How does the Inventory and Conversion Dashboard Widget work?

This article is for: Managers

The Inventory and Conversion Dashboard widget has been designed to help you, at a glance, understand your future available inventory and your historical conversion.  Here’s how it works:

Inventory

Shows the number of days available; the number of days with one more enquiries present; the number of days rented (confirmed bookings) and the number of days blocked.  The meaning of blocked depends on the setting of rental type of display:

All: blocked days are days that aren’t available for rental due to family and friend (owner) bookings.
Bookabach: blocked days are days that aren’t available for rental via Bookabach due to either family and friend bookings, or bookings from other sources.
Other: blocked days are days that aren’t available for rental via other sources due to either family and friend bookings, or bookings from Bookabach.

Conversion

Shows the percentage of rental enquiry days converted to actual stays in a historical period. Days with more than one request are counted cumulatively - so you could have 200 days enquired about in a month of only 30 days.  High conversion means you’re being effective at converting enquiries to stays.

Conversion information is filtered by the rental type:

All: Shows conversion of all rental enquiries to stays.
Bookabach: Shows conversion of Bookabach sourced bookings to stays.
Other: Shows conversion of other sourced / externally sourced bookings to stays.

How does the website re-size and manage photos?

This article is for: Managers

The images you upload are automatically re-sized for use on the website. Because screen resolutions have improved over time, we record the maximum size we have each image stored at. This helps us decide how to display images, and in some case whether we can show an image or not.

If you have images that are shown as XL or smaller you should take time to replace or re-upload them. This ensures you have the best quality pictures displayed with your listing.

What does POA mean? (for owners/managers)

This article is for: Managers

POA stands for “Price On Application”.  If your listing is showing POA for pricing, then this means you either don’t have a tariff assigned for the dates in question, or the tariff assigned does not have a price set.

See this help article on How to Edit Pricing.

How do I hide or show availability on my listing?

This article is for: Managers

We encourage you to keep your calendar up to date with the state of all future bookings.  We endeavour to make the website as quick and easy as possible to do this.  However, we can’t force you to do it.  We understand that you may choose not to keep Bookabach up to date.  In this case we ask that you DISABLE the availability information on your listing to help set expectations on the website.

To do this:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Go to Property Settings > Preferences. 
3) Select the relevant property, if you’ve got more than one.
4) Untick the check-box labelled “Show availability”.
5) Click the “Save” button.

To ENABLE display of availability on your listing, tick the check-box and save.

Note that on the Performance Plan you are obliged to let us know which bookings went ahead.  We’ll send you a reminder email on any “unattended” bookings and expect you to act on these emails.  Failure to act may ultimately lead to your listing being disabled and taken offline.

What is a Mate’s Rates discount?

This article is for: Renters

At the conclusion of your stay on a Bookabach property we prompt the owner/manager of the property to give feedback on you as a rental guest.  This feedback becomes part of your publicly viewable profile on Bookabach.  We use a simple star rating system whereby you receive a “star” for each item of good feedback you receive. Your good feedback enables you to receive Mate’s Rates discounts on some properties. 

Many owners/managers understand the value of receiving a booking request from someone with proven good rental history so they are willing to provide a percentage discount to Bookabach member with a certain number of “stars”.

What is the Checklist and where do I find it?

This article is for: Managers

If you are the Rental Contact of a property, you’ll find a handy Checklist in the lower left-hand side of the Dashboard page. 

The Checklist is a way we can clearly indicate to you, in a single place, all the things that need to be completed.  Some items in the Checklist are related to you (as the Rental Contact) and some are related to the property (e.g. pricing or listing completeness).  If you have multiple properties, your Checklist may be complete on some properties but not on others.

Completed items are shown in the Checklist with a green tick.  Incomplete items are shown with a red cross.  The link on each Checklist item takes you through to the relevant section of the website.

If your listing is incomplete, click on the “Listing 100% complete” link in the Checklist, click the arrow in front of the words “More info” (on the right-hand side), then click on the item(s) without a full coloured line to take you to the relevant page.

By completing the Checklist you add 20 points to the score for that property.  This affects how this property is ranked (positioned in the page).

How do I remove (delete) my membership?

This article is for: Managers Renters

If you want to completely remove your details from Bookabach then follow the instructions below.  Note that this is different than “unsubscribing” - which is where you opt out from receiving some or all of our marketing communications.

Renters:

1) Go to http://www.bookabach.co.nz and log into My Bookabach
2) Click the “Remove membership” link. 
3) Confirm this action by clicking the red “Remove membership” button.

Owners/Managers:

If you have recently sold a property and want to transfer your listing and booking history to the new owner see this help article.

1) Resign from, or disband any properties you are associated with by going to My Account > Properties and clicking the “Remove” link next to the property name.
2) Log into the Renter website http://www.bookabach.co.nz  (use the link at the top)
3) Under your contact details you’ll find a “Remove membership” link. 

NOTE: If you have rental bookings you have committed to in the future and cannot meet these commitments, please contact us.

How do I opt out from receiving newsletters?

This article is for: Managers Renters

You can opt out from receiving the marketing communications we send to you by following the instructions below.  Note that our marketing system is continuously updated with new details but it can take 2-5 days for any changes to take effect. 

Renters:
1) Go to http://www.bookabach.co.nz
2) Click the My Bookabach tab and log in
3) Click the “Newsletter Preferences” link (on the right-hand side).  This will take you to My Bookabach > Newsletter options
4) Un-tick the boxes for the communications you no longer wish to receive
5) Click the “Save” button.

Owners/Managers:
1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in
2) Go to My Settings > Personal Preferences
3) Un-tick the boxes for the communications you no longer wish to receive
4) Click the “Save” button.

Note that if you are the owner or Rental Contact of one or more properties on Bookabach, you cannot opt out from receiving the Owner/Manager edition of our newsletter. They often contain critical information about the website.

How do I cancel my booking? (rental guests)

This article is for: Renters

If you’ve made a booking through Bookabach but need to cancel, please notify the owner/manager directly that you are cancelling:

1) Log in to My Bookabach on http://www.bookabach.co.nz
2) Click the “Bookings” tab.
3) Click the “Cancel booking” button for the relevant entry.  This will generate an email to send to the owner/manager, and you can optionally add in your own message.
4) Click the “Send” button.

If you’ve already paid a deposit, depending on the agreement you have in place between you and the owner/manager, you may forfeit some or all of the rental deposit or rental payment you have paid.  We recommend that you check the owner’s/manager’s rental terms and cancellation policy before you cancel.  If the owner/manager is using online rental terms, you can view them using the Booking Statement: View/Download links on the Bookings page of your “My Bookabach” account.

How do I change my contact details?

This article is for: Managers Renters

You can change your address and/or phone numbers, and add your AA Membership or Smartfuel number to your profile.

To change your contact details on Bookabach:

Renters:
1) Log in to your “My Bookabach” account.
2) Click the “Update my details” link.
3) Enter the new details and click the “Save” button.

Owners/Managers:
1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in
2) Go to My Settings > Personal Details
3) Click the “Edit personal details” button.
4) Enter the new details and click the “Save” button.

How do I request a booking?

This article is for: Renters

Every Bookabach listing has a price and availability box that is located underneath the main property description.  To make a booking request, follow these simple steps:

1) Either enter your arrival date using the calendar icon and click the “Go” button, or scan for your dates using the scroll-key at the top of the calendar.  You can scan week by week by clicking the arrows on each side of the display.
Note that we use the following colour codes on the calendar:
RED: The property is already booked.
YELLOW: Provisionally booked (a requested or accepted booking is already present).  You are welcome to make an enquiry but you are unlikely to have it accepted.
GREY: Availability information not displayed.  You can still request a booking, but you will have to wait to find out availability.
You’ll also find public, provincial and school holidays marked on the calendar (small coloured triangles)

2) Use the tick-boxes to select the dates you want to stay.  Holding your cursor over a date will bring up a pop-up box with full pricing information and any minimum night stay requirement.

3) Click the red “Request a booking” button once you’ve selected your days.  (Note: the green “Make a booking” button is designed to switch between pages and doesn’t actually lodge your booking).

4) Add and/or edit the relevant details and submit your request.

When you request a booking, the website will immediately notify the bach owner or property manager.   You’ll receive an acknowledgement email from us and in most cases it will have the property owner’s/manager’s contact phone numbers, so you can call to follow up your request. 

A record of your booking request will be entered in My Bookabach > Bookings.

How do I update my email address?

This article is for: Managers Renters

To update your email address:

Renters:

1) Go to http://www.bookabach.co.nz and log into My Bookabach using your old email address and password.

2) Click the “Change” link after your email address.

3) Enter the relevant details and click the “Save” button.

Owners/Property Managers:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2) Go to My Settings > Personal Details. 

3) Click the “Change email address” button.

4) Enter the relevant details and click the “Save” button.

What is the difference between Feedback and the Guest Book?

This article is for: Managers

Member Feedback provides information about historical transactions between members (owners, property managers and renters) on Bookabach.  Owners and property managers are rewarded for positive feedback and each piece of positive feedback will improve the ranking of your bach in search results.  To find member feedback, click the blue numbers or stars next to that member’s user name.

The Guest Book provides comments left by guests on a specific bach and is available to view on every Bookabach listing.   Guest Book entries have no effect on bach rankings.

Both parties receive a "Request for Feedback"  after a stay has been Confirmed and then completed.

How do I remove my property from the website?

This article is for: Managers

Taking your listing offline

You can disable your listing, removing it from the listing pages, by using the “Go offline” link.  You’ll find this link in the “Status” box on the Dashboard page when you first log in to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz. 

Note that it can take up to an hour for this to take effect on Bookabach.  Affiliate websites that “cache” property listing may take even longer to remove your listing, but during this period rental enquiries and questions are blocked.

Taking your listing offline DOES NOT affect your property score/ranking. However, you can no longer see the score/ranking calculation information (on the Listing > Listing performance page) as this works off live listing data.

Note also that disabling your listing does not stop the clock on your subscription (for Subscription Plan listings).

Enabling your listing

To put your listing back online follow the procedure above but use the “Go online” link.

COMPLETELY REMOVING YOUR PROPERTY

If you’ve sold your property, you may want to consider transferring your listing and its full rental history over to the new owner.  See the separate help article related to this.

If your listing is on the Performance Plan, any past and future booking requests still at the “Requested” or “Accepted” stages must be updated first.

If you want to permanently remove your listing altogether then:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Select the relevant property, if you’ve got more than one.
3) Go to Property Settings.
4) Click the “Delete property” link (in the lower left-hand corner) and follow the prompts from there.

You’ll need to re-enter your password.

We suggest that you print your invoices and receipts for tax/accounting purposes from My Account > Account Statement before permanently removing your property, otherwise you won’t be able to access this information once it’s been deleted.

How do Quotations work?

This article is for: Managers

To enable the Quotations function, please:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Go to My Settings > Advanced feature settings.
3) Tick the “Enable Quotations and Payments” box and click the “Save” button.

The website automatically creates a quotation whenever a rental booking is created.  It does this for bookings received via the website and bookings you add manually.  The quotation is based on:

• Your rental tariffs over the booking dates from information you’ve provided in Listing > Edit Pricing
• Included, Optional and Required Extras from Listing > Edit Pricing > Extras.   You’ll need to delete any Optional Extras that don’t apply for the booking.
• Any applicable discounts based on Special Deals information you’ve provided in Listing > Edit pricing/Deals

To edit a Quotation, open the relevant booking and click the “Quotations” tab.  You’ll find links to edit, delete or add pricing information.

This Quotation will initially appear as ESTIMATED.  It won’t appear on your guest’s Booking Statement until it’s been VALIDATED (approved) by you and the booking status is “Accepted”.  You can make any changes to the quotation; edit line items; and new line items.  After you’ve validated the quotation it becomes available to your guest as part of the the Booking Statement. 

You can manually override the quotation using the “Override” link, and specify a single quoted value.  “OVERRIDDEN” will show on the quoted value if this is done.

Calculations are automatically performed on any booking less than 31 days long.  “TOO LONG” will appear on bookings too long to calculate.

When you accept a booking you have the option to validate the quotation and convert the quotation to a charge all in a single step.

NOTE: If you edit dates on a booking, then you’ll have to manually re-set the quotation as our system doesn’t automatically do this.

I’m selling my bach and want to transfer my listing to the new owner.  How do I do this?

This article is for: Managers

If you sell your holiday home it is possible to transfer ownership of your listing, complete with its trading history (guest book and ranking), to the new owner.

First, the new owner must register on Bookabach to create a membership (if they’re not already a member).  They must include their full contact details.  Once they’ve done this you can complete the transfer process.  Here’s how:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Select the relevant property, if you have more than one.
3) Go to Property settings > Property Members.
4) Click “+Add member”.
3) Add the new owner as a member with their full name and email address (the one they’ve registered with on Bookabach).  Be sure to assign them the ‘Admin’, ‘Billing’ and ‘Rental contact’ roles to give them full access to the listing.

Once the new owner has accepted the membership and taken over admin, billing and rental contact roles, then they can remove you from the property account.

We suggest that you print your invoices and receipts for tax/accounting purposes (go to My Account > Statements/Tax Invoices) before transferring the listing, otherwise you won’t be able to access this information once the new owners have removed you from the property account.

Note that your Bookabach member feedback DOES NOT get transferred to the new owner as it’s about you and your dealings on Bookabach.  The property Guest Book entries remain with the property and the “ranking” you’ve achieved is preserved.

Feedback requests will be sent to the person who was the Rental Contact at the time the booking was lodged.

How do I edit, update or change a booking?

This article is for: Managers

To edit a booking:

1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2. Find the booking using the search field at the top of the page, or by going to the Bookings page.  Click the down arrow in the date range box and select the required time frame.
3. Click the “Open Booking” link for the entry.
4. Click the Edit booking link (located under the renter’s name).
5. Make your changes and click the “Save” button.

If you can’t edit a Confirmed in-progress booking, please contact us or put in a support request before the scheduled departure date and we’ll make the changes for you.

Note that if you are using Payment Tracking (Quotations and Payments) and you change dates, then you will need to re-quote (reset the quotation) to calculate the new charges.

How do I cancel a booking? (owners/property managers)

This article is for: Managers

Should you have a cancellation please take time to cancel the booking. To do this:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Click the Bookings tab.
3) Find the booking in question by using the search facility at the top of the page, or by clicking the down-arrow in the date-range box and selecting “All future bookings”.
4) Click the “Cancel booking” link on the right-hand side of the entry.

We do not charge Performance Plan success fees on stays that do not go ahead but you need to cancel the booking before the scheduled departure date.  If you can’t cancel a Confirmed in-progress booking, please notify Bookabach before the scheduled departure date and we’ll do it for you.

If you didn’t cancel a Performance Plan booking before the scheduled departure date, we can cancel the success fee invoice for you, but charge a manual transaction fee to do this.

How do I upload photos to my listing?

This article is for: Managers

To upload a photo to your listing:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2) Go to Listing > Edit Listing > Manage Pictures

2) Select +Add picture and browse your files to find a picture.

3) Give the picture a short descriptive caption (you must provide this).  Please don’t include any symbols in the caption, including apostrophes, “&” symbol etc, as this may cause your listing to display incorrectly.

4) Tick the Display on listing checkbox if you want the picture to appear on your listing.

5) Click the Upload Image button to upload.

Bookabach currently supports Landscape Format pictures only, i.e. Portrait format pictures (taken with the camera on its side) are not supported.

Large images can take some time to upload, so be patient - and don’t click the back button!  For extra large images, consider reducing the resolution to 1024 x 768 pixels. There are a number of ways to reduce the size of your images.  If you have Windows XP or Vista, you can reduce the photo size automatically by emailing the photo to yourself.

How do I add family and friends to my property?

This article is for: Managers

You can add family and friends to your property.  They can see when the property is available and add their own bookings (if you want them to be able to).

To add a member to your property:

If they’re not already a member of Bookabach they need to first go to the www.bookabach.co.nz website and register using the “Sign up” link at the top of the page; then…

1) Log into http://manage.bookabach.co.nz.

2) Go to Property Settings - the link next to the property name.

3) Click on Property Members

4) Use the +Add member link in the Members table.

5) Enter the relevant details and click the “Next” button.

6) Click the “Send” button.

We’ll automatically send them an invitation to join this property with your personalised message.  They have the option to accept or decline this invitation.

I manage multiple properties.  How do I order a printed sign for each property?

This article is for: Managers

Every printed sign displays a unique website link (URL) to your Bookabach listing.  If you have a number of bach listings with Bookabach it is important that each sign is customised for the appropriate bach.  To order a sign for each of your properties:

1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz, log in and go to the Resources page (Manage > Resources).
2. Select the bach you want the sign for from the “Select bach” box.
3. Follow the link to order your sign.  This will take you to the Sabre Signs website where your order will be taken.
4. To order a sign for a different bach, return to the Resources page, select another bach and repeat step three.

This will ensure you receive the correct printed customised signage for each property.

How do I change my (Performance Plan) Success Fee?

This article is for: Managers

You can make changes to your Performance Plan success fee at any time to either boost your ranking (position on the page) or reduce your spend.  To do this:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2) Go to Property Settings > Success Fee.

3) Use the Success Fee slider to select a new success fee.  The Ranking table shows the effect any change will have on where your listing appears on Bookabach.

4) Use the “Confirm success fee change” button to accept the change.

Any change you make to your success fee becomes active on booking requests received from that point on.  i.e. Success fees for bookings received prior to this will be charged at the nominated success fee in place at the time these booking requests (or questions) were received.

If your Bookabach Conversion falls to less than 10%* you will be unable to nominate a higher that base level Success Fee and to bid for position.  If this happens:

- Confirm any past bookings that went ahead.  This will improve your historical conversion.

- Add any future bookings from other sources.  This will stop you from receiving Bookabach booking requests for periods where you have no availability.

- Confirm any future Bookabach bookings in advance of the stay.  This will stop you from receiving any more Bookabach booking requests for the same period.

Once your Bookabach Conversion is 10% or over you will once again be able to bid for position using your Success Fee.

* Note: an exception is made if your listing is less than 6 months old or you’ve received less than 20 booking nights of rental enquiries.

How do I set up a Rental Terms (a rental agreement)?

This article is for: Managers

To define your Rental Terms:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2) Go to My Settings > Rental Terms. 

3) Select the online Rental Terms option and complete the basic questionnaire. 

Once you save the questionnaire form, the following information is created:

* Payment Terms: What portion of the payment should be paid when (e.g. deposit vs. balance)

* Cancellation Terms: Settings associated with how you handle cancellations. 

* Cancellation Charges: What amounts are forfeited when a booking is cancelled.

* Other Rental Terms: Any other Rental Terms you want to include in your agreement. For example you may have a policy on pets, or on-site camping.

Once you’ve created your Rental Terms, you need to validate them before they can be used.  Once they have been validated, they’ll be included on a Booking Statement (see the separate help article on this).

Note that we snap-shot your Rental Terms on each booking request.  So,  if you make changes over time you still have a record of what terms applied when a booking was lodged.

How do I recover a deleted booking?

This article is for: Managers

Bookabach lets you recover bookings that were either declined or cancelled (deleted). To do this:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2) Go to the Bookings Tab.

3) Click the down arrow in the date-range box and select the required time period.

4) Tick the “Show deleted (Declined/Cancelled)” check-box (located under the “Table View” button) to display deleted bookings (shown in pink).

5) Use the “Recover booking” link for the entry you want to recover.

Rental bookings that are recovered are shown in the “Requested” state.  From there you will need to Accept/Confirm/Complete them as required.

Can I change from one plan to another after I’ve registered?

This article is for: Managers

Yes, you can move from one plan to another at any time.

If you are moving from the Subscription Plan to the Performance Plan, the remaining value of your subscription will be credited to your Bookabach account. You will need to pay any additional amount required to bring your account to the minimum start-up credit. Note that you will not be charged success fees on bookings you’ve received prior to moving to the Performance Plan.

If you choose to move from the Performance Plan to the Subscription Plan you will need to purchase a new 1-year subscription and pay any additional amount required for this. Note that you are obligated to pay the success fees associated with any Performance Plan bookings you have received up until your move to a different plan since you received the marketing benefits while on this plan that led to you receiving these bookings.

To change from one plan to another:

1)  Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in
2)  Go to My Account > Properties, expand the Property you want to change (by clicking the green arrow).
3)  Click the “Change Plan” link. 
4)  Select the new plan, then follow the prompts from there.
-OR-
Go to Property Settings and follow steps 3 and 4 above.

How can I take my listing offline/online?

This article is for: Managers

DISABLING your listing

If you go away and are concerned about servicing enquiries on your property in your absence, you can temporarily disable your listing.

To do this:

1. Log into http://manage.bookabach.co.nz
2. On the the Dashboard page (the page you first come to) find where it says “Status”
3. Click the link that says “Go offline”

Note that the website can take up to 60 minutes to make these changes.

Taking your listing offline DOES NOT affect your property score/ranking. However, you can no longer see the score/ranking calculation information (on the Listing > Listing performance page) as this works off live listing data.

Note also that disabling your listing does not stop the clock on your subscription (for Subscription Plan listings).

ENABLING your listing

To put your listing back online follow the procedure above but use the “Go online” link.

How can I change the Rental/Billing/Admin Contact (Roles) for my listing?

This article is for: Managers

You can have as many members you like associated with your property.  Contact Roles however need to be unique.  You can only have one Rental Contact, one Billing Contact and one Admin Contact.  They can be the same person - or roles can be split across multiple members. 

* The Admin Contact has ultimate authority and ownership of the property online.  Only the Admin Contact can add members, change permissions and change roles.
* The Billing Contact gets any account related correspondence and is responsible for paying for any charges.
* The Rental Contact receives any rental-related correspondence and is responsible for responding to rental enquiries.

To change a Contact Role:

1) Log in and go to Property Settings.
2) Under ‘Members and Roles’ select Roles and Permissions.
3) Select the Role by checking the radio button(s) for the relevant member and click save.

Before you can assign a person as the Rental, Admin or Billing contacts they must have contact phone numbers added to their personal profile.

How can I pay (top-up) my account?

This article is for: Managers

You will find all your account information by going to the “My Account” section of your property account.

To make a payment:
1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Click the “My Account” link (located under your name in the top right-hand side of the screen).
3) Click the “Make a Payment” link.

You can choose to pay by Credit Card, Cheque or Internet Banking.  Payment instructions will be given after you select a payment method.

Please allow up to 5 working days for processing of Internet Banking or Cheques.  These types of payments require manual processing (Credit Card payments do not).

Please note that making a payment and renewing a subscription are two separate functions, and making a payment doesn’t automatically renew a subscription.

If you want to renew a subscription, use the “Renew Subscription” link in the “Status” box on the Dashboard page and DO NOT use the “Make a Payment” link.

How do I Confirm an Accepted booking?

This article is for: Managers

You should confirm bookings once a deposit has been received as security.  To convert an Accepted Booking to a Confirmed Booking:

1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2. Click the Bookings Tab

3. Find the booking using the search facility at the top of the page, or by clicking the down arrow in the date-range box and selecting “All future bookings”.

4. Click the “Confirm booking” link (on the right-hand side).

We give you the option to send an email to your customer indicating that the booking has been confirmed.  Confirmed bookings show as red (booked) on your calendar and red (booked) on your listing.

How does Bookastay/Bookabach order (rank) properties on the website?

This article is for: Managers

The default order (or ranking) of listings on any page is dictated by a property score calculated using a number of factors:

1) Rental contact’s feedback: One point is awarded for each item of positive feedback received related to the management of this property over the past 24 months

2) Loyalty: Two points are awarded for each year the property has been actively listed.

3) Success fee: Available only on Performance Plan listings: One point is awarded for every 20c over the base-level success fee rate.

4) Checklist complete: 20 points are awarded if the Dashboard page Checklist related to the property and rental contact is complete.

Properties are ranked by score in descending order (highest scoring first).  If multiple properties have the same score, the oldest listing appears first.

To view your property score and ranking go to Listing > Listing Performance.  NOTE: We reserve the right to add criteria and modify this ranking calculation over time and without notice.

How can I improve my listing performance?

This article is for: Managers

Bookabach keeps count of how many times your full-page listing is viewed each month (Listing Views) - and how many times it shows up in search results (Search Views).  With the Listing View and Search View performance graphs you can see how your listing is performing compared with averages - locally, regionally and nationally.

If your listing is under-performing compared to the average for that locale check the following:

1. Your Offer:

• Does your listing have complete information? Text, images, bed layout, facilities/activities.
• Are your images compelling, clear and well-lit?  Make sure you include exterior and interior images of your holiday home.  Also consider including pictures of local attractions (beaches, lakes, mountains etc.).  Make sure you choose the most attention-grabbing image as your "main image".  This is the image that shows on your short listing.
• How is your pricing compared to others in your locale?

2. Your Feedback:

Beyond making sure your listing is complete, attention-grabbing and your pricing is fair and reasonable, the most effective way to improve your performance is by improving your score and ranking.  To maximize your feedback make sure you confirm any bookings that go ahead (or bookings in the past that went ahead).  This will ensure you receive maximum feedback.

3. Is your Checklist complete?

4. Do you really have a problem?:

Finally, remember that Bookabach searches on actual availability based on information from your calendar. As your property gets more and more booked out you will see a drop in the number of Listing Views/Search Views. This is to be expected - and actually a good thing.  It means rental guests aren’t wasting their time (and yours) looking at properties that aren’t available.

How do Manager Text Alerts (SMS) work?

This article is for: Managers

Manager Text alerts let you know when a new booking request is received or a question is asked about your property.  They are especially useful if you don’t check your email everyday.

The text includes the following information:

Your property ID: The property can be viewed using www.bookabach.co.nz/

The booking reference: (if a booking) is the booking event reference.  You can log into the owner/manager website and use the search feature in Bookings Tab.  Just type the booking reference in the search box to locate the booking.

The member info: Includes name and contact phone numbers for the inquiring member.

To receive Manager Text Alerts you must be the Rental Contact. You must opt-in to receiving alerts (My settings > Preferences) and have your mobile number validated (My settings > Personal details).  Manager Text Alerts are FREE until further notice. We’ll let you know well in advance if we decide we need to start charging for this particular aspect of our service.

How do I set up an email template?

This article is for: Managers

You can set up email templates for standard responses you need while managing bookings through the website.  For example, you may want a standard “accept booking” template that includes how to pay a rental deposit; or you may have a standard response for when a booking is cancelled.

You can choose the template you want to use at the time you send your email correspondence through the website, and the website will remember the last template you used for that given action.

To set up an email template:
1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2. Go to My Settings and then Email Templates.  You will find our default email templates for different stages of the booking process.

To create your custom version of an existing template:

1. Locate the template you want your email to be based on and click ‘Copy’.
2. Edit the text of the template, and use the ‘Insert Field’ option to insert Guest, Booking and Contact details that is specific to that particular booking.
3. Save all changes.

To create your own template, please click the “+Add template” link.

NOTE: If you manage multiple properties then we recommend you keep these templates generic and don’t include property-specific information in them.

I own or manage apartments.  Can I list my properties on Bookastay/Bookabach?

This article is for: Managers

Bookabach has been specifically designed for renters to view and request a booking for independent holiday houses and holiday homes, i.e. for a common-occupancy dwelling, and not to promote a branded total complex.  As such, our reservation engine currently lacks the ability to offer multiple room inventory within a single listing.

We do support Apartment and Flat/Duplex as an accommodation category, but if you choose to list under this category we require a single listing per apartment (in order to show accurate availability and tariff information), even if the property descriptions and photographs are identical.

How do I manage bookings on Bookabach/Bookastay?

This article is for: Managers

Bookabach helps you keep track of the state of your bookings.  For rental bookings the following states apply:

REQUESTED > ACCEPTED > CONFIRMED > COMPLETED

1) When you receive a booking request, the entry will show in the REQUESTED state (shown in YELLOW)

2) After vetting the person, you will decide whether or not you wish to rent to them.  Should you decide to go ahead and accept the booking, the state becomes ACCEPTED (shown in BROWN).  An Accepted booking is one where you have both committed to the rental, but you have not yet received a deposit to secure the booking . 

3) Once you have received the deposit, you should confirm the booking to block off the dates on the listing availability calendar.  The booking then shows in the CONFIRMED state (shown in RED).

4) After the scheduled departure date has passed for a CONFIRMED booking, it shows in the COMPLETED state (shown in BLUE) - you don’t need to do anything for this to happen.

If you decline a booking, or if the booking is cancelled, it shows as DECLINED or CANCELLED (shown in GRAY).  Note that declined and cancelled bookings won’t show on your calendar by default - you’ll need to click the “Show deleted” check-box to reveal them.

I’ve forgotten my password, how do I retrieve (reset) it?

This article is for: Managers Renters

You’ll find a “Forgotten password” link on every log-in form.  This will take you to a page with instructions on how you can re-set your password.  For security reasons we encrypt passwords and we no longer send them out in emails.  The Reset Password email you’ll receive contains a special link you can use to set-up a new access password.

If you request a password re-set more than once, use the most recent link sent to you, as previous links will be invalidated each time you request a new one.

How do I order a printed sign for my bach?

This article is for: Managers

Printed signs are a great way to promote your bach to foot- and road traffic and encourages renters to choose your place next time they’re in the area.

We have entered into a supply agreement with Sabre Signs (Christchurch).  The signs are custom printed in colour on 420x300mm durable Forex plastic (3mm) and include the custom link to your bach listing on the website.

To order a sign:

1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2. Go to Resources.
3. Click the “Order a sign” button in the “Order a sign for your bach” area.

Signs cost $19.99 (incl. packing and shipping) and are typically delivered within a week.

If you have an order enquiry, or need to follow up regarding a sign shipment, please contact Sabre Signs directly on 0800 722 737.

How do I change the default check-in/check-out time on my property?

This article is for: Managers

We default check-in/check-out times to 12:00noon/4:00pm respectively.  However, you can set up your own default check-in/check-out times.  You’ll find these in the Property Preferences:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Select the property you want to change.
3) Go to Property Settings > Preferences.

Note that check-in/out times are shown in 24 hr format.

How do I Accept or Decline a Booking Request?

This article is for: Managers

When someone enquires about a stay at your property, you will receive a booking request via email.  The same information shows up on your bookings calendar as an entry with status REQUESTED.  You will also find a link to a Requested booking in the Notifications section of the Dashboard page.  It is up to you to vet the enquirer for suitability.  After you’ve done this, you need to make a decision on whether you want to accept or decline this booking request.

To ACCEPT the booking request:
Once you both agree on terms of rental, you can accept the booking.  To do this:

1. Locate the booking on your Calendar by either:
* Clicking the link in the email you’ve received; or
* Going to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and logging in, and using the link in Notifications; or
* Using the booking search facility at the top of the page and typing in their name; or
* Clicking the “Bookings” tab, clicking the down-arrow in the date-range box and selecting “All future bookings”.

2. Click the “Accept booking” link on the right-hand side of the entry.  Please note that you can click the “Open Booking” link to expand the entry and find more options to update it.

To DECLINE the booking request:
If you don’t want to accept the request, locate the booking as above and decline it by using the “Decline booking” link.

In either case, the system will then give you the option to send an email to the renter.  Any emails you send via the site appear in the History section of the opened booking.

How do I edit pricing on my bach?

This article is for: Managers

To edit pricing:

1) Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2) Go to Listing > Pricing and deals.

To set up pricing, you must first set-up your “tariffs”, which are “price levels”.  Once your tariffs are defined,  you need to apply these across the date ranges you want.

Step 1: Setting up tariffs

Use the ‘+Add tariff’ link.  The following fields are defined:

* Tariff name: Choose a descriptive name that will help you like "high-season"
* Week-day and week-end/holiday rates: Bookabach automatically displays the correct pricing depending on the day of week and whether it’s a public holiday.
* Occupancy (for up to..): allows you to set a lower base price level if fewer people stay.  Note: You can’t select “N/A - Max occupancy” if you want to charge for extra adults/children.
* Minimum number of nights: Define a minimum number of nights stay for dates of this tariff level.

Step 2: Apply your tariffs across date ranges

1) Select tariff you wish to apply (by clicking the circle on the left-hand side of a coloured box).

2) Enter the date range in the “From” and “To” fields (use the calendar icons to select dates).

3) Click the “Apply tariff” button.

4) Repeat the above steps with each different tariff until your pricing is 100% complete and at least covers the period your booking calendar is open.

Each tariff can be applied to a number of date ranges as many times as you like.  To help you, we show you public, regional and school holidays in the calendar (marked with coloured corners). 

The pricing calendar is live, so you’ll have to periodically update your pricing to keep up with the passing days.

If you want to offer a long stay discount, e.g. 7 nights for the price of 6, then add a Special Deal to your listing.

How do I add a property manager to my property?

This article is for: Managers

If you use, or want to use, a local property manager you can add them to your property on Bookabach. You can choose to have them handle your rental enquiries (or not) and they can see who’s coming to the bach and when.

To add a property manager first you must HAVE THEM create a membership (if they’re not already a member).  They’ll need to supply their phone numbers if you plan on having them act as the Rental Contact.  Once they have done this:

1) Log into http://manage.bookabach.co.nz.

2) Go to Property Settings - the link next to the property name.

3) Use the +Add member link in the Members table.

4) Choose Property Manager as the member type. Select what roles you would like this Property Manager to be assigned to (Property Administrator, Rental Contact, Billing Contact).

We’ll automatically send them an invitation email with your personalised message.  Once they’ve accepted this invitation the roles you’ve assigned will be automatically transferred over.

Note that multiple people can manage rental on Bookabach but only one person can be the Rental Contact for rental related correspondence.

Should I show a map on my listing?

This article is for: Managers

Whether you choose to display a map on your listing or not is entirely up to you.

Some bach owners have concerns regarding security and publicising both availability and location information on the website.  For a would-be rental guest this is exactly the information they need to aid their decision on finding a bach to rent, however, it may be seen as useful intelligence to any burglar.

1. Ensure deadlocks are fitted
2. Hide valuables - or don’t keep any at the bach
3. Keep any computers, audio-visual equipment etc. in places that can not be viewed from outside
4. Consider installing an alarm system
5. Have a local representative or caretaker who can keep an eye on the place while you or tenants are not staying
6. Make sure you have proper insurance

I operate a Bed and Breakfast. Can I list on Bookastay/Bookabach?

This article is for: Managers

While historically Bookabach NZ had supported Bed and Breakfast as an accommodation category, this category is no longer accepted on Bookabach, Bookastay Australia or Bookastay Pacifica. 

Bookabach has been specifically designed for renters to view and request a booking for independent holiday houses and holidays homes, i.e. for a common-occupancy dwelling.  As such, our reservation engine currently lacks the ability to offer multiple room inventory within a single listing.

Why are modified digital photos unacceptable?

This article is for: Managers

It’s against our terms of use to upload and publish modified images on your listing.  Modifications include:

- Borders
- Text
- Overlay images or logos
- Excessive filtering or colour enhancements

We have this policy for a number of reasons.  Firstly we want to provide the best and most consistent user experience.  While a bright red border on your photos may seem like a good way to attract attention it’s also really confusing for the website user (“Why has that one got a red border? Did I click something?”). 

Secondly, we want images to reflect reality - not some hyper-saturated colour make-believe-land! 

Lastly, adding text in the form of URLs, phone numbers or company names - or logos and images may seem like a great way of getting your name out there it is against our terms of use!

I’m using Payment Tracking.  How do I change a due date on an individual payment?

This article is for: Managers

If you are using Payment Tracking a Payment Schedule for a booking is set-up automatically when you accept the booking. The expected payment dates are derived from the information your supply in your Payment Terms (in your Rental Terms).  However, you can change these dates if you need to for individual bookings.  For example, perhaps you’ve made an agreement for balance to be paid on arrival, rather than in advance. To change the payment schedule dates associated with an individual booking:

1) Find the booking and open it.

2) Click the Charges & Payments tab.

3) Use the edit link next to the payment you want to re-schedule in the Payment Schedule table.

What do the colours mean on the listing price/availability?

This article is for: Renters

We use colours to describe the availability status of each property. These colours show in the Price/Availability area of the listing. Here’s what they mean:

WHITE: Available.

YELLOW: Provisionally booked. One or more requested or accepted bookings may be present on this day, but nothing confirmed yet. By all means make an enquiry - but understand you’ll only get a look-in if someone cancels.

RED: Booked. A confirmed booking is present on this day.  Booking requests are no longer accepted.

GREY: Availability unknown. The owner/manager is not committed to providing availability information to Bookabach.

GREEN: Selected. A day you’ve selected for your booking.

What should be included in a rental agreement?

This article is for: Managers

A Rental Agreement protects both you and your guests and can prevent time consuming and potentially costly disputes.

Your Rental Agreement should include:

* Payment Terms (when you expect payment(s) to be made)

* Cancellation Terms and charges (what happens when someone cancels)

It should also include a clause that describes what happens if you (the owner or property manager) has to cancel the booking.

To create a Rental Agreement online:

1) Log into the owner/manager website

2) Go to My Settings > Rental Terms

For more advice on what to include in a Rental Agreement see the article: "What to include in a rental agreement".

How do I edit (make changes to) my listing?

This article is for: Managers

To edit your listing login and go to Listing. Then go to Edit Listing.

In the menu on the left hand side of the page you’ll find all the features you need to edit your listing. To ensure you complete everything, try using the Step Me Through It wizard located at the top of the column on the left side of your screen.

How do I set up a Mates Rates discount?

This article is for: Managers

Mates Rates discounts help you attract guests with good rental history.  Here’s how it works: 

Every time someone stays at a property through Bookabach the owner or property manager of the property they stay at is asked to give feedback on them.  They receive a "star" each time they stay somewhere and receive good feedback.

With Mates Rates you nominate a discount you offer for your property for member with a specific level of positive feedback (stars).

To add a Mates Rates discount to your listing:

1. Log in and go to Pricing and Deals (Listing > Pricing & Deals).
2. Scroll down and click on the Edit link next to where it says Mates Rates.
3. Nominate the number of stars and the discount level.
4. Check the ‘show on my listing’ checkbox, and submit your changes.

Why do you not support feedback for externally added rental bookings?

This article is for: Managers

We only support feedback on transactions made via the website, i.e. Bookabach bookings and questions made via a property listing page on the website.

Sorry, but we can’t allow feedback from externally added bookings as it would open the feedback system to potential abuse.

What reports can I find on Bookabach?

This article is for: Managers

Bookabach has three types of reports: the Ins and Outs report, the Occupancy report and the Bookings report.

The Ins and Outs report shows a calendar of arrivals and departures. If you manage more than one property you can use this report to schedule activities such as coordinating keys and cleaning. The contact details (email and phone numbers) of all guests is shown at the foot of this report.

The occupancy report is a pie-graph showing total occupancy for a set period. On this graph, dates can also be selected for a set time period, and information exported to a printable PDF file.

The bookings report generates a list of bookings made in a set time period. The information in this report is generated using pricing and occupancy information from the time the booking request is lodged. To edit any information in the report, click on the booking reference number in the left column and edit any relevant details.

Why can’t I put my contact details in my listing?

This article is for: Managers

Your contact details will be provided to someone once they’ve made a booking request on your property. If you have requested that they follow up with a phone call (My Settings > Personal Preferences)  this will be reflected in the email instructions under “what to do next”.

Please DO NOT put your name, phone numbers or email address directly in your listings. It’s against our site terms and conditions to do this. Here’s why:
* It completely bypasses our enquiry process so you won’t have a record of the dates requested.  You would need to keep track and manually add this information later on (dates, enquirer details etc).
* You will not get feedback on transactions obtained outside of this standard channel.
* We can only help when we have bookings in the system. Without this information we can not track bookings, provide customer service around a particular booking request or track occupancy and booking data to improve the website.
* It’s against the site terms and conditions of use.

Finally, in the case of Performance Plan listings, bypassing the booking request process means lost revenue to us.  And that REALLY winds us up!

How far in advance can I accept bookings?

This article is for: Managers

Bookabach allows you to select how far into the future you wish to accept requests for bookings (your selling period).  On the Price and Availability display on the listing, any dates beyond your selected period will be blocked and enquiries will not be accepted.

To change your selling period:

1) Log into http://manage.bookabach.co.nz
2) Go to Property Settings > Preferences
3) Where it says “Accept bookings” choose between 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, 15 months and 24 months.

How do I convert a question into a booking?

This article is for: Managers

To convert a question into a booking:
1) Log in and go to Bookings > Questions.
2) Use the “Convert to Booking Request” link beneath the question.
3) Define dates, number of people staying etc. and submit this.

The system gives you the option to send an email to your rental guest.

How do I order a floorplan (PhotoPlan) for my property?

This article is for: Managers

A floorplan on your listing is a superb way to provide far greater detail about the features of your property that cannot always be captured by a normal photo.

Bookabach has partnered with PhotoPlan to provide you with 2D and 3D floorplans of your property, including up to 20 quality photos providing details about room numbers, room size, the flow between rooms and even furniture positioning.

To order a floorplan go to the Rental Resources section of the website and follow the links (My Bookabach > Rental > Resources). Floorplans and photography cost $299* (normally $365).

Bookings are scheduled between 10 October and 20 December in selected areas. Appointments are only available between the advertised dates and are only available in certain locations. Click here to find out when PhotoPlan will be in your area.

How do I add special deals to my listing?

This article is for: Managers

Providing one or more special deals on your listing is a good idea. By doing so your listing will appears in any searches that are filtered on "Special Deals". We offer the following special deal settings:

Last minute discounts are a way for you to entice people to make a last minute decision to take a break. It also helps to sell unsold nights. Use one of these if you were rather the place be occupied, but at a lower rate, rather than empty.  You nominate how far into the future you consider "last minute" and what percentage discount you are willing to offer for these nights.

Mates Rates discounts are a powerful tool for incentivising members of Bookabach with a clear rental track record. If you are willing to discount to get a good tenant than set-up a Mates Rate discount. You define what discount level (percent) and what minimum member star rating is required to get this discount.

Multi-night stay discounts are an incentive for people to extend their stay for a longer period than they would otherwise - which increases spend.  You nominate how many nights needed to qualify for a one-night discount.  The night discounted is the "lowest cost night".

Lastly, gifts and giveaways are a small but noticeable addition to your listing.  It can be simple as "a bottle of wine" or "free fish bait".  It all helps demonstrate your hospitality!

How do I change the period of time in the future I wish to accept a booking for?

This article is for: Managers

On Bookabach, your price-availability display will allow renters to request a booking for a set period in the future. To increase or decrease this period of time, you need to go to Property Settings > Preferences.

You can then select the period of time, from 3 months to 24 months, that you wish to accept a booking request.

How do I set up a multi-night stay discount on my listing?

This article is for: Managers

A multi-night stay discount will encourage people to take a longer holiday than they otherwise would.  The option of getting a good deal by staying longer can be quite compelling.

To enter a multi-night stay discount on your listing:
1) Log into the owner/manager website
2) Go to Listing > Pricing & deals
3) Click the link called Set up special deals in the Special deals box (right side of screen). This gets you to the Special deals page.  Then:
4) Click the “Edit” link on the right side of the multi-night stay discount box.
5) Select how many nights into the future you wish to apply a free night too, and select any exclusions you wish to apply the discount to. If you have any additional conditions, write this in the space provided.
6) Check the ‘show deals on my listing’ box, and submit your changes.

How do I get my property included in the Weekly Deals newsletter?

This article is for: Managers

On Tuesday of every week we send out a Weekly Deals email to all Bookabach members who have opted in to receive this email.  Weekly Deals emails are generated automatically according to the below rules, so please don’t ask us to include your property.

At the moment there’s only room for 6 properties in this email and we choose these randomly from regions around the country.  To get a chance of being in Weekly Deals:
1) Your listing must be Performance Plan (Subscription Plan properties are excluded from Weekly Deals)
2) You must have one or more Special Deals enabled (last minute, multi-night stay and/or gifts and giveaways).
3) You must have clear availability (no bookings or requests) in the next 7-days.

How do I offer a free gifts or giveaways on my listing?

This article is for: Managers

To add any featured deal or giveaway that is not related to a discounted rental tariff in your listing;

1. Log-in to and go to the Pricing & deals page (Listing > Pricing & deals).
2. Select Set-up special deals.
3. Select ‘add’ to the right side of the "free gifts, giveaways and other offers" box, or ‘edit’ to make changes to an existing offer.
4. Enter the offer description, the approximate value, and select whether you want the offer to expire.
5. Check the ‘show this special offer’ on my listing’ box and submit your changes.

What are Performance Plan Success Fees?

This article is for: Managers

The Performance Plan is a pay-on-success based service. So you only pay for confirmed rental bookings that go ahead - and only after the stay has completed. Additionally, the Performance Plan allows you to increase your exposure by nominating higher than base-level success fees. When you nominate a higher success fee this contributes to your “score” which dictates your “ranking” on Bookabach - where your property appears on the search results pages.

If you have one or more properties listed on a Performance Plan you (or the Billing Contact) will incur success fees.  Here’s how success fees work:

* The per night success fee you have nominated is recorded at the time a booking request is lodged (by your guest).

*  Once a stay is completed we automatically deduct the associated success fee.  This fee is calculated from the number of nights stayed multiplied by the per night success fee you nominated at the time the booking was lodged. 

* The success fees is debited from the Billing Contact’s Bookabach account.  This account will need to be topped-up once it goes into negative balance.

Success Fees are capped at a maximum of 14 nights per stay. It is a requirement that you keep your calendar up to date and Confirm any bookings that go ahead on properties under this plan.

How do I add/change facilities on my listing?

This article is for: Managers

To add or make changes to facilities listed on your listing go to Listing > Edit Listing and click the Edit Facilities link.

How do I add/edit activities on my listing?

This article is for: Managers

To add or make changes to activities listed on your listing go to Home > Listing > Edit Listing and click the Edit Activities link.

Or click here to be taken to this page.

What is the difference between Feedback and the Guest Book?

This article is for: Managers

Member Feedback provides information about historical transactions between members (owners, property managers and renters) on Bookabach.

Owners and property managers are rewarded for positive feedback and each piece of positive feedback will improve the ranking of your bach in search results.  To find member feedback, click the stars underneath that member’s name.

The Guest Book provides comments left by guests on a specific bach and is available to view on every Bookabach listing. Guest Book entries have no effect on bach rankings.

Both parties received a "Request for Feedback" after a stay has completed.

How do I use the Bookabach calendar? (as owner/manager)

This article is for: Managers

At the core of the Bookabach systems is availability-based search. Having accurate availability information on a property is of real benefit as it saves time for anyone looking for a place to stay.  In short, it IS one of the key reasons people use Bookabach.

Availability-based search relies on the accuracy of the information YOU provide to Bookabach which includes:

* Conversion of booking requests to accepted and then confirmed bookings (all bookings can be tracked from REQUESTED > ACCEPTED > CONFIRMED).

* Converting questions that are actually booking requests to booking requests.

* Adding rental bookings from other sources (External Rental Bookings).

* Adding times when you, your family or friends are using your bach (bach member bookings)

The more you keep your calendar up to date, the more efficient you will find Bookabach works for you!  We try to make the calendar as easy as possible to use. This includes:

* Showing you in the Notifications all booking requests and questions.

* Providing you with a text alert (SMS) (optional) when a booking or question is raised.

* Allowing you to add family and friends bach to your bach so they can add and manage their own bookings and can see when the property is available.

* A weekly report that reminds you of any outstanding requested bookings.

* Web-widgets that include a calendar and booking form which you can use to integrate Bookabach functionality into your own website. Booking requests are automatically posted onto your calendar.

You’ll find additional help articles on all aspects of Bookabach raised above.  Also, there is a “show help” link in the top right of the Bookabach manager application.  Use this link to show relevant help article while you are using the site.

I am having problems logging in. What do I do?

This article is for: Managers Renters

If you are having trouble logging in, first check to make sure you are using the correct email address.  If you have more than one email address, ensure you’re using the one you have registered with Bookabach and you’re typing it correctly.  Also, the log-in email address and password are case-sensitive, so enter them exactly as you registered them. 

If you have forgotten your password, you can have the website send you an email with a link to “reset” your password. You’ll find a link to do this on every log-in form.

If you still can’t log in, please put in a support request instead of creating a new membership account.

If you KNOW that your details are correct then check the following:  We rely on “Cookies” - small pieces of information stored on your computer -  to keep track of your “session” on the website while you are logged in.  If your browser is set to block Cookies then you will not be able to log-in and establish your session. To fix this go to your browser settings:

Internet Explorer
Go to: Tools > Internet options > Security (or Privacy): Click “Default level”.  You may also need to add www.bookabach.co.nz to your trusted sites

Firefox
Go to: Tools > Privacy > Cookies: Ensure the “Accept cookies from sites” is checked. Then try registering/logging-in again.

Note that some corporate firewalls or browser acceleration software can affect cookie files.  Further information on this can be found on Google’s site: See Browser troubleshooting basics.

How do I use Payment tracking?

This article is for: Managers

Setting up Payment Tracking

You can track payments and refunds associated with each booking. To use payment tracking:

1) You must have Quotations & Payments enabled (My Settings > Advanced Feature Settings > Enable Quotations & Payments). Once you’ve done this a Payments tab will appear in the primary navigation.

2) You should have specified your Rental Terms (My Settings > Rental Terms).

3) Payment tracking uses information from your Rental Terms to schedule payment tracking and determine how to process cancellations.

Quoting and scheduling payments due

When a booking is lodged (Requested) the site automatically creates a Quotation based on the pricing information you’ve defined, any discounts you’ve set-up and extras such as cleaning.  You should review this Quotation and make any additions or changes before accepting the booking.  Alternatively, if you don’t want to use the Quotation you can override it and just provide a value for the Total Charge.

When you Accept a booking a Booking Ledger (showing Charges and Payments) is automatically created.  If you have set-up your online Rental Terms a Payment Schedule - indicating what portion of the rental is due, and when you expect to receive it - is automatically created. You can view all scheduled future payments (for all properties or a selected property) by going to Payments > Payment Schedule.

Recording Payments

When you receive money from someone:  Go to Payments > Payment Schedule, find the associated payment in the schedule and use the Record payment link.  You can also do this by opening the booking and using the Record payment link. 

Payments received via the credit card Payment Gateway (Bookabach NZ only) are automatically recorded.

How do I set up a last minute discount for my listing?

This article is for: Managers

Last minute discounts are beneficial in order to encourage occupancy from people who are looking for a quick getaway.  To add a last minute discount to your listing:

1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.
2. Go to Pricing and Deals (Listing > Pricing & Deals).
3. Locate the “Last Minute Discount” box and click the “Edit” link.
4. Tick the “Show on my listing” box, select the relevant details and click the “Save” button.

Important: If you are setting up a last minute deal you need to be able to respond quickly to enquiries.  Consider using our Manager (SMS) Text Alerts!

How do I add my own rental bookings?

This article is for: Managers

We encourage you to manually add any rental bookings you have received from other sources to your Bookabach calendar.  The more up-to-date your calendar is, the more useful it is for people visiting the website.

To do this:

1. Go to http://manage.bookabach.co.nz and log in.

2. Go to Bookings Tab.

3. Click the green +Add booking button.  You’ll find it on the right hand side of the screen.

4. Select the dates, select the booking type, enter the booking details and click the “Save” button.  You only need dates and a first/last name - but can add more information if it’s useful for you, in which case use the “Save & Edit” button.

Note for Performance Plan customers: We DO NOT charge Performance Plan success fees on externally generated rental or manually added bookings, only on rental bookings you receive via Bookabach.