When can guests make a preference booking?

A preference booking can only be made through your own website, using your own Search & Book.

1. An amenity preference can be selected when multiple objects of the requested type are vacant, and those objects have specific, distinguishing object amenities.

   If multiple objects of the type match the amenity preference, this still leaves you some optimization room in your planboard.

2. An object preference can be selected when a map has been configured, and multiple objects of the requested type are vacant for the requested dates.

   Read more: Booking on the map

   Any object selected on the map already has fixed object amenities. That is why any amenity preferences (1) are cancelled if the guest uses the map to select an object.

If none of your objects have any object-specific amenities that differ from the type-amenities, and you have not configured the map, your guests will not be able to select anything more specific than one of your types during booking.

How are guests charged for preferences?

If preference costs are set up, guests have to pay a fee if they want to make sure their booked object includes a certain amenity which is not otherwise guaranteed for the booked type. Without any preference costs, selecting a specific object or amenity is possible for free.
Read more: Setting up preference costs

• Preference costs for amenities and for objects are set up separately and cannot be charged simultaneously.

• Use preference costs for objects with specific amenities to still charge extra for certain amenities if the guest uses the map to select an object.

Preventing significant price differences

Preference costs for amenities and preference costs for objects with specific amenities serve the same purpose: charging a fee for preferred amenities.

• By creating a similarly priced preference cost for both the amenity itself and for objects with this amenity, you ensure that the premium amenity is paid for, regardless of whether the guest uses the map or merely selects the amenity itself during booking.
  Read more: Setting up preference costs

Use cases

Objects within the type are gradually being upgraded with a new amenity

You want to ensure that you are compensated for guests wanting to use the new amenity, without having to increase the rental price for the whole type, because not all objects of the type have this amenity yet.

• Ensure this amenity is added as an object-specific amenity for the relevant objects.

• Create a preference cost for this specific amenity. If you use a map, also create a similar preference cost for objects with this amenity.

• The preference costs apply to gradually increasing numbers of objects, as you roll out the new amenity.

• When all objects of the type have been upgraded, the relevant amenity should no longer be object-specific, but attached to the type instead. Increase the base rental prices of the type accordingly, because the preference costs will no longer be applied.

Charging extra for objects with a popular location within the park

An object-specific amenity does not need to be a physical amenity. It can also be "Waterfront view", "Direct playground access", or another characteristic that is not shared by all objects within the type.

• Create an amenity that indicates the popular characteristic, and add it to the relevant objects.

• Create an amenity preference cost. If you use a map, also create a similar preference cost for objects with this specific amenity.

Highlighting object-specific amenities as available for free

To make your guests really aware of all the perks that can be included in their booked object, it is possible to create object-specific amenities for selection without creating any applicable preference costs.

• Note that not all objects of the type can have this same amenity, otherwise it should be a USP of the type.

• Other amenities may still have a preference cost attached.

Some objects have a standalone amenity, e.g. an EV charging station

Guests will want to be aware of such an amenity, it may influence the selection of an object even when guests do not need the amenity.

• Setting it up as an object-specific amenity already ensures guests can select it as a preferred amenity if available.

• Creating a preference cost for it helps you charge the fee where it is used, and guests with non-electric vehicles may also prefer to select an object without a charging station, which helps to keep the offer open for guests who do need the amenity.