Set up distribution channels

A distribution channel is a medium through which accommodations are promoted and sold. This includes external channels such as online travel agencies, reservation or metasearch engines, travel agents, and wholesalers, as well as direct or owned channels like your website or call centre. Correctly setting up your channels is essential for controlling which products are sold, at what price, and under which conditions. Before you start setting up your distribution channels, make sure you've read our core concept page on distribution channels. 

Create a distribution channel

1. Navigate to Channel Manager and select the Distribution channel from the menu item.
2. Click Create distribution channel.
3. Select the channel hierarchy in the Create distribution channel pop-up displayed.
   1. New parent distribution channel: for a standalone channel without inherited settings.
   2. New child distribution channel: nest the channel under a parent to inherit its settings and simplify setup.
4. Configure general settings.
   1. Name, code, description: to identify the channel clearly.
   2. Currency: select the transaction currency (cannot be changed later).
   3. Type: Choose the business model
      1. Direct: For channels you own, like your brand website.
      2. Reseller: For third-party agents reselling your inventory.
      3. Touroperator: For the tour operators you have specific agreements with.
      4. Comité d'enterprise (CSE): A specific type for corporate partners in certain regions.
   4. Allotment use: Decide how inventory is sold:
      1. Book only without allotment (Free sale): sell any available inventory (not available for Linear channels).
      2. Book only from allotment (Allotment): sell only from a specific block of units.
5. Rate types: Choose which rate types (for example, Standard, Non-refundable) are applicable for this channel. Also, apply date restrictions for each rate type selected.
   1. Arrival date from/to: the rate is only valid for stays within this window.
   2. Book date from/to: the rate only applies when the reservation is created within this window.
6. Configure inventory: options for defining what the channel can sell.
   1. Copy inventory from another channel: this links the channel's inventory directly to an existing channel. All accommodation types, add-ons, and offers will be mirrored. You can also choose to include mandatory add-ons and their rates from the source channel.
   2. Link to a distribution channel group: this links the inventory to a pre-defined group of channels, which is handy for applying a standard setup across multiple similar channels. You can also link mandatory add-ons and their rates from the group.
   3. Create a new inventory: this lets you build a custom inventory from scratch, giving you the most flexibility.
   4. Skip inventory: this is for channels that don't sell inventory directly, like informational websites. Alternatively, you can configure the inventory via a distribution channel group managed through a representation set template.
7. Select reservation category: select which categories (e.g., Standard booking, Owner booking) can be used. Set priority order using the reorder handle. Linear channels require at least one Linear reservation category.
8. Review the details and click Create distribution channel.

A new distribution channel is created.