💡To connect to a channel, go to My apps > Channel Manager > Channels.
Overview
Connecting a channel is the integration between your Channel Manager and your distribution channel, and enabling the connection from both sides.
Your Front Desk will send automatic inventory updates such as availability, rates, and restrictions to your channels through the Channel Manager connection.
The channels will then send reservations directly to your Front Desk, allowing you to centralise all updates and manage reservations directly from your Front Desk.
Before connecting
Before connecting a channel:
Create an account with the channel: You need a signed a contract with the channel and your account must be active
Enable the connection: Log in to the channel's extranet > go to their connectivity or channel manager settings > request connection to “SiteMinder” or “SiteMinder RDX” as your connectivity provider
Create your property listing (rooms and rates) on the channel. Set up your rooms, rates, policies, property information, etc, in the channel’s extranet before connecting
Have your channel details ready: You need your unique Property code that the channel has assigned to your property (also called hotel ID, hotel code, or host ID) and any other account details for the channel’s extranet. For some channels, you will also need your username and password.
Connect a channel
To connect a channel:
Go to My apps > Channel Manager > Channels.
Click on Connect new channel.
Select the channel from the drop-down list.
Complete the Channel Connection Wizard by entering the required details in each step:
The fields in each step will vary depending on the channel you are connecting to.
Review the summary > Finish.
Activation status: Some channels, such as Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda, and Hotelbeds, are activated immediately and ready to be mapped. However, some channels may appear with a status Awaiting setup. This is normal for some new connections and typically takes 24–48 hours to activate. You will receive an email notification when the connection is ready.
What if certain inventory data is not supported by the channel? If the channel does not support certain inventory data, you will need to set up and manage these inventory updates directly in the channel’s extranet. For example, if the channel does not support receiving Minimum stay, you will need to set up your Minimum stay restrictions on the channel’s extranet directly.
Channel missing from the list? Check the list of available channels we support here.
If the channel is not supported yet, please contact the channel directly
If the channel is supported but you cannot see it in the list, please contact our support team to investigate
Update your channel settings
To edit your connected channel settings:
Go to My apps > Channel Manager > Channels.
Click on the channel name > Configure.
Click on the Channel Settings tab.
Modify the required settings > click Save.
Need to change your property code?
The property code (also known as hotel ID or channel ID) cannot be changed directly in Little Hotelier. If you need to update your property code, our support team needs to update it for you. Important: Changing your property code will require re-mapping all your rates to the channel. After re-mapping, verify all connections to ensure that rates, availability, and other property details are synced correctly.
Enable or disable a channel connection
Information about enabling or disabling a channel connection can be found below:
Enable the connection — starts sending inventory updates to the channel; this should only be done after mapping your rooms and rates, and reviewing your inventory.
Disable the connection — stops sending inventory updates to the channel; this should only be done if you have stopped working with the channel and want to disconnect it.
⚠️ Disabling the connection will result in the following:
Stop sells will not be sent to the channel (except for Airbnb, who makes its rates unavailable when disabling them).
Overbookings may occur as your Channel Manager will not update the channel’s inventory.
Depending on the channel, you may stop receiving reservations.
Disconnect a channel
When you disconnect a channel in Channel Manager, you will still need to delete the rates in the channel extranet.
When you disconnect a channel, all updates for the channel will no longer be sent and any mapping, reservations, and data will be permanently lost. You won’t be able to view any past reservations from the channel.
To disconnect a channel, follow these steps:
First, contact the channel and ask them to remove the connection.
Once the connection has been deactivated, an admin user must send a request to our Support team to delete the channel.
Our support team will then confirm the channel’s deletion.
What do I do after connecting a channel?
Activate the channel
Some channels have auto-activation, whereas others will require our Support team to finalise the configuration and activate the channel, in which case your channel will appear under the ‘Channels Awaiting Setup’ section.
Map your channel rates
Once your channel is listed under ‘Active Channels’, you can now start mapping your rooms and rates. Check the availability, rates, and restrictions for your newly mapped channel rates in your Front Desk Inventory tab.
Enable the channel
Updates will now be sent to the channel.