VRBO / Homeaway

How to connect to VRBO?

When you would like to connect your SabeeApp account with VRBO, you need to complete several steps on both sides. We list them one by one so it would be easy to follow and the connection process would be as smooth as possible. SabeeApp synchronizing not only your rates and availability with VRBO but your listings' content as well.

First of all, you should know some important information before connecting:

  • Connection can be established even if you manage only one room type in your SabeeApp account.
  • Each roomtypes can have maximum one room. If more room is attached to a roomtype, the connection will not be successful.
  • You need to create at least one separate Price Relation model type rateplan for VRBO, where the rateplan is set as default occupancy 1 and the occupancies' difference is configured as "fixed"
  • All the listed steps are necessary for synchronisation with VRBO. If even one step is missing, you will not be able to send a connection request to VRBO.

 

Minimum content requirements on VRBO

 

To ensure that all listings meet basic quality standards, all new listings must meet the following requirements:

  • The headline must include at least 20 characters (max of 80)
  • The description must include at least 400 characters (max of 10,000)
  • Each listing provide have at least 6 photos 
  • Bedroom and bathroom count should be included for each listing
  • An accurate address and latitude/longitude are required for each property

 

Step 1 - Contact your assigned VRBO Account Manager or VRBO Support.

They will set your account and listing preferences so that you can begin the activation process. 

Step 2 - Begin the SabeeApp setup after an Implementation Specialist contacts you from VRBO. If you currently have listings live on VRBO, your VRBO Implementation Specialist will send you an ID mapping spreadsheet to associate your SabeeApp property IDs with VRBO listings that you have already published. 

Step 3 - Complete and return the Mapping Spreadsheet to VRBO with the external IDs from SabeeApp.

The VRBO Implementation Specialist will then work with the Engagement Manager to set up your Listings and Online Booking (OLB) integrations. If you had existing listings on VRBO, the VRBO Support Team will work with you to transfer reviews to your new listings. 

Step 4 - If you have any questions after your project closes, contact the VRBO Support Team for Integrated Property Managers

Step 5 - Defining the default settings in SabeeApp

Go to Settings/ Property policies and add the following policies:

    • Pet policy
    • Smoking policy
    • Check-in / Check-out policy
    • General policy
    • Children policy

Step 6 - Create VRBO as a partner in SabeeApp

Go to Settings/ Partners and add VRBO to your partner list.

Step 7 - Set the roomtype details in SabeeApp what you wish to connect to VRBO

Go to Settings/ Roomtypes and set the following details by that roomtypes you would like to connect to VRBO:

    • Description title
    • Unit description
    • Unit name
    • Number of guests
    • Address
    • Children Policy
    • Pet allowed
    • Smoking allowed
    • Events allowed
    • Use default check-in / check-out policy
    • Use default house rules
    • Available units: Here you have to define a minimum one Bedroom and a minimum one Bathroom as well.
    • Amenities
    • Pictures: Minimum of 6 pictures are required by VRBO

Step 8 - Setting Price Relation type rateplan for VRBO

It's very important while creating your Price Relation type rateplan in SabeeApp that the default occupancy needs to be set as 1 and the difference among the occupancies should be "Fixed".

Step 9 - Defining the connection details in SabeeAppp

Go to Distribution/ Channel Manager / List of all channels and search for VRBO.

  • When initiating the connection to VRBO, VRBO is asking for a user number/id. They are referring to: advertiser id. There is a possibility that even if you give the correct advertiser id to VRBO, it’s not accepted. If this is the case, please double check if all requirements are completed in Sabeeapp and on the channel manager table, then continue the process on VRBO’s extranet.

  • Please add the cancellation policy first which will be applied to all your roomtypes of what you wish to connect.
  • After this either the Credit card or the Payment and invoice method needs to be set. You can set both of them as well for example if you are accepting credit cards and transfer methods as well. The details defined in the Credit card details will appear on the "Pay now" page of VRBO.
    The details defined in the Payment and invoice method will appear on the "Bill me" page of VRBO. In this case, you have to contact the guest personally.
  • By the payment schedule section, you need to add when and what amount the booker will need to pay for the stay. Defining the "At booking" is mandatory.
  • The Master Brand selector is helping us to know in what currency will we have to synch your prices towards VRBO and also in what languages will we have to send the descriptions. This info can be obtained from your VRBO contact.

Step 10 - Roomtype selection in SabeeApp

Next one is to set up the VRBO connection: you have to select which roomtypes you wish to connect to VRBO. After this, the synched rateplan needs to be selected and the based price need to be defined. The base price will serve in a case you didn't define a price for a period by the rateplan. You can select only from Price Relation model type rateplans for VRBO, where the rateplan is set as default occupancy 1 and the occupancies' difference is configured as "fixed".

As you are clicking on the Update button, we'll run a check in the background whether all settings are correctly filled. If yes, the connection request will be sent towards VRBO. If no, we'll let you know which settings are missing.

After SabeeApp is activated in your VRBO account, you can contact the VRBO Support Team using the contact information below. If you have questions about billing, adding properties, and so on, please contact your assigned VRBO Account Manager. 
 
Step 11. - Finalize the connection on VRBO's side

As a very last step, please click on the Finalise button on the bottom part of the page. We will redirect you to VRBO so you you can make the final steps to complete the connection.
 

You can contact the SabeeApp support team here

Important:

Once you are connected to VRBO then VRBO is removing the cancel reservation button from their extranet because they are getting this info from us. So in this case it is enough to cancel the reservation in Sabeeapp and VRBO will come and sync this with their extranet.