User manual · version 1.2
PHP Hotel Marketplace user manual
Everything you need to install, configure and run your own hotel, guest house and apartment booking marketplace: the traveler website, the hotel owner panel and the main admin panel.
1Getting started
How to install the PHP hotel booking scriptStep-by-step installation of the PHP hotel marketplace script: server requirements, MySQL database, web installer, CLI installer and demo data.
Quick start: launch your hotel booking website in 30 minutesA practical checklist to launch your hotel marketplace: set the charging model, connect Stripe or PayPal, add AI, create packages and invite hotel owners.
File and folder structure of the hotel marketplace scriptWhere everything lives in the PHP hotel marketplace script: index.php, include classes, extensions, templates, languages, ADMIN and hotel_admin folders.
Cron job for the hotel booking scriptSet up cron.php to release unpaid bookings, complete past stays, send review requests and package reminders, and sync iCal calendars automatically.
Customize the hotel marketplace: colors, logo, CSS and codeChange colors, fonts, logo, texts and templates of the PHP hotel booking script from the admin panel, or edit the CSS and PHP files directly.
2Website for travelers
The hotel booking website for travelersOverview of the traveler website of the PHP hotel marketplace: home page, search, hotel pages, checkout, guest accounts, reviews, languages and mobile design.
Hotel search with filters, dates and real pricesHow guests search hotels by destination, dates and guests, filter by price, stars, rating, type and facilities, and see real prices with offers applied.
AI trip search: find hotels by describing the tripLet travelers type "romantic weekend in Rome with a pool under 150" and turn it into search filters with AI (Groq, DeepSeek, OpenAI). Setup and behavior.
The hotel page: gallery, rooms, reviews and booking boxWhat a property page contains in the PHP hotel marketplace: photo gallery, room list with prices, facilities, policies, guest reviews, map and enquiry form.
Booking and checkout: Stripe, PayPal or pay at the propertyGuest checkout of the PHP hotel booking script: price breakdown, deposits, Stripe and PayPal payments, pay at the property, refunds and confirmation e-mails.
Guest account: bookings, favorites and profileGuests can register, see upcoming and past bookings, cancel a booking, save favorite hotels, change their profile and reset a forgotten password.
Verified guest reviews and ratingsHow verified reviews work: review request e-mails after check-out, star ratings by category, moderation, public replies by the hotel and rating averages.
Multi-language hotel website and SEO friendly URLsThe multi-language hotel script: language dropdown, English, Spanish, Russian and Georgian included, search friendly URLs and how visitors switch language.
Mobile friendly hotel booking websiteThe hotel marketplace is fully responsive: mobile menu with animated button, touch friendly search, filters, booking form and owner dashboard on phones.
3Hotel owner panel
Hotel owner panel: registration, login and dashboardHow property owners register, log in and use the dashboard of the PHP hotel marketplace: statistics, next arrivals, reviews, messages and a setup checklist.
Edit the property profile, location and policiesFill in the hotel profile: name, stars, contact data, AI descriptions, location picker and map coordinates, check-in times, cancellation policy and house rules.
Upload hotel photos and select facilitiesUpload property photos that are resized automatically, choose the main photo and select the facilities and amenities guests can filter by.
How to list a hotel room: add and edit room typesAdd room types with photos, capacity, number of rooms, bed type, size, minimum nights and facilities in the hotel owner panel of the booking script.
Write hotel room descriptions with AIGenerate hotel room and property descriptions with AI (Groq, DeepSeek, ChatGPT) from a few key notes. Also AI offer texts, review replies and translations.
Room pricing: per room, per person or by number of guestsChoose how each room is charged: flat price per room, price per person, or tiered prices by number of guests, plus child fees and minimum nights.
Availability calendar: seasonal prices and closed daysSet special prices, close dates and reset days with a click on the availability calendar, or apply changes to a date range and selected weekdays.
iCal sync with Booking.com, Airbnb and VrboAvoid overbooking with two-way iCal calendar sync in the PHP hotel script: export your bookings, import Booking.com, Airbnb and Vrbo calendars per room.
Special offers and discounts for hotel roomsCreate percentage discounts for chosen dates, rooms and minimum stays. Offers are applied automatically in search results, the hotel page and the booking.
Manage hotel bookings: list, calendar, confirm and cancelSee and manage reservations in the hotel owner panel: status filters, search, booking details, confirm or cancel, the booking calendar and e-mail notifications.
Reply to guest reviews and read guest messagesRead verified guest reviews, publish a public reply (with an AI draft if you like) and read the questions guests send from the property page.
Packages, earnings and getting paidHow hotel owners buy a package with Stripe or PayPal, feature their listing, see earnings and commissions, and connect an account to receive payments.
4Main admin panel
The main admin panel: login, dashboard and menuA tour of the admin panel of the PHP hotel marketplace: login, dashboard statistics, the main menu, quick search, messages and the activity log.
Manage properties, rooms, reviews and facilitiesApprove, edit, feature, suspend and delete properties, manage all rooms and reviews, and edit facilities, property types and destinations.
All bookings, guests, testimonials and newsletterSearch and export all marketplace bookings to CSV, manage registered guests, testimonials shown on the home page and the newsletter subscribers list.
Three ways to earn: subscription, payout or split paymentsChoose how your marketplace earns: monthly package fee without commission, collect and pay out with commission, or split payment at booking time.
Connect Stripe and PayPal paymentsEnter Stripe and PayPal keys, set up webhooks, choose the currency and test payments. Includes Stripe Connect and PayPal split payment notes.
Packages, commissions, payouts and transactionsCreate listing packages, set commission rates, release payouts to hotels after booking, check-in or check-out, and review every transaction and refund.
AI assistant settings: Groq, DeepSeek, ChatGPTConfigure the AI assistant with any OpenAI compatible API: provider, model and key, and switch AI features on or off for rooms, properties, reviews and content.
General settings, appearance and maintenance modeSite name, tagline, URL, time zone, date format, results per page, company details, brand colors, fonts, button shape and maintenance mode explained.
E-mail and SMTP settingsConfigure the sender, use an SMTP server, send a test e-mail and understand all the notifications that the marketplace sends to guests, owners and you.
Locations: countries, cities and tourist spotsEdit the destination tree in a simple text file: 3 levels of country, city and spot. Europe is included. Add your own region and keep existing codes.
Add a language and edit the interface textsTranslate the hotel marketplace into any language: copy the language file, add the language in the admin, edit interface texts and translate pages and news.
Pages, menus, travel news and FAQBuild the website structure with a drag and drop page tree, edit page content, publish travel news articles with AI help and manage the FAQ.
Home page, logo, templates and advertisement zonesChange the hero image and text, featured properties and destinations, upload your logo and favicon, choose the template and place advertisement code.
SEO, tracking codes and social mediaSearch friendly URLs, page titles and meta descriptions, tracking codes such as Google Analytics, and social media links in the footer.
Statistics, admin users, permissions and backupsTraffic and live statistics, referral sources, audience reports, admin users and permission groups, extension files, custom tags and database backups.