Learn how Airbnb rule sets work in Hostaway, how to create and apply seasonal rules, and how discounts, availability rules, and calendar-level settings sync with Airbnb.
Airbnb Seasonal Rules
Seasonal rules are used to apply discounts or reservation rules. When importing an Airbnb listing, rule sets are imported. For already imported listings, Hostaway will do the first sync when this feature is activated. From that moment onwards, rule sets must always be managed from Hostaway.
Read this article to discover rule sets for channels other than Airbnb.
Rule Sets on Calendar level
How to create a rule set?
- Go to your Hostaway Dashboard > Calendar
- Select a date or dates via bulk selecting dates. At the bottom of the pop-up > Rule Sets
- To create a new rule, click on ADD
- Name and color. If you do not add a name, the rule will not be usable for other dates/listings
- Pricing. Allows setting a price % increase or decrease
- Length-of-stay discounts. Allows to introduce discounts for a certain number of nights. Multiple discounts can be set, for example, a 10% discount for a length of 1 week and a 25% for two weeks
- Last-minute discounts: Allow for offering discounts for last-minute reservations. Multiple discounts can be set, for example, a 10% discount for bookings received 5 days before the arrival, and a 25% discount for bookings received 1 day before the arrival
- Early-bird discounts: Allow for offering discounts for early-bird reservations (bookings that happen well in advance). Multiple discounts can be set, for example, a 10% discount for bookings received 6 months before the arrival, and a 25% discount for bookings received 20 months before the arrival
- Check-in and check-out dates. Allows you to select the days when you do not want guests to check in and/or check out
- Monthly discounts are equal to 28 days(4 weeks)
- Save
Discounts are prioritised in this order:
- New listing promotion
- Custom promotion
- Length-of-stay discount
- Early-bird discount
- Last-minute discount
Airbnb explains this further in their article.
How to apply a rule set?
Once created, when selecting a date, you will be able to select this rule in the channel rule set dropdown. After any change, clicking on "Save changes" will still be needed. Those changes will then be reflected on Airbnb (no need to manually export the listing). Rule sets apply only on specific dates where the rule is active, so discounts and rules are proportional to the reservation booked date where the rule is applicable.
Rule sets on the Listing level
It is important to note that rule sets on a listing will apply for all dates. If you also have rule sets on the Calendar level, then calendar rules will have the preference. From the listing level, you can only apply Early Bird and Last Minute Discounts by going to Listings > Edit > Channel Specific.
How to view if the seasonal rule is applied?
Airbnb Rules, Sets & FAQs
What will happen if you make changes in Airbnb instead of in Hostaway?
Hostaway will overwrite the data that exists on the Hostaway side, so any changes made on Airbnb will be lost.
How many seasonal rules can we create?
As many as you would like for all listings and available dates. On Airbnb, seasonal rules are per Airbnb account, but in Hostaway, one seasonal rule can be applied per listing. However, do bear in mind that there is a limit from the Airbnb side: a Seasonal Rule contains one or more pricing rules and one availability rule. You can create up to 366 Seasonal Rules and up to 3000 individual Rules, including both pricing rules and availability rules.
What could happen if we modify a seasonal rule in the multi-calendar when we have this rule set to different listings from different accounts?
The listing in which that rule exists will have the rule updated, while for the other accounts, the rule will be created and applied to the other selected listings.
What happens if I create a seasonal rule but don’t apply it to any listing?
It will be created on the Hostaway side and will not be created in Airbnb. To have it in Airbnb, the rule will need to be applied to at least one calendar day.
What happens with seasonal rules when unmapping a listing?
Hostaway does not remove applied seasonal rules upon unmapping.
What happens if I remove a Seasonal rule that is exported to many Airbnb accounts?
All of the corresponding seasonal rules on the Airbnb side will be removed.
What happens if an Airbnb account is removed and then connected back again?
Hostaway will keep information about seasonal rules the account had and will unite them with the actual settings. If there is a conflict (different rules applied on Airbnb and Hostaway), the Hostaway setting has a higher priority.
How long does the sync process take?
It happens immediately. If you create/remove a seasonal rule in Hostaway, it will be instantly created/modified in Airbnb (do bear in mind that if you create it you'll need to assign it to at least one calendar day to be created in Airbnb).
If something goes wrong, how will you know about it? What should be done?
Hostaway shows an error message immediately if something goes wrong, and based on the message, you'll need to take the necessary actions.
There is one option called Trip Length on Airbnb, but not on Hostaway, is that correct?
Yes, due to current limitations in the Airbnb API, this option cannot yet be offered in Hostaway.