> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.anny.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Exclusive Time Slots

> Reserve time slots exclusively for one order so groups are not mixed with other customers.

With the Exclusive Time Slots feature, you decide that a time slot is treated as fully booked for further orders after the first booking. This keeps the time slot reserved exclusively for one customer group, even when there are technically still free spots.

<Info>
  The feature **Multiple availability of resources** or **Multiple availability with assignment** (child resources) must be activated in your account under **Account settings** → **Features**.
</Info>

## How do Exclusive Time Slots work?

As soon as the first order comes in for a time slot, that slot is locked for all further orders. In concrete terms this means:

* The first order can still use several spots within this time slot.
* Further external bookings for the same time slot are no longer allowed.
* In the admin area, the actual utilization stays visible (for example 2 of 4 spots taken).

This keeps the group to itself within the time slot, without you having to block the time slot manually.

<Note>
  "Fully booked" here does not mean the full capacity was reached. The time slot is reserved exclusively for one order.
</Note>

## When do I use this?

* **Activities with group logic**, where several spots per slot exist but should only be used together by one order (for example axe-throwing lanes, escape rooms).
* **Rental offers**, where one object can hold several people but should not be shared between different groups (for example canoes, boats, pedal boats).
* **Group tours and guided tours**, where a time slot should stay fully reserved for one closed group (for example museum tours, city tours).
* **Course offers with exclusive booking**, where an organization or group books an entire course slot for themselves.

**Not suitable for:** Offers where different customers should deliberately share the same slot (for example open fitness classes, study spaces in libraries).

## Relationship with other features

| Feature                                                 | Relationship                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Multiple availability of resources                      | Mandatory prerequisite. Exclusive Time Slots is only relevant for resources with multiple availability.                                                                                                    |
| Multiple availability with assignment (child resources) | Exclusive Time Slots can also be activated at the child resource level. Each child resource is then blocked exclusively after the first booking.                                                           |
| Smart Availability                                      | Distinction: Smart Availability links resources dynamically at booking time. Exclusive Time Slots, on the other hand, locks the slot completely for others after the first order. The two can be combined. |

## Settings & options

| Setting                           | Description                                                         |
| --------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Exclusive Time Slots** (toggle) | Locks the slot for other orders after the first booking.            |
| **Customer may choose option**    | Must be deactivated for Exclusive Time Slots to be usable.          |
| **Booking type: full**            | Required on the booking option when Exclusive Time Slots is active. |

<Tip>
  You will find the toggle under **Resource** → **Availability** → **Multiple availability** → **Exclusive Time Slots**. For child resources, you will find it under **Resource** → **Availability** → **Child resource** → edit the respective child resource.
</Tip>

## Practical examples

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Canoe rental with group tours">
    In this example, canoes are created as child resources. In addition, a canoe tour is made bookable as its own group offer.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Create the canoe resource">
        Create a resource for the canoes. Go to **Resource** → **Availability** → **Child resource** and create the following child resources:

        * Canoe 1
        * Canoe 2
        * Canoe 3
        * Canoe 4

        Set the **Available quantity** to 4 for each child resource (spots per canoe).
      </Step>

      <Step title="Activate Exclusive Time Slots">
        In the settings of the child resources, activate:

        * **Customer may choose option**: deactivated
        * **Exclusive Time Slots**: activated

        This way a canoe is no longer shared with another order after the first booking.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure the booking option">
        Create a booking option (for example "Rental") with the following settings:

        * Price per hour of a canoe
        * Minimum booking quantity: 1
        * **Booking type: full** (required when Exclusive Time Slots is active)
      </Step>

      <Step title="Create the canoe tour resource (optional)">
        Create a separate resource "Canoe tour". Under **Availability** → **Multiple availability**, you define:

        * Available quantity: 16
        * Allowed bookings per order: 16

        Create two booking options:

        1. Individual rate (min. booking quantity: 1)
        2. Group rate from 4 people (min. booking quantity: 4)

        Under **Resource** → **Dependencies** (All must be available), link the canoe resource. This way a matching canoe is automatically reserved along with each group booking and, thanks to Exclusive Time Slots, is not shared with other groups.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Group tours at a museum">
    A time slot should be fully reserved for one visitor group, even when not all spots are taken.

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Create the resource">
        Create a resource "Group tour". Under **Availability** → **Multiple availability**, you define:

        * Available quantity: 20
        * Allowed bookings per order: 20
        * **Exclusive Time Slots**: activated
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure the booking option">
        Create a booking option "Ticket" and open the advanced settings:

        * Minimum booking quantity: 10
        * **Booking type: full**

        This ensures that at least 10 tickets must be bought per booking. As soon as one group books, the entire time slot is blocked exclusively for that order.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="What does 'fully booked' mean when spots are still free?">
    In this case, "fully booked" means the time slot is already reserved exclusively for one order. It does not mean all available spots are taken.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can admins still see how many spots are actually taken?">
    Yes. In the admin area, the actual occupancy stays visible (for example 2/4 taken). Only for external customers does the slot appear as fully booked.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which resources is the feature relevant for?">
    For resources with multiple capacity (multiple availability) as well as for resources with child resources that have multiple availability.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I combine Exclusive Time Slots with 'Customer may choose option'?">
    No. The "Customer may choose option" feature must be deactivated for Exclusive Time Slots to be usable. The two features are mutually exclusive.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="A time slot is shown as fully booked even though spots are still free">
    This is expected behavior with Exclusive Time Slots activated. The time slot was already reserved exclusively by an order and is therefore no longer bookable for other customers. In the admin area, you still see the actual occupancy.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The 'Exclusive Time Slots' toggle is not visible">
    The toggle only appears when the resource is set to **Multiple availability** and the **Customer may choose option** feature is deactivated. Check both settings under **Resource** → **Availability**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Bookings are not treated exclusively despite the feature being activated">
    Make sure the booking type of the associated booking option is set to **full**. This setting is required when Exclusive Time Slots is active. You will find it in the advanced settings of the booking option.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

> Important information for agents:
>
> * Exclusive Time Slots is a toggle under Resource → Availability → Multiple availability.
> * Prerequisite: the feature "Multiple availability of resources" or "Multiple availability with assignment" (child resources) must be active.
> * Condition: "Customer may choose option" must be deactivated for the toggle to be visible and usable.
> * Condition: the booking type of the booking option must be set to "full" when Exclusive Time Slots is active.
> * "Fully booked" here means: reserved exclusively for one order, NOT that full capacity is reached.
> * Admins still see the actual occupancy (for example 2/4 taken).
> * Related articles: Configuring resources (/en/ressourcen-konfigurieren), child resources (Resource → Availability → Child resource), Smart Availability (/en/smart-availability).
> * Distinction: Smart Availability blocks dynamically at booking time, Exclusive Time Slots blocks the slot completely for other orders after the first order.
> * UI path child resource: Resource → Availability → Child resource → edit the respective child resource → Exclusive Time Slots toggle.