Rate Plan Patterns and the IRM.Net

Added 9/18/08 SW

Article ID#: KINet0007

In order to optimize the performance of the IRMNet, RDP recommends displaying/using only one IRM rate plan.  Many vacation rental properties charge a different rate depending on the length of stay.  This can be accomplished with a single rate plan by configuring a rate plan pattern.

For example, when a reservation is booked for between 1 to 7 nights, they might be charged $100 a night; however, if the guest books between 8 to 14 nights, they could receive a nightly 10% discount. 

Set up only one rate plan using Rate Plan Patterns rather than having IRM.net show both the Rack Rate and the 10% discount rate.

 Set up All Rate Sets/Plans

Seasons, rate sets, and rate plans to be used on the IRMNet must first be configured.  These rate plans are used within the pattern.

For example, a property charges different rate for a 1 to 7-nights stay, an 8 to 14-nights stay, and a 14 or more nights stay.  The property should create three rate plans and all of the corresponding rate sets for each room types.  It is important to NOT check "Show on the IRM" for any rate plans used within a pattern. See Add Rate Plans and Add Rate Sets for more details. 

Set up Rate Pattern

Here is an example of how to set up a Rate Plan Pattern for a property that allows 1 to 21 nights reservations from the IRMNet. 

For a 1-6 night stay the property charges Rack, for 7-13 the rate is discounted 10% and for stays 14 days or greater the rate is discounted 20%.  The example uses a 1-6D Rate plan that uses the rack rate set, a 7-13 rate plan that uses the 10DC rate set and 14+D rate plan that uses the 20DC rate set.

1. Go to System ->Rates ->Rate Patterns
2. Click Add
3. Fill in Rate Pattern & Description
   
4. Enter the starting nights and ending nights.  If the property allows 1 to 21 night online reservations then the starting night should be 1 and the ending night should be 21.  If the property only allows 7 - 21 night online reservations then the starting night should be 7 and ending night 21.
   
5. Click display - if prompted to save click no
6. Click add rate plan pattern button
7. Select the Room type/number.  Select 'All' if this pattern will apply to all room types and numbers.  All should be selected in most cases since the rate is calculated for the individual room numbers/types based on the rate/rate set initially set up.
8. For # of Nts select 1 since this row will be the pattern for a 1 night stay
9. Night 1 select the 1-6 night rate.  In this example it will be 1-6D rate plan.
10. Click add rate plan pattern
11. Select Room type 'All'
12. For # of Nts select 2 since this row will be the pattern for a 2 night stay.
13. Night 2 select the 1-6 night rate.  In this example it will be 1-6D rate plan
14. Continue till you have a pattern for each of the 6 nights
15. For 7 night stays up to 13 nights use the 7-13 night rate for every night.
16. For the 14 night or greater stay use default for number of nights and enter the 14+D rate for all 21 nights.  The default tells the system that if there is no pattern defined to use the default.  When the default pattern is used, it will repeat itself if the stay length is longer than the maximum nights specified for the default pattern.
17. We you are done the pattern should display as below.

 Add a Control Rate Plan

Create a contorl rate plan that will use the rate plan pattern.

1. Go to System ->Rates ->Rate Plan
2. Click on the Add button
3. Choose the Rate Plan Pattern Radio button and specify a rate plan name and description.
4. Click Save
5. From the Rate Set dropdown, select the rate plan pattern previously created
6. Specify a rate plan sequence number.
7. Check the 'Show on the IRM' checkbox.  If desired, also check the 'Show Only on the IRM' checkbox.
8. If desired, set the minimum and maximum nights.  The rate plan pattern must specify rates for the range of nights indicated by these minimum and maximum nights settings.  A default pattern row can be used to set the rate plan for stay lengths not explicitly configured in the pattern.
9. Click Save

Configure the Rate to display in IRMNet

Set the control rate on the only rate to display in IRMNet.  The control rate plan should be the only one with the 'Show on the IRM' checkbox checked.