Managing inventory updates
💡 Two-way PMS/RMS integration: If you have a PMS/RMS/CRS integration that sends inventory updates, manage inventory updates directly in your PMS/RMS/CRS. Any manual updates will be overwritten when your connected system sends its next update, and these manual changes will not sync back to your PMS/RMS/CRS .
💡 One-way integration: If your PMS/RMS/CRS only receives reservations, or does not send certain inventory types - rates, availability, or restrictions, then manage the inventory in SiteMinder.
How inventory flows between your PMS/RMS/CRS and SiteMinder
When you make rate, availability, or restriction updates in your connected PMS/RMS/CRS (property management system, revenue management system, and central reservation system) that supports sending inventory updates:
Your PMS/RMS/CRS sends these updates to your SiteMinder platform
SiteMinder receives the updates and applies them to your inventory grid
SiteMinder then pushes these updates to all your connected channels (as long as the channel supports receiving that specific type of update)
⚠️ This syncing only works in one direction - from your PMS/RMS/CRS to SiteMinder to channels. Manual inventory updates made in your SiteMinder platform will not sync back to your PMS/RMS/CRS. Any manual updates made in your SiteMinder platform will be overwritten by the inventory values your PMS syncs.
Map all room rates to your connected channel(s) and PMS/RMS/CRS
Map all your room rates in your platform to the corresponding room rate in your connected PMS, RMS, or CRS. This will ensure your inventory grid reflects accurate availability and rates, and ensure any new reservations made via your connected channels are sent directly into your connected systems, reducing the likelihood of overbookings or missed reservations.
Map all your room rates in your platform to the corresponding room rate in your connected channel(s). If a channel is connected and enabled, but a channel rate is not mapped in your platform, reservations for that unmapped room rate will still be able to be made, but:
Your platform will not be able to locate the correct room type and room rate.
The availability will not be modified automatically.
You will be notified to modify the availability manually.
⚠️ If you have unmapped rates:
Availability, rate, and restriction updates made in your connected PMS, RMS, or CRS will not be sent to your SiteMinder platform or to your connected channel(s), and vice versa.
If an unmapped rate is booked on a connected channel, the reservation will not be sent through to your connected PMS, RMS, or CRS (if applicable).
To review and map any unmapped rates, go to Distribution > Connectivities > Room and Rate Mapping tab > Unmapped.
To map room rates to your PMS/RMS/CRS: Distribution > Connectivities
To map room rates to channels: Distribution > Channels
If a channel does not support certain inventory data (such as CTA and CTD restrictions), you may be able to set up and manage these inventory updates directly in the channel's extranet.
Ensure a like-for-like room rate configuration
Make sure your rooms and rate setup is the same across your platform, channels, and connected PMS, RMS, or CRS. Each room rate must have a corresponding room rate to map to.
The names of room rates in your SiteMinder platform, channels, and connected systems may vary. For example, a "Double room: standard" room rate in your platform may be called "Double room: room only" in your PMS, which is fine as long as they have the same configuration and are corresponding. Contact the channel's support team if you need help checking the configuration matches.
⚠️ Not having a like-for-like configuration can cause cross-mapping issues that lead to overbookings.
Understanding room codes and rate codes:
Room and rate codes must match exactly between your PMS/RMS/CRS and SiteMinder platform (including spaces and capitalisation).
Room code: The identifier your PMS uses for each room type (for example, "STD" for Standard, "DBL" for Double).
Rate code: The identifier your PMS uses for each rate plan (for example, "BAR" for Best Available Rate, "ADV" for Advance Purchase).
💡 SiteMinder may not receive complete inclusions/meal plan information from the channel. If a reservation shows breakfast included on the channel but not in your SiteMinder or PMS system, verify your room rate mapping to your channels and PMS are correct. If mappings are correct, contact the channel to confirm any inclusions with the rate plan.
How reservations are delivered
When you receive a reservation from a connected channel, if all room rates are mapped to your connected systems (your PMS/RMS/CRS and your channels), your SiteMinder platform will automatically:
Decrease the availability and send the updated availability to your connected channels.
Send the reservation and availability update to your connected PMS/RMS/CRS.
⚠️ For successful reservation delivery from your channels to your platform and PMS/RMS/CRS, room rates must be mapped to all systems, channels must be enabled, and the channel rate's Start updating channel setting must be Yes.
Modify or cancel reservations directly on the channel
Always modify or cancel channel reservations directly through the channel. Modifications and cancellations made via channels are sent to your SiteMinder platform and your PMS, CRS, or RMS. Modifying or cancelling directly through the channel also ensures the correct taxes, commissions, and fees are applied.
⚠️ If you modify or cancel a channel reservation on your PMS, CRS, or RMS, the changes won't be reflected on your SiteMinder platform or the channel.
Create walk-in reservations
⚠️ Add walk-in reservations to your PMS, CRS, or RMS promptly to avoid any risk of overbookings. How you handle them depends on your setup:
If you have an integrated PMS, CRS, or RMS: Create walk-in reservations in your PMS, CRS, or RMS. The inventory update will be sent to your SiteMinder platform automatically.
If you don't have a PMS, CRS, RMS, or booking engine: Update the inventory manually in your SiteMinder platform to help prevent an overbooking.