Automatic Discounts and the new RMS Booking Engine.

Overview

This feature automatically applies eligible Discounts to the RMS Booking Engine, based on rules set in Online Options, so guests don't need to enter a promo code.

RMS Booking Engine Automatic Discounts function enables the automatic application of discounts to reservations made on the RMS Booking Engine when a preset length of stay criteria is met.

The Discounts selected in Online Options will apply to a Reservation at online check-out when the selected Rate Type and Length of Stay criteria are met.

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This article explains:

• What are Automatic Discounts

• How they work with the new RMS Booking Engine

• How they’re calculated (including tiered and multi‑room stays)

• What your guests will see during the booking journey

• How Automatic Discounts and promo codes interact

What are Auto Discounts?

Automatic Discounts are discount rules you configure in Online Options > Discounts that are applied automatically when a booking meets the defined criteria.

Common examples include:

• “Stay 2 nights and save 10%”

• “Stay 5+ nights and save 15%”

• “Stay longer, save more” tiered discounts

Once enabled, guests don’t need to type in a discount or promo code. The RMS Booking Engine checks each booking against your rules and applies the correct discount when eligible.

There is no change to how you set up and manage your discount rules – you continue to configure them in Online Options as you do today. The new RMS Booking Engine simply reads these rules and applies them automatically.

For details on setting up discounts in Online Options, click HERE.

Key benefits

For your guests

• No need to find or enter a code

• Clear messaging that a discount has been applied

• Transparent pricing from cart through to confirmation email

For your property

• Fewer abandoned reservations caused by confusing or missing promo codes

• Discounts are always applied according to your rules

How Automatic Discounts Work

All discount setup remains in Online Options. The new RMS Booking Engine:

1. Retrieves your discount rules.

2. Checks each reservation against those rules.

3. Automatically applies the discount when the guest meets the criteria.

4. Updates prices and discount messaging in real time as rooms/nights are added or removed.

Discount criteria

Your Automatic Discount rules can include:

• Date constraints

  • Reservation must fall within a specific date range (e.g. low season).

• Minimum/maximum nights

  • e.g. minimum 2 nights to receive a discount.

• Eligible rates

  • Discounts can be restricted to specific rate types.

• Other validation rules are configured in Online Options

If a reservation does not meet the configured criteria, no discount is applied or displayed.

How discounts are calculated

Total cart nights

Automatic Discounts are calculated on total cart nights, not just a single room.

Example

Combining rooms to reach the minimum nights required -

• Rule: “Minimum 2 nights”

• Guest adds Room 1 – 1 night

• Guest adds Room 2 – 1 night

• Total cart nights = 2 → the discount applies

If the guest later removes one of the rooms:

• Total cart nights drop to 1

• The discount no longer meets the rule

• The Booking Engine automatically removes the discount and recalculates the cart

Tiered discounts

Auto Discounts support tiered rules based on total cart nights.

Example – tiered discount

• Tier 1: 2+ nights = 10% off

• Tier 2: 5+ nights = 15% off

Scenario:

1. Guest adds Room 1 – 3 nights

   • Total cart nights = 3

   • Tier 1 rule applies (10%).

2. Guest then adds Room 2 – 3 nights

   • Total cart nights = 6

   • Now meets Tier 2 (5+ nights)

   • The discount is upgraded to the Tier 2 rule (15%).

If nights or rooms are removed and the total falls back below a tier threshold, the Booking Engine automatically moves the booking back to the lower tier or removes the discount altogether.

Rates and availability

Automatic Discounts are applied only to the rate types you’ve configured in Online Options.

• If a rate is not eligible for the discount, it will not receive it, even if the total nights match.

• If availability or rates change, recalculations ensure the discount remains correct and valid.

What guests see in the RMS Booking Engine

Automatic Discounts are designed to mirror the behaviour and clarity of promo codes, but without the need for manual entry.

Once a booking meets the discount criteria:

When a room is added to cart

When a guest adds a room that contributes to an eligible Automatic Discount:

• A message appears to confirm that a discount has been applied.

• The cart pricing updates to show the discounted amount.

This ensures guests immediately understand that they’re receiving a special offer.

Booking cart

In the booking cart, guests will see:

• A discount line showing:

  • The discount has been applied

  • The value of the discount (e.g. “Auto Discount – 10% off”)

• Updated totals reflecting the discount.

Guest details page

On the guest page (checkout step), the discount is still visible:

• Cart summary shows the discount line

• Totals remain updated with the discounted amount

• Help icons may display to explain discount or promo behaviour

Confirmation page

On the confirmation page, the guest sees:

• Final booking summary, including any applied Automatic Discounts

• Clear breakdown of nightly charges, discount and total payable

Confirmation email

The confirmation email mirrors what the guest saw on-screen:

• Discount clearly shown

• All totals based on the discounted price

If a discount has been removed during the booking (e.g. they changed dates or removed a room), the confirmation will only display the final valid discount (if any).

Auto Discounts vs Promo Codes

Shared behaviour

Whether a discount is applied:

• Automatically (Automatic Discount), or

• Manually (promo code entered by the guest),

the following rules are the same:

• The same validation rules.

• Pricing is recalculated in real time when rooms or nights change.

• Discounts are displayed in the cart, guest page, confirmation page, and confirmation email.

• If criteria are not met, the discount will not be applied.

Important Rules

Because both Automatic Discounts and promo codes can affect pricing, there are a few key rules:

• A promo code cannot be applied if an Automatic Discount is already applied.

• If the property uses Automatic Discounts, the promo code input may be disabled once a discount is active.

• If guests attempt to use a promo code where an Automatic Discount is applied, a message will explain that the promo can’t be used at the same time.

FAQs

Do I need to change anything in my setup?

No. Automatic Discounts continue to be configured and managed in Online Options. The new RMS Booking Engine reads your existing rules and applies them automatically.

Will my existing discount codes still work?

Yes. Promo codes still behave as they do today. They use the same validation logic as Automatic Discounts. The difference is that guests must enter a promo code, while Automatic Discounts are applied without any input when the booking qualifies.

Can guests see both discounted and non‑discounted rates at search?

The discount is calculated when a room and rate are added to the cart, based on the rate’s eligibility and the total cart nights. This ensures discounts are only shown where they truly apply.

What happens if a guest changes their booking after a discount is applied?

Any time rooms or nights are added or removed:

• The total cart nights are recalculated.

• The Booking Engine checks which tier (if any) the booking meets.

• The discount is updated, upgraded, downgraded or removed accordingly.

All screens (cart, guest page, confirmation, email) will always reflect the current valid discount and pricing.