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How to add a catalog using the advanced catalog

Overview

A service advanced catalog can be added to the CMS and displayed in the app so guests can browse available items or products. Different catalog options are available depending on how content should be structured and presented.

Depending on the feature being configured, a catalog can have different types of offerings:

  • Restaurants and Room service: Menus displaying food dishes, beverages, breakfast options, or wine lists.
  • Spa and wellness: Treatments, massages, beauty packages, or wellness sessions.
  • Sports: Sports equipment rentals (e.g., tennis rackets, balls), court availability, or bed packages.
  • Amenities: Extra pillow options, toiletries, iron sets, or extra towels.
  • Issues: Predefined lists of common room issues or maintenance requests.
  • Tours and Attractions: Excursions, guided tours, local activity packages, or ticket options.
  • Shops: Boutique items, souvenirs, or hotel merchandise.

Important: STAY offers two types of catalogs:

  • Advanced catalog (Advanced catalog tab): This is the newest catalog version and the one we always recommend using. Advanced catalogs offer far more customization options (catalog structure, colors, fonts, design, etc.), perform better when displaying a large number of products, and work with all features.
  • Regular catalog (Catalog tab): This is the legacy catalog version. It lacks design customization and is more limited. You should only use regular catalogs if you have selected the on-demand booking system for a feature. The on-demand booking system only works with the regular catalog. Check this article on how to add a menu using the regular catalog (link).

Before getting started

Before adding a catalog, keep the following in mind:

  • You must have access to the CMS and the corresponding feature.
  • Decide whether to use a manual or external catalog.
  • Prepare product details in advance (names, prices, descriptions, images, and variations) to speed up setup.
  • Have files or links ready if using an external catalog.

Options for adding a catalog

There are two main catalog types:

  • Manual catalogs: Add and manage products individually.
  • External catalogs: Upload a file or provide a URL; products cannot be edited in the CMS.

1. Create a manual catalog

  1. Go to Content and select the corresponding feature section.
  2. Select the service and click Edit.
  3. Navigate to the Advanced catalog tab.
  4. Define the button text that guests will see to access the catalog:
    • Use a short text such as “Catalog”, “Our Menu”, or “See options” (max. 24 characters).
    • Click the flag icon to add translations.
  5. Click Add catalog.
  6. Select the type of manual catalog:
    • With categories (two levels: categories and products).
    • With categories and subcategories (three levels: categories, subcategories, and products).
  7. Assign an icon and a name to the catalog.

Important: The choice made regarding the type of manual catalog cannot be undone later. Make sure to select the appropriate type.

2. Create an external catalog

Option 1: PDF catalog
  1. Follow the steps above until Add catalog.
  2. Select PDF Catalog.
  3. Upload the file in all required languages. Keep it under 5 MB—lighter files mean a smoother experience for guests when loading documents on devices.
  4. Enable Open in browser if the catalog should open in a new window.
Option 2: Linked catalog
  1. Select Linked catalog.
  2. Enter the catalog URL for each available language.
  3. Check Open URL in browser if needed.
Step-by-step guide: Manual catalog setup

When creating a manual catalog, two tabs are available:

  • Products: Create and manage catalog items.
  • Layout: Customize the catalog appearance.

Step 1: Adding products to the catalog

  1. Add categories (name + image).
  2. If using subcategories, add them (no image needed).
  3. Create products by adding Name and Price.
  4. Configure product status:
    • Enabled: Visible in the catalog.
    • Featured: Stands out in the catalog.
Editing a product

To edit a product, locate it under Products and use the action icons:

  • Arrow icon: Move the product to another category.
  • Pencil icon: Edit the product details.
  • Trash icon: Delete the product.
Product editing options

1. Product Information

  • Name
  • Description with details.
  • Image (max. 1 MB, recommended size: 400x400 px).
  • Ingredients and allergens (optional).
  • Tags to improve searchability.

2. Pricing

  • Standard price. This is the price entered in the Price field for the first time.
  • Different pricing based on portion size, duration, or presentation (e.g., "Half portion" or "1 hour"). Click Add price and enter a distinguishing label in Title.
  • Segmented pricing (if the property uses customer segmentation). To enable this, first activate the Segmented pricing toggle (from the Products tab), and a price field will appear for each segment created at property level. Enter a value for each one.
  • Create an offer: Enable Activate offer, then enter a title and discounted price.

3. Product options (widgets)

  • Allow guests to choose product variations (e.g., bread type for a burger or court type for a booking).
  • Options include single selection and multiple selection widgets.
  • Assign additional costs to extra items or options if needed.

4. Products per page

Set how many products are displayed per page in the CMS. Options: 5, 10, 20, or 50. This improves loading speed and makes editing more efficient.

5. Free products

Choose how to indicate to customers that a product has no cost. Select from three options: display custom text, show '0', or leave the field empty.

Step 2: Catalog layout customization

Under the Layout tab, personalize the catalog appearance.

1. Catalog header:
  • Add a service logo (optional).
  • Select a background image or color.
  • Customize the catalog description.
  • Choose a separator element between the header and the body of the catalog.

Tip: If selecting a background color, remember to click OK to save changes.

2. Catalog colors:
  • Define background and interface (buttons, boxes, etc.) colors.
3. Font type:
  • Choose the font that will appear in the body of the catalog. The default font is Inter. To use a different one, enable the Use a different font than the default toggle or click the preferred option. Choose from four options: Quicksand, Rubik, Poppins, and Arvo.
4. Category dividers:
  • Choose the type of separator that will be included between categories.
  • In this section, define the text color for the catalog categories and subcategories, as well as the color of the divider.
5. Product name and description:
  • Define the style of elements related to the catalog products: text color for the name, description, and price.
  • Set a custom text for the featured product label. Featured products are those that stand out from the rest in the catalog.

Activating and previewing the catalog

  • To activate the catalog, switch the Enabled/Disabled toggle on the right side of the screen to Enabled (green).
  • To preview how guests will see it, scan the QR code on the CMS home screen and navigate to the configured service.

Next steps

Once the catalog has been added and configured, consider these additional actions:

  • Preview the catalog in the app to ensure it appears as expected and is easy to navigate.
  • Review product details regularly to keep prices, descriptions, and availability updated.
  • Use tags and featured products to highlight special items and make them easier to find.
  • To manage multiple catalogs (e.g., equipment rental, special items), create as many catalogs as needed.

Need further assistance?

If additional questions arise or further assistance is required:

  • Contact support through live chat.
  • Send a ticket to the Support team.
  • Visit STAY Academy, the training platform.