BrightSide is one of only fifteen “USA based” vacation rental software companies with the designation Certified Google Vacation Rentals Connectivity Partner.* BrightSide successfully completed a long certification process and met the standards of Google Vacation Rentals (GVR) integration requirements.

What this means for BrightSide accounts is that you can be listed in the search results on Google, providing guests an opportunity to book directly on your website instead of third party booking sites.

• What is Google Vacation Rentals?
• Why do I need to be on GVR?
• Can I just list my properties on GVR directly?
• How do I get listed on GVR?

GVR is one of the best ways to get direct bookings. For example, when someone searches Google for “condo rentals in Panama City Beach,” or “cabin rentals in Gatlinburg,” the search results include units that are connected via BrightSide. Google then displays units for rent in your search area and allows guests a number of booking options.

The screenshot below is the Google search result for “cabin rental gatlinburg tn.” The top three results are on the screen next to a map of the area, with 2,484 more properties available to view.

GVR helps you get more direct bookings. Without it, you are competing with big OTA ad budgets and trying to get bookings with organic traffic. This can be difficult to say the least. GVR is a game changer for smaller companies and anyone who wants more direct bookings.

Let’s start by saying what happens when you are not directly connected to GVR.

1. People search Google for cabins in Gatlinburg TN.
2. Search results include properties with links to OTAs like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com. They also display properties with direct integrations to GVR.
3. Since you do not have an integration with GVR, your properties do not show up in the search results for direct booking.

This is what happens when you are directly connected to GVR.

1. People search Google for cabins in Gatlinburg TN.
2. Search results include your properties. They can enter stay dates and the rates, fees, and other charges are displayed to the guest. The rates and fees are correct, because they pull them from BrightSide in real time.
3. Google provides booking options with a button for them to “Visit Site,” including Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com and others. Most importantly, they include a link to the “Official Website” where they can book directly.

NOTE: BrightSide uses your domain name as the “Official Site” so your company’s brand is front and center (see screenshot). Not all PMS companies do this. Some use their own  domain name, even though the link takes the guest to your website (see second screenshot).

No, without a property management software (PMS) like BrightSide, small to large size companies cannot list directly on Google Vacation Rentals. Google states that you must manage at least 5,000 properties to connect directly.

BrightSide connects all of our clients to Google Vacation Rentals free of charge. During your BrightSide onboarding, we begin the integration process for GVR. If you don’t want to be on there, just tell us. Otherwise, we will get you connected as soon as possible.

We don’t ask you to do this yourself. You have enough to do, so we do it for you.

* List of certified connectivity partners according to Google.com. Accessed on 11/13/2024.

After your BrightSide account is integrated with at least one Airbnb account, you can begin connecting and syncing individual units. You may already have a listing on Airbnb and just need to connect to it. If you do not have any listings in your Airbnb account yet, you will add them from BrightSide.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a new property in Airbnb right from your BrightSide account. If your property is already listed on Airbnb, we show you how to connect to it and sync them.

• First Things First
• Prepare to List
• Activate New Listing
• Common Issues

The Basics

In order for your Airbnb integration to work properly, we highly recommend that you follow the guidelines set forth in this tutorial. Any deviation from the guidelines may cause your unit to have trouble listing.

NOTE: BrightSide is designed to sync with Airbnb utilizing our custom API. Unlike some PMS software, BrightSide does not use a channel manager to communicate with Airbnb. Our custom API “talks to their system directly.” Also, keep in mind that BrightSide overrides Airbnb data, not the other way around.

Everything in Order

To connect a specific unit to Airbnb, follow these steps. Find detailed instructions for steps three and four in the next section, Prepare to List.

1. Integrate your BrightSide account with your Airbnb account(s). The Airbnb tab becomes visible in the Unit only after your BrightSide account is connected to Airbnb. For detailed instructions, go to Airbnb Integration.
2. Create the unit in BrightSide, NOT in Airbnb. If you build it out in Airbnb first, you must do it again in BrightSide before you can connect them. If you build it out in BrightSide first, you only have to do it once. Ensure that all of the unit data is ready to go, including rates, photos, policies, fees, amenities, etc. For detailed instructions, go to Adding Units (Properties).
3. Prepare your property to list.
4. Activate on Airbnb.

NOTE: Once you activate a unit on Airbnb, all of the unit information in BrightSide overwrites all the unit information on Airbnb. This includes photos, unit name, summary, description, bedrooms, amenities, everything! There is only one exception, when you initially connect to an existing listing (see Connect Existing Listing below).

Navigate to:  Properties > Units > Select Unit > Airbnb (tab)

Create New Listing (Option One)

This first option is for units that are not listed in your Airbnb account currently. By choosing Create New Listing, BrightSide will send the property information to Airbnb and create a new listing there. But before it does that, you must fill in the following information.

NOTE: If you are integrated with more than one Airbnb account, you are asked to select which account this listing needs to be associated.

**DO NOT toggle “Activate on Airbnb!” You will do this later.**

1. Name: Enter a unique name. You may not use ALL CAPS or repetitive characters like Free!!! The name field has a 50 character limit.
2. Summary: Use this section to entice the readers to find out more about the property. The summary has a 500 character limit.
3. Space: In this section, use up to 10,000 characters to describe the unit in detail. Be creative and provide as much information as possible about the bedrooms, bathrooms, living room, kitchen, amenities, or whatever you think guests would want to know. Use short paragraphs so all your copy does not run together.
4. Access: Provide information about what areas of the space guests are be able to access. For example, if they are not allowed in the basement, tell them here.
5. Interaction: Let the guest(s) know if you plan to be there when they arrive or are available for questions. Will they see you during their visit?
6. Neighborhood Overview: What is the neighborhood and the surrounding region like? Let them know what the area offers for entertainment, eating, or any other unique attractions.
7. Transit: Do guests need a car to get here? Is public transportation an option? Is parking free and available?
8. Notes: What else do you want guests to know?
9. House Manual: Do you need to provide instructions for using and enjoying the property?
10. House Rules: Communicate what you expect from your guests. Are pets allowed, smoking, or parties? Are there quiet hours?
11. Check In Type: Select from this dropdown list how the guest will be able to enter the property.
12. Check In Instructions: These instructions are provided to confirmed guests only. Let them know the check in process.

Save: After entering all of the above, click save, then follow the instructions to activate your listing.

Status: This area provides you with the current status of your listing on Airbnb. After a successful activation, the status reads “Active.” If there is a problem activating your listing, you could see a number of error messages and notices with hints for why it didn’t list.

Listing ID: Airbnb assigns a unique ID for each property and feeds that out to BrightSide. The ID is a link to your Airbnb listing which you may click to go directly to the listing.

Host ID: Assigned by Airbnb. The Host ID is a link that goes directly to your Airbnb host profile.

Connect Existing Listing (Option Two)

Use this option if this unit has a corresponding listing already in your Airbnb account and you want to connect them.

1. Click “Connect Existing Listing”
2. A dropdown containing all the units in your connected Airbnb account(s) appears.
3. Select the matching unit. Be sure to select the correct unit, since they don’t always have the same name.
4. Since your listing was already active on Airbnb, some of the information is imported.
5. If needed, you may update the unit information in BrightSide. After saving, BrightSide will push out the updated information to your Airbnb listing.

NOTE: When you connect to an existing listing in Airbnb, the name, summary, description, and any other data that matches the fields in the Airbnb tab, is imported into BrightSide. This is the ONLY time that Airbnb data will download and overwrite data in BrightSide.

Options & Final Steps

1. Synchronization: You have two choices for syncing with Airbnb, everything or limited.
   • Everything: To fully utilize the features of BrightSide, we recommend synching everything. This includes, rates, availability, reservations, maintenance blocks, photos, name, summary, literally everything. When you toggle “Activate on Airbnb,” BrightSide creates this unit on Airbnb and sends all of the information.
   • Limited: On rare occasions, you may want to sync only the rates, availability, and reservations with Airbnb. When you choose this option, you must log into Airbnb to maintain photos, descriptions, and other information.
   • Undecided: This is the temporary default until you decide which of the other two you want to use. You must select Everything or Limited in order to activate on Airbnb.
2. Cancellation Policy: BrightSide allows you to have a default cancellation policy with the flexibility of changing it on a unit by unit basis. To select a different cancellation policy for this unit, click on the dropdown and choose from Airbnb’s various cancellation policies.
3. Show Exact Location: By default, BrightSide does not show the exact location of your property to guests on the Airbnb map, it is only approximate. To allow Airbnb to show the exact location to unconfirmed guests, click this toggle.
4. Activate on Airbnb: When you have completed all the above requirements and recommendations, click this toggle to activate your property on Airbnb.
5. Click Save

Common Issues

1. I uploaded my unit photos to BrightSide. Why am I getting an error message on the Airbnb tab saying I need to upload photos?
   • Reason: Photos can take a while to upload to Airbnb, especially high definition images. In all likelihood, they are still in the process of uploading.
   • The Fix: Wait a little longer. If after 30 minutes you still have an error, follow these steps exactly to force an update.
     1. Toggle off “Activate on Airbnb”
     2. Toggle on “Activate on Airbnb”
     3. Save.
2. After updating my unit’s information in Airbnb the changes just disappeared. Why is this happening?
   • Reason: Unit updates made on Airbnb’s website will be overwritten by BrightSide the next time changes are made in BrightSide.
   • The Fix: ALWAYS make updates to your units in BrightSide, not in Airbnb. BrightSide updates Airbnb, not the other way around.

This tutorial assumes your BrightSide account is already connected to a Vrbo account and you simply want to add a new listing. If your BrightSide account is not integrated with Vrbo yet, follow the instructions in the Vrbo Integration tutorial.

• Prepare & Activate
• Common Questions

NOTE: BrightSide is designed to sync with Vrbo utilizing our custom API. Unlike some PMS software, BrightSide does not use a channel manager to communicate with Vrbo. Our custom API “talks to their system directly.” Also, keep in mind that BrightSide overrides Vrbo data, not the other way around.

Navigate to: Properties > Units > Select Unit > Vrbo (tab)

Existing or New Unit

You may have a unit in BrightSide that has existed for some time, but it is not listed on Vrbo. Or, you may be adding a brand new unit to your portfolio. Either way, begin in BrightSide with the unit you want to add to Vrbo.

Vrbo Tab

BrightSide allows you to enter unique information for each of the online travel agencies in your units. Instead of having identical descriptions on your website, Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, you may offer original content for each. This will help your own website’s SEO (search engine optimization).

1. Cancellation Policy: The default cancellation policy set in Vrbo Integration Partners is shown. If this unit needs a different cancellation policy, you may choose it from the dropdown.
2. Show Exact Location: If left unselected, the map will show guests the general area of the unit, but not the exact location. When activated, guests may see the exact location of the property. After booking, guests will always be able to see the exact location.
3. Headline: Enter a unique headline using up to 80 characters.
4. Summary: Enter a summary using up to 80 characters.
5. Description: Enter a detailed description of the property using a minimum of 400 characters and a maximum of 10,000 characters. If you do not enter any information here, the Website Description from the Unit tab is displayed on Vrbo. If the description is shorter than 400, or more than 10,000 characters, it could prevent your unit from being activated on Vrbo.
6. Owner Listing Story: Optional, but can be useful of there is a great story behind the rental.
7. Unique Benefits: Optional, but provides an opportunity to promote the reason you think guests would benefit from staying at this property.
8. Why Purchased: Optional, tell the story of why you purchased this property.
9. Year Purchased: Optional, enter the year you purchased the property.
10. Save: Always save your changes.

Q. How long does it take Vrbo to activate my property so I can see it live on their platform?
A. After you complete all the steps in BrightSide to activate a property, it takes Vrbo at least 48 hours to review the unit details and approve it for publication on their site. This is a manual process and it can take as many as 72 hours.

Q. I went through all the steps to activate my property on Vrbo, but I am getting an error message saying I need to upload photos, enter rates, etc. Why?
A. This is an indication that Vrbo has not completely processed the onboarding of your unit. If you entered all these details, the only thing to do is wait 48 to 72 hours.

Q. My property is active on Vrbo and I made an update in BrightSide, however, the change is not showing up on Vrbo. Why?
A. Vrbo does not update in real time like Airbnb. Vrbo accesses the BrightSide database once a night and pulls the updated information from our servers. They then process that data and update the units on their end. This can take as many as 24 hours to complete.