Defining Policies and Rate Calculations (Using the Controls Screen)

The Controls screen is where you define your Commission, Guarantee, Cancel and Meal Plan policies for this rate plan. Setting policies in this screen would be the same as assigning them in Rate Setup (see Appendix A for policy hierarchy. If the rate is based off another rate plan, you will select the rate calculation method. You can also choose a marketing message to be included in the confirmation screens and confirmation documents when the rate plan is selected.

Note: Initially, you must build your rate plan in English before creating it in another language.

Tip: Use the help icon at the top right corner of this rate wizard screen to assist you in completing the steps in that screen.

Building a Rate Plan Process: Step 2

If you set a default policy for Guarantee and/or Cancel in Preferences (see Preferences) or inherited polices from the Chain Level, it will use those policies here.
If a Commission Type was selected when the property was initially configured, it will use that one here (see Name - Status - Setup).

Note: Use Inherited Value appears by default in the Commission Type, Guarantee and Cancel policy fields even if you do not have any inherited policies.

In the Controls screen, use the steps that follow.

From the Currency drop-down list, select the currency at which the rates will be distributed to all selected channels. (Initially, the default currency for your property will be displayed.)
If this rate is not commissionable, select Non-Commissionable from the Commission Type drop-down list and go to step 5.
From the Commission Type drop-down list, select the commission type that applies.

Note: If you select the Commission based on a given policy option, a Commission Policy drop-down list appears for you to select a previously created commission policy type.

In the Commission Amount field, enter the amount or percentage based on the selection above. Do not use a percent sign. It will appear automatically when needed.
If not using a default guarantee policy, select an available guarantee policy for this rate plan from the Guarantee drop-down list. (Seasonal policies can be set up in the Rates screen.)
If not using a default cancel policy, select an available cancel policy for this rate plan from the Cancel drop-down list. (Seasonal policies can be set up in the Rates screen.)
If not using a default Meal Plan policy, select an available meal plan policy for this rate plan from the drop-down list. (Seasonal policies can be set up in the Rates screen.)
If this meal plan is included in the rate, select the Meal Plan Included YN checkbox.
If the cost of the meal plan is to be added to the rate amount, select the Meal Plan Included YN checkbox and the Meal Plan Added YN checkbox. If the checkboxes are not selected, the cost of the meal plan is not included in the rate amount.
If you want to include a marketing message with this rate plan, select an available message from the drop-down list.

Note: This marketing message will be added to the confirmation display screen in the CCM, as well as any confirmation documents (fax, e-mail, etc.). Only marketing messages that have begin and end dates that fall within the sell dates for the rate will be available.

For Rate Calculation Method (see Calculation Method Definitions for more information), do one of the following:

If...	Then...
this is a Standalone Rate	use the following steps: Select the Rate for sale checkbox to distribute this rate. Note: If you do not want this rate distributed, leave the Rate for sale checkbox clear. When the checkbox is clear, this rate will be available for rate indexing but it cannot be sold by itself. If this rate is to be used to determine the Best Available Rate, select the Rate available for BAR checkbox. Go to step 12.
this rate is based on adding or subtracting an amount to/from a rate	use the following steps: Select Based on a Rate Adding an Amount or Based on a Rate Subtracting an Amount from the drop-down list. If you are using variable calculations, select the Variable Calculation checkbox; otherwise, go to step 3. Note: If using variable calculation, you must enter the calculation amounts on each item using the Add Rate tab. Leave the Rate for sale checkbox selected to distribute this rate. Note: If you do not want this rate distributed, clear the Rate for sale checkbox. When you clear the checkbox, this rate will be available for rate indexing but it cannot be sold by itself. If this rate is to be used to determine the Best Available Rate, select the Rate available for BAR checkbox. For Strikethrough Calculation Method, select one of the following options: None – no strikethrough used Parent – calculation is based off a parent rate Policy – calculation is based off a discount policy Note: If using the Policy option, the policy must be selected in the Rate Setup screen. Click the Magnifying Glass button access the list of available rates. The Rate Selection pop-up window appears. Select the rate from the pop-up list. Click the Set button. In the Calculation Amount field, enter the amount to add to or subtract from the parent rate. Go to step 12.
this rate is to be based on a percentage of another rate	use the following steps: Select Based on a Percentage of Another Rate from the drop-down list If you are using variable calculations, select the Variable Calculation checkbox; otherwise, go to step 3. Note: If using variable calculation, you must enter the calculation amounts on each item using the Add Rate tab. Leave the Rate for sale checkbox selected to distribute this rate. Note: If you do not want this rate distributed, clear the Rate for sale checkbox. When you clear the checkbox, this rate will be available for rate indexing but it cannot be sold by itself. If this rate is to be used to determine the Best Available Rate, select the Rate available for BAR checkbox. For Strikethrough Calculation Method, select one of the following options: None – no strikethrough used Parent – calculation is based off a parent rate Policy – calculation is based off a discount policy Note: If using the Policy option, the policy must be selected in the Rate Setup screen. Click the Magnifying Glass button to access the list of available rates. The Rate Selection pop-up window appears. Select the rate from the pop-up list. Click the Set button. Enter the rate calculation percentage as a whole number (a calculation value of 100% equals the base rate) Enter a percentage over 100% to increase the rate over the based on rate (for example, 110% gives you a 10% increase) Enter a percentage under 100% to decrease the rate under the based on rate (for example, 90% gives you a 10% decrease) If you want to round the resulting rate, enter a value in one of the following: Round to Nearest – to round the rate to the nearest whole number multiple. For example, a rounding factor of ‘3’ would cause a calculated rate of $121.45 to round to $120, and a calculated rate of $121.50 to round to $123. A ‘0’ rounding factor results in no rounding taking place and the rate displays with decimals that the property currency format allows. Round to Decimal – to round the rate to the whole number decimal value that has been entered; for example, if a rate-rounding factor is 25 and calculated value is 125.35, the rounded value would be displayed as 125.25 and if the calculated value is 126.51 the rounded value would be 127.25. Note: When using Round to Decimal, a ‘1’ must be entered in the Round to Nearest field and a decimal point should NOT be used with the decimal value. Go to step 12.
this rate is to be based on a BAR or DBAR rate	Select Best Available Rate or Dynamic Best Available Rate from the drop-down list. Clear the Rate for Sale checkbox. For the Strikethrough Calculation Method, select None. Click the Rate Categories button. The Rate Categories pop-up appears. Select the rate category checkbox(es) to search for the best available rate. Click the Set button. Go to step 12.
this rate is to be based on child index rates	Select Rate Index, Best Available Rate from List or Dynamic Best Available Rate from List (as appropriate) from the drop-down list. Clear the Rate for Sale checkbox. For the Strikethrough Calculation Method, select None. Click the Child Rates button. The Select Child Rates pop-up appears. Select a child rate from the Select Child Rates list. Use the --> button to move the child rate to the Selected Child Rates list. Repeat steps 5 and 6 as necessary. When the list is complete, click the Set button. Go to step 12.

Click Next. The Room Types screen appears.