This page is about the menu  (SETTINGS) > CHANNEL MANAGER and explains how the channel manager works. 

1 Summary

2 How the Channel Manager works

The Channel Manager keeps inventory up-to-date in real time at our channel partners, allowing hosts to use and get the most out of multiple on-line booking channels without the hassle of constantly signing-in and updating all of them individually each time a booking is made (or cancelled) via one of them.

A basic example for how it works:

Lets say your are a B&B and you have 2 double rooms. The inventory in the system is set to 2. This inventory gets exported to the booking channels and your web site. Both your website and the booking channels can sell 2 rooms. If you get a booking on your web site the system automatically reduces the inventory to 1 room. It sends the new inventory information to the booking channels so so only one more room can be sold.

It works the same the other way around. If you get another booking through a booking channel this information gets sent to the system. The inventory gets reduced to 0 rooms. Now your rooms are fully booked and both your website and the booking channels will show no availability.

After you activate the channel manger Beds24 will be the master calendar maintaining the live master version of your availability and export this to all the sites, updating them as new bookings are taken.

3 Before you connect channels

• Set up your rooms. If you are selling rooms in different constellations on booking channels you might need virtual rooms.
• Set up prices.
• Read our User Agreement and in particular the liability section.

3.1 Import existing bookings

Before your activate a connection make sure your prices and inventory are set up correctly. The channel manger can only import bookings from the time the connection was activated. If you have previous or other bookings outside the Beds24 system you have these options:

• For some channels we can import upcoming bookings. If this is possible you will find information about this in the channel specific set up instructions.
• To block booked dates go to the CALENDAR in your control panel and change the inventory for the dates you have bookings for.
• If you need the booking details in Beds24 will need to enter the bookings manually. If you are comfortable working with .csv files you can import data into Beds24 using our API (https://api.beds24.com).

4 Connection types

4.1 2-Way API connections

The channel manager offers certified 2-way API connections and is preferred partner with leading OTAs.

Depending on capabilities of the connection we can send availability, one price or multiple prices. For some channels we can even sent content like descriptions or pictures and create listings. This table gives an overview on the capabilities for each connected channel.

4.1.1 Set up

To use the channel manger you need accounts with the booking channels you want to use and connect them to the channel manager account.

The process to activate a channel varies, but for most you will need to enter credentials. Some channels, like Booking.com, Agoda and Expedia, require you to initiate the connection yourself in their Extranet and others have an approval process. Go to (SETTINGS) -> CHANNEL MANAGER. After you have selected the channel you want to set up click on HELP (top right menu) to open specific set up instructions for the channel you wan to use.

4.1.2 Mapping

All rooms you have set on on an OTA need to be mapped to a room in Beds24. OTA rooms that are not mapped to a room in Beds24 can not be updated will never receive which can cause overbookings.

Map Rooms:

• Click on the "Get Code" link next to the room type id setting.
• Choose the channel room id you want to map to each Beds24 room and click on it.
• When the correct room id has copied to the room type id setting, click Save.

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Map Rates

• For some channels you can aor need to map rates or daily prices. See the channel specific help pages for detailed information.

Click on the "View Actual Data" Button to check which prices and availability will send.

4.1.3 Adjust Prices

You have the option to mark your prices up or down to allow for currency conversion for channel commissions.

4.1.4 Preferences

You can set bulk settings for your Channel Managers in Preferences.

• Export Data = 1 or 2 years, if you want to send prices upto 2 years to the Channels, then as long as you have prices setup for the Channel, then you can select the appropriate setting here. Please Note :- we can not send 2 years data for all channels, you can see the specifics in the HELP page for each Channel.

• Import Channel Collect Payments - If any of your Channels collect payments on your behalf, if you set this = YES, then the details will be imported with the booking.

• Deduce language from country - when the guest enters their country, then we can deduce the 2 character language code that will be used if you have created language based messages to be sent to your guests.

4.1.5 Activation

Tick all tick boxes and then press SAVE.

4.1.6 Check Connection

The connection is working if you are not receiving error messages and the display in the channel is correct. If you are receiving error messages check in the "Common Errors" section on the channel specific help page why you are receiving the error and how to fix it.

5 iCal connections

iCal is a digital file format that allows to synchonize calendar event information. iCals can be shared between different calendar applications.

Our iCal sync updates all calendars which support the widely used iCal format including Google calendar and Outlook. Even though it was not designed for channel management it is now used by many vacation rental sites.

Use iCal only for channels for which an API connection is not available.

5.1 2-Way synchronization via iCal

With many channels including Airbnb, VRBO we offer specially constructed iCal sync option which are 2-way.

For other channels you can use our iCal export to send availability to the calendar and the iCal import to import bookings to Beds24.

6 FAQ

6.1 Will I receive notifications on new bookings?

After you activate the channel manager the channel will stop sending notifications. You will receive them from Beds24 instead.

6.2 Do guests receive a confirmation?

The channel confirms the booking with the guest. Beds24 will not sent a confirmation message. If you want to send one as well you can set up an Auto Action Email. A template is available which you can further customize. Use the context help (?Icons) in the Auto Action and on the help page (click on HELP in the top right menu) for further instructions.

6.3 How do I modify or cancel a booking?

The channel manger can not send changes to bookings to the channel. Any changes or cancellations have to be made directly in the channel. Cancelling a booking in Beds24 will not cancel the booking in the channel and can cause a double booking (Exception: VRBO/Homeaway XML bookings can be cancelled in Beds24).

If for some reason you need to make a change in Beds24 and do not want an updat from the channel to override it, you can set "Allow Channel Modifications" = No or "All except room changes. You can either set this globally in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER or per booking in the "Details" tab of the booking".

If you change a room for a booking from a channel in Beds24 the channel will still treat the booking as if it is in the room the guest booked at the channel.

6.4 How can I access credit card details?

Some channels send credit card details. This is how you can view credit card details.

6.5 How do I receive payments?

Beds24 is not involved in deposit collections for bookings from booking channels. Each booking channels handles them according to their rules/your account settings. If the channel collects payments from the guest you can choose to import the guests payment into the booking.

If you use Stripe as payment gateway you can choose to send credit cards supplied by all channels from channels directly to Stripe where the cards can be charged.

6.6 How do I add a promotion or special price?

Special offers do not send from the channel manager. All special offers must be managed manually in the channels extranet.

6.7 Can I send different prices for different minimum stays or different numbers of guests?

The capabilities depend on the channel. Please see the help page for the channels you are using for details.

6.8 I have multiple properties. How do I set this up?

The system can handle multiple properties in one account. How you set this up depends on the channel. Please see the instructions for the channels you want to us.

6.9 What to do when I receive an overbooking?

• Check if you are receiving error messages by email or in the potential issues menu. Error messages need to be addressed immediately because they can mean the channel manger is able to make updates.
• Entering the same room code in multiple rooms in Beds24 can cause overbookings. Check your set up for warnings.

If you can not see a problem in your set up send us a support ticket with the booking numbers and dates.

6.10 Why did a booking not import?

• Check if the room for which you received the booking is properly mapped.

If you can not see a problem in your set up send us a support ticket with the booking number and the date the booking was made.

6.11 Why is the price for the booking wrong?

• A special offer set up in the channel may have reduced the price the channel manager sent.
• You have linked rates in the channel.
• Your prices are not set up as you expect.
• The channel manger can not import prices from all channels. If you have set up minimum prices in (SETTINGS) PROPERTIES->ROOMS->SETUP the system will use these minimum prices.

6.12 What is pool allotment?

The idea of pool allotment or pool management is that you put all of your rooms into 1 pool, and that all channels take rooms out of that pool. The pool is empty when room are booked. This will automatically close all channels.

6.13 Can I send different availability to channels?

Yes. You can limit the availability in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > CHANNEL INVENTORY.

6.14 What are contracted rooms or base allocation?

This is an agreement between you and the channel where you agree to provide a number of rooms exclusively to that channel. This means you will not be able to sell these rooms directly or on other channels.

6.15 What do I do when I have a no show?

To report a no show to Booking.com open the booking and click the button in the "Details" tab. For other channels you will need to contact the channel if required.

6.16 Can I send messages to guests in their own language?

Yes, use the setting in Preferences 'Deduce language from country?' this will then enter the value in the Language field in the Mail tab of the booking. If there is no value the 'Default' language set in (SETTINGS) > BOOKING PAGE > INTERNATIONALIZATION -> BOOKING PAGE LANGUAGE will be used.

6.17 I need to show the booking charges on the guest invoice not the payout amount, how can I do this?

In (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER scroll down to 'Invoice' and select 'Booking Amount'

6.18 The Channels collect payments on my behalf at the time of booking, how can I see this?

Go to (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER and set 'Import Channel Collect Payments' = Yes, then the payments will be shown in the Charges and Payments tab of the booking.

6.19 How can I stop a Channel moving a booking back to the original room, when I have manually made a change?

If this is for all bookings, then go to Go to (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER and set 'Allow Channel Modifications' = All except room change' or you can set this per booking in the "Details" tab of the booking".

6.20 Can I have a different invoice for bookings from a certain channel?

Yes. See this help page for more information.

7 Connected Channels

This list gives on overview on the channels Beds24 connects to.

Contact channels directly to verify information before making any business decisions.

Channel	Main Accommodation Types	Key Region Listings	Key Region Guests	Segment	Network	Contact/More Information
AAtravel.co.nz	hotels, motels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	New Zealand	Global	OTA		https://www.aa.co.nz
Abritel	vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA	https://www.homeaway.com/info/about-the-family/	https://www.homeaway.com
Agoda	hotels, motels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Asia	OTA		https://www.agoda.com
Agoda Homes	vacation rentals	Global	Asia	OTA		https://ycs.agoda.com/homes/en-us?cid=1828284
Airbnb	vacation rentals, private rooms, boutique hotels	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.airbnb.com
Atraveo	vacation rentals	Global	Europe	OTA		https://www.atraveo.com
Bedandbreakfast.eu	B&Bs, vacation rentals	Europe	Global	OTA		https://www.bedandbreakfast.eu/
Bedandbreakfast.nl	B&Bs, vacation rentals	Netherlands	Global	OTA		https://www.bedandbreakfast.eu/
Booking.com	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.booking.com
bookeasy	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia	Global	Destination Management		https://www.bookeasy.com
Casamiundo	Vacation rentals	Worldwide	Worldwide	OTA	via Hometogo	'https://www.casamundo.com
Ctrip	hotels	Global	China	OTA		https://www.ctrip.com
Decoloar	hotels, resorts, hostels, lodges, inns	(Latin America, USA	Latin America	OTA		https://www.despegar.com
Despegar	hotels, resorts, hostels, lodges, inns	(Latin America, USA	Latin America	OTA		https://www.despegar.com
Dorms.com	hostels			OTA		The connection was set up and is maintained by https://www.dorms.com
EDreams, Odigeo, Opodo	hotels, resorts, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA (Packages)	https://www.edreamsodigeo.com/our-brands/	https://www.eDreams.com
Expedia	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA	https://www.expediagroup.com/expedia-brands/	https://www.expedia.com
Ezibed	hotels, motels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	New Zealand, Australia, Pacific Islands	New Zealand, Australia, North America	OTA		http://www.ezibed.com/
Feratel	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Germany, Austria, Switzerland	Global	Destination Management		http://www.feratel.com/
Flipkey.com	vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.flipkey.com
Goibibo	hotels, motels, B&Bs	India/worldwide	India	OTA		https://www.goibibo.com/
Google Hotel Ads	hotels, B&Bs	Global	Global	Metasearch Engine		https://ads.google.com/hotels/partners/
Google for Vacation Rentals	vacation retnalsl	Global	Metasearch Engine		https://support.google.com/hotelprices/answer/10224602?hl=en
Guestlink.co.uk	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	UK	Global	Destination Management		https://www.guestlink.co.uk
Holidaylettings.co.uk	vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA		https://holidaylettings.com
Homeaway	vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA	https://www.homeaway.com/info/about-the-family/	https://www.homeaway.com
HostelInternational	hostel	Global	Global	Membership organisation		https://www.hihostels.com
Hostelsclub	hostel, B&B, private rooms, campsites	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.hostelsclub.com
Hostelworld	hostel, B&B, private rooms	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.hostelworld.com
Hotelbeds	hotels, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Global	Bedbank		https://www.hotelbeds.com
Hometogo	Vacation rentals	Worldwide	Wordlwide	OTA		'https://www.hometogo.com
Housetrip	vacation rentals, private rooms	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.housetrip.ccom
HRS	hotels	Global	Europe	OTA		https://www.hrs.com
Jasons.co.nz	hotels, motels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	New Zealand	New Zealand, Australia	OTA		http://www.ezibed.com/
Laterooms	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Europe	OTA		https://www.laterooms.com
Lastminute.com.au	hotels, motels, hostels, vacation rentals	Australia	Australia	OTA		https://Lastminute.com.au
Latestays	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Asia	Global	OTA		http://www.latestays.com/
Marriott	curated vacation rentals	Asia	Global	OTA		https://hvmi.tfaforms.net/91
Orbitz	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA	https://www.expediagroup.com/expedia-brands/	https://www.expedia.com
Ostrovok	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Global	Russia	OTA		http://www.ostrovok.ru/
Rakuten	vacation rentals, hotels	Japan	Japan	OTA	via Vacation Stay	https://vacation-stay.com/
StrayZ	vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA	https://www.homeaway.com/info/about-the-family/	https://www.homeaway.com
Traum-Ferienwohnungen	Vacation rentals	Europe	German speaking Europe/Europe	OTA		https://traum-ferienwohnungen.de
Rakuten	vacation rentals, hotels	Japan	Japan	OTA		https://travel.rakuten.com
Tablet Hotels	boutique hotels	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.tablethotels.com
Tiket	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals,	IIndonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan	Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan	OTA		https://tix.tiket.com/register
Tomas	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Germany, Austria, Switzerland	Global	Destination Management		http://www.tomas.travel
Travel.com.au	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Australia	Australia	OTA		https://www.travel.com.au/
Travelocity	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA		https://www.travelocity.com/
Traveloka	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Asia	Asia	OTA		https://www.traveloka.com
Travia	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Worldwide	Worldwide	Marketplace		https://www.godo.is/en/travia/
Traumferienwohnungen	vacation rentals	DACH, Europe	DACH	OTA enquiries		https://www.traum-ferienwohnungen.de/vermieten/
Tripadvisor	hotels, B&Bs	Global	Global	Metasearch Engine		https://www.tripadvisor.com
Trivago	hotels, B&Bs	Global	Global	Metasearch Engine		https://www.trivago.com
VacationStay	vacation rentals, hotels	Japan	Japan	OTA		https://vacation-stay.com/
Verwöhnwochenende	vacation rentals, hotels, B&Bs	Europe	Germany	OTA		The connection was set up and is maintained by https://www.verwoehnwochenende.de
VisitScotland	hotels, B&Bs, hostels, vacation rentals, camping	Scotland	Global	Destination Management		https://www.visitscotland.co.uk
VRBO	vacation rentals	Global	Global	OTA	https://www.homeaway.com/info/about-the-family/	https://www.homeaway.com
Wimdu	Vacation rentals	Worldwide	Wordlwide	Metasearch	via Hometogo	'https://www.wimducom
Channel	Main Accommodation Types	Key Region Listings	Key Region Guests	Segment		Contact/More Information