1. GROUP BOOKINGS

4. Objectives
The Business Blocks class should familiarize the users with the concepts of how groups are handled by opera and various steps/tasks involved in the creation of groups and allotments in the system. This should be done in a sequential order, to ensure the users understand the flow of group information

5. Learning Outcome
At the end of the session users will be able to create block headers, allocate room availability to a block, enter a rooming list and create tour series. They will have a good understanding of the information flow from receiving the initial group request to checking in the group.

6. Groups & Blocks
The Groups features are a convenient way to handle allotments and reservations for multiple guests arriving at the property. Opera offers two different methods for handling group reservations - as Blocks or as Groups

7. GROUPS BLOCK (continued)
Blocks support more detailed planning for handling the
group, particularly larger groups — including the specification of room types, rates, events, function spaces, and the cutoff and shoulder dates associated with the Block
Opera also handles Tour Series for those block reservations that will be returning to the property multiple times with the same reservation

8. Before confirming Rooms
Check availability and identify room types that have several rooms available and avoid suites

9. Concept discussion(class discusion)
Discuss the concept of block allocation from ‘house availability’
Concept of a block ‘header’
Concept of ‘pickup’

10. Business Block Search Searching based on search criteria
Advance button to display additional search criterion.
Use of filter to create user defined searches
Explanation of search grid
Discuss group profile once again as refresher
Come back to buttons
Group Reports can be accessed from search screen
Right click context menu – give a brief at this point

11. Block Header / Detail Screen
Use of different types of profile on block header and contact profile for productivity
Default block code creation
Start Date does not need to match arrival date of group – is the arrival date of the 1st guest to arrive
Importance of Market & source for statistics
Status Flow
Cut off Date / Days
Follow up and decision dates
Inventory control
Group MUST have an owner
Rate code is not mandatory
Cover Details tab and more tab

12. Create a new block header

13. Notes Select different note types
Can have many different notes for same block
OK/ Save and Close
As per reservation and profile screen

14. Block Header Options Add PM
Can add an additional pseudo room to the reservation for use when you need more than one rooming list template or more than one pseudo room

15. Attachment Same as Profile -> option -> attachment Copy
Creates copy of block header (not attached reservations)
Option to copy Room Block, Events & spaces, copy booking notes and event notes.
Option to keep same group profile.
Define New Block code and date.
Status of copied block will be as defined in app setting

16. Create Master
Concept of Master blocks and sub bookings under master block.
No need to go into details as we will cover details later at the end.

17. Waitlist
Using the Waitlist feature, you can take all their reservation details for a potential guest even though you can’t accept the reservation due to availability limitations.

18. Tour Series (continued)
Show standard Tour Series. Changes that are made to either the original booking or one of the copies will only affect that particular booking,
To show tour series create 1st block header
Must choose an end date that is on the same day as the start date
The block code will be the original code plus #1, i.e. the 3rd series for 1101PAN will be 1101PAN#3
The block header name will be Tour-name of group

19. Custom tour series
Gives more flexibility, as can choose own block codes and arrival dates
Will still name block header name as Tour – name of group

20. If the occupancy situation changes and you find that you can accept the reservation, the reservation transferred from the waitlist to an active reservation.

21. Tour Series
Tour Series Handling is set to M (changes will affect master and sub for the whole tour)
Highlight behaviour when app setting for Block -> Tour Series Handling is set to S (changes will affect only on copied sub bookings)

22. Deposits and Cancellations
Reservation handling features include automatic rules based calculation of deposits and integrated collections routines, including deposit requirement enforcement when making reservations, transfer of deposits to other reservations, and cancellation and early departure
Penalties.

23. Confirmation Letters
As part of the reservation process, or as a separate activity after the reservation has been made, you can prepare customized and personalized confirmation letters and send them to guests and/or to the contacts, businesses, and travel agents associated with the reservation via regular mail (in printed form), or directly from the application via or fax. Confirmation letters can be personalized for any language and can include details merged from the reservation.