TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Where can I find all accommodations and products?
• Building and editing products
  • Editing items and products
  • Creating items and products
    • Room type details
  • Location
    • Address and Google Maps
    • Driving directions
  • Amenities
  • Images and written description
    • Images
    • Room type descriptions
    • Nearby services
  • Video: how to create a new accommodation product
• Editing the order of products
  • Bookings calendar
  • Webshop
• Deleting products

Where can I find all accommodations and products?

You can start building and editing accommodations by clicking on the Products tab on the left. This will open a view where you can see all your locations, units, and additional services.

In the example below, you'll see a view you might encounter in your Moder system when starting the onboarding process with us. Once you've successfully logged in, you'll find one ore two sample products already set up for you in Moder.

Building and editing products

And here we are in the Products section of your Moder! From here, you can create and edit all your sellable items and products.

In this section, you can manage all your accommodations and other sellable items. You can create new accommodations, edit existing ones, and ensure that all information is up-to-date and accurate. This step is crucial to ensure your accommodations are displayed correctly to customers across booking channels.

Editing items and products

Start by clicking the "Edit" button on the right to begin editing the accommodation you want to modify.

Creating items and products

When you want to create additional accommodations, click the "Add product" button on the right. This way, you can create all the accommodations and other products you need in your Moder.

At this point, it’s a good idea to start thinking about the structure of your accommodations. You can create accommodations individually or by room categories (e.g., Standard, Deluxe, or Suite). This structure impacts how the accommodations appear to customers during the booking process and how they are managed within Moder.

We’ll dive deeper into creating these later, but keep this in mind for now!

Note! At this stage, it’s crucial to structure your Moder system to match the setup of your external sales channels (e.g., Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia). This alignment is necessary to enable future integrations with these platforms. Integration cannot be completed if the structures in Moder and the external sales channels differ.

Room type details

Behind the Edit button, you'll find the basic information for your first accommodation. Most of this information will be visible to your customers in your webshop.

With this information, you can create a clear and attractive presentation of your accommodation for your customers in the webshop. At this stage, you’ll define the name, translations in different languages, and the type of the product.

Item name and translation

First things first, give your accommodation a name.

Under the name, you can immediately add translations for your desired webshop languages. You’ve already set up the preferred webshop languages in the Settings section during the previous course.

If you leave the translation field empty, the name you’ve set will appear in all online store language versions as is. If you want a different name for your accommodation in another language, add the translation for the name in the respective field. 

Moder tip! You can name the product STD for internal use in Moder’s back office. Then, add translations like Standard room to be shown in the online store. This way, you’ll have a compact name for internal use, and a descriptive name for travelers in the online store and booking confirmation.

Room type

Next, select the type of accommodation from the dropdown menu. This information will also be visible to your customers in the webshop.

All the types listed are meant for overnight stays, except for Activity - this is an hour-based product, which will be covered in a separate course if activities are part of your offerings.

So, choose the appropriate type for your accommodation from the list.

Virtual room, is published & booking request

Next, let’s set the additional settings for the accommodation: Is it a virtual room? Is it active and bookable = Is published? Does it operate with a booking request feature? These settings help you control the visibility and booking process for the property in more detail.

Virtual room

A virtual item (or room) in Moder essentially means an accommodation package built on top of an existing product. Virtual products can include, for example: Accommodation + extra service + activity bundles or seasonal packages combining multiple services into one product. This feature allows for versatile product creation and marketing tailored to different customer groups

The creation and management of virtual products are covered in detail in the Virtual room course. You can explore this course if you want to create accommodation packages and expand the options in your offerings.

Active = Is published

The Active (Is published) setting determines whether the product is available for booking in your webshop and other sales channels. When this setting is enabled, the product will appear as a bookable product to your customers, allowing them to make reservations as usual.

You can also create products that are not active, meaning they won’t appear as booking options for customers. These can be used for internal purposes or for products that are not yet ready to be published.

Note! In Moder, your product will only become bookable in the webshop once you’ve set up pricing for it. You can create the product as active at this stage, but it won’t be available for booking until pricing is added. After this course, make sure to move on to the Accommodation pricing course!

Booking request

When the Booking request option is enabled, your customers can only send a booking request through the webshop. This means they will bypass the payment step with Paytrail or Stripe entirely. 

You will receive the customer’s booking in Moder as a booking request, which you can either approve or reject. This process will be covered in more detail in the upcoming courses on reservation management and operations.

NOTE! When a customer submits a booking request, they will receive an email with the subject Booking Request. The booking must then be confirmed separately through the Edit Booking view.

These settings allow you to customize the functionality of the product and ensure that the booking process aligns with your business needs. The active status and booking request options are key to managing reservations effectively, helping you provide a flexible and well-controlled customer experience.

Connected products

At this point, you can link your accommodation to a desired activity product - allowing you to sell hour-based activity products alongside the accommodation.

You can select multiple products from the dropdown menu once you’ve created the necessary activity products in your Moder. To learn more, check out the Activity product creation and Activity product pricing courses after this one. Then, come back to continue learning how to combine your accommodation and activity products in the same purchase flow!

In the Connected products section, you can connect your accommodation to an activity product, such as hour-based activities. This allows you to sell accommodations and activities together, integrating them into the same purchase flow in your webshop.

This is an excellent way to boost sales and offer appealing packages that enhance the booking experience for your customers.

Benefits of connected products

Unified purchase flow: When a customer books accommodation, they can also be offered the option to book activities, such as a sauna session, wilderness trek, or other hour-based products, at the same time. This enhances the customer experience by keeping all services in one streamlined booking process, making it easier for customers to make decisions in one go.

Upselling opportunities: Connected products increase the chances of upselling by showcasing related services directly alongside the accommodation. This can boost the booking value and improve customer satisfaction by providing all necessary services in a convenient package.

Connecting products in practice

Connect multiple products: You can select multiple products to be sold alongside the accommodation. For example, you can connect a sauna session, breakfast, and a guided tour to the accommodation. Customers will see all these as optional add-ons during the booking process in your online store.

Management and visibility: Connected products ensure that all services are easily and attractively visible to customers. This improves the visibility of your offerings and helps customers find and book all the services they need in one go.

By using connected products, you can create appealing accommodation packages that increase customer engagement and improve the booking experience. This feature offers a simple and flexible way to expand your accommodation offerings and sell all essential services effortlessly as a single package.

Internal notes

Here you can write internal notes regarding the product. These will not be visible to your customers.

Internal notes can be used in many versatile ways, such as recording the exact features of accommodation options, including size, equipment, and special characteristics. Maintenance history and upcoming maintenance needs can be documented to ensure operational efficiency, and notes about special features, like saunas or hot tubs, can be made for internal use. 

Purpose of use

Save important information: Use this section to record internal notes related to the product, such as maintenance, cleaning, special instructions, or customer-specific requests. This ensures all critical information is easily accessible to your team.

Streamline maintenance and operations: Notes help you keep all product-related details in one place, improving team communication and ensuring that necessary actions are carried out on time.

Confidential information: Since internal notes are not visible to your customers, you can safely include confidential details about the product, such as maintenance needs, specific booking situations, or other management-related information.

By using notes, you ensure efficient property management and that all necessary information is readily available when needed, enhancing both property operations and the customer experience.

Example of an internal note:

"Room 101: The air conditioning unit needs servicing by 15th October. Notify the maintenance team before the next booking. Extra pillows and blankets have been added per customer request. The room has experienced occasional Wi-Fi issues; check the connection before the guest's arrival. Add a guide for the room's light switches, as customers have reported confusion about their use."

This example shows how notes can include reminders for maintenance, actions based on customer feedback, and other observations that remain invisible to customers but are valuable for staff in improving operations and the guest experience.

Check-in instructions
Here you can write instructions regarding check-in, such as when the reception closes, where to pick up keys, where to park the car, and any other important information about the guest's arrival.

This information will be visible to the customer in their GuestApp view. You will learn more about this view in another course.

In the check-in instructions section, you can include all the essential details regarding the guest's check-in. These instructions help the guest prepare for their arrival and easily locate everything they need, enhancing their experience and reducing any uncertainties during the check-in process.

Check-in instructions section

You can add all essential information regarding the guest's check-in to this section. These instructions help the guest prepare for their arrival and easily find everything they need, enhancing their experience and reducing uncertainties during the check-in process.

Content of instructions

Reception opening hours:

Provide the reception opening hours and indicate when arriving guests should check in. Include instructions for late arrivals, such as contact information if the guest needs to notify in advance about a late check-in.

Example: "The reception is open daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. If you plan to arrive outside these hours, please notify us in advance via phone or email."

Key pickup:

Guide the guest on where to pick up the keys.

Example: "Keys can be found in the key box next to the reception desk with the code XXXX" or "Keys are available at the self-service kiosk located near the main entrance."

Parking and vehicle instructions:

Provide clear parking instructions.

Example: "Guest parking is located to the left of the main entrance, marked with blue signs. A parking permit can be collected from the reception upon arrival."

Other important information:

Add any additional essential details, such as entrance locations, elevator instructions, or security codes needed upon arrival.

Example: "The apartment entrance is through the side door, accessible with the code XXXX."

This information will be visible to the customer in their GuestApp view, allowing them to conveniently check all arrival-related details before and during their journey. You’ll learn more about using and benefiting from the GuestApp view in another course. Accurate and clear check-in instructions significantly reduce potential issues during arrival and enhance the guest experience.

Example check-in instructions:

"Welcome to Hotel XXX!

Check-in is available from 3:00 PM onwards. Our reception is located in the hotel lobby and is open 24/7. Upon arrival, please be prepared to present your booking confirmation and an ID. If you are arriving late or need assistance before your arrival, feel free to contact us via email or phone.

Don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Warm welcome, and we wish you a pleasant stay!"

VAT

Select the applicable tax rate for this product. Later, you can create additional services, such as breakfast included in the price with a 14% VAT, and add it as part of the accommodation you are creating. More details on this will be provided later in this course.

This setting defines the VAT rate used for pricing the product and how taxes are handled during the booking process. Choosing the correct VAT rate is essential to ensure pricing complies with regulatory requirements.

Select the VAT rate for the property:

Choose the appropriate VAT rate for your product from the dropdown menu. Common VAT (in Finland) rates for accommodation services include 10% or 24%, depending on local tax regulations and the type of product. The selected VAT rate will be displayed to the customer during booking and invoicing.

VAT rates for additional services:

Later, you can add various additional services to your product, such as breakfast, spa services, or other amenities. Each of these services can have its own VAT rate, for example, breakfast in Finland might have a 14% VAT rate.

Additional services, such as breakfast included in the price, can be seamlessly integrated into the accommodation, with their VAT rates adjusted separately. This ensures accurate taxation and clear pricing.

These settings help ensure the product's taxation is accurate, and any additional services are priced correctly. We will cover adding services and setting their VAT rates later in this course to help you fully configure your product and streamline the booking process for your customers.

Basic details

Next, we will fill in the basic details of the accommodation, such as the square footage, maximum number of guests, and available beds. This information provides customers with a comprehensive overview of the product during the booking process. At this stage, you will also set the product's check-in and check-out times, which are essential for both arrival and departure.

If you plan to use a locking integration, the check-in and check-out times will determine when the door code generated by the integration will be active.

Note! The "Maximum number of guests" section includes all individuals who can stay at the accommodation product, including children.

Details to be filled in

Square footage:

Enter the product's total area in square meters. This information helps customers understand the size and spaciousness of the accommodation product, aiding them in selecting the most suitable accommodation option.

Guests and beds:

Specify the maximum number of guests the product can accommodate and provide details about the beds. For example, "2 single beds and 1 double bed" helps customers visualize the sleeping arrangements. Remember that the "Maximum number of guests" includes all individuals, including children, so provide this information thoughtfully and accurately.

Check-in and check-out times:

Set the product's check-in and check-out times. These times are displayed to customers during booking and determine their arrival and departure schedules. If a locking integration, such as an electronic door code, is in use, these times will define when the code is active and how customers access the property.

Key considerations:

Carefully completed details ensure customers get an accurate understanding of the product and its amenities.

This improves the customer experience and helps ensure the product meets their expectations. All information can be edited later, so you can update details as needed.

Location

Address and Google Maps

On this tab, you can enter the street address of your product. If you added areas to the filters in the settings, you can assign the desired area to the product under the "Place" section.

You can also add the product's location to Google Maps, allowing travelers to easily view the location via the webshop. If you save the Google Maps address, remember to click the "Add" button displayed next to it.

Driving directions

In this section, you can provide important information, such as driving directions or other key details related to the guest's arrival. These details will be included in the guest's booking confirmation and displayed on the GuestApp site.

Click the "Add translation" button in the top-right corner to write instructions in multiple languages.

Amenities

On this tab, you can check the amenities available in your product. Only the checked amenities will be displayed in the webshop. Here, you can also allow pets in your product by checking the "Pets allowed" box.

Images and written description

Completing this tab is one of the most important steps in building your product on Moder. Through this tab, you can upload images and add descriptions for your product.

Images

You can either upload images directly or drag and drop them into Moder. Please note that images must be in .jpg format. You can easily change the order of images by dragging them.

The images will appear in Moder in the order you set on this page, making the first image the most important for sales purposes.

Moder tip! The better the images, the more attractive the product, and the more attractive the product, the more bookings - and money - it generates. Invest in great images for your webshop!

What kind of images work best in Moder, and what should you consider about image size and specifications?

• Maximum size per image: 10 MB
• Number of images per property: No limit, but 20-25 images per property is typically optimal.
• Display aspect ratio: Images will be displayed in a 3:2 aspect ratio in the booking search.
• Non-3:2 images: Images don’t need to be in 3:2 ratio, as they’ll be cropped automatically. However, horizontal images are recommended.
• Vertical images: These will lose details from the top and bottom due to cropping. Similarly, if the aspect ratio is very wide (e.g., 16:9), the sides will be cropped.
• Recommended image width: At least 1920px. For a 3:2 ratio, this translates to 1920x1280 pixels. Larger images are fine as they’ll be resized automatically.
• Take care to select high-quality, visually appealing images to make your property stand out and maximize bookings!

Room type descriptions

Here you can provide your product with both a short and a long description. The short description is intended to be concise, a two-sentence summary that will appear on the webshop's front page:

The long description will be available for the traveler to read when they explore the property in more detail - for example, through the "Explore" button in our example below.

You can also modify your text with different tools.

Moder tip! By using formatting, your product descriptions become more appealing to travelers. To break up longer descriptions and group content visually, add --- to insert a horizontal line within the text.

You can also add translations for both the short and long descriptions using the "Add translation" button.

Nearby services

Here you can specify, if desired, how far your product is from key services.

These details are not yet visible to travelers in the webshop but will become an active feature in the future. For now, this information is for internal use only on this specific tab, number 5.

Video: how to create a new accommodation product

Editing the order of products

You can adjust the order of your created products both in your own view and in the webshop.

Bookings calendar

The booking calendar will be covered in more detail in the course on reservation management and operations, but here’s a brief overview of how to customize your view and reorder products to your preference.

Go to the booking calendar and click the "Reorder" button in the top right corner.

From there, a view will open where you can drag and arrange the layout to your preference or reset it to default. Please note that rearranging products will also affect the view for other Moder users.

Webshop

You can change the order of products in the webshop from the Products tab, so let’s jump back there.

Click the "Reorder" button in the top right corner, and you can now customize the appearance of the products in the webshop to your liking.

Deleting products

If you wish to delete accommodation or activity products, this is possible when the product or unit does not have any active bookings. Cancelled bookings are allowed on the product/unit to be deleted.

If you have bookings in the future or in the past, you need to first either cancel the bookings, or to move them into another unit or product.