Area Availability vs Category Availability

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Area availability represents the physical vacancy of individual Areas whilst Category availability uses the collective inventory in a Category to determine the number of reservations that could be created on the date viewed.

✎ Please Note: RMS is highly configurable. Some Terminology, User Access & Permissions, Images, Labels, and Functions used in these articles may differ from your setup. CLICK HERE to find out more.

The Availability Chart, Rate Manager, Book by Category, and all connected online channels, including the RMS Internet Booking Engine, use category availability. The Booking Chart is a visual representation of area availability based on allocated reservations.

Aligning area availability with category availability when not using Book by Category maximises the availability of individual areas for multi-night reservations and improves occupancy opportunities. Not aligning area availability with category availability can prevent a reservation from being saved due to existing area allocations on current reservations.

The example below demonstrates the difference between area availability and category availability, and how to bring them into alignment.

★ Tip: This example demonstrates the difference between area availability and category availability and how to bring them into alignment.

The category availability for the Acacia Cabin on the 1st - 5th June shows as '1' on the Availability Chart.

RMS Availability Chart showing the Acacia Cabin category with a remaining availability value of 1 displayed for each date from 1st to 5th June

Viewing the individual area availability on the Booking Chart for this category shows that there is no single area available across the date range.

Booking Chart for the Acacia Cabin category showing multiple cabin areas with existing reservations staggered so that no single area is free for the entire 1st to 5th June date range

Moving reservations on the Booking Chart to close gaps and increase individual area availability will ensure that new reservations can be created for multiple dates with an area assigned at the time of reservation creation.

Booking Chart with reservations being dragged and rearranged so gaps between bookings are removed, creating a continuous block of availability in at least one area across 1st to 5th June

The area availability now matches the category availability, maximising occupancy opportunities.

Updated Booking Chart showing at least one Acacia Cabin area completely free from 1st to 5th June so that area availability now matches the category availability of 1

Book by Category

Book by Category enables the creation of a reservation without an assigned area using category availability. Areas can be allocated at any time between initial reservation creation and reservation arrival.

Reservation creation screen using Book by Category in RMS where only the category is selected and the specific area/room field is blank or marked as unassigned, indicating allocation will occur closer to arrival

Area allocation closer to reservation arrival will automatically reduce the occurrence of area availability and category availability being out of sync, as shown in the above example. Book by Category includes allowing Category Overbooking and using Oversell Allotment,s with category availability displayed differently based on the options used.

Quick Reference Guide

Category Availability	Area Availability	Book by Category	Category Overbooking	Oversell Allotments
Maximum Availability	Category availability matches the total physical Area count.	Category availability matches the total physical Area count.	Category availability matches the total physical Area count.	Category availability is the total physical area count plus any oversell allotment value set.
Remaining Availability	Matches the remaining physical Areas. Area allocation may need changing on reservations to make continuous availability in one area.	Remaining Category availability.	Remaining Category availability.	Remaining number of Reservations that can be made in the Category.
'0' Availability	Total number of Reservations matches the physical Area count. or A Stop Sell exists.	Total number of Reservations matches the physical Area count. or A Stop Sell exists.	Total number of Reservations matches the physical Area count. or A Stop Sell exists.	No more Reservations can be made in the Category.
Overbooking	N/A	N/A	Shows Category availability as a negative value for each Reservation beyond the physical capacity.	Included in countdown to '0'.

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Area Availability vs Category Availability

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