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Please see the following articles before configuration of the IRM with the steps in this article:
Factors to consider when configuring room types & room numbers
Critical to Limit guest requests when searching for available room numbers
Contact RDP Support at 970-845-7108 in order to install and register the IRM "RR" module. Installing the module allows the IRM to connect with the RDP-DOS system and adds additional functionality. The Internet Reservation Module cannot be started or configured without module RR installed.
In order for the IRM to access E-mail addresses for guests, agents, and groups, files must be rebuilt using option 994 on the System Utilities menu (RDP-DOS). While the file is rebuilt using option 994, an index for the e-mail field is added. Run option 994 on the System Utilities menu (99) and rebuild the following files one at a time: 72 (GROUPMST.DAT), 73 (AGENTS.DAT) and 75 (GUESTS.DAT). All users must be out of the system when running option 994.
DO NOT skip this step. Without completing this step, Internet guests who select the option for having the IRM e-mail their guest password will receive an error message.
Please see the following articles before configuration of the IRM:
Factors to consider when configuring room types & room numbers
Critical to Limit guest requests when searching for available room numbers
Use the RDP-DOS system to specify which room types are displayed by the IRM. Use option 090 on the System Manager menu and update table C2. Access each room type displayed in the IRM and enter a "Y" in field #8, Display in IRM.
Field #1, Description, is displayed as the room type’s IRM “short description”. This description should make sense to Internet guests who may not be familiar with the property. For example, enter "One Bedroom" as the description as opposed to "1BR".
The IRM “short description” is displayed below.
5/19/2006 - When the IRM is configured to reserve by unit number it is critical to limit the number of guest search criteria so the guest does not see, "no available rooms match all guest search criteria". See: KI0058
There are two fields in Table C2 for “Minimum Stay for IRM” and “Maximum Stay for IRM”. If these fields are NOT blank, the settings entered here override the overall IRM setting for minimum and maximum stay. The minimum and maximum fields are independent. For example, the “Minimum Stay” can be utilized and the “Maximum Stay” left blank.
The IRM can be configured for a guest to choose a specific room. For customers choosing to configure the IRM using "inventory mode" (room type only) this section may be skipped.
With the IRM configured in preassign mode, guests are allowed to choose rooms from a list, and every room for the selected room type is automatically displayed. If a specific room should NOT be displayed by the IRM, use RDP-DOS menu 11, option "202" - “Change Room Information” and enter a “Y” in field #21, "Block from IRM".
While displaying a specific room number with option 202 on the Room Master menu, an <F6-NOTE> may be added describing the room. This note appears in the IRM if no HTML file is found for the specific room number. For additional information regarding room numbers, please see the section titled "Customizing the IRM using Pictures and HTML".
Prior to displaying a rate plan in the IRM, it must be flagged for IRM display in the RDP-DOS system. In order to flag a rate plan or package for IRM display, use option "186-1" - "Room Only Rate Plans" or option "186-2" - "Daily Packages", respectively, on the System Manager menu (98). After selecting the appropriate option and accessing the rate plan or package, set field #13, "On IRM", to “Y”.
The “Description” field (#3) on the rate plan or package is used as the IRM “short rate description”. An example of a short rate description within the IRM is displayed below.
While in option 186 with the rate plan displayed, use <F6 – NOTES> to add a long description for the rate plan. The IRM can be configured to display rate plan and package long descriptions. These descriptions are useful for Internet guests deciding on a rate plan. Sample long descriptions are displayed below in the column labeled "Requirements".
For condominium and timeshare properties, the IRM uses the “Owner TA Split” field on the Room Master to determine how to split an Internet reservation travel agent commission. The settings for this field are:
|
Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
|
M |
The management company pays the entire travel agent commission. |
|
E |
The management company pays 50% of the travel agent commission and the owner pays 50%. |
|
S |
Travel agent commission is split between the owner and management company based on the revenue percentage paid to the owner. For example, if the owner receives 75% of the rental revenue, he pays 75% of the travel agent commission. |
|
P |
The owner pays the entire travel agent commission. |
|
Blank |
Same as “M” above. |
5/19/2006 - When the IRM is configured to reserve by unit number it is critical to limit the number of guest search criteria so the guest does not see, "no available rooms match all guest search criteria". See: KI0058
The IRM displays "guest request" fields. A guest request field assists the Internet guest in selecting a room or room type that matches his requirements. Normally the guest request headings stored in RDP-DOS table C8, sub-record “01”. The RDP-DOS guest request headings are limited to three characters. In order to make these request headings more friendly for the Internet guest, long descriptions should be added to Table C8. Use the following steps for making the guest request heading more descriptive to Internet guests.
From the System Manager menu (98), select option "090" - "Update System Tables".
Select option "U" - "Update Table Records".
Enter table number "C8".
The RDP-DOS system is
configured with up to nine guest request fields. The labels for these
fields are stored in sub-record "01". A sample is displayed
below.
Add a new sub-record
that corresponds to each DOS guest request field. For example,
sub-record PREF1 corresponds to the first DOS guest request heading, #BR
(Number of Bedrooms). Enter a "Y" in field #2 in order to
display this guest request field in the IRM. This new sub-record is
displayed below.
In addition to adding
the new sub-record PREFX (where "X" equals the DOS guest request
heading number), sub-records must be added that correspond to possible guest
choices. For example, an Internet guest may have the option of
selecting a unit with one, two, or three bedrooms. In this example,
three additional sub-records are added to table C8 - Pref1A, Pref1b, and
Pref1C. Samples of these sub-records are displayed below.
Complete additional "PREF" sub-records for each guest request field.
Some properties only take Amex cards from groups and corporate business. They prefer not to have non-corporate business use Amex cards, as the fees are higher. It is possible to block certain credit cards from being used by the IRM guest while maintaining the ability for the property to use them.
To Enable:
The Internet Reservation Module (IRM) allows Internet guests to make reservations directly into the RDP system without involvement from the property’s reservation staff. This section provides links to instructions for configuring the IRM after the Windows 2000/2003 bridge server has been installed.
Remember to backup the C:\Inetpub directory every day on the IRM server to avoid losing important files and pictures. See Backup for more details.
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