Deciding on a channel manager

This article helps you understand what to look for in a channel manager and explains how we integrate our features with channel managers’ platforms.

In this article

Understanding the different features of a channel manager

We want to make sure you have a smooth experience when you work with us. We also understand that you may use a channel manager to stay on top of your property’s listings, so we do our best to make sure our most useful features are compatible with as many channel managers as possible.

Different channel managers offer different features, so it’s important to check which options are available with each provider and to make a decision based on your own business needs.

Here’s a quick summary of some of the features we make available to our channel manager partners, beyond the standard functions of managing your availability and getting bookings.

If your channel manager offers them, you’ll be able to use the following features directly via their platform without logging in to the Extranet.

• Promotions set up: Setting up Basic Deals, Early Booker, and Last Minute Deals, as well as promotions for Business Bookers and country-specific rates
• Reporting: Reporting invalid credit cards, cancellations due to guest no-shows or invalid credit cards, changes to check-out dates, and changes to prices
• Guest reviews: Reading reviews left by your guests
• Opportunities: Getting tailored performance advice based on areas where your property has opportunities for improvement
• Content, rates, and room management: Managing all your content, including your property page content, rates, and room settings

Which features to choose if you’re a Vacation Rental partner

We’ve developed several features with Vacation Rental properties in mind. If you run several properties, we recommend looking out for these features.

• Your profile – adding information about each property and the surroundings, as well as a welcome note from you
• Key collection – making sure check-in goes smoothly by adding instructions about how, where, and when guests can pick up the keys to the property
• House rules – important guidelines for guests to read and agree upon before finalizing their bookings
• Damage deposit – giving yourself peace of mind by sharing your damage deposit policy, and by providing details to avoid confusion, like when you collect it and how guests pay it
• Licenses – making sure your properties are always compliant with local license requirements and that your new properties can go live on our platform as quickly as possible
• Photos – uploading and retrieving conversion-boosting photos, performing photo quality checks, reordering photos in your properties’ galleries, tagging photos to improve guest expectations, and uploading 360-degree photos
• Contracts – managing your contract with us from within your channel manager
• Pricing solutions – optimizing your occupancy rate for both short-term and long-term stays

Finding the right channel manager for you

To decide which channel manager to use, use this guide.