VRBO Native Messaging in OwnerRez via API integration

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Ok, maybe I missed it, but understand we can now try this out for channel messaging on NEW VRBO bookings only, correct? If so, how do we update the triggers to ensure all NEW VRBO bookings use the Channel message templates with the trigger and OLDER VRBO bookings use the Email Template with Triggers? How do I configure that?

I am curious if the VRBO messaging only works if the booking was made after the rollout? I have a VRBO guest arriving tomorrow and the check in information went out today at 9am, but only via email. I set it all up yesterday to send via the platform and it didn't go through the platform this morning.

Thank you, I was wondering the same.  Is the forecast also being updated? I was checking there to make sure everyone will get codes and such and that was not reflecting that the booking had met the criteria for the listing site even though I have updated the triggers to send to both Air and VRBO.

It's a bit complicated under the covers, but this will generally work for all new bookings from June 7. In some cases it will also send to pre-existing bookings, but I would not count on this yet. Until we import historical messages from Vrbo it will be hit or miss.

We recommend keeping your email triggers in place for Vrbo bookings alongside any new Vrbo channel triggers you'd like to add for the present. We will announce in our change log and blog when historical messages have been pulled in, at which point you can more safely rely on Vrbo messages only.

That's great news!  Sounds like we'll be able to automatically reply within the system to inquiries, is that correct?  That would be a huge bonus, especially since we can't do that yet with air b&b

Thanks, Shawn.

I do have another question.....I have noticed that even after a Vrbo booking is confirmed, when communicating with guests through the Vrbo messaging system, Vrbo will redact information such as phone numbers, email addresses, website URLs, etc. This is understandable when communicating with guests before the booking is confirmed but frustrating that they continue to do it after the booking is confirmed.

My question is: If we communicate with guests of a confirmed Vrbo booking through OwnerRez will Vrbo continue to redact information from our messages or leave them alone?

I like that when using the Airbnb inbox in OwnerRez we can send the link to sign the rental agreement through an Airbnb message, but I don't know if we can do that through the new Vrbo inbox....if the URL will be redacted then we need to continue to send that link to their email inbox as we are currently doing.

If we communicate with guests of a confirmed Vrbo booking through OwnerRez will Vrbo continue to redact information from our messages or leave them alone?

It's not supposed to.  If you have a specific example where it did, please send that to the Helpdesk with as much detail as possible (screenshots, etc.) so we can investigate further with Vrbo.

I've seen that as well Valerie.  The problem is, at least for me, is that the VRBO site still shows it as an inquiry and not as booked until a day or two later.  It's confusing for guests and has been that way for as long as I can remember.  I've had to handle that question a couple of times with guests who get my confirmation but see it as an inquiry.

If we communicate with guests of a confirmed Vrbo booking through OwnerRez will Vrbo continue to redact information from our messages or leave them alone?

It's not supposed to.  If you have a specific example where it did, please send that to the Helpdesk with as much detail as possible (screenshots, etc.) so we can investigate further with Vrbo.

Ok, Ken, I'll try to find an example. It might be hard, because I know about this and so I don't usually send telephone numbers, property addresses, etc to guests through Vrbo.

Hi Doug, Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this info. I am Canadian but my properties are in the USA. We mostly have US-based clients but also Canada. Do you know of any processors that do the interchange + ... and do not charge an extra percent or fee for what they call "international" customers for a business in our position. Also will do Canadians?  My cell is 604-808-1084 if you prefer. Thanks, Jill