Creating and Managing OTA Channels

Overview

In Zaui, Channel Partners are resellers that have a direct API integration with your system. This means bookings from these partners are automatically created in your Zaui reservation system, with no need for manual entry.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) such as Expedia Local Expert, TripAdvisor Experiences, and GetYourGuide are examples of Channel Partners.

This article walks you through the steps to create a new channel, allowing you to connect your tours, activities, and transportation products to leading online travel marketplaces.

What’s Covered in This Article

• Creating the Channel Partner as a Company in Zaui
• Enabling a Channel Partner Connection
• Channel Partner Rules and Controls
• Channel Management Strategy
• Troubleshooting

Step 1: Create a Company for the Channel Partner

The first step when working with a third-party reseller or OTA is to add them as a company in Zaui. This allows the system to assign new bookings and apply the agreed-upon commission structure automatically.

Note: For detailed steps on configuring company settings and commission structures, check out this article.

To create the Channel Partner as a company in Zaui:

1. Navigate to Resellers > Companies > Company List.
2. Click Create Company from the shortcuts panel.
3. Enter the Company Name and any other optional information.
4. Under Rate Type, select Wholesale (Discount/Invoice).
5. Under Rate Codes, configure the agreed-upon commission structure.
6. Click Save to create the company.

Why Wholesale?
Channel Partners are always configured as Wholesale Resellers because they take payment on behalf of the supplier and are invoiced later.

Step 2: Enable a New Partner Connection

1. Navigate to Resellers > Channel Partners.
2. Locate and select the Channel Partner you want to connect to.

Channel Information Settings

• Map reseller to account → Select the company created in Step 1. This links the reseller to payments and invoice reports.
• Enable Channel → Turn the channel on or off.
• Enable Alerts → Get notifications for bookings through this channel.
• Send Alerts to this Email → Enter the email addresses where booking alerts should be sent (separate multiple emails with a comma).

Step 3: Configure Channel Partner Rules and Controls

Channel Rules allow you to control available inventory for each reseller. Here, you define what, when, and how much inventory each OTA can sell.

1. Set a Start and End Date for your rule.
2. Define how many days into the future the reseller can sell your activities.
3. Select how close to the activity date a reseller can:
   • Create a booking
   • Edit a booking
   • Request a cancellation
4. Set the amount of inventory the reseller can sell (either as a fixed number or percentage).
5. Choose which activities or activity groups the rule applies to.
6. Click Add to create additional rules. (Ensure there are no overlapping rules.)
7. Click Save.

Step 4: Channel Management Strategy

Your Channel Management Strategy depends on the size and complexity of your operation.

Basic Channel Management (For 1-5 Tours & Activities)

• Start Date/End Date: Set a 5-year window.
• Inventory Rules: Allow 100% of overall inventory.
• Create/Edit Rules:
  • Restrict resellers from booking outside of 365 days.
  • Prevent bookings/edits within 2 hours of departure.
  • Block cancellations within 24 hours of departure.
• Activity Configuration: Allow Any Activity to be sold.

Advanced Channel Management (For Larger or More Complex Operations)

For larger businesses, you may want tighter control over your OTA relationships. Consider:

• Different rules for different OTAs
• Different rules for different date ranges
• Customizing available activities and time slots
• Setting maximum inventory limits
• Setting minimum booking lead times
  
  

Step 5: Troubleshooting Channel Set-Up

If your Channel Partner integration isn’t working as expected, check the following:

• Ensure the API flag is enabled in the Category setup page.
  
  

• Ensure the API flag is enabled in the Activity setup page (under Additional Settings).
  
  
  
• Check your Channel Rules and ensure the End Date hasn’t expired.