Author Archive

Air Conditioning Automation

Section I. For Properties that Have Set Up Complete

For properties wanting to add Building/Thermostat Automation, scroll to Section 2, Customer Steps.

 

  1. Set Up Building Automation – Manage Properties – Building Automation
    1. There is a subtab under the Manage Property page called “Building Automation” where the user will configure settings for the property.
    2. Also on Property: Building Automation settings page has a section titled “Thermostat Automation Settings” with these fields:
      1. Temperature Time Setting – See #3 Pre Check In Settings
      2. Temp Setting Upon Checkout
        1. When a reservation checks out of the unit, the air conditioner will ensure that the internal temperature stays between these two temperature fields, it will heat, or cool in order to keep temperature within acceptable range.
      3. Temp Setting Upon Check In
        1. When a reservation checks in to the unit, the air conditioner will ensure that the internal temperature stays between these two temperature fields, it will heat, or cool in order to keep temperature within acceptable range.
    3. Pre Check In Settings
      1. First 2 Fields on the Property Management- Building Automation page:
        1. Standard Check In Temp Set Time (time of day)
        2. Vacant Reset  Time (time of day)
      2. The system will check for all reservations arriving today, and if the current time is “Standard Check In Temp Set Time” then the following will happen.
        1. For each room assigned to a reservation that is not currently checked in and status is VR the room’s min/max temp will set just as if it was checked in using existing property fields: 
          1. Temp_Setting_Checkin_Min 
          2. Temp_Setting_Checkin_Max 
      3. That same automation will execute the following when the time of day is “Vacant Reset Time” 
        1. All rooms that are currently vacant will set the min/max temp of those rooms to the standard checkout temps defined in these existing property fields:
          1. Temp_Setting_Checkout_Min
          2. Temp_Setting_Checkout_Max
  2. View Individual Room Operating Status:. Room Operations – Manage Rooms
    1. Use the above bolded address to get to the rooms page where the user can select any room by clicking the edit icon.
    2. Once in the desired room, go to the Building Automation tab. There will be three columns:
      1. Device Settings: There will be three Device ID fields, each room can have up to three AC devices. Their individual ID numbers should be entered here.
      1. For more information on Device Setting see customer steps below.
      1. Device Status: you will see these fields
      1. Temperature Unit – Fahrenheit, Celsius, etc.
      2. Temperature – Temperature in the unit at the current time.
      3. Operating State – Cooling, Heating, or Idle
      4. Status – Online or Offline
      1. Settings (all):  Fields in the far right column are based on the reservation status (Checked In or Checked Out) and criteria set in Property Management.
      1. For example, If there is a reservation checked in, the A/C unit will follow temperatures entered into the “Temp Setting Upon Check In” set on the property building automation page. 
      2. If there is no reservation checked in, the A/C unit will follow temperatures entered into the “Temp Setting Upon Check Out” set on the property building automation page.
          1. Heating Setpoint – Will begin Heating when the current Temp goes below the temperature set in Property Management-Building Automation-Temp Setting Upon Check In (or) Temp Setting Upon Check Out
          2. Cooling Setpoint – Will begin Cooling when the current Temp goes below the temperature set in Property Management-Building Automation-Temp Setting Upon Check In (or) Temp Setting Upon Check Out
      3. Thermostat Modes – Off, Cool, Heat, Auto
      4. Fan Mode – Auto or On

Section II. Customer Steps – For Properties wanting to add Building/Thermostat Automation

  1. We use Smart Things platform to connect to many IoT devices. Depending on the thermostat they may require a hub that is connected to the internet, and then connects to devices on the property such as the thermostat.
  2. Buy SmartThings hub and SmartThings compatible devices like Thermostat.
    1. Hub is optional depending on the device. Honeywell Thermostat doesn’t need one if it is a wifi thermostat for example.
  3. Download the iphone app “SmartThings”.
  4. Create SmartThings account through iphone app or online and sign in. https://account.smartthings.com
  5. Plug in SmartThings hub and connect to wifi if hub needed.
  6. Connect the SmartThings hub to your account using the iphone app.
  7. Create a Room on the iphone app for a property room number.
  8. Connect SmartThings devices to your SmartThings account using the iphone app and put in the correct Room.
    1. Setup the Thermostat first. Enable auto mode if needed. 
    2. Honeywell Smartthings instructions: https://support.smartthings.com/hc/en-us/articles/208748706
    3. For the Honeywell D6 Ductless and probably Lyric T6 Pro you download the Honeywell Home app on iphone.
      1. You need to create a Honeywell Home account within the iphone app.
      2. Connect the device to your Honeywell Home iphone app.
        1. Known connectivity issue with iPhone 7SE. Worked on iPad.
      3. Then go to SmartThings iphone app, click add Device. Search for Honeywell, select Thermostat, choose Honeywell Lyric. Set location, click Next.
      4. Then tap to login to Honeywell Home account. Allow connection. It should find your previously added device, select it, and click Connect.
      5. Then you select in SmartThings which thermostats to connect into Smartthings. Select the device.
  9. Get Personal Access Token and save in WavePM property settings in the Personal Access Token field. https://account.smartthings.com/tokens 
  10. Get Thermostat device id connected to SmartThings and save in room settings for each room.
    1. Login to https://account.smartthings.com
    2. Go to My Devices tab, click on device.
    3. The url in the browser will be something like https://graph-na04-useast2.api.smartthings.com/device/show/db6c1422-3c73-479c-ae98-f0d4616eda7f
    4. The last set of characters after “/device/show/” is the id of the device.
  11. Edit the Device in SmartThings and select the Type in the picklist for the device as “Honeywell TCC 8000/9000 Thermostat” or any other compatible device.
    1. Also create a device network id of any random characters.
  12. Configure rules for checkout checkin under Property, Building Automation admin tab in WavePM.

Building Automation Reporting

  1. Created 3 different reports for the thermostat automations.
    1. Status Report – Shows current status of all room functionality(updated to the last hour)
      1. Date/Time
      2. Operating State
      3. Temp
      4. Heating Setpoint
      5. Cooling Setpoint
      6. Mode
      7. Fan Mode
    2. Operating Report: Shows Operating state changes (idle, heating, cooling) by room number over a date range. 
    3. Average Temperature: shows each room’s average temperature over a date range.

Email Set Up

Email and Reservation Templates

  1. Set up email credentials in property admin under Admin, Manage Properties
    1. Select Email Setting from the top menu
    2. Email: enter email address
    3. Reservation Notification Email: This is the email address that will receive confirmations when reservations are made externally.
    4. Leave Confirmation Template empty, this is only for hard coded templates
    5. Guest Order alert: This is the email address that will receive alerts when an order is made in the Guest Shop system.
    6. Smtp Host, Port, and User must be filled out exactly, if you have issues contact your property administrator or IT personnel.
    7. Check Notify Reservations if you wish to receive those emails
    8. Check Use SSL
  2. Confirmation Template
    1. We have default Confirmation templates for use. These are built using html, click Preview in order to see the template.
    2. The Template provided will use information from your Main and Additional tabs under Admin, Mage Property to fill out pertinent property details.
  3. Cancellation Emails
    1. Contact WavePM for a basic cancelation template
  4. Guest Registrations Cards
    1. These can be printed out for daily arrivals if the property uses registration cards
    2. Template available upon request.
  5. Owner Confirmations
    1. Template available upon request.

Twilio Text Set Up

Twilio Integration

  1. Twilio Set Up
    1. Set up Twilio account, make sure to leave valid credit card on file and select automatic refill so that SMS use is not restricted or interrupted by payment issues.
    2. Purchase a phone number, select the prefix, usually you can select up to first 6 numbers.
    3. When prompted to set up the number enter in text under messaging A Message Comes In (Webhook) “http://app.wavepm.com/twilioServlet
    4. Leave all other fields as default.
  2. WavePM Set Up
    1. Go to Manage Property under Admin Tab
    2. Under the Integrations Menu you will see the Twilio section with Twilio SID, Twilio Auth Token, and Twilio Phone Number
      1. Twilio SID can be found in Twilio under Account Dashboard to the right under Project Name you will find the Account SID. Enter this code
      2. Twilio Auth Token can be found directly under Twilio SID, just click “view”
      3. Twilio Phone number is the set up number than can be found in Twilio under “Phone Numbers” at the bottom of the Account Dashboard page.
      4. There is also a section in Property Management for “SMS Notification Email.” You can enter an email which will receive an email with each new incoming message.

Import Past and Future Reservations

Property Import

Create a CSV/Excel/Numbers spreadsheet with columns in the following order. If the export PMS does not contain, or the reservation does not contain any data for columns, leave blank. 

 

In order to get full use of the system, we would prefer to import history reservations as well so they may be included, these are noted by arrival and departure dates. Cancellations also may be included, under the column titled ResTypeDesc mark these reservations with Cxcl. All initial steps of CRS integration must be finished and ready to sync before the import is done. 

 

  1. FirstName
  2. Last Name
  3. Address1
  4. Address2
  5. City
  6. State
  7. PostCode
  8. Country
  9. Phone
  10. Email
  11. UnitCode
  12. UnitName
  13. Bedrooms
  14. Active Unit
  15. Book Number
  16. ResTypeDesc
  17. Date Booked
  18. Start Date
  19. End Date
  20. Nights
  21. Adults
  22. Children
  23. PetType
  24. Source Category
  25. Source SubCategory
  26. Rent Total
  27. ChargeTotal
  28. TaxTotal
  29. BookingTotal
  30. Payment Total
  31. Notes
  32. Rate Code
  33. Occ Tax Percent
  34. Sales Tax Percent
  35. Occ Tax Number
  36. Sales Tax Number
  37. Do Not Move

Connecting to Siteminder CRS

Connect Property to Siteminder

Integration Process

  1. If a hotel would like to connect their PMS (WavePM) to The Channel Manager, they will put a request through to Siteminder Account Manager or Sales representative.
  2. The Sales Representative or the Account Manager will trigger a case, in order to start the process of the Integration/connection.
  3. As soon as the connection is approved to go forward, the PMS integration team will prepare the setup spreadsheet with all the required connection credentials.

– Siteminder will provide the Hotel Code

  1. The spreadsheet will then be sent to WavePM and hotel copied in to fill in the Inventory Type Code and Rate Plan Code.
  2. Once returned, PMS integration will proceed with the complete setup and get in touch with WavePM Setup and integration contact to complete to the live phase.

Single Property Initiation

  1. Link WavePM to the live property by connecting all of the relevant credentials under property management. The only unique thing here is the property code. User and Password are the same across each property.
  2. Build Room Type/ Rate configuration in Siteminder channel manager under “WavePM” -> Room/Rate
    1. Enter room type code, rateplan code, and Inventory Code (Same as Room Type Code)
  3. Check mapping to ensure all codes match WavePM codes
  4. In WavePM
    1. Rates: Sync Rates from Rates page by pushing the Sync Icon of the base (BAR, RACK) rate plan
    2. Availability: Sync Availability from Inventory Page, click the sync icon.
      1. Inventory must be pushed the first time in monthly segments
      2. Depending on the amount of room types at the property, appropriately sized date segments must be used in order to sync. Siteminder handles 500 room type date updates per push, so, RoomType x DaysinDateSegemnt if under 500 will sync successfully. For instance most properties will sync at least a month at a time.
      3. Check siteminder inventory grid to ensure availability sync worked
    3. Restrictions:  order to push Restrictions, load the base rate plan to push by selecting the rate plan until it is highlighted in blue.
      1. On the grid below, click the “Force CRS Sync” button and select what you would like to sync, all dates shown on the grid will sync (Typically 1 month.) Repeat through all dates needed.
      2. Important: If the property has an off season, CTAs must be set in Wave for each room type for dates that the property is not in operation.
  5. If there are any issues with the above, please reach out to support.
  6. Keep in mind that each room type must have each rate plan mapped in Siteminder, even if you do not plan on selling that room type for a given rate plan.

Connecting to Windsurfer CRS

Connect Property to Windsurfer

  1. Get hotel code, which can be found in Windsurfer via Property Description (Address/Contacts) navigation listed as CRS Property ID
  2. Request windsurfer to take the integration live.
    1. Email windsurfer@shr.global with the following information:
      1. Property Name
      2. Property (hotel) Code
      3. PMS Vendor Contact (Installer) = WavePM
      4. Date you are requesting activation
  3. Windsurfer will then send you a property mappings document which includes your properties hotel code, username, password, and room types.
  4. Check that room type codes in windsurfer match room types codes in Wave. Utilize the mappings or under property description-room type in Windsurfer.
  5. Add windsurfer hotel code, username, and password to the property under Admin-Manage Properties in Wave. Select Integrations and add credentials in fields provided.
  6. Under Admin > Room Rates insure that property availability/inventory is accurate in WavePM.
    1. This requires room types, rooms to be accurate and any future reservations to be entered to update availability.
  7. Under Admin > Room Rates ensure you have a rate plan that is set to sync with windsurfer, and accurate rates and restrictions are loaded for all dates.
    1. In order to be able to sync, check the box indicating that the rate plan should be enabled to sync, under the rate plan edit icon.
    2. Also check that needed restrictions for Min LOS and restricted day of arrival are entered in Wave.
      1. Min LOS is based on arrival or Min A LOS as some OTA sites will request this information.
  8. Go into Windsurfer and make sure that there is a rate code that matches the rate plan code in Wave. You can access the rate codes in Windsurfer > Rate Management > Rate Code.
  9. You can then make additional rates (Expedia, Booking.com, OTAs) derived from your Wave rate for example making your Expedia rate 15% higher than your Wave rate. To use, select rate linkage under rate code in Windsurfer.
  10. If you’d like to set an OTA only rate, ensure that this rate’s ranking is set to 1 and Wave’s rate code is set to 2.
  11. Under the room rate page in Wave select the ((( sync icon to sync the loaded rates and availability to Windsurfer.
  12. Check to make sure that the rate codes, availability, and rate restrictions have synced.
  13. To view rate restrictions select Availability > View All.

 

Adding Rates

Now that the property has an inventory, base and internal rates can be set. If you have a CRS agreement with Windsurfer or Siteminder you can proceed to set up OTA rate plans as well and you will be able to set up your CRS connection in a following article in the Getting Started Category.

  1. Set Up Rate Plan – Admin, Rates and Inventory, Room Rates
    1. Set up your base rate, usually this is the rate that you would sell when reservations were made on property. Usually a rack rate or best available rate. 
    2. Must enter in a 3 or 4 letter rate code along with a description. 
    3. Set up as active, and check the box in order to sync with a CRS of necessary.
    4. Add begin and end stay and begin sell dates
    5. All OTA rate set up options are below, the first rate should be your base rate.
    6. “Zero out cancelations” check box clears amount due when reservations are cancelled at any time.
      1. There is an automatic refund functionality for cancelations covered a further down in this article.
    7. You can add deposit as a percentage, click add range to see more options based on length of stay.
    8. Resort Fee and Calculation type
      1. One time
      2. Per night
      3. Percentage
      4. If you have a resort fee you can have it applied at reservation creation.
    9. Add Guarantee and Cancellation Policies
    10. Refund Cancellations: (Not Required)
      1. If you would like reservations to automatically recalculate possible refunds based on cancelation criteria this functionality can be very useful and will also direct users as the cancelation policies in real time.
      2. There are a number of criterial options that will result in a desired action, you can see the options by starting with the “When” fieled, a couple of examples below:
        1. “When Canceled” Less “Than” 2 Days Before Arrival Refund Percentage: 50
        2. “When Canceled” More “Than” 1 Week After Creation No Refund.
      3. When these fields are used, a user upon canceling a reservation will be alerted to the cancelation terms if the cancelation falls into the criteria set up.
      4. In order for a user to not accept and override the policy, a supervisor/manager user must complete the cancelation. (These user restrictions may be modified)
    11. Housekeeping Task: (Not Required) Sets up included housekeeping tasks for all reservations with this rate plan.
      1. For most all hotels a free departure cleaning is provided for a retail rates. This can also be used to include daily cleanings or “Tidies” however your property is set up. The options selected will then be shown appropriately on the housekeeping system page. (Covered in a later article)
  2. Adding Rates to rate plan
    1. Click to highlight rate plan and room types, availability, and restrictions will and dates will load below.
    2. In order to mass edit rates, under the room type column, click the TYPE – Price 
    3. In the pop up, fill out:
      1. Start and End Date of the price
      2. Days of the week of the price
      3. Price per night
    4. Repeat if necessary for multiple seasons
    5. Available rooms can be set in the same manner if your inventory changes
      1. Note that you can not increase availability above physical limit
        1. If you wish to oversell a room type, go to Reports, Inventory and set the Blocked link for the date to -1, -2, etc.
    6. The Min LOS stands for minimum length of stay
      1. Fill out the pop up as you wish
    7. Closed to Arrival, restricts anyone from arriving on certain days.

Adding Based On Rates

  1. Most times properties may want to set their OTA Rates like Expedia. Booking.com, etc, at a higher percentage than direct bookings. This functionality can be useful to quickly set up rate mirroring your base rate.
  2. Determine how much more of an amount that you want to increase OTA rates over those who book directly. Percentage or dollar amount.
  3. Ensure that your base rate is correct and restrictions are as you would like them to be in WavePM
  4. Elect New Rate Plan and fill out as you would a normal rate plan described above.
  5. Under “Based on Rate Plan” select your main rate plan: RACK/BAR/ect.
    1. Select Adjustment Type and set to percentage or amount
    2. Input the amount, example for 10%, enter 10.
    3. Stay dates, deposit and resort fee will be set to mirror the base rate
    4. Scroll down and save.
  6. You will want to check the OTA Rate checkbox if applicable
  7. OTA Fees relate to properties with ownership, leave blank if not applicable.
  8. OTA Collects Sales Tax and OTA Collect Occupancy Tax can be checked if applicable.
  9. Now Save and select your new rate to ensure everything mirrors your base rate as desired
  10. For CRS Syncing see this articles later in set up.

Adding Room Types and Rooms

The first step to setting up your property is setting up your room types and unit numbers to establish inventory. It’s important to note that successful integration with a CRS requires that WavePM room type codes and numbers match the CRS in order to sync. Mistaken spaces and capital letters can result in bad connection.

  1. Under Admin, go to Room Operations, then Room Types
  2. Add room types needed for the property by clicking New Room Type
  3. The following fields are not necessary for the room type to be saved.
    1. Display Order
    2. Extra People Charge Start
    3. Extra People Fee
    4. Attributes
    5. Short Description
  4. Once you set up your room types, you need to create room numbers to set property inventory.
    a. Go to Admin, Room Operations, Manage Rooms
  5. Click New Room
  6. Select Room type from the pull down menu
  7. Fill fields appropriately, Housekeeping Status and Floor are the only required fields.
  8. Add any room condition notes that may be unique to this room
  9. If surveys are set up appropriately with Categories, this tab will show condition scores related to this room.
  10. If this is an owned property/room the contract info will show under the Contract info tab.
  11. If you would like to add pictures to show unique features of this unit, you may do so under the images tab.
    1. Room images stored here can be accessed when a user is assigning a room, so that the room’s unique set up and features can be viewed, as well as texted or emailed to guests.
  12. Under Maintenance Tasks, you can set a maintenance task for this room by date and time, accessible by rooms staff on the housekeeping/service system.
  13. Building automation is an optional functionality that controls the unit temperature based on certain criteria.

Initial Setup Steps

 

  1. After the trial or activation has been logged into, you can add users, change access, and change passwords under the Admin Tab -> Property Setup ->Users.
  2. Also under Property Setup is Manage Properties, click there and you will find your property.
  3. Click the edit icon which will bring up a property screen with many tabs.
  4. Under the Main tab fill out all information as best you can.
    1. Rate Plan can be entered after you have completed that step
    2. Taxes are as follows
      1. Property tax should be considered the entire percentage of rate that a nights rate would incur.
      2. If your property tax has additional flat fee taxes email support@wavepm.com for further instructions.
      3. Resort fees and deposit amounts can be calculated later on in the set up under Rates.
      4. Sales tax should be your locations sales tax percentage.
    3. If the property being set up does not have ownership, leave those fields blank.
    4. Default Transaction Start and End Times set the system’s default transaction dates according to those hours. For instance if the transaction end time is 7pm local, then transactions occurring at 8pm would be considered to be occurring the following date.
    5. Auto Check in should be considered last after all set up has been completed. To consider about Auto Check In:
      1. Auto check in happens at 11am local property time. All rooms that have been changed from VD or VC to VR today, that have a confirmed reservation assigned, that check in is scheduled for today, will be checked in automatically.
        1. Properties with Kaba e-Code integration locks, the quest will receive the check in message with a code at this time. Properties not integrated with locks can choose to send the check in message whenever they would like in Text Automations.
  5. Additional Tab should be filled out to define the property’s general, cancellation, and guarantee policies.
  6. On the Images, property photos can be stored which can be used for any booking sites you may wish to have, but is not necessary.
  7. Company Info is useful if you have an umbrella company of which this is just one property.
  8. Payment Type Management is where you can set up credit card transaction fees for accounting and reporting purposes. If this is not an ownership property the credit card fees should be left blank.
  9. Integrations, Email Settings and Templates, Guest Surveys, and Kaba Template are covered in other articles but are not necessary for initial set up.

Dashboard

Dashboard

  1. Can be reached at any time by clicking the WavePM logo in the top left hand corner
  2. By hovering the cursor over graph information you will be shown detailed information.
  3. Includes the following:
    1. Projected Occupancy: shows occupancy trending over the next 4 days.
    2. Arrivals / Departures / Stayovers: Shows critical information over the next 4 days
    3. Amount Due Issues: Shows reservations with balances due In House, Arriving, and Checked Out.
    4. Room Revenue Year over Year: Shows monthly revenue earning in comparison with this same time last year.
    5. New Revenue Booked: Shows new revenue booked in the last 4 days.
    6. New Revenue Collected: Shows revenue collected from reservations in the last 4 days.