How to sync Airbnb and Booking.com calendar? 2023 Guide

If you are a new host, it is normal to wonder how to sync Airbnb calendar with Booking? And with HomeAway?

Having linked calendars is the first step to avoid embarrassing situations, such as overbooking or... cancellations of bookings due to lack of availability. It is one of the biggest concerns of professionals in tourist apartment management.

Airbnb Calendar Configuration

Airbnb provides you with several calendar availability options for your accommodation. The setup assistant is very intuitive: just answer a few questions about your previous experience renting accommodations or the time you need to prepare for check-in.

In this way, Airbnb will propose the most recommended option for your situation. Remember that you can always modify these options in the future - in fact, it's recommended that you do!

The goal of configuring Airbnb's calendar and syncing it with Booking or HomeAway is to avoid cancellations. As we mentioned at the beginning, cancellations negatively impact your reputation as a host.

Set a minimum advance notice period in which they can book

This depends on your situation as a host: there are people who have enough reaction time to accept immediate bookings on the same day. Others, on the contrary, need two or three days' notice to prepare the accommodation.

Remember that if you establish that reservations must be made at least 2 days in advance, you will have more time to prepare for the arrival of your guests, but you will lose the possibility of confirming last-minute stays.

Set a maximum advance notice period in which they can book

It is the reverse of the previous field. You should mark as available only the dates on which you can accommodate to avoid cancelling bookings or rejecting guests.

Set a minimum and/or maximum number of nights

The shorter the bookings, the more you will have, but you will also have to prepare the accommodation more often.

Synchronize Airbnb calendar with Booking or HomeAway

There are various options to achieve synchronization of Airbnb and Booking.com calendars, each with its advantages and disadvantages.

Google Calendar and iCal

This is a common and easy-to-use option for calendar synchronization. Both Airbnb and Booking.com support calendar export and import via iCalendar. Basically, you can get the calendar link from one platform and add it to the other. Each time a booking is made on one of the platforms, it will be automatically reflected on the other via this link.

Advantages:

• Simplicity: Configuring synchronization through iCalendar is relatively simple. You just need to copy and paste links.
• Accessibility: Both platforms support iCalendar, making integration easier.
• Free: There are no associated costs, as it is a native function of the platforms.

Disadvantages:

• Non-immediate synchronization: Updates may take time to reflect on the other calendar, which could cause conflicts if bookings are made simultaneously on both platforms.
• Functionality limitations: It does not offer other advanced management features, such as rate updates or message automation.

How is it done?

1. Access your Airbnb account:
2. Go to the "Calendar" section of your property.
3. Get the calendar link:
4. Look for the option to export the calendar in iCalendar format. On Airbnb, you can find it in the Calendar Settings section.
5. Copy the iCalendar link:
6. Select and copy the link provided by Airbnb.
7. Access your account on Booking.com:
8. Go to the "Calendar" or "Availability" section.
9. Import the link into Booking.com:
10. Look for the option to import an external calendar and paste the iCalendar link you copied from Airbnb. Save the changes.
11. Verify synchronization:
12. Make a test booking on one of the platforms and verify that it is automatically reflected in the other platform's calendar.

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You can repeat the same process to sync Booking and HomeAway calendars with Google Calendar.

Channel Manager

Channel managers are tools specifically designed for managing properties on multiple platforms. These tools offer automatic synchronization of calendars, rates, and availability between Airbnb, Booking.com, and other vacation rental platforms. Examples of channel managers include MyAllocator, Rentals United, and SiteMinder, among others. These systems allow you to manage all bookings from a single interface.

Advantages:

• Real-time synchronization: Synchronization is almost instantaneous, significantly reducing the risk of duplicate bookings.
• Centralized management: Allows you to manage multiple platforms from a single interface.
• Advanced automation: In addition to synchronization, many channel managers offer rate updates, availability, and advanced management features.

Disadvantages:

• Associated cost: Some channel managers may have monthly fees or booking commissions.
• Learning curve: The initial setup can be complex and requires time to become familiar with the platform.
• Third-party dependency: If there are technical issues with the channel manager, synchronization may be affected.

How is it done?

1. Register with a channel manager:
2. Choose a channel manager like MyAllocator, Rentals United or SiteMinder and create an account.
3. Link your properties:
4. Add your Airbnb and Booking.com properties to the channel manager's platform.
5. Configure synchronization:
6. Follow the steps provided by the channel manager to authorize access to your Airbnb and Booking.com accounts. Set up calendar synchronization and any other necessary configuration.
7. Verify synchronization:
8. Make a test booking on one of the platforms and verify that it is automatically reflected in the calendar of the other platform within the channel manager.

Sync.Rentals

The free option to sync the Airbnb calendar with Booking is called Sync.Rentals. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Export Calendar option in your Airbnb host account.
2. Copy Airbnb's URL.
3. Register on Sync.Rentals and add that URL to the platform.
4. Copy the Sync.Rentals URL and import it into your Airbnb account.

Property Management Systems (PMS)

Advantages:

• Complete features: They offer a full range of tools for property management, including calendar synchronization, reservation management, guest communication, and more.
• Integral automation: They allow automating a large part of the management process.
• Technical support: They usually have robust technical support to resolve issues quickly.

Disadvantages:

• Higher cost: PMS usually have higher monthly fees due to their comprehensive features.
• Learning curve: Just like channel managers, it may take time to become familiar with all the features.
• Provider dependency: If the provider experiences technical issues, it can affect the management of all linked properties.

How is it done?

1. Choose a PMS:
2. Select a property management system like Guesty, Tokeet or Hostaway.
3. Register and add properties:
4. Create an account on the PMS and enter the information of your properties on Airbnb and Booking.com.
5. Configure synchronization:
6. Follow the instructions provided by the PMS to authorize access to your accounts on the vacation rental platforms. Configure calendar synchronization and other features according to your preferences.
7. Verify synchronization:
8. Make a test booking on one of the platforms and verify that it is automatically reflected in the calendar of the other platform within the property management system.

Optimize calendar

Once you've synced Airbnb's calendar with Booking and HomeAway, you shouldn't be idle.

Are you lost when it comes to using minimum night stays for your vacation rental? Do you have a vacation rental with multiple listings and worry about quickly blocking the availability of one when you get booked?

Now it's time to apply these tips to optimize your Airbnb calendar and increase your bookings.

Offer discounts to encourage your guests to book more nights

Nearly 50% of Airbnb hosts use the minimum stay option in the availability of their vacation rentals. In fact, the minimum of two nights is the most popular: this is when, using Airbnb cleaning fees, you achieve optimal profitability – take into account your check-in and check-out costs!

However, having a low minimum - such as two days - can be detrimental to your Airbnb calendar. Imagine a guest booking two nights in the middle of the week (for example, Tuesday and Wednesday). At that moment, ask them first if they have already booked transportation, and if the answer is negative, offer them to extend their stay (to Monday or until Thursday, in our example) in exchange for a large discount on those days. You will be surprised by the number of guests who accept the offer. It is a benefit for everyone: happier guests; longer booking duration and lower check-in costs for you.

Minimize the “sandwich periods” and optimize the Airbnb calendar

Remove minimum stay during that period

Something you can do to optimize the Airbnb calendar when someone has booked in the middle of the week is to remove the minimum stay during that week and accept one-night stays.

Optimize prices

The above is a measure you can take once you've been booked in the middle of the week. However, you can optimize prices to try to minimize sandwich periods. The worst case is that you have three guests booked: one from Monday to Tuesday, another from Tuesday to Thursday, and another for the weekend - you have three check-ins in one week!

You can align the price with your costs to attract guests with full-week bookings. How? By setting different prices for each day. Change prices taking into account that if someone books the whole week, the average daily price is the same as when you had the same price per night.

For example: imagine that your tourist apartment has a price of €100 per night and your week goes from Monday to Friday. Then, set the nights of Monday and Friday at €85, Tuesday and Thursday at €100 and Wednesday at €130. You will see that the average for the week is €100 –as before–, but only for those who book the full week. This is in line with the first tip, which is to offer juicy discounts to your guests if they extend their stay.