When you are connected to Airbnb or Vrbo via iCals, you will need to regularly use Channel Bridge to bring in information about your bookings and guests that the channels don't send by iCal. Even if you do plan on using channel integration connections, it's still a good idea to use Channel Bridge to bring in all available data beforehand, particularly since the channel integrations tend to provide more current data.
Once you're connected to the channels using our Channel Integrations, you will no longer need to use Channel Bridge for certain things. But, even when using channel integrations, you'll still need Channel Bridge - just, for fewer things, and/or less often.
This chart breaks down exactly what you need to use Channel Bridge for when Pre-channel integration vs channel integration connection.
Green - Use Channel Bridge
Red - No Need For Channel Bridge
Pre-channel integrated/iCal Connected
| Airbnb | Vrbo | |
|---|---|---|
| Bookings | Channel Bridge needed to pull in guest information such as full name, email address, and charges. | Channel Bridge needed to pull in guest information such as full name, email address, and charges. |
| Transactions | Channel Bridge needed to pull in booking transactions. | Channel Bridge needed to pull in booking transactions. |
| Reviews | Channel Bridge needed to pull in reviews. | Channel Bridge needed to pull in reviews. |
| Rates | Channel Bridge needed to push rates from OwnerRez to Airbnb. | Channel Bridge needed to push rates from OwnerRez to Vrbo. |
Channel Integration Connected
| Airbnb | Vrbo | |
|---|---|---|
| Bookings | No longer needed, bookings come in automatically via channel integration. *NOTE: Channel Bridge will still need to be run to update any bookings made prior to the channel integration Connection going live. |
No longer needed, bookings come in automatically via channel integration. *NOTE: Channel Bridge will still need to be run to update any bookings made prior to the channel integration Connection going live. |
| Transactions | No longer needed if Transaction Sync is enabled; i.e., transactions can come in automatically via channel integration. *NOTE: Channel Bridge may be needed before turning on Transaction Sync to pull in historical transactions. |
No longer needed; all transaction data is handled inside OwnerRez since the user is MOR (merchant of record). |
| Reviews | No longer needed, reviews come in automatically via channel integration. | Channel Bridge needed to pull in reviews, as Vrbo channel integration currently doesn’t pass review information (coming later this year!). |