What is a release period
A release period is the minimum number of days before check-in that a booking needs to be made. Guests must book a certain number of days in advance, for example, at least seven days or one month in advance. You can set a release period from 1 to 180 days. A release period is also known as an "advance purchase" restriction or "minimum advance reservation" restriction.
Release period vs stop sell
Release period: Prevents bookings within X days of arrival. The room remains available for advance bookings outside the release window.
Stop sell: Completely closes specific dates. No bookings are allowed at all for those dates.
Examples of when to use a release period
You have a discounted rate (such as a non-refundable rate or an early-bird discount) that must be booked a certain number of days in advance, for example, at least 30 days before check-in.
You don't accept last-minute reservations. If you do not allow same-day bookings, you could set your release period to 1, or leave it unset and manage your same-day bookings cut-off time directly on the channel's extranet.
You need preparation time for guest arrivals.
For direct booking rates: you can set a same-day cut-off time in the direct booking rate's Direct booking controls.
Important: Check if your channel supports receiving release periods
⚠️ Important: For some channels, release periods cannot be controlled from your platform and must be managed directly in the channel's extranet.
Before setting release periods, check if your channel accepts release period updates from your platform. Contact the channel directly or check their support help centre.
If your channel doesn't support receiving inventory updates for release periods:
You must set and manage release periods directly in the channel's extranet.
Release periods set in your platform will not be sent to that channel.
How to set a release period
If you set a release period (minimum advance reservation restriction) on a rate plan, the restriction will apply to all associated room rates and channel rates (for channels that support receiving release period restrictions.
Go to Rooms and rates > Rate plans.
Find your rate plan and click Edit, or create a new rate plan.
In the Release period field, enter a number from 1–180 days. For example, enter "7" if guests must book at least 7 days in advance.
Click Save.
How to override release periods for specific rates
You can override the release period for individual room rates or channel rates using the lock icon:
Go to Rooms and rates.
Find the specific room rate or channel rate.
Click the lock icon on the Release period field.
Enter the new value to override the rate plan's setting.
Click Save.
How to see release periods in your inventory
You can view which dates are affected by a release period in your inventory grid, but you cannot update or change the release period setting from the inventory grid.
Go to Distribution > Inventory.
Rates within the release period show orange highlighting (similar to a stop sell).
This indicates the rate cannot currently be booked due to the advance booking restriction.
Can I remove the release period for specific dates only?
No, you cannot remove the release period restriction for individual dates. The release period applies to all dates for that rate plan or room rate.
If you need to accept same-day bookings or bookings within your release period:
Option 1: Leave the release period field blank if you want to accept same-day bookings for all dates for that rate plan or room rate.
Option 2: Create a separate room rate without release period restrictions. This gives you flexibility for last-minute bookings:
Create a duplicate room rate.
Leave the release period field blank.
Map this new rate to your channels.
Use this rate for periods when you want to accept last-minute bookings.
Open or close this rate as needed in your inventory.
Example scenario: If your release period is set to "1" but you want to open availability for today, you would need to use a separate room rate that doesn't have the release period restriction.