I’d like to offer a gift instead of a discount and would expect the appropriate way to do that to be through the existing promo_code field on the public booking page. Unfortunately, it appears the promo code is currently limited to pricing/discount actions only. I need the promo_code value to be exposed to OwnerRez automations (triggers/webhooks/API) so that when a guest enters a code like RETURN_GUEST the booking can be automatically flagged for staff action (for example, add the tag Welcome Gift Needed) and a visible invoice line Valued Guest Welcome Gift — $0.00 can be applied without changing the booking total. If the promo_code field cannot be exposed, please provide the exact, supported steps to achieve this same outcome while keeping the promo-code entry on the public booking page, including any required configuration for discounts, surcharges, custom fields, triggers, and the exact menu paths and criteria to use.
Hi Ed,
Apologies for not having responded to this request well before now. We've been working on some forum updates to help us better categorize and assess the way we triage posts, and it looks like this one slipped through the cracks.
The promo code field currently only supports pricing discounts and isn't exposed to triggers, webhooks, or the API. However, you can achieve this outcome using Optional Surcharges configured as a workaround:
Create an Optional Surcharge at $0.00 (Settings > Surcharges > Create Surcharge > Advanced > Optional Surcharge)
Create a Trigger to tag bookings and notify staff:
Guests would select the "welcome gift" option during booking instead of entering a code. This gives you the visible $0 line item and trigger capability you need.
For more details, see: - Advanced Surcharges Overview - Triggers Setup & Configuration
Bri,
Thanks for the response. I don’t think the solution you described addresses what I’m trying to accomplish.
From what I understand, your approach would allow any guest to select a welcome gift during booking. That’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid. I don’t want the welcome‑gift option visible to all guests.
What I’m looking for is a way to run a promotion that encourages someone to book — but instead of offering a cash discount, I want to offer a welcome gift. My thought was that a guest would enter a promo code, and that code would indicate they’re eligible for the gift. Only guests who receive the promo code would see or receive the offer, just like any targeted promotion.
Once they’re on the website, no additional discounts are needed — I just want a promo‑code‑triggered perk, not a universally visible option.
Ah, understood.
Thinking on it more, even if we allowed for a $0 discount code that could be applied at the time of booking, there's another aspect to consider.
"but instead of offering a cash discount, I want to offer a welcome gift." - If there are any applicable discounts for that booking at the start of that process, those are displayed to the guest in the pricing breakdown. Once they fill in their contact details and hit Book Now, they're presented with the Discount Code option in the right panel, but they'll see in real time how that code removes the discount that was first applied.
I set up a $20 Discount Code to show you what I mean.Your request remains open for voting! I just wanted to point out that there's a bigger lift here than first meets the eye should we decide to move forward with it at a later date.
I think what you’re describing could work in theory, but I’m not sure it’s actually possible given the current limitations around tag‑triggering. In my previous attempts, I wasn’t able to flip a tag based on a guest‑entered discount code, which meant there was no reliable way for staff to know when a welcome gift needed to be prepared. Without that internal trigger, the workflow breaks down.
Can you confirm whether a discount code can, in fact, trigger a tag or internal flag today? If that’s supported, I’d gladly use it as a workaround. It’s not ideal—showing a $0 or $0.01 “discount” looks a bit awkward compared to highlighting a complimentary welcome gift—but at least it would give me a functional way to begin offering the option.
Discounts are a Tag Automation condition, yes!
However, you can't currently zero out a discount code.
So for the time being if j set the gift value at $0.01 I can start offering a gift option and i will see a tag letting me know
Yes, but as I screenshot above, it may not be an ideal guest experience and may lead to questions. That is, assuming you have a regular discount that would already apply to the dates the guest is booking. That automatically applied discount would be wiped out by the $0.01 discount code, and the booking total would visibly go up as the first discount is replaced with the one cent code.
