📌 This article answers the following questions:
- How do I block last-minute bookings using elloha’s Expert Mode?
- How do I set a minimum time limit before arrival with a cut-off time (e.g. 8am on the day before arrival)?
- Can different rules be applied for online and offline bookings?
- Does the booking deadline also apply to additional options?
Why is this important?
As a holiday let owner, having control over your calendar is key to your peace of mind. Setting a booking deadline (for example, 24 hours before arrival) prevents you from receiving a notification at 7 pm for an arrival that very evening, when the cleaning hasn’t yet been finished.
Follow the step-by-step guide
Step 1: Access your property management
In the left-hand side menu of your account, click on My Activity.
Then select the item you wish to update:
My property: to edit your accommodation details.
My options: to manage your additional services.
Click on the ‘Expert Mode’ tab.
Expert Mode allows you to fine-tune the booking settings specific to your accommodation or your options.
Step 2: Set up your booking rules
Define your stay conditions according to your accommodation’s booking method:
Online bookings: these are bookings made by your guests directly via your booking engine (website).
Offline bookings: these are bookings that you enter manually via ‘New Booking’.
To configure these settings:
Select the booking type you wish to edit.
Toggle the corresponding switch to display the detailed configuration options.
Distinguishing between these two modes allows you to apply more flexible rules to your own manual entries whilst automating your constraints on the website.
Step 3: Set the minimum booking lead time
The ‘Closed for sales’ setting allows you to block last-minute bookings that are too close to the arrival date, so you can better organise the welcome at your accommodation.
Set your restriction conditions:
The lead time in days: specify the number of days before arrival (e.g. D-1 before arrival).
The cut-off time: specify the time after which bookings are no longer possible (e.g. 08:00).
Example: With a setting of D-1 until 08:00, a guest will no longer be able to book your accommodation for the following day if it is already past 08:00 in the morning.
❗️Important: Ensure this timeframe is consistent with your usual management practices so as not to unnecessarily block potential bookings.
The booking deadline is an essential tool if you manage your property on your own. It ensures that every guest arrives at a spotless property, prepared without rushing.
Key points
Expert Mode gives you complete control over your guest reception logistics.
A well-managed booking closure ensures a successful guest experience from the moment they arrive.