Note: If you are visiting this article after receiving a notification of changes to DBM & Google Analytics - please jump straight to the Important Changes July 2024 section (click here)
Introduction
Guestline Direct Booking Manager (DBM) has been designed to easily integrate into any website via a single JavaScript tag.
During setup of your DBM, our Internet Booking Engine (IBE) Specialist Team will have configured all the necessary settings to let you and your web developers get up and running with DBM, as quickly and easily as possible and to start enjoying direct bookings via your own website.
If you are upgrading from an existing Internet Booking Engine or migrating from our Guestline Online Booking Manager (OBM), please also read the additional section "Upgrading to DBM from your existing platform".
Installation process
The JavaScript tag is the recommended method to install DBM on an existing website. By using the Tag:
- Any standard HTML element can become a "Book Now" button to send a user directly to the DBM
- Additional parameters can be attached to the button, such as room type, rate type, arrival date and offer code. This allows the button to send a contextually appropriate stage in the booking process, such as special offers.
- The Tag can be used to process HTML form data and create a booking search panel.
- Cross-domain Google Analytics tracking is assisted by the TAG.
Note: Please, only use directly the DBM links if you are sending them as part of an email or any other communication method. Also, DBM should not be implemented with an iframe.
Important Changes July 2024Who is affected? All DBM customers who are using 'deeplinks' or hard-coded links to DBM instead of the Tag install method above. These links might be used in the following places, for example:
What is changing? The structure and URL of such deeplinks is changing from: To: Please not that you should not be embedding this URL directly in your website, instead please make sure you are using the JavaScript tag mentioned above. Why? This is to enable us to continue to develop and deliver DBM as a compliant, secure product for the future.
When? The proposed changes are taking effect on or around July 30th 2024 and will be in place until September 30th, 2024. During that time, DBM visitors who click on an existing deeplink will be automatically redirected to the new URL by our systems.
What do I do next? In case you have added the old link directly into your websites, please follow the Installation process mentioned above to make use of the JavaScript tag instead of a direct link. For any communication sent to your guests, such as emails, you will need to change this link wherever it appears. This change needs to be performed before the end of September 2024. From October 2024, the redirect will no longer function, and any deeplinks to DBM will fail to work for your guests. Therefore, your internal web/ digital marketing teams, or your web/ marketing agency need to be made aware of these changes as soon as possible.
What if I need more assistance? Please share this information and article with the relevant teams as soon as possible. |
Installation - Basic
Install the JavaScript DBM Tag (aka the JS Tag)
The DBM Tag is a single JavaScript tag (line of code) which should be added to your website code on all pages.
Most CMS systems allow modification of a footer element or allow the addition of scripts for all templates.
The script tag should be added as close to the end of the <body> section of your website, just before </body> is ideal.
Example code, please contact distribution@guestline.com for your specific code:
<script type="text/javascript" id="guestline-tag" data-group-id="ROOMLYNX" async src="https://gxptag.guestline.net/static/js/tag.js"></script>
Using the DBM Panel
The DBM Panel once enabled, appears automatically on all website pages that have been provided to our IBE Specialist Team and that contain the DBM JavasSript Tag.
The DBM Panel is fixed to the right side of the webpage.
The DBM Panel automatically adapts to the parameters assigned to the DBM so no manual configuration is required.
See further details here
Adding DBM interactivity to webpage elements
Almost any HTML element can be modified to act as a launcher to open and initiate a booking using the DBM system itself, with the ability to also send parameters such as arrival date, guests, etc. The simplest form of integration is to create a “Book Now” button, which launches the DBM at a simple view targeted to show the criteria selection bar ready to the begin availability search process.
The “Book Now” tag can be added to any block-level DOM element, such as a button, a link, a container (e.g. <div><span>) or even an image.
Code example, adding the tag to a Button:
<button data-guestline-redirect="true">Book Now</button>
When the installation is to cover group functionality, the code can be changed to select a particular property within the group with the button click.
Code example, specifying a particular property in a group , please contact distribution@guestline.com for your specific code:
<button data-guestline-redirect="true" data-hotel-id="ROOMLYNX">Book Now</button>
Other parameters can be passed to the DBM from this method:
- arrival: element.getAttribute('data-arrival')
- departure: element.getAttribute('data-departure')
- nights: element.getAttribute('data-nights')
- adults: element.getAttribute('data-adults')
- children: element.getAttribute('data-children')
- promoCode: element.getAttribute('data-promo-code')
- rates: element.getAttribute('data-rates')
- rooms: element.getAttribute('data-rooms')
Example, please contact distribution@guestline.com for your specific code:
<button data-guestline-redirect="true" data-hotel-id="ROOMLYNX" data-arrival=”2018-10-10” data-nights=”2” data-adults=”2” data-children=”2”>Book Now</button>
Note: The parameters require a minimum set function. Even if your property does not support children, you should still send the parameter (as 0). The minimum would be: arrival, nights, adults, children.
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