Filters

Rate Radar's filtering system allows you to analyse competitor rates from multiple perspectives, helping you understand your competitive position across different market segments, rate types, and time periods.

What Are Filters?

Filters let you narrow down the rate data you're viewing based on specific criteria.

Instead of seeing all rates for all room types and conditions, you can focus on exactly what's relevant to your current analysis, whether that's Standard rooms with breakfast included, non-refundable rates for Suites, or how rates have changed over the past week.

Why Use Filters?

  • Answer specific business questions
    Filters help you answer targeted questions like "Are we competitive in our Deluxe category?" or "How much are competitors discounting non-refundable rates?" rather than getting lost in too much data.

  • Compare like-for-like

    By filtering to specific room types and rate conditions, you ensure you're comparing equivalent products across your comp set, not mixing Standard rooms with Suites or room-only rates with breakfast-inclusive rates.

  • Understand different market segments

    Your competitive position may vary significantly between room categories, rate types, and booking conditions. Filters reveal where you're strong and where you need to adjust strategy.

  • Track rate changes over time
    Time-based filters show how your market is evolving. Spot when rates are rising or falling, which competitors are adjusting prices, and how quickly the market responds to changes.

  • Make informed pricing decisions

    Rather than setting rates based on incomplete information, filters help you analyse the exact segment you're pricing, considering the specific conditions and time periods relevant to your decision.

Where Filters Are Available

Filters are available in two views:

  • Calendar view: Filter to analyse monthly patterns for specific room types and rate conditions

  • Detail view: Filter to examine detailed rate data for specific criteria

The Overview page does not have filters. It always shows data for "2 guests, Any meal, Lowest" to ensure you're consistently comparing the lowest available rates across your comp set. This ensures:

  • Consistent day-to-day comparisons.

  • You're always viewing the lowest publicly available rates (what price-sensitive guests see).

  • Quick daily checks without needing to adjust filters.

  • A reliable baseline for operational decisions.

For filtered analysis of specific room types, rate conditions, or time periods, use the Calendar or Detail views.

Accessing Filters

Filters are available at the top of the Calendar and Detail views. They appear as dropdown menus in a horizontal row above the main content area, with a blue "Apply" button on the right.

Beside the filters, you'll see timing information showing:

  • Last updated: When rates were last refreshed.

  • Next update: When the next automatic hourly update will occur.

This helps you understand how current the data is and when fresh rates will be available.

How Filter Persistence Works

When you switch between Calendar and Detail views, your filter selections remain active. This allows you to examine the same filtered data from different perspectives without needing to reselect your filters each time.

For example, if you filter to "Deluxe, Breakfast inc., Lowest, 7 days" in the Detail view, switching to Calendar will show the same filtered data in calendar format.

When you navigate to the Overview page from a filtered view, Overview still displays its standard "2 guests, Any meal, Lowest" data. When you return to Calendar or Detail, your previous filter selections will still be active.

Occupancy / Room Filter

This filter controls which room type or occupancy level you're viewing rates for. You can select either a specific room type from your mapped rooms OR a guest count, but not both simultaneously.

Guest Count Options

  • 1 guest: Single occupancy rates

  • 2 guests: Double occupancy rates (most common for comparison)

  • 3 guests etc.

When you select a guest count (e.g., "2 guests"), Rate Radar shows rates across all room types that accommodate that occupancy level.

Room Type Options

Alternatively, you can select a specific mapped room type.

When you select a room type (e.g., "Standard"), Rate Radar shows rates specifically for that room category across your comp set, regardless of the exact occupancy configuration.

These categories match the room mapping configuration. If a room type doesn't appear in the filter dropdown, it means no rooms in your comp set are currently mapped to that category.

How to Use This Filter

  • For broad occupancy analysis

    Select a guest count (1 or 2 guests) when you want to see rates across all room types for that occupancy level. This is useful for understanding overall market pricing at a specific occupancy.

  • For specific room category comparisons

    Select a room type (Standard, Deluxe, Suite, etc.) when you want to compare like-for-like room categories across competitors. This ensures you're comparing equivalent products.


    Room type availability depends on your Room mapping configuration. If certain room types don't appear in the dropdown, check Room mapping to ensure rooms are properly assigned to categories.

  • Default for Overview

    The Overview page always uses "2 guests" to provide a consistent baseline comparison of double occupancy rates across all room types.

  • To understand different room categories

    Switch between room types to see how competitive positioning varies:

    • Are you more competitive in Standard rooms or Suites?

    • Do Luxury suites show different competitive dynamics?

    • How does your Deluxe category compare to competitors?

  • To understand different occupancy patterns

    Switch between guest counts to see how occupancy affects pricing:

    • How do 1 guest rates compare to 2 guests?

    • Is there significant single occupancy pricing variation across competitors?

Note: You cannot combine room type and guest count filters - select one or the other based on what you want to analyse.

Meal Filter

This filter allows you to view rates based on meal inclusions, helping you compare rates with similar value propositions.

Meal Options

  • Any: Shows rates regardless of meal inclusion (broadest view)

  • Room only: Accommodation only, no meals included

  • Breakfast inc: Rate includes breakfast

How to Use This Filter

  • Match your rate strategy

    If you primarily sell room-only rates, filter by "Room only" to see how competitors price their accommodation-only offerings.

  • Compare value propositions

    Switch to "Breakfast inc" to see:

    • Which competitors include breakfast in their base rates

    • How breakfast-inclusive rates compare to room-only pricing

    • Whether you should adjust your breakfast pricing strategy

  • Understand the full picture

    Use "Any" when you want to see all available rates regardless of inclusions. This shows the absolute lowest rates available from each competitor, which is what guests often see when searching.

  • Strategic insights

    If competitors' breakfast-inclusive rates are similar to your room-only rates, you might:

    • Consider adding value with meal inclusions

    • Adjust your breakfast pricing

    • Highlight the value of your breakfast offering

Rate Filter

This filter determines which rate tier you're viewing from each property's available options.

Rate Options

  • Lowest: The cheapest available rate from each property

  • Non-refundable: Non-refundable or restricted rates

  • Free cancellation: Flexible rates with free cancellation

How to Use This Filter

  • Lowest rates (Default)

    This is the most commonly used filter because:

    • It shows what price-sensitive guests see when searching

    • It represents your most competitive market position

    • It's what appears in most OTA search results

  • Non-refundable rates

    Use this filter to:

    • Compare restricted rate offerings across competitors

    • Understand the discount competitors offer for non-refundable bookings

    • Evaluate your own non-refundable rate positioning

  • Free cancellation rates

    Filter by this option to:

    • Compare fully flexible rate offerings

    • Understand the premium competitors charge for flexibility

    • Evaluate if your flexible rates are competitive

    • Identify opportunities in the flexible rate segment

  • Strategic applications

    By comparing different rate tiers:

    • Calculate the typical discount for non-refundable rates in your market

    • Determine the flexibility premium guests are willing to pay

    • Identify if competitors have rate gaps you can exploit

    • Understand the full rate spectrum in your comp set

Change Since Filter

This filter shows how rates have changed over a specific time period, helping you understand pricing momentum and competitor behaviour.

Time Period Options

  • Live: Real-time current rates (no comparison)

  • Today: Compare to rates from earlier today.

  • 1 day: Compare to yesterday's rates.

  • 2 days: Compare to rates from two days ago.

  • 3 days: Compare to rates from three days ago.

  • 4 days etc: Up to 30 days.

How to Use This Filter

  • Live (No comparison)

    Select "Live" when:

    • You want to see current rates without historical comparison

    • You're focusing on absolute pricing rather than changes

  • Short-term comparison (Today, 1-2 days)

    Use recent comparisons to:

    • Monitor immediate market reactions to events or demand changes

    • Track competitor responses to your rate changes

    • Identify sudden pricing shifts that require attention

    • Understand last-minute pricing strategies

  • Medium-term comparison (3-4 days)

    These timeframes help you:

    • Smooth out daily fluctuations

    • See more meaningful pricing trends

    • Evaluate mid-week pricing adjustments

    • Track progressive rate changes

  • Weekly comparison (7 days)

    Use 7-day comparison to:

    • Understand week-over-week trends

    • Compare same day of week pricing (e.g., Friday to Friday)

    • Identify sustained pricing strategies rather than daily fluctuations

    • Report on weekly revenue management performance

  • Interpreting change indicators

    When you select a comparison period:

    • Green up arrows: Rates have increased since the comparison date

    • Red down arrows: Rates have decreased since the comparison date

    • Numbers: Show the exact amount of change

    • No arrow (0): Rates are unchanged

Filter Best Practices

Establish a baseline

  • Establish a baseline

    Choose one filter combination as your default for regular monitoring. For most properties, this might be:

    • Standard (or 2 guests for broader view)

    • Any meal

    • Lowest rate

    • Live or 7 days comparison

  • Be consistent for trends

    Use the same filters when comparing data over time to ensure you're seeing meaningful trends rather than filter-driven differences.

  • Document your strategy

    Note which filter combinations provide the most valuable insights for your property, and check these views regularly as part of your revenue management routine.

  • Experiment periodically

    While consistency is important, periodically explore different filter combinations to uncover new insights about your market that you might miss with your standard view.

  • Match guest search behaviour

    Consider which filters reflect how your target guests search for rooms. If most guests search for 2 people with breakfast, that's your most important filter combination.

Troubleshooting Filter Issues

  • No data showing after filtering

    If you see no data or very limited data after applying filters:

    • The specific combination may not be available (e.g., competitors might not offer Luxury suites)

    • Check Room mapping to verify rooms are assigned to the selected category

    • Try broadening your filters (e.g., change "Breakfast inc." to "Any")

    • Ensure the date range you're viewing has data for that room type

  • Unexpected rate differences between filters

    If rates change dramatically when switching filters:

    • This is normal and expected behaviour

    • Different rate types (Refundable vs. Non-refundable) naturally have different prices

    • Different room types have inherently different rates

    • Meal inclusions add value, so those rates will be higher than Room only

  • Filter changes not taking effect

    If the data doesn't match your filter selections:

    • Ensure you clicked the "Apply" button after making changes

    • Wait a moment for the page to reload with new data

    • Check that your internet connection is stable

  • Missing room type options

    If expected room types don't appear in the Occupancy/Room dropdown:

    • Check Room mapping to see if rooms are assigned to that category

    • If no properties in your comp set have rooms in a category, it won't appear

    • You may need to map competitor rooms to make that category available

  • Filters reset unexpectedly

    If your filters revert to defaults:

    • This typically happens after logging out and back in

    • Filters persist during a session but may reset between sessions

    • Simply reselect your preferred filters and click Apply

Advanced Filter Strategies

Comparing Your Position Across Room Categories

To understand if you're more or less competitive in different room types:

  1. Set filters to "Standard, Any meal, Lowest, Live"

  2. Note your competitive position in Calendar or Detail

  3. Change to "Deluxe, Any meal, Lowest, Live" and click Apply

  4. Compare the results - are you more competitive in one category than another?

  5. Repeat for Suite and other categories you offer

This reveals where you have pricing power and where you're being undercut.

Comparing Occupancy Patterns

To understand how rates vary by occupancy across all room types:

  1. Set filters to "1 guest, Any meal, Lowest, Live"

  2. Note the rate levels across your comp set

  3. Change to "2 guests, Any meal, Lowest, Live" and click Apply

  4. Compare to see how occupancy affects pricing

This helps you understand single supplements and occupancy-based pricing strategies.

Understanding Rate Fences

Rate fences (the difference between refundable and non-refundable rates) vary by market. To analyse this:

  1. Filter to "Standard, Any meal, Free cancellation, Live"

  2. Note the rates across your comp set

  3. Change to "Non-refundable" and click Apply

  4. Calculate the discount percentage competitors offer for non-refundable bookings

  5. Evaluate if your own rate fence is competitive

Tracking Competitor Responses

To see how competitors responded to your rate changes:

  1. Start with "Standard, Any meal, Lowest, 1 day"

  2. Note which competitors changed rates

  3. Change to "2 days" to see if more competitors followed

  4. Continue through 3, 4, 7 days to see the full response pattern

This helps you understand which competitors actively respond to your moves versus holding their strategy.

Breakfast Value Analysis

To understand how competitors price breakfast:

  1. Filter to "Standard, Room only, Lowest, Live"

  2. Note competitor rates

  3. Change to "Breakfast inc" and click Apply

  4. Calculate the implied breakfast price (difference between the two)

  5. Compare to your actual breakfast charge

If competitors' implied breakfast price is lower than yours, consider adjusting your breakfast pricing or packaging.

Effective use of filters in Calendar and Detail views, combined with Overview's consistent baseline, transforms Rate Radar from a simple rate comparison tool into a strategic competitive intelligence platform that answers your specific revenue management questions.

Getting Help

If you have questions about Rate Radar, email: [email protected]