| In this installment of Reservation Software Tips, I want | | | | cases. For as many packages as you have, you want |
| to go over planning. This is something so few people | | | | to make sure there is a rate in the system. |
| do and it leads to problems down the road. | | | | Next, you need to enter in all the different payment |
| Every hotel or motel is different. You have your | | | | types that you accept such as cash, Visa, Mastercard, |
| budget variety all the up to 4 stars. The higher the | | | | American Express and so on. The last thing you want |
| price, the more features. Naturally, if you're running a | | | | is to have somebody hand you a credit card type that |
| bargain basement spot, you probably don't need much, | | | | you accept, but it isn't in the system. |
| if you need software at all. But if you're the creme de | | | | If you work with travel agents, you're going to want to |
| la creme...you want to plan...big time. | | | | make a list of them and put them in the system as |
| What does that planning amount to? | | | | well. Many hotels have special arrangements with |
| Well, for starters, there are the rooms and other | | | | travel agents and you want the correct one to get |
| services available. Your better class of hotel will | | | | credit for each booking. |
| probably have most, if not all of the following: | | | | One thing that a lot of people neglect is their system |
| Studio | | | | preferences. For example... |
| One Bedroom | | | | Do you want to auto generate a guest code for each |
| Two Bedroom | | | | guest or put one in manually? |
| Honeymoon Suite | | | | Do you want to make a guest name be required? |
| Executive Suite | | | | Some people want their privacy and wouldn't |
| For both single and double occupancy. | | | | appreciate this option. |
| So the first thing you will have to do with your | | | | Do you want to allow double booking? |
| software is make sure that all the rooms are setup. | | | | Do you automatically want the person's credit card |
| You don't want a potential customer asking for a room | | | | details saved to the system for the next time they |
| and finding that particular type isn't in your inventory | | | | book so it doesn't have to be reentered again? |
| even though the room itself actually physically exists. | | | | And so many other things that you REALLY should |
| That can be embarrassing for both of you. | | | | decide BEFORE you setup your software. |
| Then you have your tax codes, standard, exempt and | | | | How do you want your invoices to read? What info |
| non taxable. You want to make sure they're all in the | | | | do you want on them, not on them? |
| system as well. | | | | By planning all this out ahead of time, you make the |
| You'll also want to enter any packages that you offer | | | | actual setup and running of your software a piece of |
| into the system. Most professional software will allow | | | | cake. |
| for packages. These are totally customizable in most | | | | In the next issue, we'll go over some more great tips. |