If you have different room types (for example Standard, Deluxe and Suite, or Small, Medium and Large runs), you can let your customers choose their preferred room type when they book boarding in the online booking portal or the Pet Parent app. The pet parent's choice is shown on the booking so you can take it into account when you confirm the booking and allocate the room or run.
Where to set up room types for the online portal
Room types are set up on your runs settings page, not on the Online Booking Portal page:
Go to Settings and open your runs page. The menu item uses your own name for runs (for example Runs, Rooms or Kennels), under the boarding settings.
Find the Run Type Configuration section (it uses your name for runs, for example Room Type Configuration).
Switch on Allow Customers to select preferred room types online.
Optionally switch on Link Run Types to Runs (see below).
Optionally change the heading pet parents see above the list. The default is Room Requested.
Click Update.
The same Allow Customers to select preferred room types online switch also appears on Settings > Online Booking Portal, in the Customer Registration Form section under Optional Features. Both switches change the same setting.
Room types for the online portal only show if you offer boarding.
How to add a room type
On your runs settings page, click Add New Run Type (it uses your name for runs).
In the Room Details window, enter the Room Type Name (this is what pet parents see), an optional Description and the Capacity.
Click Add Room.
Room types you've added are listed in the same section, where you can edit them.
Linking room types to your runs (availability-aware)
By default, pet parents see every room type you've added, whatever is free on their dates. The booking comes in as normal and you allocate a room or run when you confirm it.
If you switch on Link Run Types to Runs, KennelBooker only offers the room types that have a free run on the dates the pet parent picked:
Open each run on your runs settings page and set its Run Type Configuration to the matching room type.
Make sure every run is linked. While the link setting is on, the runs page shows a warning such as "2 rooms exist(s) that are not linked to a 'Run Type'" if any run has no room type. Runs without a room type are never offered as a room type online.
With linking on, dogs and cats each get their own room type list, based on the runs available for that pet type.
What happens when a pet parent picks a room type
The pet parent chooses a room type from the list (under your heading, Room Requested by default) on the boarding step of the booking.
On the boarding booking, staff see Run Requested (your name for runs) showing "Requested Online:" and the room type, in red.
The room type is also included in the email you get if the pet parent later cancels the booking online.
The pet parent isn't given a specific room or run. Only staff allocate runs and rooms, when you confirm the booking.
What room types in the online portal don't do
Room types don't allocate a room or run to the booking. You still allocate it yourself.
Without Link Run Types to Runs, the room type list doesn't check availability: pet parents can pick a type you have no free runs of.
Room types are for boarding only. They don't appear for daycare, grooming or other services.
Room types in the online portal: frequently asked questions
Can customers choose their own room or run online?
No. With room types for the online portal, pet parents can only ask for a room type (for example Suite). They can't pick a particular room, run or kennel. Staff allocate the run when confirming the booking, and the requested type is shown on the booking as "Requested Online".
Can the room type list only show types I have free?
Yes. On your runs settings page switch on Link Run Types to Runs, then set the Run Type Configuration on each run. KennelBooker then only offers room types that have a free run on the pet parent's dates.
Where is the "Allow Customers to select preferred room types online" setting?
The room type setting is on your runs settings page (Settings, then your runs page, in the Run Type Configuration section). The same switch is also on Settings > Online Booking Portal > Customer Registration Form > Optional Features. Both change the same setting.
Does the room type work in the Pet Parent app?
Yes. The Pet Parent app uses your online booking portal, so the room type list appears there too when room types for the online portal are switched on.
Can I change the "Room Requested" heading?
Yes. On your runs settings page, in the Run Type Configuration section, type your own heading in the box under the link setting (the default is Room Requested) and click Update.
Do room types work for daycare or grooming?
No. Room types in the online booking portal are only offered on boarding bookings.
Room types in the online portal: common problems
Customers can't see the room type list when booking online
Check that Allow Customers to select preferred room types online is on and that you have added at least one room type. If Link Run Types to Runs is on, the list only shows when a run linked to a room type is free on the dates chosen, so also check that your runs have a Run Type Configuration set.
A room type is missing from the list
With Link Run Types to Runs on, a room type only shows if at least one run of that type is free for the dates the pet parent picked. Check the run is linked to that room type and isn't booked or blocked on those dates.
The runs page says rooms are not linked to a run type
That warning shows while Link Run Types to Runs is on and some runs have no room type. Open each run listed and set its Run Type Configuration, or switch linking off if you want pet parents to see all room types.
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