Export your listings to Vrbo

The Hostaway software allows you to create new listings on Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) by automatic export. Vrbo will connect your current listings if you have them to these newly created listings. This way you are able to have your new properties listed on Vrbo in a quicker way than when you do this manually.

Important:

• Since you are using Hostaway, you can connect to Vrbo API no matter your location or your number of listings. You can apply for API integration 
• Complete the below steps from 1 to 4 
• Once you completed the steps You need to have a signed content API contract with Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) and be in touch with a Vrbo pre-implementation specialist.
  DO NOT CONTACT VRBO BEFORE HOSTAWAY VALIDATED YOUR SETUP AND YOU EXPORT THE LISTINGS
• Vrbo supports 6 currencies: USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and NZD

Note: It is important to review and complete the steps below, inform us that you have done it so we can enable the connection for Vrbo, otherwise Vrbo implementation specialist will not be able to start the integration project.

Find more information from Vrbo on How to integrate with property management software

(Step 1) Set up the payment provider

Make sure that you have a Stripe or Braintree account connected with Hostaway before the integration. Once the integration is completed you will be able to charge your guest directly via Stripe/Braintree or Hostaway. Vrbo will not take payments for you.

For more information on Payment Providers - Click Here

(Step 2) Setup your auto invoice for Vrbo channel

Use the Auto charges feature to set up the payment automatically, so you will not have to process it manually. Once set up, it will apply only to the new upcoming reservations.

(Step 3) Preparing for Content Export 

In your Hostaway account, update all the listings by menu Listings > Edit button per listing and provide as much information as possible. Specifically:

• Basic information tab.
• Correct and full address details of the listing.
• Make sure the bed setting is correct
• Financial Settings (update taxes for the listing)
• Prices & fees - refundable damage deposit
• Under additional info the Check-out, check-in start, check-in end time and square meters.
• The channel-specific: title, headline, description and upload a Vrbo rentals agreement PDF
• Please make sure in Channel specific the Property Name must be between 20 - 30 characters, Headline should be between 20 - 100 characters and the Property Description must be 400 characters or more. Please note the that total character count and content consists of Property description + House rules from the 'Additional Info' tab.
• Handle Payment By Invoice Or At Location > Select if you process the payments by credit card or send an invoice manually to guests with payment instructions. When you select Handle Payment By Invoice Or At Location "Yes", you will need to manually send invoices to the guest to pay by bank or cash on arrival. When you select "No", Vrbo will send CC details by Hostaway to your Stripe account to charge the guest.
• Add the contact person's information.
• Add all the amenities that exist in the Amenities tab
• Add in the Minimum Age Rule by going to Channel Manager > Channels > Configure Vrbo > Settings. Add in the minimum age of the renter and click on Save.
• In Financial Settings > VRBO host channel fee,> Add the percentage Vrbo charges per reservation. This can then be used in Financial Reporting with the field HostChannelFee. Please note that it will only calculate for newly received reservations after this value has been updated.

Important: Make sure to set up taxes for Vrbo before the integration is completed. 
Also, make sure not to have any duplicate photos in the listing.

(Step 4) Set your listings export ready for Vrbo

Once you complete the above steps from 1 to 3 Please contact support@hostaway.com with your Hostaway email address to enable the VRBO Export option and validate your setup

Once the feature is enabled please follow the below-mentioned steps to export the listings to VRBO

Go to Hostaway Dashboard >  channel manager > channels > Vrbo > configure > export your listings. 

DO NOT CONTACT VRBO BEFORE HOSTAWAY VALIDATED YOUR SETUP AND YOU EXPORT THE LISTINGS

(Step 5 ) Sign the Onboarding Contract Form from Vrbo 

VRBO Contract - Click Here

Once you exported the listings from Hostaway, the listings will be enabled for Vrbo and the implementation specialist can access this during the signup process.

Important Note :

You need to have a signed content API contract -  with Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) and be in touch with a Vrbo pre-implementation specialist.

During the signup process you required a Hostaway Account ID (known as advertiser ID) - You Can find it in Hostaway Dashboard > Settings > Account ID 

Make sure you mention the channel management software Hostaway

(Step 6) Connect your HOSTAWAY > Vrbo Proxy email address

Once your account has been created in Vrbo:

• Copy VRBO inquiry email: It can be found in Channel Manager > Channels > Configure Vrbo > Settings. Copy it and add it as a secondary email address in your Vrbo account.
• After this, it may take up to 24 hours before the listing is showing on Vrbo.

Attention

When you export your listing to Vrbo, it creates an XML connection between Hostaway and VRBO software. From this moment forward, the changes you need for your property details, rates and communication needs to be handled by your Hostaway software. The Hostaway software supports the very well-working basic configurations for Vrbo however when you are looking for advanced pricing, or discount rate plan options to set up in Vrbo it is possible the software does not support this yet. When you need an adjustment that is not supported, let us know. We evaluate if and if so when it is expected to be possible to support this new setting. If you were using the ical connection and switched to the XML/API connection, please remove the ical link to avoid getting reservations via ical.

Time and settings review

Hostaway aims to have you exporting the highest quality listings to Vrbo in the fastest way possible. However, you as the manager, remain fully responsible to verify your listings and settings on Vrbo (formerly HomeAway) after export at all times.

So, in this case, either the listing is still being exported to VRBO or it was set as OFF there. The action to set this to ON needs to be done on VRBO side. Once it's active you should be able to see the active date as well.

Additional note: If you require registration information for your listings, please make sure to add it in VRBO once the listing is exported from Hostaway to VRBO (otherwise the listing will be off in VRBO)

Hostaway is integrated with many other channels with API possibilities. Check Marketplace for more channels.