Cards that fail
Ask for a card when guests book online, and send a payment link when one does not go through.
- Card validation at booking
- 3D Secure bank payments
- Payment links
Fewer no-shows
Charge the policy you already published
Most hotels lose money on no-shows twice: once when the room goes empty, and again when nobody gets round to charging the card.
thelobbyboy marks the booking as a no-show automatically, and the card the guest left with the OTA can be charged, following the policy they agreed to.
Prevention, then collection
First reduce them. Then charge the ones that are left.
A card required at booking, a deposit to confirm it and a clear confirmation email stop many no-shows before they happen. For the rest, the booking turns to No-show on its own and the card stored on the OTA is there to charge.
Payments
The card is ready before the guest is
Deposits are taken at the percentage you set, cards from the OTAs arrive with the booking through a PCI-compliant card exchange, and every payment lands on the guest's invoice.
The advance deposits report shows what you are holding, and you can send a payment link or a reminder email to anyone who still owes, rather than finding out at midnight.
Invoice · Jonas B. · Room 305Booked
Deposit · paid onlineBooking engine−€420
Suite · Wed 10Night audit€310
Suite · Thu 11Night audit€310
Breakfast × 2Restaurant€36
City tax · 2 nightsNight audit€8
Balance€0
VISA•••• 4242Card on fileCharge €244
Invoice emailed to jonas.b@mail.com