Restrictions are rules that control when Rate Plans can and cannot be sold.
Restrictions can be set within:
Rezlynx - as discussed in this article. Restrictions set manually via Rezlynx feed to the Distribution Hub and then up to online channels.
Distribution Hub - Restrictions set manually via Distribution Hub cannot be removed by Rezlynx updates, and will also not appear within Rezlynx restrictions. They do feed to online channels.
A rate plan determines the start and end date for when the rate plan is available for sale, and then restrictions can be used to plot specific dates during the rate plans date range when the rate plan will be restricted. For example, it may be necessary to restrict a rate plan on Bank Holidays. Adding restrictions to a rate plan can be done when building a new rate plan or at any time after its creation.
When setting restrictions it is important to think about whether the Restriction needs to feed to your Distribution Hub and affect your online bookings - as this is not the case with all restriction types as shown below:
Restriction Type | Restriction affects Distribution Hub and online bookings? |
Close Outs | Yes |
Minimum Length of Stay | Yes |
Minimum Stay Through | No - this will not feed online |
Closed to Arrivals | Yes |
Closed to Departures | Yes |
Accessing Restrictions
To access Restrictions, follow the steps below:
Navigate to Rezlynx, System, Rates, then Restrictions.
On the left side, the rate plans are organised into Levels, as set within the individual rate plan. Click the Arrow to expand the levels if you wish to see individual rate plans. Or use the Search bar at the top of the left-hand menu to search for a specific rate plan. Click to select specific level or rate plan.
Types of Restrictions
Once you have navigated to restrictions, the left hand menu shows 2 types of restrictions:
Isolated Restrictions: Apply to a single rate level without affecting others.
Cascading Restrictions: Apply to multiple rate levels simultaneously, affecting all levels from the selected point downward in a cascading or waterfall effect.
Setting Close Outs
Close Outs prevent rooms from being booked for specific dates or room types and will show as C for closed or O for open and bookable. Close Outs feed to Distribution Hub and affect online sales.
To set a close out, follow the steps below:
Within Restrictions, select the level or rate plan you wish to apply the restriction to.
Within Close Outs, select Start and End dates for the restriction period, then click Refresh.
🤓 Tip: Select a day either side of the restriction you want to set, just so you can see any other restrictions around the required dates which may already be in place.
Change the Restriction status, this can be done in the following ways:
One by One: Click on the 'O' (Open) next to the desired room type or date to change it to 'C' (Closed). Click again to revert.
By Room Type: Click Show by Room Type, then Refresh. Click on the room type to set all dates to 'O' or 'C'.
By Date: Click on the date at the top to set all room types for that date to 'O' or 'C'.
Pattern Fill: Use this for recurring closures (e.g. every Friday and Saturday). Click Pattern Fill, select the date range, tick the days, set the status to 'O' or 'C", then select Apply and Save changes.
Once you have made the required changes click Apply Change.
Setting Minimum Length of Stay (Min LOS)
New reservations arriving on the date where a Minimum Length of Stay restriction is in place, must meet the minimum number of days on the Minimum Length of Stay restriction in order to be booked.
For example, if you have a Minimum Length of Stay restriction on Saturday for 3 nights, a guest trying to book a new reservation for Saturday only, would not be able to book a reservation, as it does not satisfy the minimum length of stay restriction of 3 nights. If the new reservation were arriving on Saturday for 3 nights, then the reservation would be able to be booked. A guest trying to book a reservation for Friday and Saturday would also be able to book the reservation, as it does not arrive on Saturday and is not subject to the Minimum Length of Stay restriction.
⚠️ Important: If the hotel is using IDeaS to set MinLOS values, whether these are sent to Rezlynx or only Distribution Hub, the hotel should NOT manually apply MinLOS restrictions to these rates in Rezlynx or Distribution Hub. This is because with each new successive upload from IDeaS, any manually applied MinLOS restrictions will be overwritten by what IDeaS sends.
To set a minimum length of stay this can either be done as a restriction, or an override to an existing restriction, following the steps below:
Within Restrictions, select the level or rate plan you wish to apply the restriction to.
Within Minimum Length of Stay section, there are two options available:
Add Restriction:
Click Add.
Select the Start and End dates.
Tick the applicable days.
Enter the minimum number of nights in Value.
Specify room types if needed.
Click Apply.
Click Apply Changes. This feeds to Distribution Hub for online sale.
Override Specific Dates:
Click Add under the Override section.
Choose the date to override.
Enter the new value (e.g., 1 for 1 night).
Specify room types if needed.
Click Apply.
Click Apply Changes. This feeds to Distribution Hub for online sale.
Setting Minimum Stay Through (PMS Only)
If any part of a new reservation touches the Minimum Stay Through restriction dates, it cannot include less than the minimum number of days on the stay restriction in order to be booked.
For example, if a Minimum Stay Through restriction is set up on Saturday for 3 nights, a guest trying to book a reservation for Friday through Saturday would not be able to book a reservation, as it includes fewer than the minimum number of days on the Minimum Stay Through restriction. If a guest wanted to stay Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then he would be able to book the reservation.
This doesn't feed online and is for Rezlynx level or internal use only.
To set a minimum Stay Through this can either be done as a restriction, or an override to an existing restriction, following the steps below:
Within Restrictions, select the level or rate plan you wish to apply the restriction to.
Within Minimum Stay Through section, there are two options available:
Add Restriction:
Click Add.
Select the Start and End dates.
Tick the applicable days.
Enter the minimum number of nights in Value.
Specify room types if needed.
Click Apply.
Click Apply Changes. This doesn't feed online and is for Rezlynx level or internal use only.
Override Specific Dates:
Click Add under the Override section.
Choose the date to override.
Enter the new value (e.g., 1 for 1 night).
Specify room types if needed.
Click Apply.
Click Apply Changes. This doesn't feed online and is for Rezlynx level or internal use only.
Setting Close to Arrivals or Closed to Departures
This restriction allows for specific dates to be closed to either new reservation arrivals or new reservation departures. This will not apply a restriction to reservations already booked within the system but will apply to new reservations made.
To set a Closed to Arrivals or Closed to Departure this can either be done as a restriction, or an override to an existing restriction, following the steps below:
Within Restrictions, select the level or rate plan you wish to apply the restriction to.
Within the required section section, there are two options available:
Add Restriction:
Click Add.
Select the Start and End dates.
Tick the applicable days.
Specify room types if needed.
Click Apply.
Click Apply Changes. This feeds to Distribution Hub for online sale.
Override Specific Dates:
Click Add under the Override section.
Choose the date to override.
Specify room types if needed.
Click Apply.
Click Apply Changes. This feeds to Distribution Hub for online sale.