Maximum vs minimum advance booking: a maximum advance booking restriction sets how far ahead guests can book. This setting is different from the release period. A release period is the minimum advance booking dates (guests need to book at least a certain number of days in advance). This article covers the maximum advance booking restriction.
Where to set restrictions for how far in advance guests can book your rooms depends on the channel:
Direct booking: Set maximum advance booking dates in the rate plan's Direct booking controls
Booking.com: with enhanced sync, set when mapping the channel rate
Other channels: Set directly on the channel's extranet
When you might want to limit how far in advance guests can book your rooms:
Limit bookings to a certain number of days in advance, such as no more than 365 days in advance
Create last-minute deals for bookings such as maximum 7 days before arrival
Restrict how far guests can book in advance for direct booking rates
For your booking engine, you can set maximum advance booking dates at the rate plan level:
Go to Rooms and rates > Rate plans.
Click on the direct booking rate plan you want to update.
Click Edit.
Scroll down to Maximum advance booking dates under Direct booking controls.
Enter the number of days in advance that guests can book the rate on your booking engine.
Click Save.
💡 Note: For last minute deals, create a new direct booking rate plan with a shorter maximum advance booking period than your standard direct booking rate plan. Alternatively, you can set up dynamic discounts for direct booking rates.
Maximum advance booking restrictions for connected channels
You need to set maximum advance booking restrictions directly with each channel. The ability to set a maximum advance booking limit varies by channel. Check with each channel directly. You might be able to do so via their extranet, or contact their support team.
For last-minute deals on channels, you may be able to set up discounts directly on the channel's extranet.
Set maximum advance booking for Booking.com
With Booking.com enhanced sync, you can set a maximum advance booking restriction when mapping the channel rate:
Set this in the channel rate configuration when mapping your room rates to Booking.com.
Limit how far ahead inventory is sent (update period)
Maximum advance booking restrictions control how far in advance guests can book. They do not limit how far ahead your inventory is sent to channels. If you want to stop sending rates, availability, and restrictions beyond a set number of days, set your update period instead.
⚠️ The update period setting applies at the property level for all room rates, not for discounted rates or last minute deals for specific room rates.