MinLOS
Minimum Length of Stay is generally used where there is a period of high demand, followed by a period of low demand. For example, it would make sense to request a minimum 3-night stay during your peak/festive season.
How does MinLOS work in ResRequest?
Minimum Length of Stay (MinLOS) will allow you to designate certain days, where a minimum number of nights is required to secure the booking.
The MinLOS rule sets a minimum number of nights that must be booked when it is active. For example, if the rule is set for two nights, any booking falling on a day within the MinLOS period must meet or exceed this minimum stay requirement.
A new menu function has been added to set up MinLOS rules. To access this menu, navigate to Admin > Setup > Rates > MinLOS
A rule is specific to a combination of Rate Period, Agents, Rate Types and Accommodation Types. There are a few things to consider when setting up a MinLOS rule:
- The minimum number of nights
- If allocations apply
- How many days before arrival will the rules lapse
- The days of the week on which the rule applies.
An itinerary line is subject to the MinLOS rule if it meets criteria and it includes any days of the week identified in the rule. Considerations when setting up the rules are:
- If an itinerary departs on the first day of a MinLOS period, the rule does not apply because the guests are not staying overnight on the day when the MinLOS rule is active.
- If the itinerary overlaps a MinLOS period it is subject to the rule. If the itinerary is created within the lapse period, the rule does not apply. For example, if MinLOS applies on Saturday and Sunday, there is a lapse period of 1 day and the itinerary is created on Friday, it will not be subject to the rule. The lapse period is like a “last-minute booking allowance.” It checks how close the booking date is to the guest’s arrival date to decide whether the MinLOS (Minimum Length of Stay) rule applies. If the booking is made very close to the arrival date (within the “lapse days”), the MinLOS rule is ignored, making it easier for last-minute bookings.
To understand how the lapse period works, start by calculating the difference between the guest’s arrival date and the date the booking was created (today). This gives you the number of days between the two. Next, compare this number to the lapse period. If the number of days is less than or equal to the lapse period (for example, 2 days), the MinLOS rule is skipped. However, if the number of days is greater than the lapse period, the MinLOS rule will still apply.
- If an itinerary is subject to more than one MinLOS rule, the rule with the longest length of stay will apply. If the itinerary is a drawdown from an allocation or block, it will be subject to MinLOS rules that have been set to apply to allocations.
When an itinerary line is subject to a MinLOS rule, an alert displays the required minimum stay warning. If you select fewer nights, the booking will not be accepted unless the user has MinLOS override rights.
A new reservation override option provides the facility for users to override MinLOS rules. To access this functionality, navigate to Admin > Setup > User Access. Select the user group you would like to apply the setting to, then click on Reservation Restrictions. To allow the override for Minimum Length of Stay, tick the Minimum Stay box as shown below.
When looking at the Availability Calendar, days that are subject to the MinLOS rule will be indicated by a pink triangle in the top right-hand corner of the affected day on the calendar.
Important note: MinLOS is not yet available via our API or on ResNova, however, this is on the way soon!
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