This article will enable you to manage the mapping of your own rooms and rates between Rezlynx, Distribution Hub and Expedia.
⚠️ Important: Prior to completing the steps below you must log into your Expedia extranet and navigate to:
Rooms and Rates
Room types and rate plans
Export CSV file
This will provide a full list of all rates that need to be mapped.
To map Expedia rooms and rates, follow the 6-step process below:
Add mapping conversions in Distribution Hub
Navigate to Mapping, in either of the ways outlined below:
In Rezlynx PMS select Distribution Hub, then under Connections select Mapping.
In Distribution Hub select Channels, then under Connections select Mapping.
Select the correct Property, then select Expedia from the connection menu.
Select the Room Rate tab, then click Refresh.
Note: This will pull the most up-to-date room and rate information from Expedia and store it. This is extremely important, as this is what allows you to choose Expedia rooms and rates from the dropdowns. Additionally, Distribution Hub uses this stored data to send updates to Expedia, so this step must be performed when mapping something new.
Click Add Row.
Select the Rezlynx rate plan to be mapped from the PMS Rate drop-down list.
Note: The rate plan will only show if it has been exposed to Distribution Hub, in Rezlynx under Rate Plans. Any rate plans being mapped to Expedia must NOT exceed more than 28 Max LOS. This setting can be found on the rate plan header in Rezlynx (Nights Per Room from).
Select the Rezlynx room to be mapped from PMS Room drop-down list.
Note: The room type will only show if it is available on the PMS rate plans.
Select the Expedia rate Channel Rate and Channel Room type from the drop-down lists.
Note: You will only see the rates that are associated with the selected Expedia room type.
If this is a Partially Managed rate, then you also need to map the Managed rate plan so that we can push and pull the rates.
Multiple rows can be added at the same time. Once you have added all the conversions you need to, select Save.
Ensure that ‘Default’ PMS codes are defined. This will ensure any reservations on un-mapped room/rates can still enter the system.
Managed rates
Whether a rate plan is managed or not is configuration pulled from Expedia by Guestline, based on the rate plans setup at Expedia. This field is read-only and cannot be altered in Distribution. These include:
Managed - Guestline will update rates and restrictions to this rate plan at Expedia. This usually ends with "A".
Not Managed - Guestline will not update rates and restrictions for this rate plan at Expedia and mapping is purely for reservation delivery only.
Partially Managed - Expedia has the ability to define a rate as manageable, while having that rate or parts of the rate derived from a parent rate, i.e. there are some things we should update, and some things we should not update. When a conversion is shown as partially managed, it means this rate has a rate plan linkage, i.e. this rate is a derived rate. When a conversion shows as partially managed, it means that Roomlynx will send updates for what can be updated, and not send updates for elements that should not be updated.
⚠️ Important: Once Mapping has been completed in Distribution Hub, the following steps must be followed to ensure all rates and availability update successfully from Distribution Hub to the Expedia extranet.
Re-sync from Rezlynx PMS
Navigate to Rezlynx PMS, select System, then within the Tools menu select Re-sync.
Within the Distribution Hub section, change the Nights to 30.
Note: If a longer time frame is needed, please get in touch with the Support Team.
Tick Flex Rates, then tick Restrictions and select the rate(s) you have just mapped.
Note: rate plans will only show in flex rates if they are using a flex table. This step can be skipped for rate plans using a static rate table.
Click Confirm.
⚠️ Important: Re-Sync's should only be performed when a new room and/or rate plan is mapped and for only that Rate Plan.
Check Rates Per Day in Distribution Hub
Navigate to Rates Per Day in either of the ways outlined below:
In Rezlynx PMS select Distribution Hub, then under Rates select Rates Per Day.
In Distribution Hub select Configuration, then under Rates select Rates Per Day.
Select the correct Property, then select Expedia from the Channel filter for rates.
Untick All Rate Plans, and select the rate(s) you mapped in Step 1, and select Display.
Check that the rates per day are showing as expected.
⚠️ Important: Apply Price Variances if required.
Check Restrictions Grid in Distribution Hub
Navigate to Restrictions Grid in either of the ways outlined below:
In Rezlynx PMS select Distribution Hub, then under Restrictions select Restrictions Grid.
In Distribution Hub select Configuration, then under Restrictions select Restrictions Grid.
Select the correct Property, then tick Channel and select Expedia.
Check that the availability and restrictions are showing as expected.
⚠️ Important: Apply Closure by Rate in Distribution Hub if required. Apply Threshold Closure Distribution Hub if required.
Resynchronisation from Distribution Hub
Navigate to Resynchronisation in either of the ways outlined below:
In Rezlynx PMS select Distribution Hub, then under Connections select Resync.
In Distribution Hub then under Connections select Resynchronisation.
Select the correct Property, then tick Channel and select Expedia.
Select today as the From date, and the To date as 365 days in the future.
Tick Inventory, Rates and Restrictions. Highlight the rate(s) you have just mapped.
Click Start Resync.
⚠️ Important: Resynchronisations should only be performed when a new room and/or rate plan is mapped.
Monitoring checks
Navigate to Monitoring in either of the ways outlined below:
In Rezlynx PMS select Distribution Hub, then under Connections select Monitoring.
In Distribution Hub then under Monitoring select Monitoring.
There are 2 areas in which monitoring checks can be completed - which method you use, will be dependent on the setup of your Distribution Hub account.
For a Expedia connection via a dual Distribution setup - Follow Standard Monitoring Checks
For a Expedia connection via a "typical" setup - Follow New Monitoring Checks
Standard monitoring checks
To revert to standard monitoring, you will need to select "Temporarily view Standard Monitoring" from the main monitoring page.
Ensure the interface is updating without red or amber lights on Rates & Availability.
Note: check the ‘Last Active’ timestamp to make sure the updates you have just sent have been sent to Expedia. If this timestamp does not show the current time, then the updates are still processing.
Once the updates have completed, check that Rates, Availability and Restrictions have updated as expected to the Expedia Extranet.
The rooms and rates are now mapped.
New Monitoring Checks
Ensure the interface is updating without red or amber lights on Availability.
Note: check the ‘Last Updated’ timestamp to make sure the updates you have just sent have been sent to Expedia. If this timestamp does not show the current time, then the updates are still processing.
Once the updates have been completed, check that Rates, Availability and Restrictions have been updated as expected to the Expedia Extranet
The rooms and rates are now mapped.
Check the Expedia website for incorrect rates and/or restrictions. Check the first couple of reservations are correct
📌 Note: If rates, availability, and restrictions are showing correctly on Expedia extranet, but not on their website, then please contact Expedia Partner Support or your Expedia Market Manager for assistance.
If, after all checks have been made, you still require assistance, please contact support.