Managing multiple vacation rental listings across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo can be a logistical challenge. One of the most significant hurdles for property owners is keeping availability accurate across all channels.
Imagine all your reservations perfectly synced across platforms automatically. This guide explores two simple methods for syncing your calendars, including a powerful option for managing all your listings from a single dashboard.
How to Connect Your Airbnb Calendar to Vrbo
When it comes to syncing your vacation rental calendars, you’ve got two main options:
Recommended choice: Use Hostaway’s channel manager
The best way to sync your calendars across Airbnb, Vrbo and multiple other platforms including your direct booking website is Hostaway.
Highly reliable and easy to use, Hostaway’s channel manager offers a robust 2-way API connection to all major OTAs, updating reservation data in real-time and preventing double bookings. It also allows you to update other information like pricing, minimum night rules, fees, etc, so you can easily manage multiple listings and avoid the pitfalls.
Option 2: Manual connection (calendar sync with iCal)
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While manually updating calendars is possible, it's like juggling a bunch of group chats – doable, but prone to mistakes and delays. This method, relying on iCal imports, can take hours to sync and still lead to double bookings. It's simply not reliable for a smooth booking experience.
Here’s how to import your Airbnb calendar into Vrbo:
Export Airbnb calendar
Go to Listings on your Airbnb dashboard and select the listing you want
Go to Pricing and Availability > Calendar sync
Click Export calendar
In the Export calendar window, copy the link
Import into Vrbo
Go to your Vrbo account and select the listing
Click Calendars in the left navigation menu, then click Reservation
Click the Import/Export icon and click Import Calendar
Name your calendar (for example, Airbnb) and choose a color
Paste your Airbnb calendar link
Make sure the calendar is set to block your calendar availability
Click Import Calendar
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You can also use iCal to import your Vrbo calendar into Airbnb. Here’s the process:
Export Vrbo calendar
Go to your Vrbo account and select the listing you want
Click Calendars in the left navigation menu, then click Reservation
Click the Import/Export icon and click Export Calendar
In the Export calendar window, copy the link
Import into Airbnb
Go to Listing and select the listing you want
Go to Pricing and availability > Calendar sync
Click Import calendar
Copy the link into the Calendar address field
Name the calendar (for example, Vrbo)
Click Import calendar
Why You Should Connect Your Airbnb and Vrbo Calendars
If you list your property on both Airbnb and Vrbo, syncing your calendars is a must. Here’s why:
Avoid double bookings
Double bookings are a nightmare for both you and your guests. They can lead to negative reviews and a lot of unnecessary stress. Connecting your calendars ensures that once a booking is made on one platform, the dates are automatically blocked on the other.
Better guest experience
A seamless booking experience without the risk of overbooking keeps guests happy. Happy guests are more likely to leave glowing reviews and recommend your property – bringing you more business.
Plus, syncing your calendars saves you valuable time by eliminating manual updates and reducing errors. This simplifies your operations, allowing you to focus on providing an exceptional guest experience.
Host cancellation fees
Airbnb and Vrbo both charge fees if you cancel confirmed reservations and these can add up depending on why and when you cancel. Avoiding double bookings helps you steer clear of these costly fees.
Automate Your Vacation Rental Calendar
Successfully managing vacation rentals across platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo requires smooth calendar syncing to avoid double bookings and boost guest satisfaction. While manually syncing using iCal is an option, it often comes with delays and errors.
By far, the most efficient and reliable method is using a channel manager like Hostaway, which offers real-time, automated updates across all your listings, ensuring accuracy and freeing up your time to focus on delivering exceptional service to your guests.
By implementing these simple and straightforward strategies, you protect yourself from double booking and financial penalties while streamlining your rental business. Connecting your Airbnb and Vrbo calendars through a robust channel manager leads to more bookings, happier guests and overall success.
FAQs
1. What are the risks of not syncing my calendars?
If you don’t sync your calendars, you risk double bookings which can lead to unhappy guests and bad reviews. Plus, you might have to deal with refunds and cancellations, which can be a hassle and cost you money.
2. How often do iCal calendars sync?
iCal calendars can be pretty slow, often taking several hours to sync. So, it's not instant and can sometimes lead to delays in updating your availability.
3. What should I do if I encounter issues with calendar syncing?
If you run into problems with calendar syncing, don't panic. First, check any troubleshooting guides or FAQs provided by your channel manager or booking platform—they often have quick fixes. If that doesn't solve it, reach out to customer support for help.
4. Is it possible to sync calendars more than two platforms?
Absolutely! You can sync calendars across multiple platforms using a channel manager like Hostaway. It lets you keep everything in order, whether you’re listing on Airbnb, Vrbo or direct booking website.
5. Can I still manually adjust bookings after syncing calendars?
Yes, you can manually adjust bookings if needed. Just make sure these changes are updated across all your synced calendars to avoid any confusion or double bookings.
