This is Article 1 of 4 in the "Rate" Series

1. Rates: Overview
2. Rates: Rate Table Formats
3. Rates: Rate Hierarchy
4. Rates: Initial Rate Setup

Overview

Rates determine the pricing structures, restrictions, and validation criteria for reservations in RMS and any connected channels.

Many configuration options are available for creating all rates, including standalone, linked (Derived), and packaged. Fee structures for rates can be determined per hour, day, night, or guest, with variations to accommodate long stays and additional guests.

The rate set up as the Best Available Rate becomes the foundation rate that can be used for the first Derived Rate or seen on:

• The collapsed view of the Rate Manager.
• The Booking Chart when using the Show Rate Amounts feature.

Derived Rate minimises setup and maintenance by pricing it based on the linked rate and a preset adjustment amount. At least one standalone rate must be set up to create the first link in the chain, even if the remainder of the Derived Rates will be linked to other Derived Rates.

Dynamic Pricing is a feature available on standalone rates to automatically fluctuate values based on preset occupancy and time calculations.

Multiple Best Available Rates (Multi-BAR) is an alternate rate configuration that enables setting up multiple Best Available price points that can be toggled as the active best available rate for a date or date range.

In summary:

• A Standalone Rate is a complete rate built from a Rate Type, Rate Period, Rate Table, and Rate Lookup.
• A Derived Rate starts from a standalone (or another Derived) rate and adjusts it up or down.
• Dynamic Pricing automatically adjusts a standalone rate's values based on occupancy and time rules.
• Multiple Best Available Rates (Multi-BAR) lets you maintain several "Best Available" price points and switch between them; any Derived Rates linked to Multi-BAR follow whichever BAR point is active.
• The Rate Hierarchy defines which rules (restrictions, packages, deposits, etc.) apply when the same type of rule exists on multiple layers of the rate setup.

Standalone Rate Components

A standalone rate comprises four components that determine:

• The rate's name and charge description.
• The availability period.
• The fee structure.

Using a Rate Lookup, these three primary components are connected with a category or area to make the rate available for use in RMS.

A rate will not be available in RMS if there is no Rate Lookup for the category, area, and date viewed.

Many additional rate elements (length of stay restrictions, deposit rules, packages, dynamic pricing, additional guest fees, extra charges, and alternate housekeeping tasks) can be set up on multiple layers of the rate components. The Rate Hierarchy determines which element will apply to a reservation when multiple layers of the same element exist within a single Rate Lookup.

 

Rate Components

Rate Structures

The two rate structures of 'OTA' and 'Direct' determine:

• The fee calculation options available on the Rate Table.
• Which channel connections can the rate be used with?

OTA

The 'OTA' rate structure has limited fee calculation options available on the Rate Table to remain compatible with all available connections in the RMS Channel Manager.

Online Travel Agents broadly only accept per-period rates for a defined value (price per date), which is reflected in the available options on the Rate Table when using the 'OTA' rate structure.

Some available channel connections will also accept an Extended Stay fee structure; this option is also available on a Rate Table set up as the 'OTA' rate structure.
 

Direct

The 'Direct' rate structure is the most flexible for fee structures on the Rate Table and can be used:

• Within RMS (internal reservations, Rate Manager, Quick Quote).
• On the RMS Internet Booking Engine (IBE).
• With a limited number of channel connections that support more complex fee structures.

Each channel explicitly defines which rate formats and structures it supports. To confirm whether a 'Direct' rate can be mapped to a specific channel, refer to that channel's connection information article in the Help Centre (for example, Siteminder HTNG, Booking.com, etc.), which lists the supported rate formats and structures.

A Rate Type and Rate Table can only be connected in a Rate Lookup when they are set up in the same rate structure.

Best Available Rate

At least one standalone rate must be set up and selected as the 'Best Available Rate' in RMS.

The Best Available Rate defines the property's primary rate and can be used for:

• Best available rate.
• Rack rate.
• Lowest available rate.
• Best-unrestricted rate.

The 'Best Available Rate' setting in RMS identifies that rate as the key rate at the property.

The rate set up as the Best Available Rate will display the starting rate for a category on:

• The minimised view of the Rate Manager.
• The Booking Chart.
• Quick Quote.

Multiple Best Available Rates

Multiple Best Available Rates (Multi-BAR) is an alternative rate configuration feature in RMS that allows you to create multiple price points set as the 'Best Available Rate'. These price points can be toggled as the active Best Available Rate for a date or date range to change the starting rate at the property using the preset price points.

Derived Rates linked to Multi-BAR will alter their pricing using the preset adjustment amount and whichever price point is the active Best Available Rate for the date or date range viewed.

Rate Table Naming Conventions

A systematic formula for naming all rate components in RMS will:

• Streamline rate setup by keeping everything neatly grouped.
• Make it easier to find and maintain rates in the future.

Naming conventions are up to you; the most important factor is consistency. Examples:

• YYYY - Period - Rate Type - Category
  • e.g. 2024 - PEAK - BAR - Acacia Cabin
     
• YYYY - Rate Type - Period - Category
  • e.g. 2024 - BAR - PEAK - Acacia Cabin
      
• YYYY - Category - Rate Type - Period
  • e.g. 2024 - Acacia Cabin - BAR - PEAK
     
• YYYY - Property - Period - Rate Type - Category
  • e.g. 2024 - The Lake House - OFF PEAK - S4P3 - Lake Cabin
     
• YYYY - Property - Rate Type - Period - Category
  • e.g. 2024 - The Lake House - RACK - HIGH - Lake Cabin
     
• YYYY - Property - Category - Rate Type - Period
  • e.g. 2024 - The Lake House - Lake Cabin - BAR - PEAK
     

Related Articles

This article is part of the Rates series. Continue reading the other articles in this series for more detail on specific topics:

• Rates: Rate Table Formats — Daily, Extended Stay, Hourly, Nightly, and Per-Guest, with calculation examples.
• Rates: Rate Hierarchy — How RMS determines which rules apply when overlapping rate components exist.
• Rates: Initial Rate Setup — Step-by-step instructions for creating your first standalone rate.