Connecting a new Vrbo account to Guesty

Before you begin

• Select a Vrbo brand.

  Note:

  You can't change the brand once a Vrbo account is connected to Guesty. Instead, connect multiple Vrbo accounts, each with a different brand, to Guesty..

• Guesty validates the email address you provide during onboarding to reduce the number of inactive connection attempts. If you enter an email address already associated with an active connection request, the system prevents you from creating a new one. If you can't start a new connection, ensure there isn't an existing request already in progress using the same email address.
• To prevent your account from becoming stuck or permanently blocked, don't delete, archive, or create new listings on Vrbo until the onboarding process is fully complete. Only make changes to your listing inventory after the initial setup is finalized.
• Reservations are imported as calendar blocks to prevent double bookings. Manage imported reservations in Vrbo.

Limitations

• Publishing a complex property isn't supported. This property type, including single units within a complex, won’t appear in the listing selection list. If you need to publish a complex, contact us.

• When publishing a multi-unit property, both the parent unit and its sub-units must be selected together. Publishing a sub-unit on its own isn't supported. 

• Vrbo damage protection isn't supported once you connect your account to Guesty.

Once you’ve selected a Vrbo brand, follow the steps below to connect a new Vrbo account to Guesty.

1. Initiate SSO from Guesty

Follow the instructions below to initiate the SSO process from Guesty.

Step by step:

1. Sign in to your Guesty account.
2. In the side navigation menu, click Marketing and sales to open the dropdown menu.
3. Under Channel management, select Distribution.
4. Locate the Vrbo thumbnail and click Connect.
5. Follow the instructions below according to your Vrbo user type: new users or existing users.

Managing accounts pending SSO approval

A draft account is created when the connection flow starts but the SSO process in Vrbo isn't complete yet. You can delete a draft account to keep your integration page organized 7 days after initiation.

To ensure the system isn't waiting for a response from Vrbo, you can only remove an account if:

• Guesty didn't receive SSO confirmation from Vrbo.
• At least 7 days have passed since the initial connection request was made.

Draft accounts eligible for deletion display a on the right of the account. This icon only appears if Guesty hasn't received confirmation from Vrbo that the SSO process is complete.

2. Connect your account and listings

Follow the instructions below to create a Vrbo account and publish listings from Guesty.

Step by step:

1. Click Create new Vrbo account. Guesty generates your Advertiser ID and sends it to Vrbo.
2. In the new Vrbo tab, click No when prompted about an existing account and follow the signup prompts.

3. Return to the previous tab in Guesty.

   • If you completed the SSO process on Vrbo, click Already finished? Continue.
   • If you were unable to complete the SSO process on Vrbo, click Tab didn’t open? Try again.

   Guesty will notify you by email when the SSO process is complete.

4. When the SSO process completes, you can continue the process in either of the following ways:
   • Click on the link sent via the SSO completion confirmation email Guesty sent you.

   • In your Guesty account, navigate to the Vrbo integration page, locate the relevant account and click Continue connecting account.

     Note:

     If you finished the SSO process but you see “Continue Vrbo SSO” displayed, wait a few minutes for the sync process to complete.

5. Define your account and listing settings in Guesty:

   The information you provided during the SSO process will be displayed in Guesty at the top of the page. This information can’t be edited.

   

6. Fill in the relevant account settings.

   Account nickname

   Give your Vrbo account a nickname to easily recognize it in Guesty. This is useful when connecting multiple Vrbo accounts. The nickname is only visible within Guesty.

   If any of your Guesty listings are set with a different currency, Guesty automatically converts the listing's pricing to the selected currency when updating the prices in Vrbo. When reservations are received, Guesty automatically converts the pricing to the Guesty listing's currency. This enables payments to be collected via Stripe.

   Primary guest minimum age

   Specify the minimum age required to make a reservation. This is the age of the primary guest, not the age for all guests allowed to stay at the property. This setting can later be edited on the listing.

   Booking settings

   Choose if you would like guests to make reservations instantly, or if they need to make a request to book. This setting can later be edited on the listing level. Vrbo does not allow same-day reservations.

   Cancellation policy

   Select a cancellation policy from the options provided, or create a custom policy as the default for your Vrbo account. This setting can later be edited on the listing level.

   Payment method

   You have two options:

   • Collect payments automatically: Use a connected payment processor, such as Stripe, GuestyPay, Merchant Warrior, or HYP, and auto payment rules to charge guests through Guesty. This option automates payment collection according to your rules.

   • Collect payments manually via Bill me: Guesty doesn't charge the guest. Collect payments, such as credit card, check, debit card, or cash, and record payments in Guesty manually for tracking purposes. 

     Note:

     If you are located in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, Vrbo requires that you collect payments via Guesty. If you choose to collect payments outside of Guesty, select which payment options to accept. These settings can later be edited on per listing.

   Supported payment processors

   • Stripe: Supported globally.
   • GuestyPay: United States, Canada, UK, EU
   • Merchant Warrior: Australia, New Zealand (ANZ)
   • HYP: Israel

   Rental agreement

   If you choose to send a rental agreement to guests to sign prior to arrival, you can use Guesty's sample rental agreement or upload your own. Check the I agree to legal terms of use box when done.

   Note:

   The rental agreement applies to all of your listings. Uploading a different rental agreement per listing is not supported.

7. Click Next.
8. Click Select properties to select the Guesty properties you want to publish on Vrbo.
9. In the side panel, click + Filters and select any filters you want to apply. Click the dropdown arrow next to each filter to refine your search.

10. Check the boxes for the properties you want to publish to Vrbo. Alternatively, check the Select all box to select all properties.

    If the selected listing is a multi-unit, the parent unit and its sub-units must be selected. Publishing a sub-unit is not supported.

11. Click Save.
12. Click Next.
13. If relevant, review and fix any missing Vrbo listing requirements:
    • Properties that meet Vrbo’s requirements are labelled with a green “Eligible” status.

    • Properties that are missing requirements are labelled with a red “Not eligible” status. Click Fix missing requirement to be redirected to the relevant page to make the necessary changes and follow the prompts accordingly.

      Alternatively, you can fix pending issues later from the publish queue where you can search for listings by name, filter by city, property type, and tag, and fix publishing issues.

14. When you are ready to continue, click Connect to Vrbo.

Your content will sync to Guesty. This may take a few hours depending on the amount of data.

Once completed, you can manage your listings directly from Guesty. Any changes made to the listing in Guesty are automatically updated on Vrbo, including the listing content, calendar, reservations, guest communication and reviews. Changes made to listings on Vrbo will not sync to Guesty.