of Contents

Getting Started 3

Understanding Room Types and Rate Plans 4

Adding a New Room Type 5

Adding a New Rate Plan 7

Updating Rates and Availability 9

Contact 12


3

Getting Started

Keeping your rates and availability up to date can help your property to be more visible on The Expedia Group websites, and good visibility usually generates more bookings.

This guide will give you a quick look at how your Room Types and Rate Plans are set up in Expedia® PartnerCentral and show you how to keep your rates and availability updated.

Please note:

If your hotel is connected, then the updating of room rates and availability is managed via your connectivity provider or channel manager.


4

Understanding Room Types and Rate Plans

What are Room Types and Rate PlansRoom Types are the different kind of rooms you have available for guests to book.

A Rate Plan is associated to a Room Type, and can define the pricing, policies and value-adds associated to that room.

Each Room Type can have one or multiple Rate Plans. See example below.

What are the different Rate Plan Types There are three different Rate Plan Types you may see:

• Standalone (S): This rate is displayed when a guest is shopping for a room only on our sites.

• Package (P): Only available for Expedia Collect bookings, this Rate Plan is used when a guest books a hotel room in connection with the booking of air, car, or rail (for example: booking flight and hotel).

• Corporate (C): This is a Rate Plan that is available exclusively to our Egencia corporate partners. Not all hotels have this type of Rate Plan

A Rate Plan Type is usually specified next to a Rate Plan with the corresponding letter in parenthesis. See example below.

Standard Room

Room Only

Breakfast Included

Free Parking

Deluxe Room

Room Only

Breakfast Included

Free Wifi

Room Types

Rate Plans

Standard Room

Room Only (S)

Breakfast Included (S)

Free Parking (P)

Deluxe Room

Room Only (S)

Breakfast Included (C)

Free Wifi (C)

Rate Plans Types


5

Adding a New Room Type

You can add a new Room Type in Expedia PartnerCentral by following the steps below.

First, you need to log in to Expedia PartnerCentral: www.expediapartnercentral.com

1. Select Add a New Room Type from the Rates and Inventory menu.

Please note:

If the Add a New Room Type menu is not available in Expedia PartnerCentral, you will need to contact your Regional Support Team for us to set these up in our systems. This applies to all properties, even if you are connected.

3. Enter the room code for your own tracking. It will not be visible to guests.

2. Select the room view.

4. Select your room’s bed type, as well as other occupancy options.

5. Enter the size of the room.


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Adding a New Room Type

7. Enter the rate you charge for this room type, for each day.

8. Enter any additional person charge per night

10. You can edit your cancellation penalty if you want.

12. Click Create.

6. Specify the room name by selecting the type of room from the drop down menu as well as the room class, and bedroom details if applicable.

9. Select any value adds included in the rate.

11. Set any restrictions, such as advance purchase or minimum lenght of stay.


7

Adding a New Rate Plan

You can add a new Rate Plan in Expedia PartnerCentral by following the steps below.

1. Select Add a Rate Plan from the Rates and Inventory menu.

Please note:

If the Add a New Rate Plan menu is not available in Expedia PartnerCentral, you will need to contact your Regional Support Team for us to set these up in our systems. This applies to all properties, even if you are connected.

2. Select the rate plan name from the drop down menu and enter the notification code for your own tracking. It will not be visible to travelers.

3. Select which room the Rate Plan will be added to.

4. Enter the rate you charge for this rate plan, for each day.


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Adding a New Rate Plan

6. Enter any additional person charge per night.

7. You can edit your cancellation penalty if you want.

9. Click Create.

5. Select any value adds included in the rate.

8. Set any restrictions, such as advance purchase or minimum lenght of stay.


9

Updating Rates and Availability

With all your Room Types and Rate Plans loaded, you will need to keep your rates and availability updated.

In Expedia PartnerCentral, there are several different tools available to help you manage your rates and availability. Two important tools for you to use are the Inventory Grid and the Bulk Update tool.

The Inventory GridClick Inventory Grid from the Rates and Inventory menu to access the grid.

The Inventory Grid shows your Room Types, Rate Plans, and their respective rates and availability details. You can view 21 days at a time as well as any future dates where you have inventory loaded. Any items that require your attention are highlighted in bright colors.

Room Type

Rate Plans

See next 21 days

Dates requiring attention

Room Type unavailable

Rate Plan unavailable


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The Inventory Grid also allows you to make updates to your rates, availability and restrictions directly within the grid itself, by clicking on a Room Type cell or Rate Plan cell.

When you click on a Rate Plan cell, depending on your hotel’s pricing model, you might see one of the following options.

Number of rooms availableNumber of rooms booked

Room Type Cell

Enter your new room’s availability

Enter your Net Rate

Enter your Sell Rate

Per Day Pricing(Net Rate)

Per Day Pricing(Sell Rate)

Enter your Net Rate

Enter your Sell Rate

Occupancy Based Pricing(Net Rate)

Occupancy Based Pricing(Sell Rate)


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The Bulk Update ToolThe Bulk Update tool makes it easy for you to change rates, availability and restrictions across one or more date ranges for one or multiple Room Types or Rate Plans.

It allows you to make changes to your rates and availability for up to 24 months.

1. Click Bulk Update from the Rates and Inventory menu.

2. Choose your start date, and end date, and click Add these dates to the calendar.

You can also select your days by clicking on a month, on days of the week, or on individual dates.

3. Select the Room Type(s) and Rate Plan(s) to be updated.

4. Enter the number of rooms available or the new rate (or both), and click Submit.


© 2015 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. Trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. HGWWPTAL15 EN

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Contact

Expedia PartnerCentral Help CenterIf you need more help on how to use Expedia PartnerCentral, please use the Help Center located at the top of any page. In the Help Center you will find answers to frequently asked questions, step by step guides as well as training videos. Enter a specific question or keyword and review the related search results to find the answer you need.

Expedia Regional Support TeamFor any additional requests or questions, please contact your regional support team by clicking Contact us from the Expedia PartnerCentral Help Center. You’ll be able to submit your request online or contact us by phone using the phone number corresponding to your country.

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