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New reservations are easy to enter into Execu/Suite.
There are several ways to get to the reservation screen:
Reservations Screen
The reservation screen is laid out in a logical way, allowing you to enter information easily as you speak to guests. We highly recommend that you use the <tab> or <enter> key to navigate through this screen rather than using your mouse. This way you will be sure not to skip any fields. Skipping a required field will prevent you from saving the reservation until the field is populated. The first section of the reservation screen is the stay information. "Group code: " should be blank unless this guest is part of a group. If the guest is part of a group, enter the group code or use the magnifying-glass look-up icon to look up the group. You also may press ? then Enter on your keyboard. This is quicker than using your mouse to click the icon. The group must already be set up; you cannot set up the group here. "Arrival date: " should be entered DDMMYY such as 051415. You may click the calendar if you prefer to select the date from a calendar. If a group code was entered for this group, the earliest group arrival date will automatically display. You may leave it or change it if this guest is not arriving with the group. The day of the week will display after you have entered the date. "Days:" will be the number of nights. You also may enter the departure date MMDDYY. You also may enter click the calendar to select the departure date. If this guest is part of a group, make sure to enter the correct number of nights for this guest. The day of the week will display after you have entered the date. "No. of rooms:" should be 1. When you have completed this reservation you will have the option to "make another reservation" like this, should you need to do so for additional rooms for this guest. It is cleaner this way. Note: When there is a share-with reservation for this room, the subsequent reservations will default to 0 for "No. of rooms". Do not change it. "Room type:" may be skipped if you prefer to reserve a specific room rather than reserve a room type. The room type will be filled in automatically if you assign a room number. If you wish skip the room number field you need to enter a room type. Each reservation must have a room type or room number. To look up a room type you can click the magnifying-glass icon or type ? then Enter on your keyboard. "Room number:" may be skipped if you do not need to assign a specific room number to this reservation. You may go back into the reservation at a later time to assign the room prior to check-in if you wish. Note: If this reservation is part of a group and you wish to do a one-button group check-in, each reservation for the group MUST have a room number assignment. Each reservation must have a room type or a room number. Using the "Find" button will allow the system to find a room (next available). This is handy to save time. You can click "Lock Room" if you do not want this guest moved to a different room. "Lock Room" will have to be unchecked in order to move the guest.
Customers using Guest Profile: when you press <enter> or <tab> from the Company field, the Guest Profile window will open. See the next section - Guest Profile
Customers not using Guest Profile: skip to Reservation Entry - Continued
Guest Profile
The Guest Profile window will open when you get to the Guest Name field. (Customers who are not using Guest Profile can skip this section.) For most properties, the Profile Entry and Lookup window will open, allowing you to search the database for existing guest profiles. As you enter the guest's name, Execu/Suite will search and start displaying existing profiles. If you see the profile for this guest, click the name with your mouse and then click "Get selected" at the bottom of the profile screen (not shown). If you do not see a profile for the guest, then type the entire name for the guest, such as SMITH, GEORGE and then click "create guest profile" or hit <tab> then <enter>. The Guest Profile window will open. If you know that a profile exists for the guest, search without entering the guest name. There may be spaces in front of the guest name or it may be misspelled. If you still cannot find a profile, print an Activity Log for Name Changes. This is the Guest Profile window. Moving from field to field, it is quicker to press <enter> than to use your mouse. "Profile ID:" is preset by the system and is not changeable. "Company:" identifies the company (01-99) you are in and is not changeable. "Guest Name:" may be up to 30 characters. Common ways to enter guest name are LAST/FIRST or LAST, FIRST. It does not matter but you should be consistent. There is an option in MENUINI.FIL that will allow you to enter first name, last name, and salutation into separate fields. The default is quick entry in which you enter the name in one field. "Guest Address: " Each address line allows up to thirty characters. When you press Enter your cursor will move to the Zip field. If you enter the ZIP or postal code, the city and state/province will populate if in the zip code database. "City/State/Zip: " The city may be up to 30 characters. State allows 2 characters. Zip allows 11 characters. For the city/state to populate, US codes should be five characters such as 32401 and Canadian codes should be six characters and a space such as G1A 1C5. "Country:" Optional. "Guest Email:" A setting in Guest Profile Tools determines whether this is a required field. If you enter a guest email address, Execu/Suite can send confirmation letters and folios via email. "Main/ Business Phone:" "Alternate phone 1/2:" These fields each allow up to 12 characters. You may use any format you wish but be consistent. (Examples: 850.215.4150; 850-215-4150; 8502154150) "Market:" From the drop-down select a market segment to define the type of guest or why they guest is staying at hour hotel. (Examples: corporate, sports, military). These are user-defined in the Hotel Control Files setup. "Source:" From the drop-down select a source of business to record how the guest was referred or heard about your hotel. (Examples: website, Expedia, friend of owner). These are user-defined in the Hotel Control Files setup.
Bottom Left Tabs
The bottom left of the Guest Profile screen contains five tabs. "Hotel Comments" Each field allows up to thirty characters. The comments remain with the profile and will be available for future stays. If you wish to make a comment for this stay only, you may do so in the reservation.
"Guests" allows you to enter additional names and email addresses for this guest without creating new profiles. "Messages" allows you to type messages for guests. When the guest profile is accessed (via the reservation or at check-in), a popup will notify you if there is an undelivered message for the guest. "Traces" allows you to type internal messages for staff. When the guest profile is accessed, a popup will notify you if there is an undelivered message for the guest. You also can print Trace Reports by date range. "Events" allows you to import an Outlook calendar. This feature is rarely used; if you decide to use it you should have a designated calendar to import so that only relevant events are imported. The events are not guest-specific; all profiles will contain the same calendar information, such as a sporting, event, a jazz festival, an art show, etc. The calendar is not automatically updated. If you add new events to the Outlook calendar, you will need to import it again.
Top Right Tabs
The top right of the Guest Profile screen contains five tabs. The first four of these tabs may be renamed to suit your purposes. See Guest Profile Tools. The information in these tabs may be printed by date or date range in Print Guest Preferences. "Guest Information" You may enter additional guest information here. This may contain user-defined fields or a free-form comment area, as determined in Guest Profile Tools. You may use these fields in any way you wish unless specified otherwise by Execu/Tech. This information can be included in Arrival/Departure reports. "Guest Requests (Guest Preferences)" You may enter guest preferences or any information you wish. "Dining Preferences" You may enter guest dining preferences or any information you wish. "Housekeeping" You may enter housekeeping requirements or any information you wish. Note that this information does not print on the Housekeeping Report. You may print a Guest Preferences report. "Reservation History" This shows dining stay history for the guest if you are using Execu/Tech's Dining Reservations module. Otherwise, for hotel reservations and stays, you can go to People/Profile, select the guest's profile, and click "View Guest Stays"
Bottom Right Tabs
The bottom right of the Guest Profile screen contains an area for additional notes. This area also includes buttons for optional additional functions. "Guest Notes" allows you to type additional notes or comments. You may use this area in any way you wish. "Print Info" will include this information. "CC Info" is no longer used. You should correctly validate a guest's credit card when you make a reservation by clicking the "validate card". Note that validations drop off after an internal determined by your merchant services provider and should not be stored for possible future stays. At check-in you should click "authorize card". "Create SOF" allows you to create a special order form for billable services not provided directly by the hotel. Examples include babysitters or floral deliveries. These are rarely used but handy for certain properties. "Print Screen" will take a capture of the profile screen and send it to the printer. "Print Info" will print a "Guest Profile Address Card" that includes contact information and profile notes. Click HERE for a sample. These are rarely used except for certain properties. "Delete" allows you to delete the profile. You should take great care when deciding to delete a profile; it cannot be restored. If you are deleting one of a duplicate profile, you should make sure you have copied any necessary information into the one you are saving. "Save" will save the profile and exit the screen unless you accessed the screen via the People/Profile icon. In that case click "Exit". "Exit" will exit the profile. You will return to the Reservations screen.
Reservation Entry - Continued
Properties using Guest Profile: Your cursor will be at the Comment 1 field when you return to this screen.
Properties not using Guest Profile: Continue entering the reservation information, beginning with the Guest Name field.
Guest Name: may be up to 30 characters. Common ways to enter guest name are LAST/FIRST or LAST, FIRST. It does not matter but you should be consistent. There is an option in MENUINI.FIL that will allow you to enter first name, last name, and salutation into separate fields. The default is quick entry, in which you enter the name in one field. Guest Address: may be up to 30 characters. City: may be up to 30 characters.
State/country: State allows 2 characters. Country: optional. Up to 12 characters.
Postal code: Zip allows 12 characters (a space counts as a character.) US codes should be five characters (such as 32401) and Canadian codes should be six characters and a space (such as G1A 1C5.)
Comment 1: This is where your cursor will be when you return to this screen. The field will be populated with the Guest Profile comment. If you wish to enter separate information here you may do so. Otherwise Enter through the field. Comment 2: The field will be populated with the Guest Profile comment. If you wish to enter separate information here you may do so. Otherwise Enter through the field. Comment 3: The field will be populated with the Guest Profile comment. If you wish to enter separate information here you may do so. Otherwise Enter through the field. Travel agency: If there is a travel agent for this guest, enter the travel agency code or click the look-up box to look the agency up by name. After you select the agency, a popup will ask for the agent within the agency. This is an optional field. Some hotels use travel agency for employee commission tracking.
Guarantee code:
Validate card: Use only if you have integrated credit card processing (Shift4 or Worldpay) Select this if you wish to create a "card on file" token for the guest. You will be able to use this card on file to post the advance deposit after you complete the reservation. This does not post a transaction nor guarantee the card for available funds. Account no.: You only need to use this field for DB (Direct Bill) guarantee codes. Enter the Direct Bill (City Ledger) customer account code. Expiration date: This field will be grayed out and non-editable. Deposit req'd / due date: Your system may be configured to display the amount of deposit required and the date the deposit is due so that you can tell the guest. This is set up in MENUINI.FIL. Market/Source: These fields will be populated if you entered this information in the Guest Profile screen. The market segment is the type of guest (corporate, vacation, military, etc.). The source of business is how the guest heard about your hotel, or the referring agency. Master folio: You only need to enter a folio number if the guest's room and tax charges are to post to a different folio, such as with a group when the group master will pay the hotel for guests' room and tax charges. Tax exempt?: Answer Y if this is a tax-exempt guest. A new little window will open allowing you to select the taxes for exemption. The default is N but if most of your guests are tax-exempt, the default can be changed to Y. Confirm letter?: Answer Y to include this guest in batch printing of confirmation letters. To print only this guest's letter, click the "Print Letter" button that will appear after you save the reservation. To email the confirmation letter, click "send" or type E in this field. If you have more than one email confirmation letter a menu will display, allowing you to select the letter to email. The default can be set to E for this field if you wish to send email confirmation letters automatically. Split folio?: Answer Y if you wish both a primary and secondary folio for this guest at check-in. Room and tax charges will post to the primary folio and incidental charges will post to the secondary folio. Separate credit cards may be preauthorized at check-in. Split folios are common for wholesaler (Expedia, etc.) guests or corporate guests needing separate folios. Maid service?: This field will be required only if "Enhanced housekeeping" is set to Y in the Parameter Record. If required, you will enter a one-character code or look up the codes by clicking the look-up icon.
Additional Options: Before saving the reservation, you can select these additional options:
Notes will allow you to add notes for this stay. These are different than the Guest Profile notes, which remain in the profile. The reservation notes remain with this stay (from reservation to in-house folio to guest history) but will not be saved into the Guest Profile.
More names allows you to add additional guest names for this stay. They do not remain in the Guest Profile, as does "guests" entered into the Guest Profile.
When the Save button highlights: press <enter>, click the Save button, or press Alt+A on your keyboard to save the reservation.
When the reservation is saved, the screen will look the same but now the confirmation number will display both at the top and the bottom of the screen. A new set of buttons will display at the bottom. These are discussed below.
Make another reservation like this?
After you save the reservation "Make another reservation like this?" will display and new buttons will appear. "Make another reservation like this?" allows you to duplicate this reservation. This is handy if you need to reserve multiple rooms, if the guest wants to make reservations for more than one stay, or if you have a group rooming list. Answer Yes if you want to make another reservation like this; answer No if you do not; or select one of the other options such as "Deposit". If you answer Yes to "Make another reservation like this?" a popup will ask, "Is This Reservation For The Same Guest Name?" It is important that you answer this correctly. If you answer Yes, then the same profile will be used for the new reservation. DO NOT change it unless you want to change the profile itself. Changing the profile will change the other reservation. See "Guest Name Changes-Profile ". If you are entering a rooming list, for example, answer No so that you can create profiles for each guest. Do not answer Yes if you are entering Share-with reservations. Click the "Share with" button. "Print screen" will capture the reservation screen and send it to the printer. "Reg card" will print the registration form for this guest. "Deposit" will take you to the Enter Advance Deposit screen. See "Advance Deposits". "Share with" will open a new reservation for another guest sharing the room with this guest. See "Share-withs ". "Print Letter" will send the confirmation letter to the printer. If you have more than one confirmation letter a menu will display, allowing you to select the confirmation letter to print. It is a good idea to print a Reservation Status Report for Reservations Entered by date (today) each day or at end of each shift so that you can verify that the information was printed correctly, a credit card was validated, a deposit was posted, etc. This is especially beneficial for new employees.