Pilot: Pre-onboarding an Airbnb account to Guesty (view-only)

Pre-onboard your Airbnb account to Guesty to explore Guesty’s platform without disrupting your current Property Management Software (PMS). Pre-onboarding allows you preview how your portfolio will appear and operate in Guesty while continuing to manage listings in your existing PMS.

During pre-onboarding, Guesty creates a view-only copy of your Airbnb data, including:

• Listings
• Reservations
• Guest messages

If you later decide to complete the integration, the data already imported into Guesty remains available, so the transition to a full connection is fast and smooth.

Understanding view-only connections

A view-only connection creates a read-only state that allows you to explore Guesty without syncing data in both directions. During this stage:

• Data is copied from Airbnb to Guesty once only.
• No ongoing sync occurs.
• Changes in Guesty don't sync to Airbnb.
• You continue to manage your listings in your current PMS.

Limitations during pre-onboarding

The following features aren't supported during pre-onboarding:

• Automated messaging
• Listing linking
• Reconnecting listings
• Two-way data sync

Before you begin

Before starting the pre-onboarding process, review these important requirements and behaviors:

• Account limitations

  Pre-onboarding supports Airbnb accounts that are only connected to a single Guesty account.

• Listing nicknames

  Each listing must have a unique nickname before importing. If a nickname is missing, Guesty automatically generates one with a “!” prefix.

• Other booking channels

  If your Airbnb listings also connect to other OTAs or booking sites, they continue receiving reservations as usual during pre-onboarding.

• Billing behavior

  Pre-onboarded listings are not billed initially. Listings become billable after connecting to any non-Airbnb channel, such as:

  • Guesty Booking Engine
  • Guesty Websites

• Location privacy

  Airbnb offers a “Display exact location” setting to hide listing addresses. Guesty doesn't support this setting. 

  When you fully connect, Guesty overwrites this setting making the exact location visible to guests. If you want to hide it, wait until your listing is fully connected, then update this setting directly in Airbnb.

Pre-onboard an Airbnb account to Guesty (view-only)

Pre-onboarding lets you select which listings to import, including multi-units. Guesty detects and configures multi-unit structures and their sub-units automatically.

Prepare your listings

Before starting, make sure all listings have a unique nickname. If a nickname is missing, Guesty adds one for you using a “!” prefix.

Create a view-only connection

Follow the instructions below to create a view-only connection.

Step by step:

1. Log in to your Guesty account.
2. In the top navigation bar, open the mode selector and select Operations mode.
3. Click Distribution.
4. Click Airbnb.
5. At the top right of the integration page, click Add account.
6. Select Set up a view-only connection.
7. Review the overview video explaining the connection process and click Start to begin.
8. You will be redirected to Airbnb to grant Guesty permission to access your listing data.
9. Choose which listings to import:
   • Filter listings by city, status, or ownership (owned/co-hosted).
   • Select the listings you want to preview, then click Import listings.

10. Guesty will import your Airbnb listing data.

    Multi-unit listings and sub-units are automatically detected and imported with the correct structure.

11. When the import finishes, refresh the page to see your Airbnb account and listings with a “Connected” status.

View-only connections indicators

• “View only connection” appears next to the account name.
• displays next to each pre-onboarded account and listing.
• A view-only banner appears at the top of each pre-onboarded listing.

Fully connect a pre-onboarded Airbnb account to Guesty

Once you are ready to manage your Airbnb listings directly through Guesty, you can upgrade your connection from view-only to a full integration.

When the connection is upgraded, the following takes place:

• Guesty becomes the primary PMS for the listing.
• Listing content, rates, and availability sync between Guesty and Airbnb.
• Guesty settings override Airbnb configurations during the import.
• The default sync mode is Full sync.

Step-by-step:

1. Log in to your Guesty account.
2. In the top navigation bar, open the mode selector and select Operations mode.
3. Click Distribution.
4. Click Airbnb.
5. Select your pre-onboarded Airbnb account from the account list.
6. Click Convert to full connection.
7. Review the information shown about upgrading your integration. Fully connected listings become billable. 
8. Click Start.
9. Disconnect your current PMS:
   • Remove your previous PMS connection in Airbnb. Follow on-screen prompts to confirm.
   • Return to Guesty and check the confirmation box.
10. Configure connection settings:
    • Select which data to re-sync from Airbnb: all data, content, photos, calendar.

    • Optional: Configure a bulk non-refundable discount for your listings.

      

11. Click Next.
12. Click Confirm. You will be redirected to Airbnb to grant final permissions.

13. Click Allow on Airbnb.

    

Once the process is complete, a confirmation screen appears, and Guesty begins syncing content, calendars, and reservations.

How the import affects your listing settings and data

The table below details how importing affects your settings and data in Guesty and Airbnb.