Set up a last minute rate plan to offer time-limited discounts and attract guests who book close to their stay dates.
Create a last minute promotion
A last minute promotion is a rate plan with date restrictions that limit how far in advance guests can book. You can combine it with dynamic discounts to offer higher savings for longer stays.
To create a last minute promotion, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Create the rate plan
To create the rate plan:
Go to Rooms and rates > Rate plans.
Click Add a rate plan.
Enter a Rate plan name, for example "Last Minute". This is for internal use only.
Add a Description (optional).
Click Next.
Step 2: Set restrictions and pricing
To set restrictions and pricing:
Add a Minimum length of stay and Maximum length of stay if required.
Set a Release period if required. The release period is the minimum number of days before check-in that this rate plan can be booked, usually used for early bird or advance purchase offers.
Select any Inclusions if applicable.
Set a Minimum rate (optional).
Choose how you will manage rates - "Derive daily rates from an existing rate plan", ensure you choose "Keep rates the same"
💡 If you select "Derive daily rates from an existing rate plan", select "Keep rates the same" under Adjust daily rate to avoid applying an additional discount.
Step 3: Configure direct booking controls
Set up your direct booking controls:
Under Applicable dates, turn on the toggle and set the stay dates for when the promotion is valid. Add any blackout dates or excluded date ranges if needed.
Under Advertised dates, set the booking dates when guests can book this promotion. Add any date ranges when you do not want the promotion to be available.
Set a Maximum advance booking date to make it a true last minute offer. For example, setting it to seven days means guests can book for today and up to seven days ahead.
Under Set Dynamic discounts, select Dynamic length of stay discount.
Click + Add new rule.
Enter a value in the Discount field.
Select Stay 1+ nights (or Stay 2+ nights if you only want the discount to apply from two nights).
Add more rules to set different discounts for different lengths of stay.
To make the promotion mobile-only, enable Restrict rate to mobile.
Optionally, enable Highlight this rate plan on your booking engine to display it at the top of your booking engine.
Click Next, review your settings, and click Create rate plan.
Step 4: Assign the rate plan to room types
To assign the rate plan to room types:
Go to Rooms and rates > Rate plans.
Find your new last minute rate plan in the list.
Click the three dots (ellipsis button) next to it.
Select Assign room type or Assign multiple room types.
Complete all required fields and save.
Step 5: Activate the rate plan for direct booking
To activate the rate plan:
Go to Direct booking > Rates.
Click Inactive.
Find your new rate plan, select it, and click Activate rates.
Step 6: Map to your property management system (PMS)
If you have a property management system (PMS) connected, you need to map the new rate plan.
To map to your PMS:
Go to Distribution > Connectivities > Rooms and rates mapping.
Under Mapping status, click Unmapped.
Map the last minute rate plan to the correct rate code in your PMS.
⚠️ If the rate code does not yet exist in your PMS, create it there first, then return to SiteMinder to complete the mapping using the correct room code, rate code, and inventory code.
💡 If your PMS rate is already discounted, you can skip the Dynamic discounts section in the SiteMinder rate plan configuration.
Sending this promotion to OTAs
The direct booking controls you configure in SiteMinder only apply to your direct booking engine. To send this last minute promotion to online travel agents (OTAs):
Create the same rate plan and room rate in the OTA extranet.
Map the rate plan to the channel in SiteMinder.
Set up the same promotional restrictions for the rate plan directly in the OTA extranet.
💡 Contact the OTA's support team if you need help setting up the rate plan and booking restrictions.