Our Channel Management feature is extremely powerful and can greatly simplify your channel advertising. Learn how it works by reading our Channel Management Overview article.
The most powerful part of our Channel Management is a series of API integrations with certain channel partners. API integration refers to the technical ability of software systems to "talk" to each other based on a partnership or agreement. And that's what OwnerRez can do on your behalf - talk to channels like Vrbo and Airbnb and transmit your property content, rates, rules, availability, and more. The channel will communicate back to OwnerRez with your booking and guest data as changes occur on the channel in real-time.
- List of API Integrations
- Differences between API channels
- Preparing for API integration
- Channel Guest Communication
List of API Integrations
We currently have API Integrations with the following channels:
- Airbnb
- bnbfinder
- Booking.com
- Book Direct Forgotten Coast
- Emerald Coast By Owner (ECBYO)
- Find Rentals
- FLARBO (Florida Rentals By Owner)
- Florida Rentals
- getawayGoGo
- Glamping Hub
- Golightly
- Google Vacation Rentals
- Got2Go
- GuestSmiles
- HomeToGo
- Hopper Homes
- Houfy
- Monthly Rentals by Owner & American Snowbird Network
- Nofie
- Rentalz
- Vrbo
- Whimstay
Clicking on the channel name above will take you to a set of support documents for that channel, how to set up and connect, and the common issues and questions that users will face with that channel.
Please contact us with the details if you want us to add an API integration for another channel. However, be aware that there are reasons why we may not integrate - read our philosophy of why being on many OTAs doesn't matter. Still, let us know what you'd like to see in the future.
If the channel you'd like to integrate with is a small regional listing site, please get in touch with the channel first and ask them to integrate with OwnerRez from the customer side. This is an effective way to start the partnership.
Navigating to the specific Booking> Channel Tab will allow you to see which API integration is managing a booking, and you can click on the API connection link that takes you to the API integration.
Differences between API channels
Each API Integrated channel has different requirements, restrictions, and sets of fields they support with lots of overlap between them. Even if they support the same setting, there are differences in what the setting means or how you are limited in using it. We've prepared a detailed list of channel-specific differences and comparison matrices here:
- API comparison - Technical and functional differences
- API comparison - Property field differences
- API comparison - Rate and fee differences
Please consult these documents as you determine what will or will not work or you and as you begin to set up your properties, rules and other things within OwnerRez. If you run into activation issues, this is a good place to check.
Preparing for API integration
Each of the channels above has differences in how you connect and manage the API integration. Clicking on the names above will take you to an area devoted to that channel. However, there are some general things you can do to make the process easier, no matter which channel you are integrating with. Read our guide for preparing to go API and make sure you are prepared in general before starting to work on a specific channel.
If you find the idea of API integration confusing, but are interested in learning more, never hesitate to contact us directly with questions or post a question on the forums. We've spent a lot of time building out our API integrations and writing support articles to guide you through the process, but we understand that some users will need extra time to learn and adjust. No worries on that - forge on ahead!
Channel Guest Communication
Effective guest communication ensures a smooth experience, resolves issues promptly, and enhances guest satisfaction, leading to positive reviews and repeat bookings in short-term rentals.
Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo's native messaging platforms allow hosts and guests to communicate directly through their app or website, facilitating booking details and check-in instructions and allowing hosts to address any questions or concerns. However, they prefer to control the guests and their information so that they can charge ongoing fees to both sides. Instead of providing a real email address, they create temporary "proxy" email addresses that they filter and control.
Until a host procures a guest's contact information, hosts must rely on the messaging platforms of those channels. Luckily, OwnerRez directly integrates with the native messaging platforms of Vrbo, Airbnb, and Booking.com!
- To request your guest's contact information and ask them to sign your renter agreement, see the Ask Channel Booking Guest Without Contact Info, to Provide Contact Info and Sign Renter Agreement support article.
- Check out the Trigger Examples support article for more information and ideas for Airbnb, Bookin.com, and Vrbo channel guest messaging.
Depending on whether that channel is considered the "merchant of record (MoR)" (i.e., Airbnb, Booking.com), and if available in the API configuration email section of the listing channel, OwnerRez users can determine whether Channel Booking Confirmation Messages or regular emails are sent to guests.
Users can configure the non-MoR API connections to send your default Booking Confirmation system message used for direct bookings or create a separate template and trigger for channel bookings by navigating to your specific API connection> Change > Email.