Channel distribution — Distribution page overview

The Channels tab is where you manage the channels you've already connected to and add new ones. It shows all channels that are connected or in the process of being mapped.

1. View and manage your connected channels. The channel list shows every channel you've connected to or started mapping. Each channel entry displays its current connection status and the available actions for that channel.
   
   Connection statuses mean the following:
    
   • Ready for mapping / Complete mapping — you can proceed with or update the channel mapping.
   • Approval pending — the channel requires approval before mapping can continue. Wait for the status to change to Ready for mapping.
   • Manage — the mapping is complete. Click to update channel mapping settings at any time.
      
2. Add a new channel. Click Add channels to go to the Discover tab, where you can browse and filter all available channels.
   
   Before connecting a new channel, check the Supported distribution channels in Cloudbeds PMS directory to confirm the channel is supported and understand how the connection starts.
   
   Then follow the Connect a distribution channel to Cloudbeds PMS guide for step-by-step instructions. If the channel supports it, you may also be able to create or connect a listing using Cloudbeds Express Connect.
    
3. Review and resolve connection errors. If a channel has a connection error, it will appear in the error indicator on the Channels tab. Click to view all current errors. Connection errors should be resolved as soon as possible, as they can affect the rates, availability, and reservation data being synced to the OTA. Refer to the troubleshooting article for the specific channel to understand how to proceed.
    
4. Access the setup guide for a channel. Each channel entry includes a link to its dedicated connection guide in the Help Center. Use this if you need step-by-step guidance on how to map a specific channel.
    
5. Disable a channel. Click Disable on a channel entry to stop the connection on the Cloudbeds side.

The Discover tab is where you find and research the channels available to connect with Cloudbeds PMS. Use it before starting a new channel connection to confirm a channel is available and to understand its connection type.

Filtering available channels. Use the search and filter options to narrow the channel list by:

1. Channel name — type the name of the channel you're looking for.
2. Property type — filter by property category, such as hotel, hostel, bed and breakfast, vacation rental, resort, or campground, among others.
3. Region — filter by the target audience region of the channel.
4. Channel type — filter by connection type or channel feature, such as:
   • Beta: A Beta channel is a connection that has gone live very recently. The team is monitoring the connection closely during this time and will move the channel out of Beta once it has been operating without issue for several weeks since the initial release.
   • Booking Engine: A Booking Engine is an online platform integrated with a hotel's website that allows guests to directly reserve rooms and services, providing real-time availability, rate, and inventory management, and a personalized booking experience.
   • Express Connect: An Express Connect channel allows you to create your property listing directly from Cloudbeds.
   • Featured: A Featured channel can ensure your property's maximum visibility and unlock booking opportunities by connecting to these channels.
   • iCal: An iCal channel syncs to your OTA using calendar files. It is less robust than normal API channels.
   • Metasearch: A Metasearch engine is an online information retrieval tool that uses data from a web search engine (such as Google) to produce its own results for a specific service.
   • New: A New channel has recently gone live and has completed its initial Beta phase. New channels should be thoroughly tested and stable.

Reading channel results. Once the channel list is filtered, each channel card shows:

• The channel's connection type and status — for example, whether it's a featured channel, in beta, or ready for mapping.
• A short description of the channel. Click the description to open the channel setup page and begin the connection process.

The Closeouts tab is where you stop selling inventory on specific channels for a defined date range, without affecting availability for direct bookings through your Cloudbeds Booking Engine or walk-ins.

Use closeouts when you want to pause sales on one or more OTAs for a specific period — for example, during a private event, a temporary closure, or a high-demand period when you prefer to take only direct bookings.

For instructions on creating, editing, and removing closeouts, see Closeouts - Set channel specific inventory blocks.

The Allotment tab is where you control how much inventory Cloudbeds PMS sends to your connected channels and how far in advance it's available to book.

Use allotment settings when you want to limit the number of rooms sold through OTAs — for example, to reserve capacity for direct bookings — or when you need to extend or reduce how far out your channel availability is visible.

For instructions on configuring your allotment window and allotment type, see Allotment - Set different availability to your channels.

The Currency tab is where you manage which currency is used for each of your connected channels. If most of your channels use the same currency, you can set a default and apply it across channels. If individual channels operate in a different currency than your property's base currency, you can specify a currency for each channel separately.

For instructions on managing distribution currencies, see Distribution Currency - Everything you need to know.

The Settings tab centralizes channel-wide distribution settings that apply across your connected channels. It currently includes three settings.

1. Activate Channel Distribution. This toggle shows whether Channel Distribution is currently enabled for your property. When it is on, your property is actively connected to your channels through the Cloudbeds Channel Manager.

2. Channel Revenue Allocation. When enabled, this setting applies rate plan-level logic to channel reservations when your Cloudbeds rate plans are mapped to channel rate plans. It allows Cloudbeds PMS to show a clear room versus add-on revenue breakdown — including taxes and fees — on the Reservation Folio for supported channel reservations. It also allows Cloudbeds PMS to enforce rate plan availability limits on OTAs by automatically closing a mapped channel rate plan when its limit is reached.
   
   For full configuration instructions, see Channel Revenue Allocation and Meal Plan Reporting Guidelines.
    
3. Display channel-derived rate plans for rate mapping. When enabled, rate plans derived from the channel extranet appear in the Rate Mapping dropdown during channel setup. For more information on how derived rate plans work, see Rate Plans and Packages - Everything You Need to Know.