Airbnb | BrightSide PMS | Short Term Rental Software

Creating a Channel Message Template

BrightSide Support2024-08-08T17:04:35-04:00

Summary

BrightSide is capable of sending guest messages utilizing three different system types, email, SMS texts, and an online travel agency’s (OTA) messaging system. Currently, we are directly integrated with Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com. The benefit of our integration is that it allows you to message guests through the OTA’s respective messaging system, directly from BrightSide. You may utilize BrightSide’s “Channel Guest Letters” feature to create custom communications for OTA guests.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up a guest message template to communicate with guests through the online travel agencies’ messaging systems.

Channel Messaging
Create a Channel Template
Corresponding with Guests

Channel Messaging

What Is It?

BrightSide created direct API integrations with each of the online travel agencies’ messaging systems. This offers a way to create custom message templates within BrightSide, and send to OTA guests automatically through their systems. Our messaging system currently integrates with Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.

Why Use Channel Messaging?

BrightSide’s channel messaging provides a central location to correspond with guests from Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, without having to log into those accounts elsewhere.
You may automate OTA guest messages from the convenience of BrightSide.
Airbnb no longer provides guest email addresses, making communication a multi-step process. This decision forced hosts to utilize the Airbnb messaging app to communicate with guests. Alternatively, you could call or text the guests and ask for their email address, which may or may not be given to you. Now you may send messages to guests from BrightSide whether you have their email addresses or not.
You may create custom templates, designed to communicate a unique message to guests booking though various OTA channels. If you want to send Vrbo guests a different communication than those on Booking.com, you may do that.

Create a Channel Template

Navigate to: Setup > Edit Guest Letters > +Add Template (blue button)

Select the Template Type

From the “Template Type” dropdown menu select “Channel.” This differentiates your message from email and text templates and tells BrightSide to use the OTA’s messaging platform when sending the message.

If the guest books through Airbnb, BrightSide will use the Airbnb messaging system to communicate with the guest. If Vrbo is the channel they booked through, it will use the Vrbo messaging system, and so on.

Name the Template

Companies utilizing a large number of messaging templates understand the value of being specific when naming the message. For example, if you use email, channels, and texting to communicate with guests, you must be able to distinguish them in a dropdown menu within the reservation. If you create an arrival letter for each of these channels, and name them all “Arrival Information,” this will be confusing in a list.

We recommend naming each arrival letter and labeling it with the way it will be sent. The guest will not see the name of the letter.

Arrival Information (Airbnb)
Arrival Information (Text)
Arrival Information (Email)
Arrival Information (Vrbo)
Arrival Information (BDC)

NOTE: If you want to create a single message that sends to all OTA guests, you may do that. But by using separate templates you can refer to the specific OTA in the message without mentioned the others.

Template Type & Name

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Adding Content

As you think through the content for each channel, remember that you can use the dynamic text to personalize each message. The dropdown menu allows you to insert the guest’s name, unit name, gate code, door code, arrival date and time, departure date and time, and a whole lot more. This information is dynamically imported, so each message using this template is personalized for that specific guest.

NOTE: You may not use images, logos, or stylized text in channel messages, as they are not supported. Therefore, channel messages must only use basic text.

Creating a Channel Email Template | Adding Content

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Automatically Send

Channel guest messages may be set to automatically send at a specific time or event. Additionally, any of these messages may be manually sent when needed. The preferred method is to have the messages sent automatically. There are a couple of ways to trigger the auto send feature:

When something happens.
- Select from the following triggers: Reservation Taken, Deposit Confirmed, Checkin, Checkout, Reservation Cancelled, Reactivated, Balance Due, Balance Paid, Documents Signed, or Contract Signed.

On a schedule.
- Select from the following triggers: On/Before/After: Booking Date, Arrival Date, Departure Date, Cancellation Date, Balance Due Date, or Rebooking Date. Select a time of day also.
- Send immediately if reservation made after date has passed.

HINT: When using “On a schedule,” for your trigger, you also have the option to “Send immediately if reservation made after date has passed.” This is handy if you set a condition to send out a message a week before arrival, but they make the reservation five days before arrival. Checking this box ensures they will receive the email, since the triggering event has already passed.

Automatically Send Settings

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Add Conditions

While it is unlikely you need all of the following conditions, they are available if/when you need them. The most used condition for channel messages is “Include reservation sources.” When you are connected to Airbnb, Vrbo, or BDC, these options appear after you select “Include reservation sources.” If you only want the message to go to Airbnb guests, only tick the box next to Airbnb.

Include specific units
Exclude specific units
Include reservation sources
Exclude reservation sources
Include Reservation Types
Exclude Reservation Types
Include Reservations Without a Balance
Exclude Reservations Without a Balance
Include Reservations Without Travel Insurance
Exclude Reservations Without Travel Insurance
Include Reservations with Fee/Charge

Corresponding with Guests

All correspondence with guests, both text and channel messages, takes place in Guest Messages. Keep in mind that BrightSide does not receive any incoming email. Those messages are routed to an email address outside of BrightSide. However, texts and channel messages can be managed here.

Navigate to: Reservations > Guest Messages

Guest Messages

When you receive a new guest message, a link to it will show up on your home screen. The link takes you to the thread in Guest Messages where you may respond if needed. After clicking on the link, it will be cleared from the unread messages on the home screen. To re-access the message, you need to go to Guest Messages or the “Communications” tab in the reservation.

NOTE: Within a reservation, the “Communications” tab provides links to any existing message threads and a link to start a new one if none exists.

Create a Message Thread

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Link to Message Thread

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Guest Message Threads

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Creating a Channel Message TemplateBrightSide Support2024-08-08T17:04:35-04:00

Connect a Unit to Airbnb

BrightSide Support2024-05-16T15:35:03-04:00

Summary

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

First Things First

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.

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.
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).
Prepare your property to list.
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).

Prepare to List

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

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Listing Options

Click on Image for Enlarged View

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.**

Name: Enter a unique name. You may not use ALL CAPS or repetitive characters like Free!!! The name field has a 50 character limit.
Summary: Use this section to entice the readers to find out more about the property. The summary has a 500 character limit.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Transit: Do guests need a car to get here? Is public transportation an option? Is parking free and available?
Notes: What else do you want guests to know?
House Manual: Do you need to provide instructions for using and enjoying the property?
House Rules: Communicate what you expect from your guests. Are pets allowed, smoking, or parties? Are there quiet hours?
Check In Type: Select from this dropdown list how the guest will be able to enter the property.
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.

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Airbnb Tab Information

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Airbnb Tab Information

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Airbnb Tab Information

Click on Image for Enlarged View

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.

Click “Connect Existing Listing”
A dropdown containing all the units in your connected Airbnb account(s) appears.
Select the matching unit. Be sure to select the correct unit, since they don’t always have the same name.
Since your listing was already active on Airbnb, some of the information is imported.
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.

Activate New Listing

Options & Final Steps

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.
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.
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.
Activate on Airbnb: When you have completed all the above requirements and recommendations, click this toggle to activate your property on Airbnb.
Click Save

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Options & Final Steps

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Common Issues

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.
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.

Connect a Unit to AirbnbBrightSide Support2024-05-16T15:35:03-04:00

Airbnb Markup

BrightSide Support2024-04-11T16:33:52-04:00

Summary

The Airbnb Markup is a fee bundled into the rent. This fee allows the property management company to recoup the Airbnb Service Fee by passing the cost to the guest. This article explains how to set it up and use it properly.

Reason for an Airbnb Markup
Set Up the Airbnb Markup
How the Airbnb Markup Works
Breaking Down the Airbnb Payout

Reason for an Airbnb Markup

Recoup the Service Fee

Airbnb generally charges the host company a 3% service fee on the booking subtotal for every reservation booked through their website. In this article from Airbnb’s website, they explain:

Most Hosts pay a flat service fee of 3% of the booking subtotal. The subtotal is your nightly price plus any optional fees you charge guests, like a cleaning fee, and doesn’t include Airbnb fees and taxes. Guests typically pay a service fee of around 14% of the booking subtotal.

So, if you’re charging $100 USD a night for a 3-night stay, plus $60 USD for a cleaning fee, your booking subtotal is $360 USD. The Host service fee, which is generally 3% of your booking subtotal ($10.80 USD), is deducted from your earnings, and a service fee of 14% ($50.40 USD) is charged to guests and included in the total price they pay.

BrightSide offers a way for hosts to recoup the 3% fee by passing it on to the guests through the Airbnb Markup.

Set Up the Airbnb Markup

Create the Fee

The Airbnb Markup is a regular fee, set up in Reservation Fees and Charges. When you finish adding this fee, it should look just like the screenshot below. The only difference you might possibly have is the percentage.

Navigate to: Reservations > Fees and Charges > +Add

Airbnb Markup | Create the Fee

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Name: Airbnb Markup
Description: Not needed. It will not show up anywhere.
Type: Select “Percentage” from the dropdown menu. The other options do not work properly for the purposes of the Airbnb Markup.
Include in Rent: Tick the box. This bundles the fee in the rent instead of listing it as a separate fee on Airbnb.
Percentage: Enter the amount you want to want to increase the Airbnb rental rate. NOTE: This raises the rental rate ONLY, and does not affect your fees. However, the 3% service fee Airbnb charges you is based on all of your charges; the rental fee, cleaning fee, admin fee, and any other fees you may charge. In order to have enough of an increase in the rent to cover 3% of “everything,” you need to increase the rent by at least 5-10%. Do what you are comfortable doing. Be forewarned, if you do not increase it enough, your reservation may have a balance due after you receive the Airbnb payout.
Varies by Unit: If you want to charge a different percentage markup for each unit, tick this box. The amount you entered in the percentage field becomes the default markup, but may be changed on a unit by unit basis. This is helpful if you have a property where you don’t want to charge a markup, or if you just want a higher percentage. After ticking this box, you must go to each unit and enter the desired percentage on the “Rates” tab (for units where you want the percentage to be more or less than the default).
Auto Add: DO NOT select this. It will add this fee to every reservation.
Refundable: DO NOT select this.
Credit to Owner: DO NOT select this unless you want any “leftover” funds from the markup to pass to the owner.
Reference Number: Not needed.
Taxes: Tick “Use Unit Taxes.”
Save

Activate the Markup

After you create the Airbnb Markup fee, you need to activate it in Integration Partners. You must follow these steps so the markup can be added to your Airbnb reservations.

Navigate to: Setup > Settings > Integration Partners > Airbnb (tab)

Airbnb Markup | Activate the Markup

Click on Image for Enlarged View

After you navigate to the Airbnb Integration area of BrightSide, scroll down to Online Booking. Just above Blackout Dates you see the Channel Markup Fee. In the dropdown, select Airbnb Markup.

Channel Markup Fee: Select “Airbnb Markup”
Save

The Airbnb Markup is now active and the specified percentage is added to the rental rates BrightSide sends out to Airbnb.

How the Airbnb Markup Works

The Details

The Airbnb Markup is a way to raise the rental rates on Airbnb to pay for the Airbnb Service Fee, without passing on the increased revenue to the owner. The idea is not to hide rental revenue from the owner, but to recoup the Airbnb Service Fee by including it in a higher rental rate. Here is how it works.

Fees & Charges with the setting “Include in Rent” are bundled into the basic rental rates. The Xplorie fee is a good example of this.
The Airbnb Markup is applied and increases the bundled rate by the percentage set there. If your Airbnb Markup is 10%, the bundled rental rate is increased by that amount.
BrightSide feeds the bundled rental rate to Airbnb, along with any additional separate fees you charge, i.e.: cleaning fee, admin fee, etc.
When Airbnb pays you, they keep 3% of the reservation subtotal, their “Service Fee.” The subtotal includes the rent, cleaning fee, admin fee, and any other fees you charge.
BrightSide breaks down the Airbnb Payout to account for all the “bundled rental fees” and other charges in the reservation.
The 3% Airbnb Service Fee is deducted from the 10% Airbnb Markup. This 10% of the bundled rent recoups the 3% of the subtotal Airbnb keeps and leaves a small amount for the management company to keep.

Example

The following is an example of how the Airbnb Markup is applied, creating a new bundled rate for Airbnb reservations. In this example, the property management company offers Xplorie benefits and the cost is included in the rent rather than listing it as a separate fee. If you do not offer Xplorie, or bundle any fees in the rent, the Airbnb Markup applies only to your rental rate.

$100.00 – Rental Rate
+ $15.00 – Xplorie Fee (only added if “Included in Rent”) This fee varies depending on which tickets you offer your guests.
= $115.00 – Rental Rate ($100.00) + Xplorie Fee ($15.00)
+ $11.50 – Airbnb Markup (10%) The Airbnb Markup is the last fee to be added to a bundled rate.
= $126.50 – Rental Rate ($100.00) + Xplorie Fee ($15.00) + Airbnb Markup ($11.50) = Airbnb Bundled Rental Rate

Breaking Down the Airbnb Payout

The Details

Hosts may expect the Airbnb Payout to arrive in BrightSide within 24-48 hours of the guest checking into your property. Of course, this is totally dependent on when Airbnb sends the payment. After BrightSide receives the payment notification, we break it down into the original fees and charges, as they were before they were bundled. All of it is separated out and listed in the reservation’s “Charges” tab.

In the following reservation, Airbnb deducted their service fees and paid the host a lump sum of $2,101.02. BrightSide then broke it down and divided it into the following categories. The 3% service fee paid to Airbnb was deducted from the Airbnb Markup, and had $18.83 left over. The property management company can keep this or pay it to the owner.

$1,596.19 – Rental Charges
$80.00 – Xplorie Fee (listed as “Amenity Fee”)
$230.00 – Cleaning Fee
$18.83 – Airbnb Markup (leftover amount after paying the 3% service fee to Airbnb)
$176.00 – Processing Fee
$2,101.02 – Airbnb Payout

Airbnb Markup | Breaking Down the Payout

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Airbnb MarkupBrightSide Support2024-04-11T16:33:52-04:00

Airbnb Integration

BrightSide Support2024-05-21T10:29:20-04:00

Summary

BrightSide integrates with Airbnb to manage reservations, update photos, block off the calendar, create new properties, and so much more. In order to connect your properties with Airbnb, follow the instructions provided in this tutorial.

Pre-Integration Steps

If you do not have an active Airbnb account, open an Airbnb account, then return here.
Add your amenities to BrightSide.
Add your units to BrightSide.

IMPORTANT!: Before connecting your BrightSide account to Airbnb, you must create your units/properties in BrightSide first. Unit data only goes one way, from BrightSide to Airbnb (reservations go both ways). After your BrightSide account connects to Airbnb, BrightSide will overwrite any unit data you have in Airbnb, not the other way around. If you already have properties on Airbnb, you still need to create them in BrightSide. Once connected, the information from BrightSide will update your listings already on Airbnb.

After you complete the preliminary steps above, follow these next steps to complete the integration with Airbnb.

Set Default Amenities
Feature Mapping
Online Booking
Blackout Dates
Add Airbnb Account to BrightSide

Navigate to: Setup > Settings > Integration Partners > Airbnb (tab)

HINT: Skip the “Add Airbnb Account” step for now. We will return to it after we set the default amenities and the feature mapping.

Airbnb | Skip This Step for Now

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Set Default Amenities

Default amenities are features that are included in ALL of your units. If you provide towels, bed sheets, and toilet paper for all of your properties, this is where you list it. If some of your properties have an air conditioner, but not all, do not include it here.

Click the blank area below “Default Amenities”; a dropdown list of common amenities will appear.
Scroll down the list and tick the box next to the amenities that apply to ALL of your units.
Click Save.

HINT: Having amenities in your BrightSide account is not required to set defaults; but without amenities, you cannot complete the Feature Mapping.

Airbnb Integration | Default Amenities

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Feature Mapping

The purpose of Feature Mapping is to link your amenities to Airbnb’s amenity list. For example, they have a feature named “Hot tub”. Your feature may be named “Hot Tub” or “Jacuzzi”. By mapping the features, you are telling Airbnb that both of these are considered hot tubs.

Under the heading Features, and below the heading, Airbnb Feature, click the arrow in the blank field. A list of Airbnb’s amenities will appear.
Scroll down the list and select the amenity that most closely matches your amenity. Do this for each amenity in your list.
Click Save.

HINT: Not every amenity you have will match to an Airbnb Feature (see Dog Walk in the screenshot). That’s okay, they don’t show every type of amenity on their website. However, the Dog Walk amenity will show up on your website.

Airbnb Integration | Feature Mapping

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Online Booking

Cancellation Policy

Airbnb allows you to select from a number of cancellation policies, from Flexible all the way down to Super Strict 60. Whatever you choose here will sync with Airbnb to let them know how to handle reservation cancellations. Select one of these from the dropdown and then save it.

Flexible: full refund 1 day prior to arrival, except fees.
Moderate: full refund 5 days prior to arrival, except fees.
Firm: full refund up until 30 days prior to arrival. 50% refund of accommodation fee up to 1 week prior to arrival, then non-refundable.
Strict 14 with grace period: full refund within 48 hours of booking if before 14 days of check-in. After, 50% refund up until 1 week prior to arrival.
Super Strict 30: 50% refund up until 30 days prior to arrival, except fees.
Super Strict 60: 50% refund up until 60 days prior to arrival, except fees.

Airbnb Integration | Cancellation Policy

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Channel Markup Fee

Airbnb charges you a commission when someone makes a reservation through their website or app. BrightSide allows you to create a fee to offset their commission, and hide it in the rent. This fee is called a channel markup fee. The amount of the fee is up to you, however, it is normally set to calculate on a percentage basis.

This fee will only be added to reservations booked through Airbnb.

HINT: Create the fee in BrightSide at Reservations > Fees and Charges > Add. After you create the fee, it will show up here where it may be activated.

Airbnb Integration | Markup Fee

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Blackout Dates

During high traffic seasons you may prefer for guests to book directly through your website rather than through Airbnb. Instead of removing the property from Airbnb, block those dates off by creating Blackout Dates.

When you create a blackout date, your units will not be bookable through Airbnb. The calendar will simply show that the dates are not available.

HINT: Keep in mind that blackout dates apply to all of your units. If you create a blackout date from July 1 – July 10, none of your units will be bookable on Airbnb for those dates. Use wisely.

Start Date: select the date you want to begin blocking off.
End Date: select the date you want to stop blocking off. If you want to add additional blackout dates, click the + box next to the dates.
Save

Airbnb Integration | Blackout Dates

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Add Airbnb Account

It is time to connect your BrightSide account with an Airbnb account.

Click on the “Add Airbnb Account” button.
Log into your Airbnb account.
Once inside your your Airbnb account, navigate to Account > Privacy & Sharing > Services.
Choose BrightSide as your integration partner.
Select “Sync Everything” and connect.

HINT: Your BrightSide account can connect to more than one Airbnb account. If you are managing properties for more than one Airbnb account, you may connect them and manage them all from within your single BrightSide dashboard. Just repeat the steps above for each Airbnb account you need to connect.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!: DO NOT connect individual properties to Airbnb, VRBO, or any other OTA, until you have completely built out your property in BrightSide. This includes photos, rates, amenities, descriptions, basically everything! This is especially important when you already have the property on the OTA. When you connect, BrightSide will overwrite ALL unit data on the OTA. If you have not set rates, they will show up as $0.00 on the OTAs. If you haven’t added photos to BrightSide, the photos on the OTAs will be deleted.

If there is any doubt about what you are doing, contact customer support at support@bookonthebrightside.com or call 865-233-3778.

After you connect your Airbnb account, you need to activate individual units so they will show up on Airbnb. When you get ready to activate units, go to Properties > Units > Airbnb (tab).

Airbnb Integration | Add Airbnb Account

Click on Image for Enlarged View

Airbnb IntegrationBrightSide Support2024-05-21T10:29:20-04:00

Short Term Vacation Rental Software Hospitality PMS

Creating a Channel Message Template

Summary

Channel Messaging

What Is It?

Why Use Channel Messaging?

Create a Channel Template

Navigate to: Setup > Edit Guest Letters > +Add Template (blue button)

Select the Template Type

Name the Template

Template Type & Name

Adding Content

Creating a Channel Email Template | Adding Content

Automatically Send

Automatically Send Settings

Add Conditions

Corresponding with Guests

Navigate to: Reservations > Guest Messages

Guest Messages

Create a Message Thread

Link to Message Thread

Guest Message Threads

Connect a Unit to Airbnb

Summary

First Things First

The Basics

Everything in Order

Prepare to List

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

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Listing Options

Create New Listing (Option One)

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Airbnb Tab Information

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Airbnb Tab Information

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Airbnb Tab Information

Connect Existing Listing (Option Two)

Activate New Listing

Options & Final Steps

Connect a Unit to Airbnb | Options & Final Steps

Common Issues

Airbnb Markup

Summary

Reason for an Airbnb Markup

Recoup the Service Fee

Set Up the Airbnb Markup

Create the Fee

Navigate to: Reservations > Fees and Charges > +Add

Airbnb Markup | Create the Fee

Activate the Markup

Navigate to: Setup > Settings > Integration Partners > Airbnb (tab)

Airbnb Markup | Activate the Markup

How the Airbnb Markup Works

The Details

Example

Breaking Down the Airbnb Payout

The Details

Airbnb Markup | Breaking Down the Payout

Airbnb Integration

Summary

Pre-Integration Steps

Navigate to: Setup > Settings > Integration Partners > Airbnb (tab)

Airbnb | Skip This Step for Now

Set Default Amenities

Airbnb Integration | Default Amenities

Feature Mapping

Airbnb Integration | Feature Mapping

Online Booking

Cancellation Policy

Airbnb Integration | Cancellation Policy

Channel Markup Fee

Airbnb Integration | Markup Fee

Blackout Dates

Airbnb Integration | Blackout Dates

Add Airbnb Account

Airbnb Integration | Add Airbnb Account

Menu

Contact Us

Short Term Vacation Rental Software
Hospitality PMS