Hotel mapping: from supplier code to property identity
Understand how hotel mapping works, which evidence matters, how to handle conflicting candidates and how to evaluate mapping quality.
Hotel mapping connects supplier records that describe the same real-world property. A dependable workflow preserves original codes, uses several independent signals, sends uncertain cases for review and keeps every accepted relationship traceable to its evidence.
Start with the identity, not the display name
A property can appear under different names, languages and supplier codes. Keep the master ID stable and store names as source values or aliases. Treat supplier plus hotel code as the source key, and keep the code as text so leading zeros survive. A rename alone should not create a new property.
Compare independent evidence
Use country, address, locality, coordinates and verified identifiers alongside name similarity. Several suppliers can copy the same inaccurate content, so repeated values are not automatically independent confirmation. Nearby hotels, shared entrances and separate towers need extra care. A material geographic or identity conflict should block automatic acceptance.
Make uncertainty an explicit outcome
Use outcomes such as accepted, review required and no match. Consider both the evidence for the leading candidate and how close the next candidate is. Weak evidence should remain unresolved. Reviewers need the original records, the competing candidates and a recorded reason for their decision.
Measure correctness separately from coverage
Coverage describes how many eligible source records have a mapping. Correctness requires independently verified labels. Evaluate both true matches and difficult non-matches, and report the tested supplier scope and sample size. Approve changes as versioned releases so a new rule can be compared with the previous policy.
Related questions
Can two supplier codes map to one hotel?
Yes, when the evidence establishes that the records represent the same property. Keep both source codes and their separate histories attached to the master identity.
Is a shared location enough to confirm a match?
No. A complex can contain multiple hotels or separately sold towers, and supplier coordinates can be approximate. Use address and other property evidence as well.
When should a hotel be created as a new master record?
After checking that no existing candidate is a supported match and that the source record contains enough evidence to establish a distinct property. Keep the creation reason and source reference.