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Processing Your First Booking

Last updated: November 2025

Congratulations on setting up your hotel! This guide walks you through creating your very first booking in InnGO. We'll cover everything from guest information to payment processing.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

  • ✓ Completed your hotel profile setup
  • ✓ Added at least one room to your inventory
  • ✓ Set room prices
  • ✓ Guest's basic information ready
⚠️ Quick Check: If you haven't set up rooms yet, visit the Managing Rooms guide first.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Booking

Step 1: Navigate to Bookings
  • Log in to your InnGO dashboard at inngo.com/dashboard
  • Click on the Bookings tab in the main navigation
  • You'll see your bookings list (currently empty)
Step 2: Click Add Booking
  • Look for the blue Add Booking button at the top
  • Click it to open the booking creation form
Step 3: Enter Guest Information
  • Guest Name: Full name as it appears on ID (e.g., "Adebayo Johnson")
  • Email Address: Guest's email (for confirmation, e.g., adebayo@example.com)
  • Phone Number: Include +234 for Nigerian numbers (e.g., +234 803 123 4567)
💡 Pro Tip: Always collect guest email and phone. InnGO can automatically send booking confirmations and reminders!
Step 4: Add Guest Identification
  • ID Type: Select from dropdown (Passport, National ID, Driver's License, or Voter's Card)
  • ID Number: Enter the ID number exactly as shown on document
⚠️ Security Note: Nigerian hotels are required to collect guest ID information. This protects both you and your guests.
Step 5: Select Dates
  • Check-in Date: Click calendar and select arrival date
  • Check-out Date: Click calendar and select departure date
  • System automatically calculates number of nights
Step 6: Choose a Room
  • Click the Select Room dropdown
  • You'll see your available rooms with prices
  • Example: "Deluxe Room 101 - ₦25,000/night"
  • Select the room guest wants
  • Total cost calculates automatically (price × nights)
💡 Note: Only rooms available for selected dates will appear in dropdown. If you don't see a room, it may be booked for those dates.
Step 7: Enter Payment Details
  • Amount Paid: How much guest has paid now (can be partial or full)
  • Payment Method: Select Cash, Transfer, POS, or Online
  • Payment Status:
    • Paid: Full amount received
    • Partial: Deposit received, balance due
    • Unpaid: No payment yet (for advance bookings)

Understanding Payment Status

Paid (Full Payment):

  • Guest paid total amount
  • Example: Room costs ₦50,000 for 2 nights, guest paid ₦50,000
  • No balance due

Partial Payment:

  • Guest paid deposit
  • Example: Room costs ₦50,000, guest paid ₦20,000 deposit
  • Balance of ₦30,000 shown in system

Unpaid:

  • Booking confirmed but no payment yet
  • Common for corporate bookings or trusted repeat guests
  • Payment expected at check-in or later
Step 8: Add Special Requests (Optional)
  • Click Special Requests field
  • Add any guest requests or notes
  • Examples: "Extra pillow", "Ground floor preferred", "Late check-in at 11pm"
Step 9: Review and Create
  • Double-check all information
  • Verify dates, room, and payment amount
  • Click the blue Create Booking button
  • You'll see "Booking created successfully!" message

What Happens After You Click Create?

  1. Booking is saved to your system immediately
  2. Room is reserved for selected dates
  3. Confirmation email sent to guest (if email notifications enabled)
  4. Booking appears in your bookings list
  5. Room status changes to "Reserved" for those dates

Viewing Your First Booking

After creation:

  • You'll be redirected to bookings list
  • Your booking appears with "Confirmed" status
  • Click on booking to see full details
  • You can edit, update status, or add payments

Example: Complete First Booking

Sample Booking Details:
  • Guest: Chioma Okonkwo
  • Email: chioma.okonkwo@gmail.com
  • Phone: +234 805 987 6543
  • ID Type: National ID
  • ID Number: 12345678901
  • Check-in: December 20, 2025
  • Check-out: December 22, 2025
  • Nights: 2
  • Room: Deluxe Room 102 - ₦30,000/night
  • Total Cost: ₦60,000
  • Amount Paid: ₦60,000
  • Payment Method: Transfer
  • Payment Status: Paid
  • Special Requests: High floor, quiet room

Common Questions for First-Time Users

What if guest wants to pay in installments?

Mark as "Partial" payment, enter deposit amount. You can add additional payments later from the booking details page.

Can I create bookings for walk-in guests?

Yes! Use today's date as check-in. Perfect for guests who arrive without reservation.

What if I make a mistake?

Don't worry! Click on the booking and select "Edit" to make changes. You can update any detail except the booking ID.

Do I need internet to create bookings?

No! InnGO works offline during NEPA outages. Bookings sync automatically when connection returns.

Can I delete a booking?

You can cancel a booking by changing status to "Cancelled". This keeps records but frees up the room.

Next Steps After Your First Booking

Send Confirmation to Guest

  • InnGO automatically sends email if notifications enabled
  • Or manually send confirmation via WhatsApp or SMS
  • Include check-in time, room number, and total cost

Prepare the Room

  • Notify housekeeping about upcoming arrival
  • Ensure room is clean and ready before check-in date
  • Check that AC, hot water, and amenities work properly

Set Reminders

  • Check dashboard day before guest arrival
  • Confirm booking with guest 24 hours ahead
  • Update booking to "Checked In" when guest arrives

Nigerian Context Tips

Payment Methods

  • Cash: Still very common in Nigeria, ensure safe storage
  • Bank Transfer: Get confirmation alert before confirming booking
  • POS: Keep terminal charged, especially during power outages
  • Online: If using Paystack, payment reflects automatically

Phone Numbers

  • Always include +234 country code
  • Common formats: +234 803 123 4567 or +2348031234567
  • Collect both mobile and WhatsApp numbers if different

ID Types

  • National ID: Most common
  • International Passport: For travelers
  • Driver's License: Widely accepted
  • Voter's Card: Common alternative ID

Best Practices

  • ✓ Always collect guest ID information
  • ✓ Record payment method accurately for accounting
  • ✓ Send booking confirmation to guest immediately
  • ✓ Note special requests to ensure guest satisfaction
  • ✓ Verify room availability before confirming booking
  • ✓ For partial payments, clearly communicate balance due date
  • ✓ Keep guest contact information updated

Troubleshooting

Can't see Add Booking button?

Ensure you've added at least one room. Go to Rooms tab and create your first room.

No rooms in dropdown?

Rooms may all be booked for selected dates. Try different dates or check room availability.

Error when saving booking?

Check internet connection. If offline, InnGO will save locally and sync later.

Guest didn't receive confirmation email?

Check spam folder. Verify email address is correct. Ensure email notifications are enabled in Settings.

Need More Help?

For assistance with bookings:

🎉 Congratulations! You've processed your first booking. You're well on your way to managing a successful hotel with InnGO!