HotelType @SourceLink
Source Link indicates the supplier's participation level in the Hotel transaction in a specific response.
If a direct link between the provider and the supplier is temporarily disabled, cached data is returned from the provider's cached database. However, the Participation Level indicator (HotelProperty @ParticipationLevel) continues to indicate the default link connection, and does not change if the direct link is temporarily disabled.
Source Link allows customers to identify if content returned in an individual response is coming directly from the supplier or as cached data from the provider's database. Source Link implementation and Participation Levels vary by provider.
Source Link in Galileo and Apollo
Suppliers are supported at different levels of participation for data sources from Galileo and Apollo.
Participation Levels for Galileo and Apollo
|
Participation Level |
Description |
|---|---|
|
RoomMaster Only |
Does not store any rates within RoomMaster or via a link. Confirmation is sought via teletype and may take hours for a response. Agents usually re-display the booking later to see if the room was confirmed. |
|
Link Partner |
Rates are stored in the RoomMaster® system, but are confirmed instantly via a direct link to the chain's database. |
|
Inside Availability |
Provides a real-time, direct link between from a supplier's system for the dates, property, and qualifiers requested for Detailed Hotel Searches. Bookings are confirmed instantly by the chain. |
|
Inside Shopper |
Provides a real-time, direct link between from a supplier's system for rate ranges in the initial Hotel Search response. |
|
Best Available Rate |
Returns the lowest available rates from the supplier. These rates are guaranteed to be equivalent to rates offered directly from the supplier or through another non-GDS data source. BAR rates apply applies to non-restricted, non-fenced rates. |
|
Best Available Rate and Inside Availability |
Returns Best Available Rate responses from an Inside Availability connection. |
|
Best Available Rate and Inside Shopper |
Returns Best Available Rate responses from an Inside Shopper connection. |
For Galileo and Apollo, Source Link allows customers to identify content returned in the response as being from either the hotel supplier (via Inside Availability links with the Supplier) or from Room Master.
If a direct link between the provider and the supplier is temporarily disabled, Galileo and Apollo return data from RoomMaster. However, the Participation Level indicator (HotelProperty @ParticipationLevel) continues to indicate the default link connection, and does not change if the direct link is temporarily disabled.
HotelType @SourceLink indicates if the room rate or rules data is returned directly from the hotel supplier’s system:
- If HotelType SourceLink="true", response is received as Inside Availability directly from the hotel supplier.
-
If HotelType SourceLink="false", cached data from RoomMaster is received in the response.
Source Link in Worldspan
Implemented in:
Hotel Search (Synchronous and Asynchronous)
Retrieve Hotel Search Data
Suppliers are supported at different levels of participation for data sources from Worldspan .
Participation Levels for Worldspan
|
Participation Level |
Description |
|---|---|
|
AccessPlus |
(Worldspan Level A) Returns the rate and confirmation from the supplier at the time of sell. When a room is sold from an AccessPlus hotel availability response, the request is processed directly from the supplier's database. Confirmation and rate verification is received before confirming each AccessPlus booking. |
|
Hotel Source |
(Worldspan Level B) Hotel Source includes the functionality of AccessPlus, and also includes the ability to display room and rate availability, rate rules and information, and sell supplier's database. When a Hotel Source supplier's room is sold, the confirmation number and rate verification are received before booking confirmation. |
|
Teletype on queue |
(Worldspan Level C) Confirms the booking with the supplier via a teletype link to the hotel supplier. The supplier manually processes the request, and adds the room rate and supplier confirmation number to the PNR. |
|
Integrated Hotel Source Availability Participant |
(Worldspan Level D) Provides a seamless connection between the hotel supplier's system and the Worldspan hotel database, for both availability searches and selling. |
HotelType @SourceLink indicates if the room rate or rules data is returned directly from the hotel supplier’s system:
- If HotelType SourceLink="true", response is received as AccessPlus (Level A), Hotel Source (Level B), or Integrated Hotel Source Availability Participant (Level D) directly from the hotel supplier.
-
If HotelType SourceLink="false", cached data from the Worldspan (1P) database is received in the response. Any participation level other than A, B, or D results in a "false" SourceLink value.
