A Web Rate Code is a form of promotional code, which is a type of negotiated rate, but is one that your property may offer for use not with a particular company and without previous agreement from any group, rather with a specific set of circumstances in mind (such as a reduced rate when booking online). Every promotional code is a specific negotiated rate (which has been attached to a designated "promotional code" account) that may be used by anyone fitting the desired parameters. See also How to Set Up a Promotional Code. However, a promotional code is NOT used automatically when your staff make the reservation but must be selected. If this is a WEB promotional code, where the reservation is made online by the guest rather than by your staff, to have the promotional code AUTOMATICALLY link the online reservation to the account and therefore apply the specified rate, you will also need to enter a Web Rate Code on the account screen. Every negotiated or special rate to be used on-line should have a separate code associated with it, that will then be entered by the guest on-line. Web rate codes can be useful for Promotions, Companies, or specific groups of guests. Skyware also allows you the ability to send a URL link (via email) to your website with the web rate code automatically entered there. This allow you to email potential guests with the URL, allowing the receiver to use the web rate code for making their reservation(s). (For example you may wish to email your repeat customers with a special offer that they could then use to make their next reservation, or you might generate a web code for the members of a group block with a special negotiated rate to use).
Setting up Web Rate Codes for use requires a few steps. To allow access to a web rate code on-line, a web rate must be created and enabled for web use, a company account must be created and set up with a negotiated rate that will be the web rate (See companies with negotiated rates) - the company name for the account can be simply a description such as Promotional, the name of your Promo, like Summer Special, or a target audience, Knitters Expo, for example - and most importantly access to this rate on-line must be added using the Web Code field on the Account Other tab.
Create the Rate Plan used for the desired Web Rate. This plan can be specific to the Promo, Company, or target audience, or can be used for several different ones. Please see Rate Plan Types for more details on creating the Web Rate Plan Type. To create a Rate Plan Type for use on-line, specific information fields on the General tab of the Rate Plan Maintenance screen must be completed, in addition to the required information (fields in RED).
Web Rate Plan Name: This will be the name shown to the end-user when making a reservation on-line. Enter the name or description you wish guests to see displayed on-line, if this Rate Plan Type is to be available using the web reservation system.
Note: You do NOT have to use the same name for the Web Rate Plan Name as for the Rate Plan Name used within Skyware. For example you may want the "Rack" Rate to be posted on the web as "Standard" Rate, or the "Best Available" Rate.
Show on Web?: This box may be checked or unchecked. By default it is unchecked, but to have the Rate Plan be available on-line it must be checked. Check to show the Rate Plan for the web reservation system
The Company name can be the name of your Promo, like Summer Special, or a target audience, Knitters Expo, for example.
Click Files => from the Other section of the Full Menu.
Click the icon on the left or the breadcrumb words on the top right for the Full menu.
This will display the Full menu in a tabular form, with four sections, Registration, Status, Cashier and Other.
From the Other Section, select Files =>.
The Files Menu screen has two sections, Files List 1 and Files List 2.
The Companies with Negotiated Rates command is in the Files List 2 section.
Click the "New" button in the local tool bar to generate a new account:
Enter in the (Company) Name, Guest Type, Segment Type if required, and Rate Plan (select the appropriate Web rate). All other information is optional, unless in RED and required by your Property. Click the save icon when complete.
Once the account has been saved, Click the Add/Modify Negotiated Rates icon from the local tool bar:
This opens the Negotiated Rates screen. Click the checkbox to "Use the rate plan attached to this guest as the rate". This will allow you to restrict the dates when the rate is offered. Then click the orange button Save & Show Guest>>.
This returns you to the account screen, and should show you a pop-up window with a message from Skyware stating "Successful Save of Negotiated Rates!" This indicates the rate has been attached to the account.
Every negotiated or special rate to be used on-line should have a separate code associated with it, that will then be entered by the guest on-line.
Open the Other Tab on the Negotiated Rates Account screen.
On the Negotiated Rate Accounts screen, the displayed account will have multiple tabs. By default, the General tab will be open. To add a web rate code, which is defined as a "short code given to a client to make online reservations using this rate", you will need to open the Other tab.
Once the Other tab is open, simply enter the code that the prospective guest should enter on the website to access the rate into the Web Rate Code field, then press the Save button in the local tool bar to save the change.
Now when this code is used online at your website, the reservation made will be automatically linked to the account and the specified rate applied.
The Web Rate Code is now ready to use.
It may be entered in the Code field on the booking engine by any guest to access the rate.
The ability to send a URL link (via email) which will open the Property website with the web rate code automatically entered there has been added to Skyware. This allow you to email potential guests with the URL, allowing the receiver to use the web rate code for making their reservation(s).
To send a URL you will first need to click the URL button, found next to the Web Rate Code Field on the Other tab.
This will generate and copy the URL for the booking engine with the specific negotiated rate account into the (computer) clipboard. A pop up message from Skyware will appear informing you that this has occurred.
Note: Depending on your browser settings, once you have clicked the button OK, you may see another pop up message asking if this action is allowed or needs to be blocked. Choose allow to continue.
Next, with the URL on your clipboard, it may now be copied and pasted into an email to send to the guest for viewing.
Note: The URL is NOT automatically sent to any email address, but must be MANUALLY placed in an email and sent. This helps to prevent unintended or multiple sending of the web rate code.
Note: The Web Rate Code field on the Other tab MUST be completed to have the special rate be used in the URL. Otherwise, the URL generated simply opens the website, with the code field left blank.
Note: These rates can also be restricted using the Daily Information and Restrictions area accessed from the Manager’s Commands Menu.
Date Updated February 28, 2024