IDeaS provides industry-leading revenue management solutions for businesses of all types and sizes in the global hospitality and travel industries.

Overview

IDeaS transforms operational and performance data into clear, actionable insights so that customers can price, forecast, and report with speed and confidence, improving business performance.

This article will step you through getting ready and setting up the IDeaS integration for your property in RMS.

Interface Options

There are three interface options available between IDeaS and RMS:

• IDeaS G2 interface

  • Sends a daily update from RMS to IDeaS.

  • Includes: Occupancy details, Rate Types, and Market Segments.

  • IDeaS uses this data to provide revenue management recommendations.

  • Pricing decisions are viewed in IDeaS, but rate amounts are not written back to RMS.
     

• IDeaS G3 interface

  • Also sends a daily update from RMS to IDeaS (occupancy, Rate Types, Market Segments).

  • Additionally allows IDeaS to override the Rate Amounts and Person Base for mapped Rate Types based on IDeaS algorithms.

  • IDeaS G3 will update rate amounts using occupancy‑based pricing.

  • Manual Rate Overrides on a reservation in RMS will ignore the rate amount sent from IDeaS (the manual override remains in place).
     

• IDeaS G3 – Rate Manager Premium interface

  • Includes everything from the G3 interface.

  • Adds the option to send up to three additional intra‑day updates to IDeaS (IDeaS Intra‑Day Processing), giving more frequent pricing updates throughout the day.

Planning

Setting up the IDeaS interface in RMS involves:

1. Identifying the revenue management strategy for your property.

2. Segmenting your RMS configuration (Categories, Areas, Market Segments, Rate Types, etc.) so it aligns with that strategy.

3. Activating the interface.

4. Completing the initial data sync to IDeaS and verifying the data.

Key RMS Terms Used in This Article

To support users less familiar with RMS terminology, here are brief explanations of core concepts used throughout this setup:

• Category / Area
  A Category is a type of accommodation or site (e.g. “Deluxe Cabin”, “Powered Site”).
  An Area groups Categories for reporting or management (e.g. “Cabins”, “Sites”).
   

• Market Segment
  A label used to group businesses by demand type (e.g. “Leisure”, “Corporate”, “Group”).
  Market Segments are applied to Categories, Areas, Rate Types, Discounts, Travel Agents, Online Channels, and Reservations and are critical for IDeaS analysis.
   

• Rate Type
  The charge description or charge “package” that defines a pricing structure (e.g. “Rack Rate”, “Advance Purchase”, “Corporate Rate”).
   

• Derived Rate Type
  A Rate Type whose price is calculated from another Rate Type (the “base” rate) by applying a rule (e.g. “10% off BAR”).
   

• BAR (Multi)
  A special RMS Rate Type structure used to manage multiple Best Available Rate (BAR) levels within RMS.
  This Rate Type is not supported for use with IDeaS (see Step 3 – Rate Types for more details).
   

Step 1: Determine IDeaS Requirements & Strategy

Before activating the IDeaS interface, review and update your RMS data so that it is segmented in a way that allows IDeaS to gain detailed insight into your reservation patterns.

IDeaS can only provide accurate pricing decisions if the RMS setup is segmented to match your revenue management strategy.

• Discuss with your IDeaS representative:

  • IDeaS system requirements, and

  • Your property’s goals (e.g. occupancy vs ADR focus, market mix, seasonality).

• Confirm your RMS configuration for:

  • Categories & Areas
    (Accommodation types and groupings you want IDeaS to manage)

  • Market Segments
    (How you classify demand)

  • Rate Types and Derived Rate Types

These elements are mandatory for IDeaS to function effectively with RMS.

Before continuing to Step 2, ensure that:

• The Market Segments for the property have been identified.

• The Rate Types applicable to each Market Segment have been determined.

• The Categories & Areas to be managed by IDeaS have been identified.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Identified the Market Segments

• ✓ Identified the Rate Types for each Market Segments

• ✓ Identified the Categories and Areas to be managed by IDeaS

Step 2: Market Segments

Market Segments in RMS are used to group Categories, Areas, Rate Types, Discounts, Travel Agents, Online Channels, and Reservations into their respective market categories.

IDeaS uses these Market Segments to analyse performance and to make recommendations or rate adjustments.

• IDeaS represents Market Segments from RMS using the Code field on the Market Segment.

• For best results, configure the Market Segments field on the Reservation Screen as Mandatory on Save.

Before continuing, ensure:

• All required Market Segments have been created in RMS.

• Each Market Segment has a Code and Description.

• The Market Segments field on reservations is set as Mandatory on Save.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Set up Market Segments

• ✓ Ensured all Market Segments have a Code & Description

• ✓ Set the Market Segments field as Mandatory on Save

Step 3: Rate Types

Rate Types define your pricing in RMS (e.g. standard rate, corporate rate, package rate). They are a critical link between RMS and IDeaS.

• Assigning a Market Segment to a Rate Type in RMS:

  • Automatically populates that Market Segment on a reservation when the Rate Type is selected.

  • Provides consistent segmentation for IDeaS analysis.

• If the Market Segment is manually changed on the reservation, RMS prioritizes:

  • Market Segment on the Total Tariff Screen

  • Property Rate Rules

  • Rate Type
    when sending data to IDeaS, to keep reporting consistent.

Rate Types used in the past two years that are no longer active should still be updated to include a Code and Market Segment to ensure historical data is correctly interpreted by IDeaS.

Before continuing, ensure:

• All Rate Types and Derived Rate Types used now or in the past 2 years have:

  • A Rate Code

  • A Market Segment

• No Rate Types mapped to IDeaS are using the BAR (Multi structure.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Set up Rate Types

• ✓ Ensured all Rate Types have a Code and Market Segment

• ✓ Confirmed that BAR (Multi is not used on Rate Types mapped to IDeaS

Step 4: Category Codes

Every Category you plan to sync with IDeaS must have a unique Code.

1. In the side menu of RMS, go to Setup > Category/Area.

2. For each accommodation Category you wish to send to IDeaS:

   • Select Edit.

   • Go to Extra Details.

   • Enter a unique Category Code in the Code field.

3. Save your changes.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Added a unique Code to all accommodation Categories that will sync to IDeaS

Step 5: Discounts

Discounts can be applied to a reservation or charge to reduce its cost in RMS.

• IDeaS will use the Market Segment from the selected Rate Type on a reservation for any Discounts, unless the Discount itself has a Market Segment.

• A Market Segment set on a Travel Agent will override both the Discount and Rate Type segments for that reservation.

Before continuing, ensure:

• Discounts used for specific markets have the appropriate Market Segment selected on their Discount setup.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Set up Discounts

• ✓ Selected the Market Segment on market‑specific Discounts

Step 6: Travel Agents

Travel Agents are companies or individuals that arrange travel and tourism services for guests.

• A Market Segment on a Travel Agent overrides the Market Segment set on the Discount or Rate Type for reservations linked to that agent.

Before continuing, ensure:

• Any Travel Agents associated with a specific market have the correct Market Segment selected on their Travel Agent profile.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Set up Travel Agents

• ✓ Selected the Market Segment on market‑specific Travel Agents

Step 7: Online Channels

Online Channels include any Online Travel Agents (OTAs), GDS, or distributors connected via the RMS Channel Manager.

• A Market Segment on an Online Channel will be overridden by any Market Segment set on the Rate Type selected on the reservation.

Before continuing, ensure:

• Any Online Channels associated with a specific market have the correct Market Segment selected in the channel connection information.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Set up Online Channel connections

• ✓ Selected the Market Segment on market‑specific Online Channels

Step 8: Historical Data Correction

IDeaS generally requires 12–24 months of historical data to produce accurate recommendations.

If setup changes were made in Steps 2–7, your historical data may not match your new segmentation. RMS provides data correction algorithms to update historical data without manual adjustments.

Before continuing:

1. Confirm that Steps 2–7 are fully completed.

2. Have the setup verified by the property’s System Administrator and Revenue Management Team.

To update historical Market Segments:

1. In the side menu of RMS, go to Setup > Property Options > Property Information.

2. Select Edit on the property.

3. Navigate to the Rate Manager tab.

4. Select the icon to Update Market Segment.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Completed Steps 2–7

• ✓ Verified setup with the System Administrator and Revenue Management Team

• ✓ Updated Market Segments under Property Information

Step 9: Initial Data Sync to IDeaS

After RMS confirms completion of the historical data correction, the property’s System Administrator can configure IDeaS as the Rate Manager and complete the initial data sync.

• The initial data sync starts within 30 minutes of completing the Rate Manager setup.

• It can take up to 6 hours to send 12–24 months of data.

Before continuing to Step 10, ensure:

• IDeaS has been set up as the property’s Rate Manager in RMS.

• IDeaS has confirmed completion of the initial data sync from RMS.

Set Up IDeaS as the Property Rate Manager

In the side menu of RMS, go to Setup > Property Options > Property Information.

1. Select Edit on the property.
   
    

2. Navigate to the Rate Manager tab.

3. Select the appropriate IDeaS Interface as the Rate Manager Type (G2 or G3).

4. Select the Start Date as the date from which historical data begins in RMS.

5. Enter the Chain Code supplied by IDeaS. 

6. Enter the Hotel Code supplied by IDeaS. 

7. Enter the Username supplied by IDeaS. 

8. Enter the Password supplied by IDeaS.

9. For TAX/GST Inclusive properties, tick Send revenue tax exclusive.

10. (Optional – paid feature) Use Virtual Suites (Interconnecting Area) Reporting if activated by IDeaS.

11. Set Group Extract By to Market Segment.

12. For Group Blocks, select Group Reservations and Allotments to sync both.

    • Selecting Allotments only will sync both allocated and available allotments.

13. For IDeaS G3 – Rate Manager Premium only, select the desired IDeaS Update Schedule Times.

14. Select Save/Exit.
    
     

The initial data sync will commence within 30 minutes of saving and may take up to 6 hours to complete.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Set up IDeaS as the property’s Rate Manager

• ✓ Received confirmation from IDeaS that the initial data sync is complete

Step 10: Data Verification & IDeaS Training

Once IDeaS confirms the initial data sync is complete:

• The property’s System Administrator and Revenue Management Team should log into IDeaS and verify that data and configuration from RMS are correctly reflected.

• The IDeaS team will then train required property users on how to use IDeaS effectively.

Contact IDeaS for more information on their training and verification process.

Before you proceed, have you…

• ✓ Verified the data sync to IDeaS

• ✓ Completed IDeaS training for relevant staff

Step 11: Enable IDeaS Rate Updates

Properties using the IDeaS G3 interface that have verified the data and configuration can now enable real‑time Rate Updates from IDeaS to RMS.

• This step is completed within IDeaS.

• Once enabled, IDeaS will use its pricing algorithms to update the mapped Best Available or Rack Rate Types in RMS.

To complete the IDeaS configuration, you must:

• ✓ Verify data sync to IDeaS

• ✓ Complete IDeaS training

• ✓ Enable Rate Updates in IDeaS