We've all been there. You browse a beautiful guesthouse or hotel website, you see the perfect room, maybe with a stunning view or a comfy-looking bed. The price is right, and there's a tempting "Book Now" or "Check Availability" button right next to it.

You click, excited to secure your stay… and you land on a general booking page for the entire property. Now you have to scroll through different room types, hoping you find the one you initially wanted. Sound familiar?

If you're a web designer or agency working with properties that use NightsBridge for their online bookings, there's a simple trick you can implement to eliminate this confusion and create a much better experience for potential guests.

It all comes down to a little-known parameter: rtid.

The Problem: Generic Booking Links on Your Website

Most websites that uses NightsBridge as a property management platform to check availability simply link to the main property booking page. This usually looks something like:

https://book.nightsbridge.com/12345

Where PROPERTY_BBID is the unique identifier for the property (like the 12345 in your example). While this works for general browsing and finding availability for the entire property, but it falls short when a visitor has already decided on a specific room type.

The Solution is in the Magic of the rtid Parameter

NightsBridge actually offers a way to link directly to a specific room type using a parameter called rtid. This parameter allows you to specify the unique ID of the room type you want to book.

So, instead of just linking to the property, you can create a link that looks like this:

https://book.nightsbridge.com/12345?rtid=7

Where rtid= is the specific ID for the room you want to link to (like the 7 in your example).

How to Implement It (It's Easier Than You Think!)

The key is to find the rtid for each room type listed in the property's NightsBridge backend. This information should be available within their NightsBridge account.

Once you have the rtid for a specific room, here's how you can use it on the website:

Identify the "Book This Room" Button/Link: Locate the button or link on the specific room's page that you want to redirect to the booking page.
Modify the Link: Instead of linking to the generic property booking URL, append the ?rtid=X parameter to the end of it. Of course you'll replace the X with the actual room type id

Example

Let's say the property ID is "12345" and the "Luxury Suite" has an rtid of 7. The "Book Now" or "Check Availability" button on the Luxury Suite's page should link to:

https://book.nightsbridge.com/12345?rtid=7

Now, when a visitor clicks "Book Now" on the Luxury Suite page, they will be taken directly to the NightsBridge booking page with the Luxury Suite already selected to speed up the booking process.

Where to Use This Parameter

This approach is particularly beneficial in the following scenarios:

Individual Room Pages: This is the most obvious place. When a user is viewing a specific room type, the "Book Now" button should directly link to booking that exact room.
Room Type Listings: If you have a page that lists all the different room types with descriptions and images, each "Book Now" button next to a specific room should use the rtid parameter.
Special Offers: If you're running a promotion on a particular room type, the booking link in your promotional material should include the relevant rtid.

The Benefits of Direct Room Booking

Implementing this simple parameter can have a significant positive impact:

Improved User Experience: Guests will appreciate the seamless transition from viewing a specific room to the booking process for that exact room. This reduces frustration and makes booking quicker and easier.
Increased Booking Conversions: By eliminating confusion and streamlining the booking process, you're more likely to convert website visitors into paying guests.
Reduced Errors: Guests are less likely to accidentally book the wrong room type if they are directed straight to their desired choice.
Enhanced Website Professionalism: Showing this level of attention to detail in the booking process can enhance the overall perception of the property's website and professionalism.
Happier Guests: A smooth and efficient booking experience contributes to overall guest satisfaction, even before they arrive at the property.

For web designers working with NightsBridge properties, taking the extra step to include the rtid parameter in your booking links can make a world of difference to the user experience.

It's a small change that can lead to happier guests and more successful bookings. So, let's ditch the generic links and start guiding our website visitors directly to the rooms they've already fallen in love with!