Important to know:
To connect, disconnect, or manage a channel, go to Distribution > Channels.
Why connect to channels (OTAs)?
Connecting to channels (OTAs; online travel agents) is an important part of your distribution strategy. Connect to a range of channels to help increase your property’s online visibility and expand your reach to more travellers.
Connecting to channels can also help with increasing direct bookings, as guests may find your property on a channel, but then research further on your property website and choose to book with you directly — this is known as the billboard effect.
Connect a channel
Before connecting to a channel, make sure that you have signed a contract with the channel, you have an active account, and the channel has enabled the connection with SiteMinder.
Make sure you know your unique Property code that the channel has assigned to your property (also called hotel ID, hotel code, or host ID) and any other account details for the channel’s extranet.
To connect a channel:
Go to Distribution > Channels.
Click on the All channels tab — here you will see a list of all the available channels you can connect to.
Find and click on the channel you want to connect to.
Review the details about what inventory data can and can’t be sent to the channel (Data supported by this channel and Data not supported by this channel).
Click on Connect.
Most channels are activated immediately and ready to be mapped. However, some channels may appear with a status Awaiting setup, which means our support team will need to complete the configuration and activate the connection for you.
If the channel does not support certain inventory data, you will need to set up and manage these inventory updates directly in the channel’s extranet.
For example, if the channel does not support receiving Minimum stay, you will need to set up your Minimum stay restrictions on the channel’s extranet directly, even if you have configured it in your platform.
Update Channel settings
To update the settings for a channel, follow these steps:
Go to Distribution > Channels tab.
In the My channels tab, find the channel.
Click on the ellipsis button (...) next to the channel’s name.
Select Update channel settings.
In the Channel settings tab, click on the edit button to modify the settings.
Make the changes and click Save.
Here are some examples of common channel settings:
Rate multiplier
A Rate multiplier is a calculation (increase or decrease) that is applied to rates before they are sent to a channel to adjust the rate for commissions and taxes.
Use the Rate multiplier simulator tool to test how your channel rates will change compared to your daily Full rate.
Note: your rates in the Inventory grid will show without the Rate multiplier applied.
Currency conversion
If Currency conversion is enabled in your Property settings, you can also enable it for the channel to send prices in a different currency to your base currency.
The currency selected in your platform must be the same as the currency selected on the channel extranet. Currency conversion cannot be used if Rate plan currency is enabled.
Reservation E-mail Address
If the Reservation e-mail address setting is included in the channel’s Channel Settings, it means that a reservation notification will be sent from your SiteMinder platform. If you don’t see a Reservation e-mail address setting in Channel Settings, you will set up and receive e-mail notifications from the channel directly.
Enable the connection
Once you have mapped all required room rates to the channel and checked that availability, rates, and restrictions are correct, you need to enable the channel to start sending all supported updates for your channel rates to the channel.
In the channel’s Channel Settings, click on the button ‘Enable the connection’.
Disable the connection
To stop sending inventory updates from your platform to a channel, you can disable the connection. Disabling the connection will not send a stop sell or delete the rates in the channel’s extranet (except for Airbnb).
If you disable the connection:
You will need to manually manage or delete on your rates directly in your channel’s extranet.
You will no longer receive reservations from the channel into your SiteMinder platform.
The risk for overbookings may increase, as your platform won’t be able to update the channel’s inventory.
Disconnect a channel
Before you disconnect a channel, you must first remove the connection and your rooms and rates in the channel’s extranet, and cancel your direct contract with the channel (if applicable).
Once the connection is deactivated, an admin user (or main contact from the property) must send a request to delete this channel from your platform.
Our Support team will confirm the channel’s deletion if everything is correct.
When disconnecting a channel, note:
Removing a channel does not automatically end your contract to that channel. You must delete the channel room rates in their extranet.
Updates for this channel will no longer be sent.
All the mapping and data will be permanently lost.
You won’t be able to view any past reservations from this channel.