Online Booking Settings - Booking Options

This article explains how to configure your online booking settings in Homhero. It covers key options including booking lead times, deposit rules, availability display, booking form customisations, and integration preferences. You'll also learn how to manage allotment configurations, control the display of discounts, handle payment settings, and define occupancy requirements. These settings ensure your website's booking process is tailored to your business needs and guest expectations.

1. Click Settings from the Homhero side menu.
2. Select Online Bookings > Booking Options tab.
   
   

Booking Settings

1. Enter the number for your Booking Lead Time (days), e.g. if you enter 2 this means guests cannot book online if they are due to arrive within 2 days.
2. Click the clock icon and select a Cut Off Time, if you enter 15:00 this means guests cannot book online after 3pm on the day listed under Booking Lead Time (days).
3. Click the drop-down arrow to select how your availability should be ordered by, your options are:
   
   • Most Available - This is in order of properties which have higher availability.
   • Cheapest
   • Display Order
   • Random 
4. Enter the Maximum Advanced Check In (days), this is how many days in advance a guest can book.
5. Booking Email Recipients - Enter the email address you would like online booking email notifications to be sent to, you can enter multiple email addresses by separating them with a comma if required.
6. Click the toggle to turn on Charge at Booking - this means Homhero will automatically take payment for online bookings.
7. Push to RMS means Homhero will automatically push bookings and transactions through to RMS. 
8. Click the toggle to turn on Do NOT show Discounts - any special rates will not show how much the guest is saving on your website.
9. Click the toggle to turn on Split Bookings (Sundries and Base), this will separate out any sundry items from the base tariff.
10. Click the toggle to turn on Disable Booking Receipt - no auto generated Homhero receipt will be sent to the guest at time of booking, you could set up a schedule instead if required.
11. Request to Book Status - This setting will determine how 'request to book' reservations will drop into Homhero. If this is set to 'Quote', the reservation will drop into Homhero as a quote instead of an unconfirmed booking, which means it will NOT block out the availability.
12. Click the toggle to turn on Disable Credit Card for RTB - no credit card will be collected for bookings via your website.
13. Enter your Booking Lead Time Message - this is in connection with step 4 & 5 - this message will display to the guest if they are unable to book due to their arrival date being within the cut off period.
    
    

Allotment Configuration

Homhero allows you to alter the configuration of booking allotments. 

Click the drop-down menu under Allotment Method and choose one of the following:

e.g. If you choose 'Least Revenue for Departing Month', Homhero will get a total revenue for each area for the departing month and will choose an area with the least revenue.

Deposit Requirements

1. Enter a Minimum Deposit (amount in dollars) - this is the minimum amount that will be taken as a deposit.
   Note: The minimum deposit amount field does not apply to the Vrbo connection. Vrbo will only use the Deposit Amount and Deposit Type (fixed/percent).
2. Enter a Deposit Amount.
3. Click the drop-down arrow to select your Deposit Type, either % Percent or $ Fixed.
4. Full Balance within Days - Enter the amount of days when the full deposit must be paid before arrival.
5. Click the toggle to turn on Allow Full Payment - this will allow the guest to choose if they want to pay just the deposit or the full amount of their online booking.
6. Click the toggle to turn on Registration Portal Custom Deposit Amount which will allow the guest to make a payment of any amount.
   
   

Booking Form

1. Click the toggle to turn on Require All Address Fields - this means the guest must supply their full address when booking online.
2. Booking Widget Color - Enter in a HEX Color (3 or 6 Characters) if you would like to update the button and calendar colours on the booking calendar and booking form.
3. Custom Booking Link - This is only used for clients who do not have Homhero websites, but they want to send a 'Book Now' calendar widget to a specific page on their site. This is not required if you use a WordPress site. 
4. Click the toggle to turn on Show Nightly Rate - this will show the nightly rate on the booking.
5. Click the toggle to turn on Show Extras Split - this will show the itemised options breakdown on the booking.
6. Click the toggle to turn on Show Listing Address, this will show the listing address at the time of booking
7. Facebook Pixel ID - You can add a Facebook Pixel Id on the WordPress site and the booking form. Our web team can assist with setting this up via WordPress, but if you want to put this on the booking form, you will need to add the Pixel ID here as well. This is because you can get to the booking form from multiple sources e.g. google search/google hotels, so if you have a Facebook Campaign and someone went through to Google Hotels, it would not pick up the conversion in Facebook if you only track this on your website.
8. Occupancy Requirements: Infants are Children - Turn this toggle on if you would like to classify infants as a children for occupancy purposes. This will hide the infant field on the booking form and the the min age for children to 0.
9. Child Age Range: Minimum Age - This is the minimum age of what is classified as a child. Anything below this age will be classified as an infant.
10. Child Age Range: Maximum Age - This is the minimum age of what is classified as a child. Anything below this age will be classified as an adult.
11. Message Types - Select the 'Type' of custom booking message that you would like to display on the booking widget for your website. 
    Info - Use for general information or helpful notes. This sets the tone of the text.
    Example: ''Please note: A minimum 7-night stay applies for all bookings during peak holiday periods.''
    Warning - Use for potential disruptions or important temporary notices.
    Example: ''There will be ongoing building works near the property between June 1st and July 15th. Some noise may be experienced during this time.''
    Danger - Use for urgent or critical alerts affecting the booking experience.
    Example: ''Due to road closures, access to the property may be limited from March 20th–25th. Please contact us for alternate directions.''
    Success - Use for positive updates or promotions.
    Example: ''Book 5 nights or more and receive a complimentary late checkout during April!''
12. Custom Message - Create a custom message for any use case the client needs. This creates a text card under the main listing image that can contain text from the PM about the booking.
    Example: ''All our properties are currently pet-friendly for stays booked before May 31st. Please ensure you note this in your booking.''
13. Custom Message Template - Enter the text of your custom message.
14. Click Save.