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New Create Rooms and Change Rooms features in v4.0

We are proud to announce the release of version 4.0 of the Instant World Booking XML API.  This release includes new Create Rooms, Change Rooms, and Change Rates features.

1. Create Room Types (API Function: createrooms)

A new function for creating room types will aid in the synchronization between IWB and integrating systems. Previously, room type creation was only achieved by setting new calendar allocations, which sometimes led to creation of duplicate rooms. The new function ensures better control over room types.

2. Change Room Types (API Function: changerooms)

A new function for modifying room type features has been added, allowing simple updates of room characteristics. Previously, changes could only be achieved through adding a new room type, and replacing the old one. This new function greatly simplifies the administration of room types and related characteristics.

3. Rate Changes

Global rate changes (search and replace) can now also be achieved through a new feature included within the above function (2) Change Room Types.

While the new features provide significant added functionality and convenience, the new version is fully compatible with previous versions. So, existing integrations will continue to work as normal.

For more information about these enhanced features, please see section 3.1 and 3.2 of the new guide:

Instant World Booking API XML Manual

As a reminder, the Instant World Booking XML API also includes a full White Label Affiliate Program API (see section 2.0).  This API enables users to implement a complete white-label online booking solution on their website, suitable for booking hotels, hostels, and B&B inns.


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New Get Bookings and Calendar Allocation features in v3.2

We are proud to announce the release of version 3.2 of the Instant World Booking XML API.  This release includes new Get Bookings (Reservations) features and Calendar Allocation features.

Previously, the “getbookings” function allowed limited ability to request reservations for specific dates.  Now, since version 3.1 (released April 3, 2011), new selection criteria have been added to query reservations by 1) booking date, 2) modification date, or 3) guest arrival date.  See section 3.3 of the API Guide.

Additionally, several important new features have been added to the “setallocation” and “getroomtypes” functions.

  1. Promotional discounts for advance booking – a discount to be applied to the base rate if a reservation is booked early (i.e., at least the specified “days” prior to arrival date).
  2. Promotional discounts for lengthy stays – a discount to be applied to the base rate if a reservation is longer than the specified minimum # days.
  3. Enhanced Minimum Stay function – The minimum stay functionality now allows the user to apply specific stay limits for various date ranges.  Because of these enhancements the former <minstay>, <minstay_weekend>, and <maxstay> elements have been deprecated, and will no longer be available after September 30, 2011.  Version 3.2 introduces the new <minstays> element, which replaces the former functionality.

For more information about these enhanced features, please see section 3.1.1 and 3.2.1.c of the new guide.

Instant World Booking API XML Manual

As a reminder, the Instant World Booking XML API also includes a full White Label Affiliate Program API (see section 2.0).  This API enables users to implement a complete white-label online booking solution on their website, suitable for booking hotels, hostels, and B&B inns.



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New XML Guide for Affiliate Programs

New for 2011, we are proud to announce the release of version 3.0 of Instant World Booking’s XML API Guide.  This is a major release, now featuring full XML support for white-label affiliate programs.

Instant World Booking’s affiliate programs are suitable for any website where travel and accommodation content is desired, including the ability to host a full-fledged online booking service. For example, members of our affiliate program can access almost unlimited data pertaining to accommodations, their amenities, and availability. Developers can therefore integrate this data into their websites to completely control their users’ experience. In other words, a white-label travel information and booking service can be achieved using the XML API.

See Affiliate XML API Guide

Our XML API continues to support full 2-way automatic update of availability calendars.  This functionality is suitable for individual property managers, accommodation chains, consolidators, channel managers, front desk systems, property management systems (PMS), and even other booking engines. In fact, anyone who is tired of managing their calendar manually, or updating multiple booking systems, can use our XML API to achieve perfect synchronization automatically.


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OldTownApartments.com now integrated with Instant World Booking

Instant World Booking is pleased to announce that OldTownApartments.com now interfaces with IWB.  This means that you can manage your calendar directly on OldTownApartments.com’s system and feed your calendar availability automatically to Instant World Booking

OldTownApartments.com offers furnished and unfurnished apartments in downtown and midtown Tallahassee, Florida.  They offer attractive, quiet, comfortable apartments in Tallahassee’s most beautiful historic neighborhoods.

Learn more about http://www.OldTownApartments.com

See more PMS systems that integrate with Instant World Booking


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Get Bookings (Reservations) XML Module Added in v2.1

Version 2.1 of the Instant Word Booking XML API has been released today.  A new feature in this release is the ability to retrieve bookings (reservations) in XML format.  This capability now completes Instant World Booking’s upgrade to a full-featured Calendar and Bookings XML interface.  Capabilities of the interface now include the ability to:

  • Get Calendar Availability/Allocations
  • Set Calendar Availability/Allocations
  • Retrieve Bookings

To get started with our XML API, begin by checking out our manual, or send it to your developer:

Instant World Booking API XML Manual

Now, using Instant World Booking is easier than ever since your calendar of availability can be automatically uploaded or downloaded, and bookings can be retrieved in efficient XML feeds.  This means that you can use virtually any front desk software you wish, and interface directly with Instant World Booking’s system (and potentially other services and channel managers that Instant World Booking interfaces with).

This also means that you can you can begin using Instant World Booking’s lowest cost Booking Engine for accommodation websites, with little trouble or worries at all.

If you use third party front-desk software, contact your software provider today, and tell them you want them to integrate with IWB.  Most software providers will be more than happy to accommodate your request, with no cost to you.  And integration with IWB is simple enough to complete in no time at all.

For more information, contact us today at: info@instantworldbooking.com


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Tired of managing multiple calendars manually?

Are you tired of managing multiple calendars on multiple systems?  Many hostels, hotels, and B&B’s we speak to are maintaining their calendar on at least half a dozen booking sites.  One even recently sent us a timesheet indicating how many hours they spend managing calendars on each website.  Now, you know that you’re spending a lot of time performing a task if you maintain a timesheet.

Instant World Booking offers an easier way.  Upload your calendar directly to our system.  We have an XML interface that allows both receiving and sending your calendar updates via an automatic feed.  So, if you currently use a calendar management or property management software to manage your calendar, contact your service provider today.  Tell them that you want them to interface with Instant World Booking.  Most propert management systems will be happy to accommodate their clients’ requests for integration.

So remember, contact your front desk or propery management provider today, and ask them to integrate with Instant World Booking.  Send them the following link to help them get started integrating with us:

http://www.instantworldbooking.com/blog_iw/2010/05/new-xml-api-version-20-released/


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New XML API version 2.0 Released

We are pleased to announce the release of the new Instant Word Booking XML API version 2.0.  The new version now includes complete functionality for both retrieving and setting calendar allocations for lodgings of all types.  Now, channel managers, property managers, booking engines, consolidators, and affiliates of all types may both send their allocations to IWB and receive their allocations from IWB.  This means that end-user lodgings can effectively manage their calendars on IWB and send it to other systems, or manage their calendars elsewhere and feed it to IWB.

To get started with our XML API, begin by checking out our manual, or send it to your developer:

Instant World Booking API XML Manual

For more information, contact us today at: info@instantworldbooking.com

If you have a lodging property of any type, and wish to upload your availability directly to Instant World Booking, contact your calendar management system today and ask them to integrate with Instant World Booking.  Just send them the link to this page.


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ASSD Hotel Property Management System Now Interfaces with IWB

Instant World Booking is pleased to announce that the ASSD Hostel and Hotel Property Management System PMS now interfaces with IWB.  This means that you can manage your calendar directly on ASSD’s PMS and feed your availability automatically to your Instant World Booking hotel listing.

ASSD’s core product within their Hotel Software Suite is their Property Management System PMS.  ASSD says their PMS can meet all front and back office needs for a hotel, hostel or bed & breakfast.  ASSD software products proudly incorporate the latest international trends, and have been developing their products for over 20 years.

Learn more about the ASSD Hotel Property Management System PMS.

See more PMS systems that integrate with Instant World Booking


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List of Calendar Management Systems Linked to Instant World Booking

The following is a list of calendar management systems currently linking to Instant World Booking.  What this means is that these 3rd party systems, whether CMS, Channel Management systems, availability calendars, property management, or front desk software systems, provide an interface to automatically update your calendar on the Instant World Booking network.

If you are currently working with another 3rd party system like those described above, tell them you want to be able to feed your availability directly to Instant World Booking.  Typically, services will respond positively to their clients’ requests of this type.

If you wish to check out one of the services listed above, please do so, and tell them you heard about them from Instant World Booking.  Frequently, services will be happy to offer special introductory pricing if they know their partners are referring new business to them.  So, it can’t hurt to ask.


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Automatic Calendar Availability Updates with a new XML API

Instant World Booking now offers a convenient new way to update availability calendars for hostels, hotels, and bed & breakfasts.  Our XML API/interface for uploading calendar availability is available for:

  • Property Managers
  • Hostel chains and National Associations of lodgings
  • Channel Management systems
  • Other booking engines

In fact, anyone who is tired of managing availability manually, or updating systems on multiple booking engines, doesn’t have to.  Don’t spend hours trying to manage availability manually, or learning additional systems.  Our simple XML file format is easy to use and easy to upload.  We can offer assistance to anyone in need of help integrating an automatic allocation of rooms/beds on the Instant World Booking network.

If you are currently using another front end system for managing your available rooms and beds, let us know.  If we already interface with their system, you can upload your availability to us automatically.  If we don’t currently interface with your provider, call them up today and tell them you want to upload your calendar allocation to Instant World Booking.

To get started with our XML API, begin by checking out our manual, or send it to your developer:

Instant World Booking API XML Manual

For more information, contact us today at: info@instantworldbooking.com

If you are searching for an inexpensive front end system for managing multiple booking engines, check out http://myallocator.com/.  You can also contact us for other recommendations.

For a list of some 3rd party calendar management systems currently linking to Instant World Booking, please see:

http://www.instantworldbooking.com/blog_iw/2009/12/list-of-calendar-management-systems-linked-to-instant-world-booking/


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