What is calendar syncing?
Calendar syncing is a feature that allows you to connect the calendars of different booking platforms, such as Airbnb and Booking.com, to ensure that your availability is automatically updated across all platforms. This means that when a booking is made on one platform, the availability will be blocked on the other platform, reducing the risk of double bookings.
How to sync your Airbnb and Booking calendars
Syncing your Airbnb and Booking calendars is a straightforward process. Just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Log in to your Airbnb account and navigate to your listing’s calendar.
- Step 2: Copy the iCal URL provided by Airbnb.
- Step 3: Log in to your Booking.com account and navigate to your property’s calendar.
- Step 4: Click on the ‘Sync calendars’ option.
- Step 5: Paste the iCal URL from Airbnb into the designated box.
- Step 6: Save the changes.
Once you have completed these steps, your Airbnb and Booking calendars will be synced, and any changes made on one platform will be automatically reflected on the other.
Benefits of syncing your calendars
Syncing your Airbnb and Booking calendars offers several benefits:
- Prevents double bookings: By syncing your calendars, you reduce the risk of double bookings, ensuring a smooth experience for both you and your guests.
- Time-saving: Manually updating availability on multiple platforms can be time-consuming. With calendar syncing, you only need to update the availability once, and it will be automatically reflected everywhere.
- Improved accuracy: Keeping your calendars in sync eliminates the possibility of discrepancies between platforms, providing your guests with accurate and up-to-date availability information.
Considerations and potential issues
While calendar syncing is generally a reliable feature, it is essential to be aware of a few considerations and potential issues:
- Processing delays: Changes made on one platform might not be immediately reflected on the other due to processing delays between platforms. It is advisable to make changes well in advance to allow for syncing.
- Blocked dates: Syncing calendars only applies to availability. Other features, such as blocking specific dates, might not sync between platforms.
- Third-party bookings: If you receive bookings from other sources outside Airbnb and Booking.com, you will need to manually update the calendars to avoid double bookings.
Syncing your Airbnb and Booking calendars is a simple yet effective way to ensure your availability is always up to date across different platforms. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can avoid the hassle of double bookings and provide a seamless booking experience for your guests.
Remember to regularly check your synced calendars and make any necessary updates to avoid potential issues. With calendar syncing in place, you can focus on what matters most – providing a fantastic experience for your guests.