5-2
Chapter 5
Hotel Features
Billing
(BILL Key)
Used to add or delete items to/from a guest-room bill (invoice). When adding an item to a bill,
the system checks the amount added against any cash deposit already entered for the room
and displays a message if the deposit amount is exceeded. VAT and other taxes are auto-
matically applied to entered values. A special passcode is required to delete items.
Booth Phone
This feature enable any phone as a ‘booth’ phone for use by a guest and have calls from the
phone billed to the guest’s room. The phone can be used to make calls until disabled by this
key.
Call Cost
This feature allows a display phone to show the cost or duration of a call. The real-time call
cost is displayed in the top right of the phone display while a call is in progress. It is useful,
for example, if a guest requests to make a call from the front desk phone.
This feature is automatically activated when a call is made if it is a programmed feature in the
system. Call costing information (rates and dial plans) can be programmed from the phone.
Change Room Status
Each room is assigned a status depending on whether it is occupied, cleaned, on hold or in
need of repair. The status may be changed automatically. For example, when a guest is
checked out, the room may automatically be flagged as “needs cleaning” before the next
guest can be checked in. When a new guest is checked in, the status automatically changes
to “occupied”.
The status can also be manually changed. For example, when a room is cleaned, the status
can be changed, through the room’s phone using a special dialling code, to “available” for
check in. On Hold status prevents automatic billing of a room if a guest requests a check-out
time later than the normal system check-out time (see
Check In
(CHIN Key)
Used to check in a guest. Relevant details entered for a guest include room number, cus-
tomer name, room type and cost, and any room or telephone credit. Credits are used to limit
charges applied to rooms or phone calls. (See also
Check Out
(CHOUT Key)
Used to check out a guest. This feature will automatically print a bill (invoice) to present to
the guest. It is also possible to print an invoice without checking out a guest (see
). The Check Out feature can also be used to put a room on hold (see