Learn how to connect Vrbo to Hostaway using iCal, what data syncs through iCal, and what limitations apply compared with the API connection.

How to connect Vrbo by iCal?

Introduction

• iCal connection will only sync availability from reservations, not manually blocked dates; these need to be blocked directly on Hostaway
• To connect to Vrbo via API with the full sync, please follow the steps on Vrbo: Connect to Vrbo
• For more information about iCal, please read the article iCal: Connection and more information

Connect to Vrbo via iCal

Once a property is live on Vrbo, you can connect it through the iCal calendar link.

Please follow the next steps to connect your Vrbo listings through iCal:

1. Before you start, please ensure you have everything needed to connect:
   • All listings you have on Vrbo are also created in Hostaway
   • When you log into the Vrbo calendar, you see in the top right corner the menu option "Import & Export" calendar
   • Decide if you would like to include "Tentative reservation requests" as a booking or not
      
2. Set up your connection per listing:
   • Log in to your Hostaway account and go to Channel Manager > Channels
   • Click on "Activate" or "Configure" for Vrbo iCal
   • In the new window, at the top, select the listing you would like to map to Vrbo
   • Copy the Hostaway export iCal link
   • Go to Vrbo > Listing Calendar > click on "Import calendar" > Insert the link > Save. Check your Vrbo calendar — it should reflect the reservations you already have blocked in Hostaway, which confirms the link is working correctly. Keep in mind this initial check is just to verify the setup; once connected, ongoing updates follow each platform's own periodic iCal sync schedule, as explained under Important Notes below, not a continuous real-time feed.
   • From Vrbo, you can export the reservations. When you get the link, it asks you if you would like to include or exclude "Tentative" (inquiries) reservations. Turn this option off if you do not want to import them, and copy the link
   • Add the link in Hostaway where it asks for the import link
   • After completing this, verify if all reservations are synced and dates are correctly blocked on both sides

Important Notes

• If you get the error "Vrbo cannot import iCal," try importing the calendar link again — this sometimes takes a few attempts before it goes through. Hostaway and Vrbo each pull updates from the iCal link on their own independent, periodic schedule; this is inherent to how the iCal protocol works, and the exact interval on either side isn't something Hostaway controls or guarantees.
• When you get a reservation in Vrbo and urgently need to block off the dates, block them manually in the Hostaway calendar until the new sync comes in
• The financial data for iCal bookings is available in the Vrbo Dashboard. Each record shows the full financial breakdown of the reservation, including payout dates, etc. From there, the data can be added to the Hostaway import CSV
• When you remove a Vrbo iCal from the Hostaway Dashboard, the dates of the reservations in the iCal may be blocked in the Hostaway calendar or become available depending on the status of the reservation: 
  • The dates are blocked on the calendar if the status of the reservation is one of the following: New, Modified, Pending, Awaiting Payment, Awaiting Guest Verification, Unconfirmed, Owner Stay, or Expired.
  • The dates are available on the calendar if the status of the reservation is one of the following: Inquiry, Inquiry Pre-Approved, Inquiry Not Possible, Cancelled, or Declined.

To learn more, please watch this quick video.

What this article is not about

This article does not describe:

• Sync speed for Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Expedia, or Google (these use direct API and sync in real time)
• Reservation push speed
• Message sync
• Price and availability updates via API