Rate Types

Rate Types allow you to define different levels of pricing for a Product when you set up your Prices. There are two default Rate Types in frontdesk:

• Best Available Rate: this Rate Type will usually be used to define the price you want to sell your Product for on your own website and most other online Distributors.  

• Freeform: this can be used when you need to make manual adjustments to offline bookings. So, once you define a Freeform Rate Type, you will be able to overwrite that amount when making an offline booking.

frontdesk also provides the flexibility to create Custom Rate Types.  These can be used, for example, if you wish to apply a different price to bookings via a particular distribution channel, or if you have negotiated a specific price for an offline agent or corporate customer. You may need to consider setting up the following Custom Rate Type:

• Simple Rate per Day Some Distributors may have Terms and Conditions that require you to agree to offer a one night rate. You do not have to opt-in to these Distributors, but if you do and  your normal (eg Best Available Rate) has any minimum duration rules, such as a 2 night minimum, you will need to create a simple rate that does not include any minimums in order to opt-in and be sold by these Distributors. You may want to increase the price for certain nights instead of imposing a minimum booking.

Once you have created all required Rate Types as below, you must define a Daily Rate and/or Special Offer for all your Products for each Rate Type.

View Rate Types

1.  Click on the Manage tab.

2. Click on Additional Settings from the left hand menu, then Rate Types. If you have previously created any Rate Types, a summary will be shown, along with the Default Rate Types.

Create New Rate Type

1. In Manage, click on Additional Settings from the left hand menu, then Rate Types.

2. Click on the " New Rate Type" button.

3. Enter the Name of the new Rate Type.

4. Click on the " Save" button.

5. Repeat steps 2 to 4 for each new Rate Type to be added.

Edit Rate Type

1. In Manage, click on Additional Settings from the left hand menu, then Rate Types. If you have previously created any Rate Types, a summary will be shown.

2. Click on the (Edit) button beside the Rate Type to be modified.

3. Make the necessary changes.

4. Click on the " Save" button.

Delete Rate Type

1. In Manage, click on Additional Settings from the left hand menu, then Rate Types. If you have previously created any Rate Types, a summary will be shown.

2. Click on the (Delete) button beside the Rate Type to be removed from the list.

3. Note the Warning and confirm the deletion.

It is not possible to delete a Rate Type if there are existing bookings using that Rate Type.

Apply Custom Rate Type to Distributor Bookings

1. Create a new Rate Type as above. The Description may be, for example, 'Distributor Rate'.

2. Define the prices that apply to this new Rate Type for all your Products. See Daily Rate Manager.

3. Click on the Marketing tab, then Distributors>Manual Opt-in - Accept T&Cs.

4. Opt-in to the required Distributor by clicking on the View Distributor Terms and Conditions, click I accept then Save.

5. Tick the box in the Payment Option column.

6. Select the new Rate Type from the Rate Type drop down box adjacent to the Distributor.

7. Click Save.

See also Create Simple Rate Per Day