Our focus this year has been developing and enhancing our suite of Merlin WebApps to improve the services we offer our clients (link to the previous article). However, Merlin Classic, which provides the foundation of many of these WebApps, has not been left behind. 

In 2021, the Merlin developers have improved and augmented Merlin Classic’s functionality to reflect the sector’s needs today. The result is a fully rounded, multi-level software solution for resorts and, now, hotels as well.

Here are key Merlin Classic enhancements made this year:

Links to SiteMinder Channel Manager – Merlin Software launched an API with SiteMinder, one of the largest Global Distribution Systems (GDS). Live rates and availability are sent from the resort’s Merlin Software property management system (PMS) directly to the GDS and online booking websites via a channel manager. Those bookings made on the GDS are then sent automatically back to Merlin without the need to manually input them into the PMS.

PMS Module for Hotels – Merlin Classic is moving into the hotel sector with the development of our new Merlin PMS Module for hotels! It has all the functionality required by hotels including check-in/out, reservations and reporting but no timeshare weeks or points functionality.

Lost Revenue on Cancelled Bookings Report – This recent enhancement produces a specific report which identifies lost revenue on cancelled bookings. Having access to this type of data could benefit hugely in assessing your cancellation policies.

Online Voting Poll for AGMs – Requested by one of our clients, this enables resorts particularly affected by COVID-19 restrictions to offer AGM voting rights online via the Member WebApp. The vote is then recorded in Merlin Classic.

Adding Special Actions to a Name – from the Name Home Page and the Check-In/Out Page, users can flag a Name for Special Needs and Special Treatment. This makes it easier for users to manage guest expectations.

Add Quarantine and COVID Test Status to Both a Booking and Guest Name – adding the quarantine status as well as the COVID test status of a Guest makes it easier to ensure the safety of travellers and staff.

Property Management – Currently, we are busy enhancing the PMS package functionality that will be able to link a Package to a Rate Plan with the needed invoicing. This will make it easier for users to manage Bookings that have additional items added.

Split Week Functionality – Merlin adapted the sequencing to fit the products for resorts and hotels that sell and rent short breaks (mid-weeks, weekends) and full weeks. We have implemented the Calendar Sequence Linking on the Setups which caters for 104 Occupation periods instead of the classic 52.

Credit Card API – A new Payment Clearing Provider has been integrated to allow clients to process online payments using credit cards.

Merlin Web API Services – Resorts can use Merlin’s Web API Services to build their owner’s website. Information is streamed from Merlin Classic via our APIs to display on the owner’s website. This is, of course, only if you don´t want to take advantage of our Member WebbApp.

Optimization of Lessor’s Page – In Merlin, the lessor’s page manages Banked Stock and actions relating to Banked Stock. In addition, the Lessors Page provides a range of functionality to manage weeks that have been banked and booked in the Rental Pool and follow up with Contracts sent and received from Owners and Guests.

Third-Party Data Exports – Considerable development work was undertaken to assist clients with exporting Merlin data into a third party system to support their unique business processes.

Multi-Language Translation – All Merlin Classic pages can now be translated into any language.

Automated Deposit and Cancellation Policies for Rental Bookings – We have added new logic to support rules relating to deposits including when they need to be paid, how much should be paid and how cancellation policies affect the booking. The Deposit and Cancellation Policy rules have been enhanced and can be applied in three iterations.

Updated Rate Plans – this has been enhanced to include all levels of Rate restrictions and Deposit and Cancellation policies.

Extensive enhancements to resale listings – Developed initially for one of our clients, this has been made accessible to all our cloud-based clients and supports those who are offering resale services to their members. The resale functionality now caters for listings that are not limited to only full weeks but mid-weeks and weekends too. While also keeping the ability to consolidate mid-weeks and weekends into full weeks.

Other enhancements include:

Users can print and also upload resale mandates;

The Resale Status Log has been added to the Result Grid. This is similar to the Contract Status Log where Merlin records the Status, the date the Status was applied and the User who applied the changes;

An enhancement added to the Name Homepage section for resales allowing for the management of the Ownership listed for resale linked to a specific Name ID;

An enhancement on the Resale Mandate Exports process providing week numbers of the ownerships listed for resale, unit name etc.; and

Resale Import template enhancement including the addition of the Mandate entry and expiry date. No dates are lost if clients import bulk resale lists into Merlin Classic.

Coming soon in 2022! New Reporting Logic for all areas of Merlin. This includes the ability to select the data you require and to add cover sheets to pull the data into your own formatted reports.

If you’d like to learn more about Merlin Classic, why not arrange an online demo? You can complete the form or contact Mark Thomas at MarkT@quickmerlin.com.