Four months ago the Property installed the Opera PMS & Sales & Catering Program. At first I found it very hard to learn and it was a true struggle. But now as a Sales Person I can’t do without it.
Similar to many other programs, it is window’s based and I’m finding that it is a great tool for yielding our rates and inventory. But lets talk about inventory and rates for a moment.
The initial training of the Opera System was terrible. These fellows should not of been trainers. The Sales & Catering Training one month later was much better.
We found many problems with interfacing with Wyndham. Rates were incorrect on their end and they were selling our parking packages and other rates at $35.00? Although we figured it out quickly, many reservations had already been processed. The complaints started coming through. What are people thinking? A $35.00 rate? We sent all of these complaints to Wyndham to handle.
Still we have issues with rates and interfacing. Finally through the insistance of my Director, we have a Wyndham Representative and an Opera Representative this week. They are working on the issues.
Our rooms inventory hasn’t been interfacing since we switched over from MSI. During the room demand that the MLB created with the Phillies winning, it was our chance to capture additional revenue and sell out. But our inventory did not jive with Wyndham and the CRS was overselling….to what we believed. Then we found out that we weren’t sold out at all and the rates that they were selling at were wrong too. It was extremely stressful and it seemed like we had no control on our own rooms inventory and rates.
So much time was wasted and this problem effected every department. So how good is Opera? How did this happen?
The old MSI PMS system was not efficient for yielding rates or room inventory. The system crashed on us a dozen times a month. People were complaining and we were loosing precious accounts. We were in need of a reliable system and my Management chose Opera.
It is nice as a Sales Person to have our S&M program connected with the PMS. I’m finding it very helpful for my traces – our property used the old file card trace system before Opera – can you believe it? I’m getting more familiar with it every day.
So if you have Opera or if you are getting Opera and you need some help send a comment.
Good luck!
Pure Energy