IRM.Net Online Booking Engine - Property Management Software

RDP reservation software is designed to provide last room availability from a variety of channels simultaneously as illustrated by the diagram below. This page describes how to integrate the IRM.Net booking engine with your marketing website.  The IRM can be easily translated into many other languages.  Other helpful IRM.Net links are:
 

Topics covered in this document include

IRM.Net Booking Engine or RDP API Web Services

The least expensive reservation channel is your marketing website, which can be integrated with the RDP database to display rates and availability and complete the reservation process without any commissions to travel agents, GDS, or other third parties.  Vacation rental, timeshare, fractional and private residence clubs (PRC) can also use IRM.Net to view statements, pay bills, and much more.  The methods of integrating your marketing website to the RDP system include:

RDP API Integration with the Marketing Website

Web programmers can integrate the marketing site with the RDP database through an the RDP API which uses Microsoft's Web Services.  For example, the  website programmers can request availability from the API, which is then returned to the marketing website for display to the guest any form desired.  The API can also display rates, room descriptions and more.  The API integration is designed for web programmers.

  RDP API Web Services Integration - Technical Details

IRM.Net Booking Engine Integration with the Marketing Website

IRM.Net is integrated with your marketing website to provide the guest with a consistent look and feel and to maximize your revenue. For a demonstration, please see IRM.Net Demonstrations Integrated with Marketing Websites.  There is a tremendous amount of customization available.

• IRM.Net Booking Engine Integration - Customizing IRM.Net with Themes and Style sheets
• Passing Search Criteria into IRM.Net from the Marketing Web Site

The flow of events when a guest, travel agent, group member or condominium owner makes a reservation on IRM.Net is as follows:

Commission-Free Reservations 24 Hours a Day, 365 Days a Year

All reservations made via the IRM.Net are completely commission free. No commissions to RDP or any other entity.  Think of IRM.Net as a reservations department that works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for free!  With IRM.Net, many guests can check availability simultaneously at any time of day or night.  There are never any busy signals or situations where a call back is required.  RDP has now installed hundreds of IRM.Nets, and almost all of our customers are amazed that they can close their reservations department at night and return in the morning to find new reservations.

Direct Access for Guests, Owners, Travel Agents, Groups & Wholesalers

The IRM.Net in conjunction with the marketing website can be used by guests, owners, travel agents, groups and wholesalers simultaneously to check rates and availability and make reservations.  When the IRM.Net is used to check availability and book reservations, several advantages are seen over hospitality booking websites:

• No commissions or transaction fees (15-25% savings).
• The reservation entered is immediately placed into the RDP database.  There is no manual input required.
• A separate room block is not used, allowing for last room availability.
• There is no risk that the guest will see one of your competitors. 

Please use the links below for more information about direct Internet access using the IRM.Net:

• Vacation Rental or Condo-Hotel Owner Internet Access - Owners enter their own reservations
• Travel Agent Overview
• Travel Agent Reservations Flow
• Group/Wholesaler Overview
• Group Reservations Flow
• Owner's can print/view their revenue statements on-line

Other Internet Booking Websites and the Global Distribution System (GDS)

IRM.Net is designed to work with, not replace, other Internet booking websites, such as Expedia.  At RDP we believe in the following approach to Internet reservations:

1. Sign up for a GDS provider and use RDP's two way interface to capture the first visit to your property.  After the first visit, have the guest use the IRM.Net for subsequent visits so no GDS commissions are paid.
2. Use the IRM.Net integrated with the marketing website to capture as many Internet reservations as possible, as there are no booking fees associated with IRM.Net.  Use RDP's Frequent Guest Program to encourage repeat guests to book directly or RDP E-Mail Marketing.  See Improve your website's visibility
3. Encourage owners to use the IRM.Net for viewing reservations, printing owner statements, view owner calendars, view work orders and more.  See Owner Internet Access

The diagram below shows how GDS powered websites, guests, owners, travel agents, and groups can all make reservations simultaneously on the Internet.

Multiple Reservations on IRM.Net

The IRM.Net Multiple Reservations Module allows guests to reserve more than one room at time. The guest can select the number of rooms to reserve with the ability to book them together using the same contact details and credit card. This feature is easy to enable and configure, and provides a better online booking experience for your guests. Multiple Reservations are available for both group and non-group reservations.

Features for Vacation Rental and Condo-Hotel Owners

The goal of the IRM.Net Owner access is to identify all requests from owners that generate calls to management and move these functions to the Internet. Owner Internet access capabilities include:

Secure, commission-free owner Internet access 24 hours/day, 365 days a year direct to your database

1. Owner and Guest of Owner Internet Reservations
2. Owner calendar can be viewed and printed up to four years in the future
3. View or print all past Owner statements on Internet in Adobe PDF format
4. Owners can review or add work orders for their units including complete detail
5. Owners can request housekeeping and specify requests using the Internet
6. Owner mass e-mail marketing and newsletters
7. Commission free reservations using the Internet Reservation Module (IRM.Net)
8. Sell additional guest services (packages, golf, gift items etc.) with the Guest Itinerary and Concierge module
9. Additional reservation charges are allowed (booking fees, cleaning fees, etc.)
10. All owner Internet access flows automatically to the Trust Accounting System

The Average RDP Customer Generates over $200,000/year in Internet Bookings

The IRM.Net generated $200,000 per year for most of the RDP customers.  The number of reservations made via electronic distribution channels continues to increase.  Currently, 20% of all reservations are made through the Internet and this percentage increases every year.  With 20% or more of reservations via the Internet, imagine the implications of your property not being connected.  A guest may find you and your competitors websites, but if the potential guest cannot book your property on-line, a reservation will be made at your competitor's property.

Automatic E-mail Confirmations in PDF Format

The IRM.Net automatically sends e-mails to all guests, owners, travel agents, and groups who make reservations.  You have complete control over the text, fonts, pictures, and graphics that appear on the confirmation, which can be sent to the guest in Adobe format or other formats. 

• Sample E-Mail Confirmation
• RDP E-Mail Marketing

Improve the Visibility of Your Marketing Website

Since the IRM.Net does not have any associated booking fees, it makes sense to drive as many potential guests as possible to your marketing website to make reservations.  A few possible ways to increase website traffic are presented below:

IRM.Net Security - SSL Certificate (Secure Socket Layer)

Security is an important concern for anyone using the Internet. The IRM.Net is fully PCI compliant.  It uses SSL technology to encrypt the web pages and also internal database encryption for critical data, such as the guest's credit card number.  For more information please see Installation of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Certificate.

Translate the IRM.Net into Other Languages

The IRM.Net can be translated into multiple different languages using a free translator tool from Google or Microsoft. The IRM.Net pages are translated into the Internet guest's native language to help increase online bookings. If a guest can read the website material in their native language, they will remain on site longer and are more likely to book a reservation. The translator can be configured to automatically display the translation toolbar at the top of the page when a guest's browser is not in English. Guests will also have the option to click "Translate" at any time. Please note that the translator is a tool provided by Google or Microsoft, and RDP does not dictate how either work.

The sample below shows the IRM.Net translated into French. Over 50 languages are available for translation.  For technical details or how to implement, see IRM.Net Translate into Other Languages. 

 To see this feature in action, use the IRM.Net demonstration links below.

Search Preferences

The IRM.Net has the ability to allow guests to select certain search criteria or preferences when looking for available rooms. For example, the guest can request a three bedroom non-smoking room with a jacuzzi that is located in Vail Village, and the IRM.Net will return only the rooms that meet their specified criteria. Each preference can also be configured to use greater than or less than operators, such as displaying all units that are greater than three bedrooms. See the Sample Screens below for guest preference examples.

***Special Feature for Campgrounds*** The IRM.Net can be configured to search for availability using an "in" operator, which looks for units that have part or all of a value of a preference that a guest may enter. For example, a specific camp site may have an electrical hookup to accommodate 20 amps, 30 amps and 50 amps. The guests selects the amps applicable to what they are looking such as 30 amps. The IRM.Net will filter camp sites based on if the value of "30" amps is anywhere "in" that preference.  

Advance Purchase and Rate Plan Cutoff Tiers

Advance Purchase Rates can be configured to specify the number of days in advance of the guest's arrival that a discount is applicable. This feature encourages guests to plan ahead and help properties reach early occupancy goals. For example, if a guest books 60 days in advance, the discount is 20%. If booked 30 days in advance, the discount is 10% off. Waiting until 14 days prior to arrival, they may only receive a 5% discount or no discount at all. The IRM.Net automatically hides rates that do not meet the advance date requirements.

Similar to Advance Purchase Rates are Rate Plan Cutoff Tiers, which are configured to turn on and off rates based on occupancy percentage. For example, a 20% discount can be offered to guests if the property is less than 50% occupied. Once 51% occupancy is reached that rate discount is cutoff, but a 10% discount is available instead. Once the property is 80% full, no more discounts are available. This feature can help maximize occupancy and revenue.

Sample Screens

A few sample screens from the Internet Reservation Module are below.   See Additional IRM.Net Sample Screens

Guest Preassign Reservation Screen Fixed Dates While Reviewing Availability and Room Details
Alternative Preassign Screen Allows Flexible Dates While Reviewing Availability
Returning Guest Login Screen