Agent Types

There are three general types of Agents, each of which can have multiple channels depending on the online distribution channels you choose to set up. Some Agents are set up by BookingCenter (Master Agents), some are created by you (MyPMS Agents) and some are added automatically after you have signed up for an OTA contract Rate program (Net Rate Agents).

Agent Types (See Agent Types for more details)

• Master Agents: These agents control the availability and rates to your basic channels:  They must have allocations in order to function properly, and only BookingCenter can edit them as they control 'shared' agents such as Expedia, Airbnb, or Booking.com agent allocations.  But the allocation of your rates and availability to these Agents is unique to your own property.
• PMS Agents: These are "special" agents that you have set up in the My Agents area. This Agent is also used to set up Promotional Codes and can be used to create a 'Suppress Agent Rate' process during  Kiosk or Mobile Self Check-in for your guests. When using the 'Suppress Agent Rate', Self Check-in can use a unique eSign document and hide specific rate information when your Guest uses Self Check-in, and this can be used for unique approaches to Self Check-in. For example, 'Booking with Pets' needs a unique 'registration' eSign that specifies pet policies but all other Guests get the standard eSign document; perhaps you use this PMS Agent for 'Booking with Activities' which needs a unique eSign Letter which is a waiver for risk, while other Guests get the standard eSign 'registration' document.  There are numerous such examples.
• Net Rate Agents: These agents will only be visible if you have signed up for a Contract Program with a major OTA. Some of these Agents are what is referred to as 'Suppress Agent Rates', such as Expedia Collect or Booking.com pre-paid reservations.  These Agents, when involved in a booking, create different views by the Guest during Self Check-in and the deposit and cancellation policies that are showed to a Guest when checking in via Kiosk or Mobile Self Check-in.