The Hostaway software allows you to create new listings on Booking.com by automatic export. Allowing you to activate your properties on Booking.com faster than by creating each one manually.
This function is specifically created for PMC's who export 5+ new properties per week. If you have fewer properties it is often better to create them manually on Booking.com.
Important:
- Listing export is only available for Hostaway accounts that have 5 or more active listings.
- In order to export listings, you need to have a Booking.com Legal Entity ID (LEID). Please contact Booking.com if you don't have one yet.
- If Booking.com is not managing guest payments you will need to create a Stripe.com account and connect it to Hostaway in order for you to charge your guests.
- The Hostaway software uploads the listing content only once when the property is created to Booking.com. If you need to adjust images after the creation of the property, you would need to do this manually on Booking.com.
NOTE: If you don't have a Booking.com account yet, you need to request one:
Click on the link below and make sure you select Hostaway OY as your channel manager.
- Fill in this online Booking.com form.
- The local Booking.com office will contact you to prepare your account.
To activate these options follow the steps that apply to your current situation.
Exporting a new listing
Important: existing listings need to be connected by this connection process. These listings cannot be updated by content API.
1) Preparing for Content Export
Important!! You can only export 1 listing per address. When you have more listings on the same address you need to create these manually in Booking.com!
Go to your Hostaway dashboard and click on listings. From here, select the listing you want to export and click on the Edit button and provide as much information as possible.
In order for the export to be successful, please make sure the following details are filled in :
- Under Basic information tab: each and every field is mandatory. Property type must match channel specific Booking.com room type (you'll find this in the Channel specific tab)
- Correct and full address details
- Add Booking.com image tags to every photo. It is best to have a minimum of 24 images per listing (internal and external views of the property)
- Verify the pricing and fees setup, the number of guests included must match and can not be more than the total number of guests allowed under basic info.
- Make sure listing has a price, currency, number of guests included in the price, price per extra person
- Under Additional Info: please always fill in check-in and check-out times and square meters
- Under Additional info: language must be set to English and all content must be written in English.
- Channel-specific title and description: best practice is to have different titles and descriptions per channel:
- The title should not be more than 30 characters
- The description shouldn't be more than 9999 characters
- Contact person information (name and international phone number)
- Bed types
2) Exporting listings to Booking.com
- Login to the Hostaway dashboard > Channel Manager > Configure Booking.com.
- When you have your Legal Entity ID click on the button in the top to add it to your account.
- When you export listings for the first time: click on the Export button and send a message to Hostaway customer support. Provide your Hostaway account email and inform that you have read and understood the steps needed per listing in order to export. Hostaway support team will then provide you with access to the Export function.
- Once done, login to the Hostaway dashboard > Channel Manager > Configure Booking.com. Click on the export button to request export for your listing (only listings that are fully updated will be exported)
- Hostaway will review the listing and when confirmed that each one is correctly setup, will export the listing to Booking.com.
- Booking.com will then review (automatically or manually) the export. Once created (XML Ready to Open) you will need to check the content, rate setup, policy setup settings in Booking.com personally.
- When you are ready to open the listing on Booking.com send an email to support to confirm you have verified the settings and request to open the property. The rates are initially updated in the Hostaway calendar with a rate set to +100% markup. You can adjust this in the Hostaway dashboard. Go to channel manager > listing mapping > setting >markup for each channel
- The listing will be opened a.s.a.p in order to receive reservations. We advise to always check your first reservations and sync to make sure your setup is correct.
Export time
Hostaway aims to have you exporting the highest quality listings to Booking.com in the fastest way possible. The export per listing depends on many factors, listings with accurate and complete details can be online within 24h-72h. Listings that need to be reviewed or are not properly setup might take weeks or months to get activated. Hostaway provides support during the export but you remain fully responsible to verify your listings and settings on Booking.com before opening and after opening and while accepting new guests.