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> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.meetgail.com/platform/knowledge/holiday-hours/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.meetgail.com/_mcp/server.

# Holiday Hours

> Configure holiday schedules and ensure Gail handles calls appropriately during closures

## Overview

Setting up holiday hours ensures Gail knows when your agency is closed and can handle calls accordingly. This guide walks you through configuring holiday schedules and activating the appropriate scripts for holiday periods.

> **Warning**
>
> **Critical Reminder:** Gail does not automatically switch to your holiday script based on the holiday hours you set. You must manually activate your holiday script from **Inbound** > **Scripts** before each holiday period and switch it back afterward.

---

## How Holiday Hours Work

Understanding Gail's holiday configuration will help you avoid common mistakes:

### Date Range Configuration

* **Start Date:** The first calendar day Gail should operate in holiday mode
* **End Date:** Automatically calculated as 12:00 AM on the calendar day after your Days Off period ends

### Manual Script Activation Required

While you set holiday dates in the Business Hours section, Gail **does not automatically switch scripts**. You must:

1. Set the holiday dates in the Business Hours section (covered below)
2. Manually activate your holiday script on **Inbound** > **Scripts** before the holiday begins
3. Switch back to your regular business hours script after the holiday ends

> **Tip**
>
> Think of the holiday settings as setting your "out of office" dates, while the Inbound **Scripts** tab controls which script is active. Both must be configured properly for holiday handling to work.

---

## Setting Holiday Dates

### Step 1: Access the Holiday Settings

1. Log into your Gail portal
2. Navigate to **Knowledge** in the left-hand menu

![Knowledge Navigation](/_fern-img/e207c1ad29e1783572cbbaf9a2e9e2379bab6a5d4682b1a2df4814da1123e234.webp)

3. Go to the **Business Hours** tab

![Business Hours Tab](/_fern-img/8b22eddd8755233657abbba7d26638f6b660a3069b53ae57a4db99dee9ddd029.webp)

4. Scroll to the bottom of the Business Hours page

![Holiday Section](/_fern-img/dd0cbe762a67106f8c87f9488cfd4dca87f8a5b3415bb3c5bd297c94436b7360.webp)

5. You'll find the holiday configuration section here

### Step 2: Enter Your Start Date

Select the **Start Date**, the very first calendar day you want Gail to begin operating under holiday rules.

![Add Holiday Dialog](/_fern-img/b094510e91b6898d04f1afdfcb154cfd30377e95f5f505ae43e4f59f2a82666e.webp)

**Example:** For Thanksgiving starting Thursday, November 28th, select **November 28th** as your Start Date.

### Step 3: Enter Your End Date

Select the **End Date**, the very last calendar day you want Gail to end operating under holiday rules.

![Holiday End Date](/_fern-img/eacf256af4cfe24babec6ba038a346c4dc7513165b6d6622095b0f3671a58171.webp)

**Example:** For Thanksgiving ending Monday, December 2nd, select **December 2nd** as your End Date.

### Step 4: Review and Confirm

The holiday configuration will display the complete closure period based on your input.

**Double-check:**

* The displayed date range matches your intended closure period
* The resume date is correct
* Gail will switch back to normal operations at 12:00 AM on the resume date

### Step 5: Save Your Holiday Entry

Once you've verified the dates are correct, click **Add Holiday** to apply the holiday hours.

![Add Holiday Confirm](/_fern-img/f43e38d0aca57155037124888eeb1e3176c9bc38362a8473c2e5fa7461bac285.webp)

---

## Activating Your Holiday Script

> **Warning**
>
> **This is the most commonly missed step!** Setting holiday dates alone will not change Gail's behavior. You must manually activate your holiday script.

### Before Your Holiday Begins

Follow these steps to activate your holiday script:

#### Open Inbound Scripts

Go to **Communications** > **Inbound** in your Gail portal. The **Scripts** tab opens by default.

![Inbound Scripts tab](/_fern-img/21934e9139596413b125643d3c44227e1262419726812b7f51d12c310ba3acfb.webp)

#### Find the script you will use for holiday hours

Locate the script you want Gail to use while your office is closed.

#### Set Operating Times

On the Scripts list, open the script row menu (`...`) and choose **Set Operating Times**. Set the days and times this script should answer calls. For a full holiday takeover, use **All days** and **All times**.

#### Launch the script

Open the script, go to **Test & Launch**, and click **Launch** so the script can take live calls.

![Test & Launch](/_fern-img/86be787da330c863d086dacd21da104e64ddc8d097a9ad14d4c37525da10b403.webp)

#### Verify

On the **Scripts** tab, confirm the holiday script shows the operating times you expect, and that a phone number is assigned if this script should answer a specific line.

### After Your Holiday Ends

> **Warning**
>
> **Remember to switch back!** Once the holiday period is over, repeat the steps above to reactivate your regular business hours script.

---

## Advanced: Time-Based Transfer Logic

The holiday settings define when your agency is closed but don't support granular time-based transfer logic (e.g., "transfer to John until 2 PM, then transfer to Sarah").

For more complex time-based routing requirements, see the **Advanced Time-Based Transfers** section in the [Directory](/platform/communications/inbound/directory) guide.

---

## Common Holiday Scenarios

### Single-Day Holiday

**Example:** New Year's Day

```text
Start Date: Monday, January 1st
Days Off: 1
Resume Date: Tuesday, January 2nd at 12:00 AM
```

### Long Weekend

**Example:** Thanksgiving weekend

```text
Start Date: Thursday, November 28th
Days Off: 4
Resume Date: Monday, December 2nd at 12:00 AM
```

### Extended Holiday Break

**Example:** Christmas/New Year's break

```text
Start Date: Friday, December 20th
Days Off: 13
Resume Date: Wednesday, January 2nd at 12:00 AM
```

---

## Troubleshooting

### Gail is using the wrong script during the holiday

**Solution:** Check that you've manually activated your holiday script on **Inbound** > **Scripts**. Setting holiday dates alone doesn't change the active script.

### The resume date is wrong

**Solution:** Ensure that you've selected the correct end date for the holiday period.

### Need to change holiday dates after saving

**Solution:** Return to the Business Hours tab in the Knowledge section and update the Start Date or Days Off as needed.

### Forgot to switch back after the holiday

**Solution:** Go to **Communications** > **Inbound** > **Scripts**, open the row menu for your regular business hours script, choose **Set Operating Times**, then open the script and click **Launch** on **Test & Launch**. Consider setting a calendar reminder for the day after holidays to switch scripts back.

---

## Best Practices

### 📅 Plan Ahead

Set holiday dates well in advance so you don't forget to activate the correct script when the time comes.

### ⏰ Set Reminders

Create calendar reminders for:

* The day before the holiday: Activate holiday script
* The first day back: Switch back to business hours script

### 🧪 Test Your Holiday Script

Before the holiday, call your Gail number to verify:

* The holiday script is active
* The messaging is appropriate
* Any transfers work as expected

### 📝 Document Your Scripts

Keep notes about which script to use for different holidays (for example, "Use Holiday Closed Script for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's")

### 🔄 Review Annually

At the start of each year, review your holiday schedule and update dates accordingly.

---

## Next Steps

* Learn how to set up your first Gail in [First Gail](/platform/gails/create-your-first-gail)
* Set up [Actions](/platform/communications/inbound/setting-up-use-cases) for holiday-specific call handling
* Configure [Directory](/platform/communications/inbound/directory) contacts for holiday on-call staff

> Documentation for Gail, the AI platform for financial services. Learn how to set up GailGPT and Gail Agent to automate customer communications for insurance, banking, and finance.