Customize your Customers' booking experience by passing information through your Hosted Booking Page URL, from preselecting specific categories and items to setting dates and hiding unnecessary fields.
Learn how to use URL arguments in your links to change how the Hosted Booking Page displays.
Jump to a specific section here:
- Linking to a specific category
- Linking to a specific item/product
- Opening the pop-up booking window
- Jumping to a specific date
- Displaying a specific date range
- Creating a tracking ID
- Applying a discount code
- Displaying a specific language
- Displaying categories as tabs
- Hiding the booking page date fields
- Hiding the booking page search field
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New to the Hosted Booking Page? Please read the first article in this series for an introduction to our Hosted Booking Page integration. |
Accessing the features mentioned in this article
Where can I find this feature using the top menu?
- Configure: Manage > Integrations or Manage > Layout > Booking Page
- Access: Via URL or Staff-side from Customers > Customer Booking Page
What more do I need to use this feature?
- Available by default on your account! Admin permissions are needed to access Integration and Layout settings.
Which Checkfront version supports this feature - classic items, classic products, or both?
- This feature is available in both our classic items version (Inventory > Items) and our classic products version (Inventory > Products). → Learn more about products
Supported Arguments
You can pass additional information (arguments) via the URL of your booking page to alter the layout or the items/products shown. For example, to preselect a Category, you can use:
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?category_id=1
You must pass arguments in a standard name-value pair syntax, separated by an ampersand and URL encoded, for example:
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?date=2020-12-24&tid=promo1
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Connecting multiple arguments If using multiple options= arguments at once, connect them with a comma and not an ampersand. For example:
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Expert Tips from Checkfront Support: "You can include these links in your email, text messages, or web pages to help direct Customers to specific offerings and customize their experience." - Andry, Technical Support Specialist |
Linking to a specific category
Use the 'category_id' argument in your links to have the Hosted Booking Page default to a specific category.
Numeric category ID (Inventory > Categories or Inventory > Products) e.g.: category_id=3
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?category_id=3
In this example, using items, selecting category_id=22 displays only the Customer items from the Events category.
In this example, using products, selecting category_id=6 displays only the Customer products from the Activities category.
Multiple categories should be comma-separated. For example, category_id=2,6 displays both the Tours and Activities categories for items.
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?category_id=2,6
Linking to a specific item/product
Use the 'item_id' argument in your links to have the Hosted Booking Page default to a specific item/product.
Numeric item or product ID (Inventory > Items or Inventory > Products) e.g.: item_id=1
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?item_id=1
In this example, using items, selecting item ID 132 displays only the Tournament item to the Customer.
In this example, using products, selecting item ID 117 displays only the Kayak Rentals product to the Customer.
Opening the pop-up booking window
Use the popup argument in your link to let Guests book an item/product directly and go straight to the pop-up booking window. Add this argument to the hosted booking page URL along with the item ID, e.g., item_id=1&popup=1
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?item_id=1&popup=1
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Directing Customers to the login modal You can also direct your Customers directly to the Customer account login modal. To do this, use the URL: Just make sure you replace the demo account prefix with your account! |
Jumping to a specific date
Use the 'date' argument in your link to fast-forward to a specific date. ISO 8601 format (e.g., date=12-24-2020) or a date string (date=Friday, date=Next%20Friday, date=First%20Monday%20of%20next%20month).
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?date=2020-12-24https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?date=Next%20Fridayhttps://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?date=First%20Monday%20of%20next%20month
Displaying a specific date range
Use the 'start_date & end_date' argument in your link to display a specific date range. ISO 8601 format (e.g., start_date=2022-07-01&end_date=2022-07-14).
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?start_date=2022-07-01&end_date=2022-07-14
Creating a tracking ID
Watch the two-minute video above to learn how to create a custom booking URL that points to a single item, which is useful for tracking where bookings are coming from.
- You can generate a custom URL tied to a specific bookable item in Checkfront
- The URL can be used for holiday or seasonal promotions, affiliate partnerships, or social media campaigns
- Attribute bookings to specific channels or referral sources
- Useful for marketing attribution, knowing which campaign or partner drove a booking
Use the 'tid' argument in your link to create a tracking ID, for example: tidf=winter-email.
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https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?tid=winter-email
Applying a discount code
Use the 'discount' argument in your link to automatically apply a discount code (Inventory > Discounts) to the booking.
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?discount=december
Apply a discount code to a specific item (e.g., item_id=3&discount=december)
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?item_id=3&discount=december
Displaying a specific language
Use the 'language' argument in your link to display the booking page in a specific system language (e.g., lang_id=fr).
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?lang_id=fr
Make sure you have turned on the language for your account (Manage > Languages)!
Displaying categories as tabs
You can use the 'options=tabs' argument in your link to display categories as tabs rather than a dropdown menu.
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?options=tabs
Hiding the booking page date fields
You can use the 'options=hidedates' argument in your link to hide the date fields on the booking page.
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?options=hidedates
Hiding the booking page search field
Use the 'options=%2Chidesearch' argument in your link to hide the search field on the booking page.
https://example.checkfront.com/reserve/?options=%2Chidesearch
If you want more customization options, including changing the look and feel of the booking page, please look at our website plugins.
Next Step
In the following article, we look at configuring the Book Now button for the Hosted Booking page.
< Configuring the Book Now button for the Hosted Booking Page