Merlin Software August 2026 update
Merlin Software’s August 16, 2026 general server update introduces a focused set of enhancements across the Name Home Page, Sales, Front Office, Marketing and system setup.
Several of this month’s updates are designed to give teams more information when they need it. Others strengthen controls around reservations, waitlists and inventory, helping resorts manage increasingly complex booking environments with greater precision.
For Merlin users, that means fewer workarounds, better visibility and more control over day-to-day processes.
Here’s what’s new.
Clearer contract information on the Name Home Page
Cancellation Reason added to the Name Home Page
The Contracts section of the Name Home Page now displays a Cancellation Reason alongside the Contract Status.
This gives staff more context without requiring them to open another page or search through the contract history.
For owner services and sales teams, this can make conversations with members more informed. Instead of seeing simply that a contract has been cancelled, authorised users can see the recorded reason and understand the situation more quickly.
It is a small change, but one that puts useful information where staff already work.
More visibility for loyalty programme members
Loyalty Programme Number added to Contract by Status
A new Loyalty Prog No field has been added to the Contract by Status report under:
Home → Reports → Contracts → Status
The field is available in both the report grid and export.
For resorts operating loyalty programmes, this makes it easier to connect contract information with the relevant loyalty programme record.
The benefit is even greater when information is exported for analysis or further processing. Teams can work with contract status and loyalty information together, rather than matching records manually.
Better management of priority waitlists
A number of the August enhancements focus on Priority Waitlists.
That is significant for resorts where demand exceeds available inventory and waitlist management plays an important role in the owner experience.
New Waitlist Detailed Report
A new detailed report has been added at:
Home → Actions → Reservations → Requests → Waitlists – Detailed
The report gives teams a more detailed view of waitlist activity.
For reservations teams, this provides a more practical way to review and manage requests, helping staff understand what is waiting, what action may be required and where demand exists.
A detailed waitlist view can also help management understand booking demand and use inventory more effectively as availability changes.
Waitlist information on the Name Home Page
More Reservation Request information is now available through the Heads Up Display on the Name Home Page.
This brings relevant reservation request information closer to the owner record.
Staff do not have to rely on memory or move between multiple screens to understand whether a member has an outstanding request. The information is available within the wider context of the member relationship.
Open the Priority Waitlist directly from the HUD
You can now select the Priority Waitlist Request ID displayed on the Heads Up Display to open the Priority Waitlist page. This creates a direct route from the member record to the relevant waitlist.
For front desk, reservations and member services teams, this reduces navigation and makes it easier to move from information to action.
More control over automated waitlist offers
Limit when Auto Offers stop
A new setup option lets resorts limit when Priority Waitlist automation must stop sending Auto Offers. Automation can save considerable staff time, but it must operate within the rules the resort establishes.
This enhancement gives administrators greater control over that process, helping ensure automated offers continue only within the intended parameters. The result is better control over the relationship between automated booking activity and resort operating rules.
Reservation Requests become part of CDE
Reservation Requests added as a CDE Source
A new Source parameter for Reservation Requests has been added to CDE. This allows reservation request activity to be incorporated into the relevant CDE processes.
For marketing and sales teams, this creates another way to use reservation request information within their existing workflows. It can help connect demand and enquiry activity with the wider customer journey rather than treating reservation requests as a standalone process.
Better visibility when creating a waitlist request
Waitlist Pop-Up ID displayed on Save
When creating a Waitlist pop-up, the Waitlist ID is now displayed when the user clicks Save. This gives staff an immediate reference for the request they have just created.
This can make follow-up and internal communication easier, particularly when teams manage a high volume of requests.
More detail for Points Transactions
New fields added to the Points Transactions Report
New fields have been added to the Points Transactions Report, available under:
Home → Reports → Reservation Rights → Points Transactions
This enhancement adds more information to the report, giving users more data when reviewing points transactions.
For resorts managing points-based ownership, stronger reporting detail can help teams investigate transactions and provide better answers when members have questions about their points activity.
Greater control over unit changes
Restrict Unit Changes by Product Pool
Resorts can now configure Product Pool settings to restrict Unit Changes. This gives administrators more control over which units can be changed within particular Product Pools.
For properties with different inventory rules, ownership products or operational restrictions, this provides an additional layer of control.
Rather than relying entirely on staff knowledge or manual checks, the system can help enforce the rules established for the relevant Product Pool.
That can reduce the risk of inappropriate inventory changes and provide greater consistency across the operation.
What does the August update mean for Merlin users?
The August enhancements may look like individual improvements, but together they address a common resort operations requirement: putting more useful information and control in the hands of the people who need it.
This Merlin Software August 2026 update gives Merlin users:
- More contract information directly on the Name Home Page
- Better access to loyalty programme information
- More detailed waitlist reporting
- Faster access to Priority Waitlist information
- Greater control over automated offers
- More flexibility around Reservation Requests
- Improved points transaction reporting
- Stronger controls over unit changes
What this means for:
- Owners and members: faster responses and more informed service.
- For reservations teams: they provide better tools for managing demand and inventory.
- Administrators: greater control over the rules that govern system activity.
And for management teams, better data and clearer workflows make it easier to understand what is happening across the operation.
Looking for resort management software?
One of the advantages of working with Merlin Software is that development does not stop when you go live.
Merlin continues to evolve based on operational requirements and feedback from the resorts using the platform. General server updates bring new features, enhancements and refinements across the Merlin ecosystem.
For existing users, these updates are generally released at no additional cost, allowing everyone to benefit from the latest version of the software.
If you are considering changing your resort management software, factor that into your evaluation.
You are not simply choosing what the software can do today. You are choosing the platform, development approach and team that will support your operation in the years ahead.
Questions about the August update?
If you are a Merlin user and have questions about the Merlin Software August 2026 update and any of these enhancements, please contact Merlin Support. The team can explain how individual updates work and whether your property needs any setup changes.
Considering Merlin?
If your current software is becoming difficult to adapt, creating too many manual processes or holding your team back, now is a good time to start the conversation.
Merlin Software brings together Merlin CORE, Merlin Web Apps, Merlin Portal and the wider Merlin ecosystem to support the operational, financial, sales, marketing and owner-facing requirements of vacation ownership businesses.
Learn more about what Merlin can do for your property and arrange a demonstration with Mike Ashton.
Let’s start a conversation about how Merlin Software can support your property’s success.
Contact Mike Ashton to discuss your requirements, see Merlin in action, or arrange an online demo.
FAQs about the Merlin Software August 2026 update
- What was included in the August 16, 2026 Merlin Software update?
The update includes enhancements to contracts, loyalty programme reporting, Priority Waitlists, Reservation Requests, points transaction reporting and Product Pool controls. Several updates also improve the information available through the Name Home Page.
- What are the Priority Waitlist enhancements?
The update adds a new detailed Waitlist Report, more Reservation Request information to the Name Home Page, direct access to Priority Waitlists from the HUD, Waitlist IDs when saving requests and greater control over when automated Auto Offers stop.
- Do Merlin users pay extra for server update enhancements?
General Merlin Software updates and enhancements are generally released at no additional cost to users. This lets Merlin clients keep benefiting from ongoing product development and the latest software version.
