what happens if .... cancel function and underlying inventory Qs

[Sandy VDH]

If there is a 3 day block available and you book 2 of the days, (obviously in ERP) then the 1 day becomes available to be booked as a single day.

If you cancel that original 2 day ressie, does that 3 day block ever migrate back together or does it forever remain separated into a 2 day and a 1 day piece?

I've never noticed? I guess I could go and play but I thought I would ask first?

 

[am1]

It depends. It is a science and an art. I had it down so I could get 1 bedrooms back to together after I upgraded what I needed. Or put larger rooms back together that I found. No idea if it would still be the case now.

 

[Sandi Bo]

I've seen it work both ways :-(

I've intentionally split something so I could get it to upgrade with something else I had
-- I've been able to cancel both pieces again and have them go back to one unsplit block
-- I've cancelled both pieces and they didn't go back together
-- I've done this right at close (cancelled both pieces) and seen them go back together overnight
-- And I've seen them not go back together overnight

 

[Jan M.]

I've seen it work both ways :-(

I've intentionally split something so I could get it to upgrade with something else I had
-- I've been able to cancel both pieces again and have them go back to one unsplit block
-- I've cancelled both pieces and they didn't go back together
-- I've done this right at close (cancelled both pieces) and seen them go back together overnight
-- And I've seen them not go back together overnight

I've had the same thing happen with them going back together and not going back together. I once had reservation I was trying to make that started out as all one reservation, wouldn't come back together no matter what I tried and even a VC tried with no luck. Because our friends were staying for 9 nights it would have been three guest certificates I would have been asking them to pay for and I wasn't going to do that to them so I gave up on the reservation and booked something else. In the meantime I kept my eye on that reservation and maybe a week later it finally showed back up as one reservation. Totally unpredictable.

What I've wondered about the revamped system that is coming is how will the system be looking at the inventory? If I'm looking for 10 days for instance, will it only show me inventory that is available for ten days in the same unit? I'm assuming it also show me what is available in two or more different units but will those stays still be treated as a split reservations needing more than one guest certificate? I know they expect this to help cut down on all those one or two orphan nights and also make inventory management much more efficient so the resorts aren't having to play around so much with the reservations trying to keep people in the same unit for their whole stays and sometimes messing up other reservations in the process. It could and should work. What do those of you who know computer systems think?

 

[Sandy VDH]

I think that at resorts that were traditional fixed weeks converted this will be a harder task to manage, and that will have to be left at the resort level to deal with. I feel their is likely to be more heartburn there. Many fixed week owners want to stay in 'their' unit, but a Wyndham points user has been placed in their unit. Couple this with GMs at certain resorts that have a bit of a God complex and think that they can place anyone anywhere they want regardless of room assignment be it VIP room assignment, fixed week owners, regular Wyndham reservation, and then the lowly RCI inbound exchange. Some of these obviously take inventory management choices out of the hand of the front desk.

At UDI resorts this can go much easier, as all inventory should be available on consecutive days. I actually think VIP room number reservations hamper their ability to manage inventory better, but I do not know what % reservations have 'do not move' on them. The do not have the fixed week owners in the mix which at least removes room constraints and check in day constraints.

I have some resorts I would be OK with just a preference, if they honored it, at others I might want a specific room, but I take 'do not move' situations because I often don't trust the front desk to do their jobs properly.

I also own HGVC and put in Room requests, as you can't book a specific room number. However HGVC does a decent job, at least for me, at honoring my requests. They seem to be better at running it more like a true hotel inventory.

 

[happyhopian]

If there is a 3 day block available and you book 2 of the days, (obviously in ERP) then the 1 day becomes available to be booked as a single day.

If you cancel that original 2 day ressie, does that 3 day block ever migrate back together or does it forever remain separated into a 2 day and a 1 day piece?

I've never noticed? I guess I could go and play but I thought I would ask first?

I've done this a lot. YES is the answer but only so long as it is the same room. Go book a 2 from a 3. Wait 24 hours. Cancel and you can rebook three (of coures assuming no one randomly book the 1 night in your unit). I do it all the time for a myriad of reasons.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Just as a follow up, in my case, (as it turns out my nephew can't use the days I booked so I had to cancel,) the 2 days + 1 day I booked and then canceled ended joining back up as a 3 day in inventory.

So I guess it depends on the mood of the computer and/or the unit number that are underlying the available unit that makes the difference.