Property Configuration

Property Configuration

Overview

The Property Configuration module allows system administrators and property managers to define and manage settings for each property within the Gustaffo Reservations System. These configurations control property-specific behaviors, integrations, and appearance throughout the platform.

Configuration Types

General Settings

General property settings include:

• Property Name: The official name of the property
• Property Code: Unique identifier used in integrations
• Address Information: Full address details for the property
• Contact Information: Phone, email, and website
• Time Zone: Property's local time zone for scheduling
• Currency: Default currency for pricing and payments

Taxonomy Configuration

The taxonomy system allows for flexible property categorization:

• Property Tags: Categorization labels (e.g., "Ski Resort", "Beach Access")
• Star Rating: Official hotel star classification
• Property Type: Hotel, Resort, Apartment, etc.
• Market Segment: Luxury, Business, Family-friendly, etc.

Salutation Configuration

Salutation settings control how guests are addressed in communications:

• Formal/Informal Mode: Default formality level
• Title Options: Available titles for guest selection
• Greeting Formats: Templates for email and letter greetings
• Cultural Preferences: Region-specific communication norms

Language Settings

Language configurations include:

• Default Language: Primary language for communications
• Supported Languages: Additional languages available to guests
• Translation Preferences: Auto-translation settings
• Document Languages: Languages for contracts and legal documents

Integration Settings

Integration configurations connect the property to external systems:

• PMS Integration: Property Management System connection details
• Channel Manager: Distribution channel settings
• Payment Processor: Payment gateway configuration
• Email Service: Email delivery settings
• Analytics: Tracking and reporting configurations

Configuration Management

User Interface

Property configurations can be managed through the admin interface:

1. Navigate to Admin Panel > Properties > [Property Name] > Settings
2. Select the configuration category
3. Modify settings as needed
4. Save changes

API Access

All property configurations are accessible through the Configuration API:

GET /api/v1/properties/{propertyId}/configurations

Configurations can be updated programmatically:

PUT /api/v1/properties/{propertyId}/configurations/{configType}
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "key": "value"
}

Configuration Inheritance

Property configurations follow an inheritance model:

1. System Defaults: Base configuration values
2. Property Group Settings: Applied to groups of related properties
3. Individual Property Settings: Property-specific overrides

More specific settings take precedence over general ones.

Technical Implementation

Property configurations are stored in the Configuration entity with property-specific values:

• Each configuration is identified by a unique property key
• Values are stored as strings with appropriate type conversion
• Changes are tracked with audit information (who changed what and when)
• Configurations are cached for performance optimization

Security Considerations

• Configuration access is controlled through the RBAC system
• Sensitive configuration values (API keys, credentials) are encrypted
• Configuration changes are logged for audit purposes
• Critical configurations require additional verification

Best Practices

1. Consistent Naming: Use consistent naming conventions for properties
2. Documentation: Maintain documentation for custom configurations
3. Validation: Implement validation rules for configuration values
4. Testing: Test configuration changes in staging before production
5. Monitoring: Set up alerts for critical configuration changes

Overview

The Property Configuration module provides comprehensive management of hotel properties and their associated settings within the Gustaffo Reservations system. This module enables administrators to configure property-specific parameters, taxonomy structures, communication templates, and integration settings.

Key Components

Property Settings Management

The property settings component allows administrators to configure core property information:

1. Basic Property Information

   • Property name and description
   • Address and contact details
   • Time zone and regional settings
   • Property type classification

2. Operational Parameters

   • Check-in/check-out times
   • Default cancellation policies
   • Payment and deposit rules
   • Seasonal configurations

3. Brand Settings

   • Logo and image assets
   • Color schemes and styling
   • Template preferences
   • Domain configurations

Taxonomy Configuration

The taxonomy system enables property categorization and organization:

1. Property Tags

   • Hierarchical tag structure
   • Category assignments
   • Tag-based filtering
   • Search optimization

2. Room Classification

   • Room type definitions
   • Amenity categorization
   • Rate category tagging
   • Inventory organization

3. Feature Flagging

   • Property-specific feature enablement
   • A/B testing capabilities
   • Staged feature rollout
   • Legacy support options

Salutation Configuration

The salutation system manages formal address conventions:

1. Salutation Mapping

   • Multi-language salutation definitions
   • Cultural adaptations
   • Gender-specific options
   • Formal/informal variations

2. Communication Standards

   • Greeting templates
   • Closing formulations
   • Signature blocks
   • Legal notice requirements

3. Guest Preference Tracking

   • Preferred address format
   • Communication style preferences
   • Language preferences
   • Special handling requirements

Integration Capabilities

The Property Configuration module integrates with several other system components:

1. Content Management System

   • Template variable mapping
   • Property-specific content blocks
   • Multi-language content management
   • Dynamic content insertion

2. Booking Engine

   • Rate structure configuration
   • Availability rules
   • Special offer parameters
   • Booking policies

3. Payment Processing

   • Payment provider selection
   • Currency configurations
   • Processing fee settings
   • Payment method availability

4. PMS Integration

   • Property mapping to PMS codes
   • Data synchronization rules
   • Interface configurations
   • Polling frequencies

Technical Implementation

The Property Configuration module is implemented using:

• PropertyService - Core service for property management
• TaxonomyService - Handles property categorization
• SalutationService - Manages salutation configurations
• ConfigurationController - API endpoints for configuration
• PropertyRepository - Data persistence for property settings

Configuration Workflow

The typical property configuration workflow follows these steps:

1. Property Creation

   • Basic property information is entered
   • Property code is assigned
   • Initial settings are configured

2. Detail Configuration

   • Operational parameters are defined
   • Brand settings are uploaded
   • Integration points are configured

3. Taxonomy Assignment

   • Property tags are assigned
   • Room types are defined
   • Rate categories are created

4. Communication Setup

   • Salutation preferences are configured
   • Email templates are customized
   • Notification rules are established

5. Verification and Activation

   • Configuration is reviewed
   • Test emails are generated
   • Property is activated in the system

Access Control

Property configuration is protected by role-based access controls:

1. System Administrator

   • Full access to all property configurations
   • Can create and delete properties
   • Manages system-wide default settings

2. Property Owner

   • Full access to assigned properties
   • Can modify property settings
   • Cannot create or delete properties

3. Property Manager

   • Limited access to property settings
   • Can update operational parameters
   • Cannot modify critical configurations

Auditing and Change Tracking

The system maintains comprehensive audit trails for all configuration changes:

1. Change History

   • Records all configuration modifications
   • Tracks user responsible for changes
   • Timestamps all modifications
   • Maintains before/after values

2. Configuration Versioning

   • Supports configuration versions
   • Enables rollback to previous states
   • Provides configuration comparison
   • Archives historical configurations

3. Export and Backup

   • Configuration export capabilities
   • Scheduled configuration backups
   • Disaster recovery support
   • Configuration migration tools

Best Practices

1. Property Setup

   • Start with basic information before detailed settings
   • Use templates for similar property types
   • Test configuration with preview functions
   • Document property-specific requirements

2. Taxonomy Management

   • Create a consistent tagging strategy
   • Avoid excessive tag proliferation
   • Use hierarchical organization
   • Review tag usage regularly

3. Salutation Configuration

   • Consider cultural and regional differences
   • Test salutations in all supported languages
   • Provide fallback options for missing data
   • Follow formal communication standards

4. Maintenance

   • Review configurations periodically
   • Update settings when business rules change
   • Clean up unused configurations
   • Document configuration decisions