As an Airbnb host, attracting as many guests as possible is your top priority.  And one of the best ways to reach more people and bring in more bookings is to list your property on as many online travel agents (OTAs) as possible.

But that comes with issues. With guests booking your property through various sources, how do you ensure that two or more guests are not booked for the same room on the same date? How do you avoid having to switch from channel to channel to check bookings?

With Preno, you can view all your reservations in one place – it pulls incoming information from all your OTAs and syncs them on one dashboard. This includes Airbnb, Booking.com, Agoda, Vrbo and heaps more. Preno automatically updates your availability in real-time, improving efficiency and eliminating the risk of double-bookings. With 70 OTAs available to use and sync, the sky is the limit.

Elevate your understanding of OTAs with our detailed analysis of commission fees for Airbnb, Expedia, and Booking.com. 

What is an Airbnb channel manager?

A hotel channel manager is a software tool that helps Airbnb hosts manage their listings on multiple online travel agents (OTAs) at once. It allows hosts to easily list their properties on various websites, such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Vrbo, and many more.

By syncing all the information from different OTAs onto one dashboard, a channel manager saves hosts time and effort, while also reducing the risk of double-bookings. It acts as a central hub for all reservations and updates availability in real-time across all channels automatically.

Why use an Airbnb channel manager?

Using an Airbnb channel manager offers several benefits to hosts, including:

• Time-saving: Manually managing listings on multiple OTAs can be time-consuming. With a channel manager, hosts can easily list their properties on various websites with just a few clicks.
• Efficiency: A channel manager automatically updates availability and rates across all OTAs, eliminating the need for manual updates. This ensures that all listings are up-to-date and accurate.
• Increased bookings: By listing your property on multiple OTAs, you increase your reach and exposure to potential guests. This can lead to more bookings, ultimately increasing your revenue.
• Reduced risk of double-bookings: With a channel manager, all reservations are synced onto one dashboard, making it easier for hosts to manage bookings from different sources. This eliminates the possibility of double-bookings and avoids any inconvenience or cancellations for guests.
• Detailed analysis: Some channel managers, like Preno, offer detailed analytics on OTA commission fees. This allows hosts to understand the costs involved with listing their property on various channels and make informed decisions.

How do Airbnb channel managers work?

Airbnb channel managers work by connecting to various OTAs through APIs (application programming interfaces). These APIs allow for the exchange of data between the channel manager and the OTAs. Once connected, the channel manager pulls all information from each OTA, such as reservations, rates, and availability, and syncs them onto one dashboard.

Choosing the right Airbnb channel manager

When choosing an Airbnb channel manager, it’s essential to consider your specific needs and goals as a host. Some factors to consider include:

• Pricing: Different channel managers may have different pricing structures, including monthly subscriptions or commission-based fees. It’s important to choose one that fits your budget and offers the best value for money.
• Number of supported OTAs: Some channel managers support a limited number of OTAs, while others offer connections to hundreds of platforms. Consider which channels are most important to you and make sure they are supported by the channel manager.
• Features: Each channel manager may offer different features, such as analytics, automation tools, or communication management. Determine which features are essential for your needs and choose a channel manager that offers them.
• User-friendliness: A good Airbnb channel manager should be easy to use and navigate. Make sure to choose one that has a user-friendly interface and provides clear instructions for set up and use.
• Customer support: In case of any issues or questions, it’s important to have reliable customer support from your channel manager. Look for reviews and feedback from other hosts to ensure the quality of customer service provided by the company.

Preno’s channel manager is a valuable tool for private hosts. Even if you have only one property, when you add and update your property listings, the changes are automatically pushed through to each of your OTAs. This means your availability is always correct on every site and you only need to make changes once.

With Preno’s channel manager, there’s no need to worry about manually updating different calendars and potentially missing a booking or having a double-booking. The software takes care of it all, saving you time and effort while also giving you peace of mind.

Why a Channel Manager Is Important

To be a more professional host, you need to take advantage of systems that will organise and automate your admin, so you can focus on offering a premium service. We know the sinking feeling when you’ve made a double-booking – having to disappoint your customers is never easy, especially if they’ve travelled a long way to stay with you. If you’re managing one or more properties across Airbnb and other channels, it’s important to make sure this won’t happen.

When you sign up to Preno, there will be an option for an ‘all-in-one’ subscription. This includes the channel manager that integrates and organises all these amazing platforms in one place and, more importantly, makes sure your room availability is always up-to-date. Plus, you can access all reservation information and bookings from one dashboard. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of errors and overbookings.

Moreover, a channel manager will also help you to maximise your occupancy rate. With more channels available for potential guests to book from, you increase your chances of filling up your rooms. This is especially crucial if certain channels have high demand during certain seasons or events.

But not all channel managers are created equal. When choosing a channel manager, be sure to consider its features and integrations with OTAs. Preno offers a seamless integration with 70 OTAs, making it easy for you to reach more potential guests and automate your bookings process. It also has an intuitive dashboard that allows you to easily manage your reservations and availability across all channels.

How to sync Airbnb with Preno

It’s not just your Airbnb calendar you’re connecting to Preno, it’s also customer information, bookings and messages. You’ll have a much clearer view of your booking schedule and be more efficient with message automation, stored customer preferences and better accounting.

To sync your Airbnb account, ask your Preno account manager to configure and integrate your listing. It’s a simple setup and once done, it’s sorted forever.  You’ll get a notification email each time you get a new booking. This will give you an opportunity to view the booking, add notes and see if there are any discrepancies on your Airbnb account. So if you’re tired of navigating multiple platforms and managing bookings manually, it’s time to invest in a reliable channel manager like Preno.

How to sync Booking.com with Preno

Connecting your Booking.com listing with Preno is similar to Airbnb. With hands-on support from your account manager, all you have to do is log into Booking.com, go to your calendar and click ‘Copy link’. Give this link to your account manager who will finish the connection directly with Booking.com.  It’s that simple.

Preno also offers a two-way synchronization with Booking.com, meaning any changes made on one platform will automatically update the other. This helps to ensure accuracy and avoid overbookings.

How to sync Vrbo with Preno

Vrbo has syncing restrictions for account holders with fewer than five listings. The best thing to do is call Vrbo directly to make sure you meet its criteria, then initiate the connection to your Preno account with a Vrbo representative. They’ll take you through the set-up process and once it’s done, your calendar will be automatically updated and synced with Preno in real-time.  You can also manually block dates on your Vrbo calendar from within Preno, giving you more control and flexibility over your availability.

How to sync Agoda with Preno

To connect your Agoda account, reach out to your Preno rep with your Agoda property ID to hand. You can find this on your Agoda account at the top right-hand corner of your screen. Our support team will then contact the Agoda team to enable the connection.  Once it’s set up, all your bookings and rates will be automatically synced with Preno.

How to sync Trip Advisor with Preno 

You need an API code to connect your Trip Advisor account. If you don’t have one yet, you will need to formally apply via the Trip Advisor ‘Service page’. Once you’ve got your API code, contact your Preno account manager, who will do the rest for you.  The connection will be set up within 24 hours and you can start receiving bookings from Trip Advisor. Keep in mind that Trip Advisor charges an annual fee for using its booking engine, which will need to be paid separately. But with this integration, you can expect to see a boost in bookings and visibility for your property.

How to sync your website with Preno 

You can sync your existing website with your dashboard. This means all reservations can be added to your central calendar and managed from Preno. The best way to get this set up on your website is to contact your account manager. They’ll set up everything for you correctly, taking the guess work out of the process. This way, you can ensure seamless and accurate bookings management across all channels.

Be seen across the internet

You know that feeling when you clean and organise your closet? Well, this will be even better because it can’t get messy again. Once your calendars are organised, they’re organised forever. You’ll see your Airbnb, Trip Advisor, Vrbo and up to 70 other platform bookings all neatly in one place. And it’s not just your calendar that’s connected and centralised. You’ll also have one port sending automated messages directly to guests, no matter which platform they booked through.

If you’re ready to start linking (tidying up), just call your awesome account manager for support. From there you can quickly forget the memories of messy manual updates.  Syncing your channels with Preno will save you time, reduce the risk of overbookings and increase your visibility across various OTAs. Get started now and maximise your occupancy rate!

If you liked learning about the opportunities OTAs offer to improve your hotel’s success, you’ll be intrigued by:

Understanding OTA Commission Rates: A Guide for Hotel Managers

Agoda vs Booking: Which is the Best OTA For Your Hotel?