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Channel Managers Now Updating Instant World Booking’s Calendar

As an update to our previous list of calendar systems feeding Instant World Booking, located at:

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

The following is a current list of Channel Managers and Property Management Systems (PMS, or Front Desk Systems) currently connected to Instant World Booking.  This means that all of these 3rd party systems provide an interface to automatically update your calendar on the Instant World Booking network.

If you are currently working with another3rd 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.

See our updated XML API Guide at:

http://www.instantworldbooking.com/xml/InstantWorldBookingXMLAPI.doc


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Booking Expert now integrated with Instant World Booking

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

BookingExpert.it offers channel maagement services for accommodation properties.

See more PMS systems that integrate with Instant World Booking


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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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More Free Stuff from Instant World Booking

Of all the marketing services you can subscribe to, IWB offer more free stuff than anyone else:

  1. Only Instant World Booking gives you up to 15 or more unique search engine-optimized pages just for your property, each page translated to a different language.  You probably don’t even have this on your own website, let alone other online booking services.  And again, it’s free.
  2. As a tip, we can activate your property for “request-only” bookings.  This is an easy method to maintain free advertising on our network, and not have any work to do maintaining a calendar.  Of course, instant booking is always the preferred method over request method.  Here’s why: http://www.instantworldbooking.com/blog_iw/2010/07/instant-booking-hotels-hostels/
  3. Save time and work by feeding your availability directly into our system from your current front desk software.  It’s also free.  We have an XML API that allows any 3rd party PMS, channel manager, or front desk system to feed your availability to us.  Just contact them and tell them you want them to integrate with us.  Send them this URL: http://www.instantworldbooking.com/blog_iw/category/xml-feeds/
  4. Free Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising.  Instant World Booking has proven to be very successful in gaining top search engine rankings for its listed lodging partners.  When you maintain an availability calendar with us, we use PPC advertising to market your property on Google and other sites.  A PPC campaign can cost you hundreds of dollars per month, if executed on your own.  However, we advertise our partners in PPC campaigns for free.
  5. Cheapest Booking Engine for your website – guaranteed!  An online booking engine for your website is a critical part of your marketing strategy, especially now with 45% of all travel in the world booked on the internet.  If you haven’t already tried our online booking engine for your website, perhaps now is the time to consider that Instant World Booking offers the lowest cost options available from any provider.  We can save you money because we offer more options, at a cheaper cost than HostelWorld … cheaper than HostelBookers … cheaper than BedandBreakfast.com … cheaper than Hotels.com, Webervations, Rezovation, HostelsClub, Venere … etc.  In short, here’s our guaranty.  If you are using a competing provider for your website’s booking engine, we guarantee a lower cost for the same service.  Please don’t overpay!
  6. How about Free No-Show and Cancellation Protection.  Not offered by other services, this protection comes free with your booking engine.
  7. Optional Credit Card Collection services.  If you don’t currently accept credit cards online, we can provide that service also, with no merchant account, location, or credit restrictions for you.  How about this.  Charge guest credit cards for no-shows and cancellations, regardless of where or how they booked.  Charge guests for virtually any cost associated with their stay with you, regardless of where or how they booked.
  8.  Also free:
  • Unlimited photos
  • Custom, searchable maps for your property on our network
  • Get back-links to your webpage directly from our 100+ websites.
  • Post your videos on our site

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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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