This article provides a step-by-step guide for Hotel Link clients to connect their property to an OTA (Online Travel Agency) that integrates using the Hotel Link API.
Following the steps below will help ensure a smooth setup, enabling your property to expand its distribution reach and increase booking opportunities.
About the connection
Hotel Link’s Channel Manager allows you to connect directly to multiple OTAs that are integrated via the Hotel Link API.
Once connected, your property’s Availability, Rates, and Inventory (ARI) will be automatically synchronized between Hotel Link and the OTA, ensuring accurate data and seamless booking operations.
Step-by-step guide
Follow the instructions below to connect your property to an OTA that supports the Hotel Link API.
1. Sign up with the OTA
- Contact the OTA directly to register your property and start their onboarding process.
- The OTA will provide specific requirements and guide you through their initial setup.
2. Activate the OTA in Hotel Link
- Log in to your Hotel Link Extranet.
- Go to the Channel Manager section.
- From the list of available channels, locate the OTA you want to connect to.
- Click Activate to enable the connection.
- Select the rate plans you wish to make available on the OTA, then click Save.
3. Notify the OTA
After activation in Hotel Link, inform the OTA that the connection is now active. This step allows the OTA to start processing the integration on their side.
4. Credential request and mapping
Once activation is confirmed, local Hotel Link partner will request property credentials from the Hotel Link Support team, including:
- Property ID
- Authentication Key
After receiving the credentials, you can log in to the OTA’s extranet to complete property and rate mapping.
Note:
Make sure the OTA has been activated in Hotel Link before this step. This enables automatic data retrieval and synchronization between both systems.
5. Data synchronization
After credentials are provided, the OTA will automatically retrieve the following data from Hotel Link:
- Availability, Rates, and Inventory (ARI)
- Booking restrictions: Stop Sell, Minimum/Maximum nights, CTA/CTD, release period, and extra adult/child conditions.
Data is typically synchronized for up to 720 days in advance.
Note:
- The specific data that is exchanged may vary depending on the OTA connected to Hotel Link.
- Some OTAs may not support all data types listed above.
- For detailed information on what data each OTA retrieves, please refer to the OTA’s Instruction within the Hotel Link Channel Manager.
6. Testing and go-live
The OTA may perform a test booking to verify that the connection works correctly.
Once the test is successfully completed and verified, your property will be ready to receive live bookings from that OTA.
7. Support and troubleshooting
If the OTA encounters errors while retrieving data or if synchronization fails, please ask the OTA to provide the API request and response XML logs, and send them to:
- Your local Hotel Link partner, or
- The Hotel Link Global Support team at support@hotellinksolutions.com
Summary
By following the steps above, your property can be connected to any OTA integrated via the Hotel Link API.
This setup ensures real-time synchronization of rates and availability, helping you manage your online distribution efficiently across multiple platforms.