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How to block last-minute bookings

Learn how to block last-minute bookings on your booking engine by setting time limits for reservations.

Lauren Allard avatar
Written by Lauren Allard
Updated over a month ago

Overview

This article guides you through the process of blocking new bookings after a certain time of day using the booking engine. This feature is useful for properties looking to manage last-minute reservations or prevent new bookings near check-in times. By setting a specific time limit, you can ensure your team's preparedness and maintain operational efficiency.


Step-by-step instructions

  1. Access Booking Engine Settings

    • Navigate to the Booking Engine in the sidebar of the extranet.

    • Click on Settings in the submenu and go to the Options section.

  2. Configure booking time limits

    • Locate the "Limit new bookings" section.

    • Click "Yes" to activate the feature.

    • Enter "0" in the first field to set the limit for the same day.

    • Enter your desired cutoff time for bookings in the second field indicating hours and minutes. For example, enter "17:00" for 5 p.m.

  3. Customise the message for guests

    • Add a customised message that will be displayed on your website informing guests about the booking restrictions.

    • Include any additional contact information if guests can book by phone.

  4. Save your settings

    • Ensure all changes are correct.

    • Click Save at the bottom right of the page.

Note

This setting applies to all accommodations within the booking engine and cannot be adjusted for individual accommodations.

Important

The feature applies solely to the booking engine. For connected OTAs, contact support to apply similar settings.


FAQs

Can I block bookings for individual rooms?

No, the setting applies to all accommodations within the booking engine.

Will this setting automatically apply to connected OTAs?

No, for OTA integration, please contact support.

How can I manage last-minute bookings?

You can block instant bookings and include your contact number in the customised message for manual reservations.

Can I set different time limits for different days?

Only a single daily cutoff time can be set for all days. Adjust the setting as needed.

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