Update your property settings

Add/update property details

To set up your property's general details and policies:

Click on your property name in the top navigation bar > select Property settings.
In the General information tab, configure settings including property currency, minimum rate, and language and region.
In the Property details tab, add your property‘s details such as property's name, address, contact information, star rating, and tax ID.
In the Property policies tab, add your property‘s check-in and check-out times, smoking policy, and terms, conditions and privacy policy.

Add/update property features and images

To set up your property's amenities and upload images:

Click on your property name in the top navigation bar > select Property settings.
In the Services tab, add your property description, features and location instructions.
In the Media library tab, upload and assign property images for your booking engine, including a banner image.

💡 Recommended image dimensions:

Banner images: 2560px width x 640px height
Property images: 1500px width x 640px height
Room type images: 2560px width x 1500px height

Manage direct rates and inventory

Set up direct booking rates

First, create room rates in the Rooms and Rates page, then add them to Direct booking:

Go to Direct booking > Direct booking rates.
Click on the status Not added and select room rates to add.
Configure occupancy settings, pricing, and booking controls.

Update inventory for Direct booking

Manage availability, rates, and restrictions for your booking engine:

Go to Distribution > Inventory.
Select a date range.
Update availability, rates, and restrictions for your direct booking rates.
Use bulk update to make changes to multiple dates at once.

💡 If you have a property management system (PMS), central reservations system (CRS), or revenue management system (RMS) that sends inventory data to SiteMinder, make all inventory updates in your connected system.

Set up taxes

Set up taxes for your booking engine:

Go to Payments > Taxes.
Add required taxes in compliance with local tax laws and regulations.
Set up tax settings: select either Show rates including tax and service charge on the direct booking engine and/or Include tax and service charges on Inventory grid rates for the booking engine. These settings affect how taxes and rates display to guests.

Configure direct rate booking policies

Set up cancellation policies

Create clear cancellation policies for your booking engine:

Go to Direct booking > Configuration > Cancellation settings.
Configure property and room-specific cancellation policies.
Set up any penalties that apply when guests cancel.

💡 Your cancellation policies will display on your booking engine as:

"Non-Refundable" — when full payment applies if cancelled
"Cancellation fee applies" — when a partial amount is charged if cancelled
"Free cancellation!" — when there's no cost to cancel
"Free cancellation before [date]" — when there's no cost to cancel before a specified date

Set up deposits

Set up a direct booking deposit to collect a partial or full payment at the time of booking:

Go to Direct booking > Direct booking rates.
Click edit on a direct booking rate.
Click on the Deposit toggle and select a deposit type.
Set the rate’s Reservation policy settings to choose whether payment details are required at booking.

💡 Deposit types will display on your booking engine as:

"Book now, pay later" — when no deposit is required
"Pay today" — when full payment is required at booking
"One-night deposit required" — when first night payment is required
Specific amounts — for fixed or percentage deposits

Customise booking engine appearance and guest experience

Customise banner image and colour theme

Customise the look of your direct booking engine to match your property's identity:

Go to Direct booking > Configuration > Branding.
Add a banner image and set a colour theme that matches your website.

Configure guest display options

Set up how rates appear to guests on your booking engine:

Go to Direct booking > Configuration > Guest display options.
Configure enquiry settings if you don't want to allow instant bookings.
Set room availability display options: Hide unavailable rates, Show low-availability alerts, Show "Early bird special" for rates with release periods.
Customise the guest details form with additional fields like phone number, address, and special requests.
Set occupancy age settings and maximum room occupancy options.

Add languages and translations

Make your booking engine available in multiple languages:

Go to Direct booking > Configuration > Translations.
Add languages and provide translations for your content.

Set up direct booking email templates

Send e-mails to guests who book through your booking engine. Enable outgoing emails in Direct booking > Configuration > Guest communications by turning on the toggle next to each e-mail you want to send to guests:

Reservation confirmation
Reservation modification
Reservation cancellation
Pre-arrival message
Post-departure message

Once you have enabled each email type, you will need to customise each email template, or guests will receive blank e-mails.

Integrate your booking engine with your website

Connect your booking engine to your website:

Go to Direct booking > Configuration > Integration.
Choose from a Book Now button, search widget, or room display options.
Copy the code and add it to your website.

Manage direct booking reservations

View and manage bookings that come through your booking engine:

Go to Reservations.
Filter by "Direct booking" to view bookings made through your booking engine.
Process modifications or cancellations as needed. Learn about direct booking modifications here.

Optimise direct booking rates

Create direct rate promotions

Set up exclusive discounts using promotion codes:

Go to Direct booking > Promotions.
Create a promo code with a special discount or offer.
Distribute the code to specific customers.

Add extras

Offer additional services on your booking engine such as late check-out, meals, snacks, or airport transfers:

Go to Direct booking > Extras.
Click on the Add extra button.
Enter the extra’s name, description, and price.
Select the dates the extra will be available.
Tick the room rates you want to assign the extra to.
Upload or assign images of your extra.
Click Save extra.

Set up dynamic discounts

Encourage more direct bookings by setting up Dynamic discounts (length of stay discounts, package deals and stay pay deals) for your booking engine.

Go to Rooms and rates > Rate plans.
Add a new rate plan or edit an existing rate plan.
Under Direct booking controls, click on the Dynamic discounts toggle and set up the discount.

Highlight rate plans on your booking engine

Display your best rate plans and their inclusions and discounts at the top of your booking engine:

Go to Rooms and Rates > Rate plans.
Add a new rate plan or edit an existing rate plan.
Under Direct booking controls, click on the Highlight rate plan on direct booking engine toggle.
Set up the display settings including the hero image, tagline and description.

Set up Direct booking controls

Control the way you sell your direct booking rates by configuring specific restrictions such as applicable dates and discounts on your rate plans:

Go to Direct booking > Direct booking rates.
Edit the direct booking rate you want to update.
Configure direct booking controls such as applicable dates, advertised dates, restrict rate to mobile device, and maximum advance booking dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can guests modify or cancel their own bookings?

Yes, guests can cancel or change certain details for their direct booking if it is outside your cancellation penalty window, and your cancellation settings are set to “Allow guest cancellation”. If so, guests will see the cancel or modify option in their reservation confirmation e-mails.

What payment options can I offer guests?

Configure accepted payment methods in Payments > Accepted payments. These payment options will be available to guests when they book through your booking engine.

How do I set up Google Analytics tracking for my booking engine?

If you're using Google Analytics 4 with cross-domain tracking, update your configuration to include your booking engine domain. This will help you track the guest journey from your website to the booking engine. Learn how to connect Google Analytics 4 to your booking engine in this guide.

Will my booking engine work on mobile devices?

Yes, the booking engine is fully responsive and works on all devices including desktop, tablet, and mobile.

How does minimum length of stay (minLOS) work in the booking engine?

The booking engine supports "Min Stay Based on Arrival Day". The minimum stay requirement applies to the check-in date only. For example, if August 2nd has a 3-night minimum stay, guests checking in on that date must book for at least 3 nights.

How can I optimise my booking engine to increase direct bookings?

To maximise direct bookings, ensure you: