How to Set Minimum Nights

ThinkReservations allows you to configure your restrictions in multiple rate types for each room. We recommend that you review your restrictions on a weekly basis for just a few minutes to see if any manual changes need to be made or to extend restrictions at the end of your Calendar. Follow the 6 steps below to set your minimum nights for each rate type.

1.) Open the Rate Type.

Navigate to Settings > Rate Types > then click on the rate type that you wish to edit.

These changes will update this rate type and any other rate times which are derived from it. If you have more than one base rate type that is set manually, you will need to make the changes for each of those rate types as necessary.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The MINIMUM NIGHTS and MAXIMUM NIGHTS field in the Details tab of each rate type is a qualifier for the guest to qualify into the rate type.

For example, if a MINIMUM NIGHTS qualifier of '2' is set and no MAXIMUM NIGHTS is determined, only guests searching for two or more nights would be able even to see this rate type since they otherwise wouldn't qualify. If they don't qualify into the rate type, the system will not present it to the guest.

2.) Move to the Rates & Restrictions tab

Inside the rate type, click Rates & Restrictions tab at the top. Here you will see a special version of the Calendar where you can enter new restrictions or edit the ones currently set. Each block or cell is a room-date pair where you can set the appropriate rate. This is also where you program other restrictions and set your rates.

Note: You can copy changes made in one rate to another rate type, if both rate types have pricing set manually. Derived rates will update automatically when the base rate type is changed.
See: How to Copy from One Rate Type to Another.

3.) Identify the dates and room types that need updated

Click the Modify button on the top right. Select the date range you would like to adjust. Select the days of the week and the rooms you would like to update restrictions for. Click Select at the bottom of the box. In the example below, Fridays have been selected for a year's worth of time.

4.) Modify the restrictions

The Modify tool allows you to set and remove restrictions for multiple values at once when the Rates & Restrictions calendar is toggled to Summary. In the example below, we have removed Minimum nights through, added a 2 night Minimum on Arrival, set the Maximum nights on arrival to 10 nights and enabled Closed on departure restrictions for all the selected Fridays. Click Update when you are done.

5.) Check your work

Once you are done, please check your work and then click the black Save button at the bottom right.

Additional Information:

Minimum Nights Qualifier

The minimum nights qualifier (or the maximum nights qualifier) is not a restriction, but a requirement. It's set on the Details tab of the rate type, applied to the entire rate type, doesn't relax like restrictions, and impacts the guest experience on the online booking engine.

Minimum Nights on Arrival

If a customer is arriving on a date that has Minimum Nights on Arrival set, they must meet the minimum nights indicated, if possible. If reservations have been made that make the minimum nights impossible for that room, then the minimum nights will automatically be adjusted/relaxed. For example, if Friday has minimum nights on arrival set to 2, then someone who tries to book a room on Friday must stay at least two nights. If Saturday is already reserved for that room, then the Minimum Night on Arrival for Friday will automatically adjust to 1, allowing you to fill the room. They work in one direction, like this: ⇨

Minimum Nights Through

If a customer is staying on a date that has Minimum Nights Through set, they must meet the minimum nights indicated. If reservations have been made that make the minimum nights impossible, then the minimum nights will automatically be adjusted. For example, if Friday has Minimum Nights Through set to 3, then someone who tries to stay Thursday and Friday must stay at least one more night. If Wednesday and Saturday are already reserved, then the Minimum Night Through for Friday will automatically adjust to 2. They work both directions, like this: ⬄

Prospective guests will receive a message similar to above when searching for availability when a minimum night restriction is in effect.

Editing the number on the Edit Rate Type Calendar

There are 3 ways to change the restrictions on the Rates & Restrictions Calendar:

To change a restriction on a singular date, click on the cell, then the Modify button. This gives you a text box where you can change the restriction for that specific room-date pair.
Click multiple cells that you want to change by clicking and dragging. Holding down the Ctrl key allows you to select cells that are not next to each other and holding down the Shift key will connect two selections. Then continue with the Modify button.
Use the Modify tool. The Modify tool lets you choose dates and rooms. This is the easiest option for setting bulk restrictions. Select the Date range, Days of the week, and Room Types you would like to adjust. Click Select.
The Modify tool allows you to make multiple changes at once when the Rates & Restrictions calendar is toggled to Summary. Decide what changes to make and click Update once complete.

Note: You can confirm Minimums and check the applied numbers by clicking the MIN NIGHTS THROUGH and the MIN NIGHTS ON ARRIVAL buttons above the main availability Calendar. This will toggle the applied minimums to overlay on the Calendar matrix.

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