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Here are listed some answers to the most common questions we receive from our Partners Establishments. You will certainly find some exhaustive and useful topics that might cover your matter. On the contrary, do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service at booking_engine@flashbooking.com
1. What's a Booking Engine? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. What's a Booking Engine?A Booking Engine is a reservation software that can be easily and fully integrated in a hotel website, for example, allowing the hotel website visitors to access availability and rates in real time and to finalize their booking with Credit Card. In this way, the Booking Engine easily turns your website visitors into direct customers that can check your availability and instantly confirm their booking on your site. Most of the times, property owners prefer to abandon the usual 'Request Availability Form' and switch to this modern booking software. In fact, among its advantages, this integration guarantees not only the Customers (that benefit from a secure server and encrypted credit card transactions) but the property owner too (that can check the Credit Card validity directly online). Integrating a Booking Engine in your establishment website maximises your investments as you turn a simple website, into an effective sales tool...at no costs! back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. How much does it cost? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3. Does it need to be installed? No. Flashbooking's Booking Engine does not require any installation on your pc as it lives in our Servers (Application Service Provider) and it is usable from any computer on-line inserting a personal UserName and Password given to the property owner. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. How do I get started?Activating the Booking Engine in your property website has never been easier! From your 'My Profile' page in Flashbooking Back Office you just need to flag the 2 relevant boxes, set the Discount Percentage ( from 0 to max 30% > see FAQ 16), insert a picture of your logo (if possible) and click on Save on the bottom of the page. Once activated, go to the 'My Booking Engine' page to choose one of the 3 links layouts you wish to integrate in your property website. Copy and paste it in your website or send it to your Web Agency that will do it for you in literally 2 minutes! This integration DOES NOT ALTERATE in any way your website layout or graphics. Your website will be immediately ready to receive instantly confirmed online reservations. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5. How can I check if the Booking Engine is active? Having inserted the link to the Booking Engine into your website does not mean the Booking Engine is active. Please check if the status and the discount price are selected on the 'My Profile' page in the Back Office. If not, check the 2 boxes and Save. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6. Is it customizable on my website?The Booking Engine can be customizable in your property website with a logo of your establishment (that you can easily insert in 'My Profile' page), with your property address, your Minimum Stay conditions and Cancellation Policy. The application can be easily integrated into current websites without impacting on existing design, graphics or functionality. You can also choose among 3 different integration layouts: a. a simple link/button (i.e. 'Book online') that leads to another page b. a link/button to a new window c. a booking panel integrated on the same page (> suggested option in Home Page) back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7. How many languages is it configured for?The Booking Engine, just like Flashbooking.com, is a unique product that allows your website visitors to process a booking choosing among 10 languages. The browser automatically detects the country of origin of your customer and opens the page in the relevant language. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
8. How do my customers book online?Just like any Flashbooking user, your website visitors check your room availability and prices, insert their personal details, arrival information and credit card. Once the system has verified that all inserted data are correct, it processes the bank transaction and confirms the online booking. It is not possible for the property owner to cancel the reservation once this is confirmed if not for exceptional reasons. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
9. Is it possible to make advanced or multiple bookings?
With the new configurations now available in Flashbooking.com your direct visitor can book your rooms/beds with no limits in terms of type, number or dates and in just one transaction choosing between a simple or advanced booking system. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10. Is it possible to cancel a booking?As it is NOT a request of availability, but an instantly confirmed online booking, the property owner CANNOT cancel a booking if not in very exceptional cases. On the other hand, your customer is allow to cancel his/her reservation automatically online. The system verifies that the cancellation is done within the cancellation policy terms you published online through the back Office. Your customer is informed about the penalty charged on the credit card (i.e. for the first night). The credit card details are stored on your back office under 'My Reservations' in a public way ( last 4 numbers). On your request, the system will send you the remaining numbers, via encrypted way. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11. What are the booking payment methods?Your customer can pay on-line exclusively by credit card. At the moment Visa, Amex, Mastercard, JCB are accepted. You can specify the way you prefer to be paid once the customer arrives. ( cash, credit card, travel cheque, etc..) back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12. Can I check the bookings origin? Through your Flashbooking Back Office, under 'My Reservations', you can easily check the booking details, included the website where they were confirmed. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13. Can I access the Credit Card details? The credit card details of your customers ( those one of your direct channel and of Flashbooking.com), are archived in your Back Office under the 'My Reservations' page. The last 4 numbers are public whilst the others can be requested to the system that will send them to you automatically. You will only have to match the 2 parts. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14. Is there a maximum number of rooms/beds to sell? No, there's no limits. It is possible to set all categories and number of rooms you wish to sell online. You have total control over rates and availability 24/7 from your Back Office and can decide what to sell and when or close dates. Day-to-day functions, those most commonly used, are accessed from just one control panel. Availability management, room categories and prices have been grouped within a single panel, with all relevant information available at a click. Any restrictions applying to tariffs, rooms or availability can be handled without ever leaving this panel. Also, with an 'advanced booking' options, your customers can book the number of rooms they need, in different dates and for up to 15 days in a row in just one transaction. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
15. How do I set the prices?A strong point of the Booking Engine concerns the time saving. In fact, your availability updating ( both in your direct channel and in Flashbooking's Network) is done with just a click through the Back Office. You can set prices per room ( Private rooms) or per person ( only in Dormitories) and will be published online on the booking process. Furthermore, you can set your 'last minute' offers and differentiate the final prices on your property website and in Flashbooking's Network by setting the 'Discount Percentage' in 'My Profile' page. (see FAQ 16) back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
16. What is the 'Discount Percentage'?If you wish to differentiate the final selling prices of your rooms in your direct channel ( your property website) from the ones published in your indirect channel ( Flashbooking's Network), you have to set a discount percentage. This function encourages your direct visitors to book through your website as prices are discounted and cheaper than in Flashbooking.com. You can set/modify the 'Discount Percentage' on a 0-30% range through the 'My Profile' page in your Flashbooking Back Office. It will apply to all room rates on your direct channel. Say you wish to stuck on a parity-rate option between the 2 websites, you need to set the discount percentage on 0%. If you prefer to offer your direct visitors a cheaper rate than the one they would find in Flahsbooking.com, you need to set a discount percentage. (1-30%) back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
17. Can I manage 'Last Minute' offers? Of course. On Step 2 (Set Prices) you find the relevant option that allows you to create a last minute offer according to a range of dates for a specific room. The last minute price you set, will be published online together with the old erased price. Use this Step to set your 'last minute price' for the long period; for limited offers, use Step 4 ( Manage Availability). back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18. How can I subscribe in Flashbooking Network? Joining Flashbooking Network is easy and free! Please visit www.flashbooking.com and click on 'Add your property', fill in the form with care and sign the online contract. Within 72 hours our team will check your subscription, activate your microsite and send you a welcome email with your unique login details. From that moment on, you can access your Back Office and receive online confirmed bookings either from Flashbooking.com either from your property website ( by activating the relevant Booking Engine option). back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
19. What are the immediate advantages of the Booking Engine?There are many reasons why our Partners integrate the Flashbooking free Booking Engine in their property website! Among the most relevant there are:
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20. Does the free booking Engine service expire?No, the Booking Engine is such an useful tool that a property owner has the interest to keep alive! However, this service is accessible as long as you maintain the contract with Flashbooking.com. Once you withdraw from the contract, your Booking Engine will be deactivated. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
21. How can I increase my website visitors?There are many factors that can optimize your selling results. To promote your establishment is important that your website is informative, appealing and easy to navigate. You can boost your website visitors with some specific actions that will make it more visible to the search engines. Your website turns into a real selling tool and not just a window. For these and other services, you can visit www.primaposizione.com and get a free estimate. back to the top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
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