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August 2025 Product Updates: Optional Service Tax Configuration & Booking.com No-Show Reporting

Joyce avatar
Shared by Joyce • August 05, 2025

Hi there,

Release Date: 04/08/2025

1. Gross and Net Options for Booking Optional Services

What's New?

Users can now choose whether the charge amount for a booking optional service is set as net (excluding tax) or gross (including tax). This selection can be applied directly at the booking level, giving teams more flexibility when charging for additional services.

Key Features:

  • Net or Gross Amount Selection at Booking Level

What’s changed? Users can define tax-inclusive (gross) or tax-exclusive (net) pricing for optional services during booking.
Why was this changed? To give users more control over pricing structures and improve tax clarity.

  • Accurate Tax Breakdown in Account Documents

What’s changed? The selected amount type is reflected in invoices and statements with appropriate tax breakdowns.

Why was this changed? To ensure billing is transparent and correct.


Why Have We Made This Change?

To accommodate diverse pricing strategies and ensure billing documents accurately reflect applied taxes.

Impact:

  • More flexible service pricing
  • Improved transparency for end-users
  • Accurate and automated tax breakdowns in documentation

Getting Started:

See this short walkthrough and read this help article.


2. Improved Tax Handling for Optional Services at Entity Level

What's New?

You can now configure the default charge amount type—net or gross—for optional services at the entity level. When an optional service is added to a booking, the selected type will be automatically applied based on this configuration.

Key Features:

  • Entity-Level Configuration for Optional Services

What’s changed? Administrators can predefine the amount type (gross/net) for each optional service at the entity level.
Why was this changed? To streamline service setup and reduce manual adjustments during bookings.

  • Backward Compatibility

What’s changed? All previously configured services will retain their existing settings unless updated.

Why was this changed? To ensure the change doesn’t disrupt current workflows.


Why Have We Made This Change?

To simplify service setup and provide consistency in tax treatment across bookings.

Impact:

  • Reduced manual entry at time of booking
  • Centralised control over pricing configuration
  • Future-proofed flexibility without impacting existing setups

Getting Started:

Watch the demo for how to update default configurations and read this help article.


3. Report No-Show Booking to Booking.com

What's New?

Lavanda PMS users can now report no-show bookings directly to Booking.com without leaving the PMS. The reporting window becomes available 24 hours after the guest’s scheduled check-in, and remains open for 48 hours.

Key Features:

  • Integrated No-Show Reporting

What’s changed? Booking.com no-shows can be flagged directly from the PMS interface.
Why was this changed? To reduce the need to use the Booking.com extranet.

  • Optional Cancellation Fee Waiver

What’s changed? Users can optionally waive the cancellation fee when reporting a no-show.

Why was this changed? To give operators more control over fee management and guest communication.


Why Have We Made This Change?

To streamline the no-show reporting process, increase operational efficiency, and give users more flexibility in handling guest disputes.

Impact:

  • Faster handling of no-show cases
  • Greater control over cancellation outcomes
  • Improved workflow by eliminating external platform dependency

Getting Started:

No setup required—available directly within the booking view when applicable. Watch the demo for how to report a no-show and read this help article.


Availability:

All features will be available to all Lavanda customers from 4th August 2025.

Warm regards,

The Lavanda Product Team