IOS Reservations 4.x feature requests

[datahell]

Screen shots from module IOSR Search hotels for IOS Reservations 4.x (Elxis 4.1+).
The module has parameters that affect its layout and style. It uses jquery to provide destination recommendations and it is mobile friendly.

[kyomar]

Looks great datahell. Do you have screen shots for single hotel mode as well (check availability with rooms available)?

Another question: Will it be possible to link IOS Res. with Tripadviser for direct bookings? Tripadviser has introduced a direct link to own reservation system on a pay per click bases. I can send you a link from a competitor who already offers this feature.

Thanks!

[datahell]

Many third parties offer various integrations but they all require to pay extra money and to setup multiple accounts on multiple service providers which makes your life harder than easier. If you have any documentation by tripadvisor, and not by third parties, for such integration paste the link.

[kyomar]

Thanks for your reply. Here is the link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/InternetBookingEngine. If this could be integrated in IOS Res. that would be awesome as it gives the individual hotel/b&b the chance to use their tripadviser reviews to get more commission free direct bookings - we can beat the OTAs.

BTW, I am sure this would give your new reservation engine a boost as well 

[datahell]

Interesting, I will check it thoroughly.

[mgrc]

From what I see on kyomars' suggestion for tripadvisor integration, it looks like a nice option to have and with good timing,  but is sure to make life harder for datahell as I read on tripadvisor that "all implementation must be completed by November 1st".
To me it appears that it involves adding adsense-type ads and reviews on hotel detail pages and search pages where search query url must contain real dates, not z-dates (for check in-check out). This would give the hotel looking for guests extremely well targeted traffic for their click money (availability based targeting).

Another feature request: build variable commission per hotel in the IOS reservations, determined by hotel partners themselves, but not allow them to go below a minimum percentage determined by site admin. Slider would look nice.

Bid amount would in this case be used for sorting on search results and maybe even destination pages. (other sorting options remaining available). This is likely the same method tripadvisor and other booking sites are using when sorting their listings.

Looks like I should start saving my money now to be able to afford the IOS reservations 4. Should I get a second job?

 

[hakangur]

Looks like I should start saving my money now to be able to afford the IOS reservations 4. Should I get a second job?

 

All the good things in life are expensive, illegal, or fattening.

[datahell]

You are funny

I believe IOSR is very cheap for what it does and the business oportunity it creates for you. Also dont forget that IOSR is a business tool addressed to certain proffessionals and not a generic application for personal sites. It took me almost 1 year to develop IOSR 4.x, this to get an idea for the size of the software. One more thing: In IOSR 3.x IOSR Connector is separate from the main component, so you have to buy it separately and spend more money. This increases the cost of the software for many people (almost doubles it). Now IOSR 4.x has IOSR Connector (REST API) pre-integrated which means that you get IOSR Connector for free! The new REST API is not just for remote bookings from third party sites but can be used in third-party integrations of any kind and in mobile applications too. This is the area I currently work on in IOSR 4.x.

And some news
1. I just finished developing an Elxis 4.x search engine to search for IOSR 4.x hotels via Elxis typical search box. I will publish more info and screenshots in the afternoon.
2. I contact tripadvisor regarding their TripConnect API certification (asked by kyomar) but I didn't received any reply yet. A problem is that such integrations with tripadvisor are for portal owners and not for software developers. They want YOU (the IOSR owner) to make a deal with them not me. I will notify you for any news.

[datahell]

Screen shots from search engine Hotels for Elxis 4.x / IOSR 4.x

Information taken from user's manual
This is an Elxis search engine that extends standard Elxis search into IOSR Hotels. You can search for hotels using multiple criteria: Hotel title, country, location, accommodation type (property type) and/or any hotel facilities. The search is multilingual and uses APC (if enabled in Elxis configuration) to reduce database load.

The results can be re-ordered using multiple options. Each returned hotel is enriched with many useful information and 2 links that open lightbox windows, one for the hotel map and an other one for hotel's quick view (gallery including). There are also direct links to hotel's detailed page and hotel's location page. Search engine Hotels also supports auto suggestions for Open Search technology.

[andreatravel]

When do you think it will be finished? 

[datahell]

People keeps asking me this question again and again and no matter what date I say the release date always moves in the future. My plans were to have it ready till August 31. But it is not ready. As I see now I will need at least 1 month of development and 1 more month to prepare documentation, the demo site and the support services. I mainly have a lot of work to do on the REST API, create some more payment methods and more modules/plugins. Secondary things still left are some lately changes in administration/hotelier control panel, an API for DisQus and minor other things. Currently, IOSR 4.x is fully usable but not ready for public release.

Today I did some changes on remote bookings API (like the old IOSR Connector) and enabled error & requests logging for the APIs. Tomorrow I will work on the hoteliers control panel.

[bledi]

Hello!
Concerning the new version:  IOS Reservations 4.x, can we get any details about Tour Packages option (as mentioned previously). Is it going to be included together with the Hotel booking or will be  additional module... ?

[datahell]

IOS Reservations 4.x is a flexible platform in which you can install IOSR extensions. The first extension that will become available is Hotels (booking hotels). Other extensions may follow or can be developed by third parties. You can even develop open source/free extensions for IOS Reservations. IOSR extensions is a special type of extension that can be installed from within IOSR, don't confuse them with Elxis modules, components and plugins. So under the same IOSR installation you can have, for example, a hotel booking extension, a car rental extension, a ticketing extension, a tour packages extension, an appointements extension, etc... IOS Reservations component itself is a container for such extensions. At least one extension is required inorder IOSR frontend section to display something.

IOS Reservations 4.x component
    - Hotels booking extension
    - Cars rental extension
    - Tour packages extension
    - any extension you can imagine...

Good news: Most probably the IOSR license will be valid in all Elxis sub-sites. This means that you can have unlimited Elxis 4.x multisites and have IOSR installed in any of these with just 1 license (you wont have to buy again and again IOSR for the sub-sites). IOSR extensions can be enabled and managed separately on each sub-site.

[nikos65]

Hi All,
I wonder if the IOS Reservation 4.x can receive bookings calculating only the day of incoming and the day of outgoing and not the number of days between these period ?
That can be usefull for companies that receive bookings for ships, airplanes  !!

[datahell]

As I said IOSR is based on extensions. The hotels extension books rooms based on the check-in and check-out dates (stay duration is automatically calculated) so it works as you say but not for the purpose you need.
You need a special IOSR extension for ship or air tickets.