Channel management for hotels and shortlets.

Start with one inventory model

Separate room types from physical rooms. A room type is the category a guest buys; a room is the unit staff clean, maintain and assign. Each channel listing must map to the correct category and rate plan. For shortlets, check whether a listing represents one entire apartment or several interchangeable units.

Agree which inventory each rate plan can sell and how group blocks affect it. An availability pool controls the inventory offered for sale; it does not create extra rooms. Keep maintenance restrictions and active holds accurate before distributing availability.

Test the full booking path before launch

1. Validate direct bookings first. Set room types, rate plans, date prices and payment policies. Confirm that a direct reservation reduces availability for the correct stay dates.
2. Review each channel mapping. Match property, room type and rate plan. Compare occupancy limits, currency and displayed prices with the channel listing before opening inventory.
3. Run a controlled booking test. Follow the channel's permitted test process. Verify that the reservation imports once, carries the correct dates and room type, and appears in front desk operations.
4. Check changes and cancellations. Confirm how supported updates appear in the reservation and availability records. Record any step that requires staff action.
5. Assign an owner. Name who checks channel health, investigates missing bookings and covers the process outside office hours.

Handle mismatches before accepting more bookings

If a channel shows a room that your property cannot fulfil, first check the stay dates, room mapping, active blocks and reservation state. Review channel health and events to identify delayed or failed updates. Do not assume that a saved change has reached every channel.

If inventory is at risk, restrict sales through the affected channel using the controls available in your setup, and verify the result in its extranet. For a missing import, search by the channel booking reference before recording anything manually; otherwise a later import may create a duplicate. Keep the booking reference, affected dates, observed discrepancy and action taken in the handover for support and the next shift.

Daily distribution checklist

• Reconcile new, changed and cancelled channel bookings with reservations.
• Review unresolved channel events and near-term availability discrepancies.
• Check group block releases and rooms removed from sale.
• Review guest messages where channel inbox access is enabled.
• Hand over unresolved items with an owner and next action.

How this works in Staycore

Staycore's Distribution Hub supports channel connections, rate and availability sync, booking import, and channel health and events. Integration availability depends on your account and property configuration; some connections require implementation support. Confirm the specific channels and supported workflows before launch. OTA contracts and payouts remain with the OTA.

Use the distribution operations guide, pricing and inventory guide and integration availability notes to plan your setup. For the wider booking workflow, see Bookings & Channels.