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Working With HTML to Customize the Booking Engine

The BookingCenter Central Reservation System (CRS) provides the ability for webmasters and developers to make specific use of many functions if they are willing to understand the underlying coding technique.

If you need greater control than what is offered in the examples below, please see our interface document that enables even greater control of the Booking process. Click here for an HTTP and XML (including SOAP service) specification intended for developers and webmasters to replace our Booking Engine layouts with their own custom forms.

Here are a few examples of common uses of basic HTML


Quick Reservation in place of an availability 'calendar'. In this example, a simple JavaScript utility script provides 'today's date' and the user chooses their arrival date and number of nights.


Use Coupon Codes to deliver specific rates to a 'verified' users. We have two ways to accomplish this: NOTE: The URL you use will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. See Booking Engine | Custom URL Links

  1. You make Discounts available to all users through your Booking Engine so they can enter a Discount/Coupon Code. This is built into BookingCenter with speciifc instructions at: https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/486
  2. You build code and disply Coupons on specific web pages (ie, not all Booking Engine requests need know you have a Coupon option). In this example, JavaScript sends a unique URL to each code validated, and an error if the correct code is not provided *note: use code: "jdav" ('base' rate) , "cdil"(-10% discount rate) , "tisb"(20% 'loaded' rate) in the 'Coupon' box and watch how rates vary when you make an entry. The 'Agent Allocation' feature in BookingCenter allows you to deliver unique combinations of Rates, Packages or Rooms to each URL.
    1. if($promo == "jdav"){?><script language="javascript">window.location="http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO"</script><?}
    2. if($promo == "cdil"){?><script language="javascript">window.location="http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&agent=BCM"</script><?}


    3. if($promo == "tisb"){?><script language="javascript">window.location="http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&agent=WR"</script><?}


Display Package Details with Amenities and Photographs. Display the details of each Package. In this example, it's a "Room and Dinner for Two Package" (rate: MYPMSDORD) available any day of the week. NOTE: The URL you use will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. See Booking Engine | Custom URL Links

http://requests.bookingcenter.com/display_rate.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&RATE_PKEY=MYPMSDORD


Specific Room Details Example, this URL opens to a specific Room Type, a King Room. Or, if you prefer your own 'Room Description' page, there is an option to show a custom web page in place of the BookingCenter-generated room description page. NOTE: The URL you use will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. See Booking Engine | Custom URL Links

http://requests.bookingcenter.com/display_room.phtml?port=DEMO&site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING


Date Management and Duration Example, this URL requires the guest to book the Double Room Type for 3 nights.  The calendar opens at a specific date - 10 MAR 2020. NOTE: The URL you use will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. See Booking Engine | Custom URL Links

http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?port=DEMO&site=TAHDON&room_type=H&arrival_day=10&arrival_month=03&arrival_year=2020&dur=3

This condition locks the duration (3 days) for an enquiry for the Type=Home so it can not be changed by the shopper.


Source and Agent links to allocate rooms and rates. These links provide detailed info on using Source Tracking in your online marketing and working directly with Agents.


Using Google Analytics 'Tracking Code' to manage your web referrals and 'ROI' from marketing campaigns. Click here for details.


If you need individual help, please consider the appropriate Support plan and we will help you in any way possible. We also provide a detailed document that enables even greater control of the Booking process. Click here for an HTTP and XML (including SOAP service) specification intended for developers and webmasters to replace our Booking Engine layouts with their own custom forms.

The BookingCenter Booking Engine can be used to deliver selected Rates and Availability  to a guest, agent, group, etc. by creating unique URL or link. When this URL is opened, it will display your Booking Engine with the selected allocation of rates and availability. For example, if you only want to make the KING Room Type available to a particular guest, agent, group, etc. You would insert the Room Type ID in the URL as follows: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING


  1. Promo Code: Promo codes are used to access a "channel" with a unique set of room types and rates. Use Promo codes for specials, discounts, negotiated rates, etc. I.e. RETURN
  2. Agent: Create an Agent and set up a "channel" with a unique set of room types and rates only available to that agent.
  3. Room Type: Insert a Room Type ID into the URL and availability will only display for the selected Room Type. 
  4. Source:
  5. Guest Type:
  6. Date Management and Duration: Example, this URL requires the guest to book the Double Room Type for 3 nights. The calendar opens at a specific date: 10-MAR-2020 thru 10-MAR-2020 for only the Double Room Type . 
NOTE: If you need greater control than what is offered in the examples below, please see our interface document that enables even greater control of the Booking process. Click here for an HTTP and XML (including SOAP service) specification intended for developers and webmasters to replace our Booking Engine layouts with their own custom forms.


How to create a Custom URL with a specific parameter to send to guests or agents.

The Custom URL you create must start with the correct URL for the Booking Engine Template you are using, contain your Site ID (exactly as shown in the setup area of MyPMS) and then the specific Parameter ID and Value for the rate and availability search you want to display. This example is using Booking Engine Template 1 (option 1), the MYPMS Demo Site and an agent parameter called "ABCTRAVEL". Use this model to create your custom URL by inserting your site specific values.


Step 1: Select the Correct Booking Engine URL

Step 1: The specific URL (link) you create using the Promo Code will depend on the Booking Engine Template you are using. For example, if you are using Booking Engine 1, then the URL must start with the correct address of the Booking Engine Template you are using. There are six Booking Engine Templates available as listed below. Note: The MyPMS Demo Site with Site ID=MYPMSDO is used as the site for these examples.

Booking Engine Template URL Link. Each Booking Engine Template has a unique URL as follows:

Booking Engine 1: Multi Room Type Bookings/Multiple Rate Plans and Packages

  • Option 1: Hotel Description https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO
  • Option 2: Availability Calendar https://book.bookingcenter.com/04/?site=MYPMSDO

Booking Engine 2: Single Room Type Bookings /One Rate Plan

  • Option 1: Hotel Description https://book.bookingcenter.com/01/?site=MYPMSDO
  • Option 2: Availability Calendar https://book.bookingcenter.com/03/?site=MYPMSDO

Booking Engine 3: “Legacy” – Lists Room Types and Rates Individually

  • URL (link):http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO

Step 2: Add Parameter ID and Value

Then, you can add the selected Parameter ID and identifier. For example, https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&agent=ABCTRAVEL

Custom Parameter ID and Values:

  • Promo Code: Once the Promo Codes are created in MyPMS, you can then allocate the Room Types/Rate Plans to the Promo Code. Follow these steps to Set up a Promo Code and Allocate Room Types and Rates to Promo Code (Agent)
    • &room_type=<Promo Code ID>
    • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 1: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&ragent=RETURN
  • Agent: Once the Agent is created in MyPMS, you can then allocate the Room Types/Rate Plans to the Agent. Follow these steps to Set up Agent URL Links and Allocate Room Types and Rates to Promo Code (Agent)
    • &room_type=<Promo Code ID>
    • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 1: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&agent=ABCTRAVEL
  • Room Type: Use the Room Type ID exactly as shown in Setup Room Types
    • &room_type=<Room Type ID>
    • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 2: https://book.bookingcenter.com/04/?site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING
  • Source:
    • &source=<Source ID>
    • For example, using Booking Engine 1, option 2:: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&source=GROUP
  • Guest Type:
    • &guest_type=<Guest Type ID>
    • https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&guest_type=CORP
  • Date Management and Duration. This parameter sets a date range criteria and "locks" the duration for an enquiry for the Type=Home so it can not be changed by the guest.

    • &arrival_day=<Day>&arrival_month=<Month>&arrival_year=<Year>&dur=<Length of Stay>
    • For Example, using Booking Engine 3: Legacy, this URL requires the guest to book the Double Room Type for 3 nights.  The calendar opens at a specific date - 10 MAR 2020. http://requests.bookingcenter.com/enquiry.phtml?site=MYPMSDO&arrival_day=10&arrival_month=03&arrival_year=2020&dur=3

  • Combination: You can also combine parameters to create a unique URL. This example combines Room Type, Source and Guest Type: https://book.bookingcenter.com/02/?site=MYPMSDO&room_type=KING&source=WALK&guest_type=CORP




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