Difference between revisions of "Tripadvisor Rentals"

Latest revision as of 17:27, 29 October 2024

Tripadvisor Rentals API

This page is about the menu  (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > TRIPADVISOR RENTALS and explains how the connection with Tripadvisor Rentals works and how to set it up.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Rentals

TripAdvisor has shut down its TripAdvisor Rentals business as of October 2024.

Guests will no longer be able to book properties after September 30, 2024, across any of the TripAdvisor Group brands, including Holiday Lettings, Flipkey, and Niumba.

On September 30, 2024, Tripadvisor has removed functionality that allows the direct booking of properties across any of the Tripadvisor Group brands, including Holiday Lettings, Flipkey, and Niumba.

1 Capabilities

TripadvisorRentals allows you to synchronise inventory, rates and content. Sending content is optional.

Via the interface you can:

create new listings
update existing listings
send and update content information
send and update pictures
export inventory
export prices
apply a multiplier to the prices
export changeover dates, complex closed to arrival and closed to departure rules might not send.
import bookings, modifications to bookings and enquiries. Enquiries are imported as "Request" bookings.

For details please click here.

2 Limitations

Only for Tripadvisor accounts with an already existing connection with Beds24 or Tripadvisor accounts changing from another channel manager where they had an API connection. If you can not use this connection go to (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > TRIPADVISOR ICAL to use iCal to synchronise availability and booking.

A listing can not be activated until the full location (address, latitude, longitude) has been checked by Tripadvisor. After Tripadvisor has checked the location it can not be changed.

Tripadvisor does not support room types, the connected Beds24 room type should have a quantity of one. You can set up virtual roooms to create room types for other channels like booking.com if necessary

Tripadvisor has specific rules regarding pictures, please see the details in the Pictures section

3 Before you connect

Prices

We can only send availability if you have set up prices which are activated for this channel. This tutorial gives general information how to set prices for channels.

Bookings

Upcoming bookings will automatically import. If you previously used iCal to import bookings these will get cancelled if Tripadvisor sends a modification. The modified booking will import via XML.

Rooms and room types

If you sell rooms individually on TripadvisorRentals and want to sell them on other channels like Booking.com as a "roomtype" with a quantity of more than one you can set up virtual roooms.

4 Connect to TripadvisorRentals

4.1 Connect to your TripadvisorRentals Account

If you already have an account which is API connected contact Tripadvisor via the contact form on their website https://rentalsupport.tripadvisor.com/contact_form?l=en_GB with following information:
- Your TripAdvisor Account ID
- Your registered TripAdvisor Rentals account Email address
- A note that you want to be connected to Beds24 channel manager via the TripadvisorRentals Content API
- Your Beds24 account number (owner ID) which you can find under SETTINGS-ACCOUNT (Tripadvisor might call this "Partner ID")

Activation is per Beds24 account. All properties owned by a Beds24 account can be connected. If you have properties in a sub acccount which need to be connected click on the 'User' icon on the top right and then on 'Account Management (in the old control panel SUB ACCOUNT in the top right) Manage Account -> Manage Property > Channel Management > "Tripadvisor Rentals XML Connect via Account". With this setting, you can select that the property connects to Tripadvisor Rentals via a different account than the one it is in.

4.1.1 Map existing listings

Click on "View Listings in Account". You will see a list of your TripadvisorRentals listings with their listing IDs. Tripadvisor will also send deleted listings to Beds24. Make sure you ignore them.
When you click on "view data from channel" you will see the content TripadvisorRentals returns for the listing.
Select the corresponding room in Beds24 and click "Connect".

4.1.2 Create a new TripadvisorRentals listing

Tick the information you want to send "Inventory", "Bookings", "Prices" "Content" (one or more) then SAVE. If you have no content errors a "Publish" button will appear. After you have clicked "Published" you will see an "Update" button. When you click on "View Listings in Account" you will see the new listing in the list.

There may be a delay before the listing goes live while Tripadvisor reviews the listing.

If you have content errors you will see a button "Fix content errors" which will take you to the page where you can see your problems.

4.1.3 Activation

Click on "View content sent to Tripadvisor Rentals" and on "View Actual Data" to check the information which will be sent is correct.
Go to SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS ->SPECIFIC CONTENT and make sure "Active" is set to YES.
Then tick the information you want to send "Inventory", "Prices" "Content" (one or more) then SAVE to start the sync.

4.1.4 Bookings

If you do not want to import enquires go to SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS ->SPECIFIC CONTENT and set "Import Inquiries" = No.

5 Prices

Daily prices or Fixed Prices with the "Tripadvisor Rentals" channel ticked and set as offer 1 will send to Tripadvisor Rentals. The price sent is a room price, only ONE price can be sent per date. Also a minimum stay can be sent. If you have multiple prices activated for TripadvisorRentals with different minimum stays the system will send the price with the lowest minimum stay.

In SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS ->SPECIFIC CONTENT you can set

The number of guests for which the price applies.
An extra person price.
A weekly or monthly discount.

Tripadvisor rentals do not support decimal places on prices.

Due to a bug in the Tripadvisor system you will need to first set guests included to blank and the additional price to zero then click publish or update. Once you see no errors, add the additional guest info back in and update again.

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

5.1 Price Multiplier

If you want to add a multiplier to your prices add a * followed by the multiplier number.

The multiplier applies to all prices and fees which are sent.

For example a hotel id setting *1.23' will multiply all prices by 1.23 sent (i.e. raised by 23%). Lower prices can be sent with a multiplier less than 1, i.e. *0.85 will send a price 85% of the normal price (i.e. lowered by 15%)

To convert the price of bookings imported add a * after the multiplier, for example *1.23* will divide the price of the booking by 1.23.

You can also use currency conversion template variable. All currencies supported by the booking page currency selector can be used.

For example *[CONVERT:IDR-EUR] will convert Indonesian Rupees to Euros.

5.2 Currency

You can set the currency you want to send in SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS->SPECIFIC CONTENT. If Tripadvisor requires a different currency from the one you use in Beds24 you can use the "Currency" setting and the "Multiplier to adjust the currency.

5.3 Fees and Tax

In SETTINGS-> CHANNEL MANAGER-> PROPERTY CONTENT-> ROOM CONTENT you can set

Cleaning fee
Security deposit

A tax percentage for taxes which are not included in the price can be entered in SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS->SPECIFIC CONTENT.

Certain global settings can be overidden with custom values.

6 Content

Go to SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS->CONTENT DATA and check the content information sent to Tripadvisor Rentals is correct.

Tripadvisor does not allow Email addresses or contact information in descriptive texts.

Following information can not be changed after the listings have been activated on Tripadvisor:

address (all settings)
latitude
longitude
property type
bed configuration

Make sure these are set up correctly in Beds24 before you send anything to Tripadvisor.

6.1 Define Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Bedrooms and bathrooms can be set up in (SETTINGS) PROPERTIES > ROOMS->SET UP.

Click on the "edit bedrooms" or "edit bathrooms" button
Set the type and use the selectors to define the facilities within each.
If you have multiple bedrooms or bathrooms make sure you define them all.
Close the pop up and then press SAVE.

You can also manually add bedrooms and bathrooms and amenities. For more information see "All feature codes" below.

Tripadvisor Rentals does not support all features Beds24 offers. For a list of all feature codes, Tripadvisor Rentals supports see "All feature codes" below.

6.1.1 Amenities

Amenities can be set up for the property (SETTING->PROPERTIES->DESCRIPTION) or per room (SETTING->PROPERTIES->ROOMS->SET UP).

Criteria that apply to all rooms in the property should be set up with the property. They will be automatically applied to all rooms in the property.

Criteria that only apply to one room should be entered into the room.

Make sure you do not create duplicates.

Example 1: All units (rooms) have Wifi. In this case, you can set up the Wifi in SETTING->PROPERTIES->DESCRIPTION. The number will be applied to all rooms/units.

Example 2: You have one unit with Wifi one and another unit without Wifi. In this case set the Wifi up in SETTING->PROPERTIES->ROOMS->SET UP.

Features and amenities are configured by feature codes which are entered in the "Features" field.

Click on the "Edit " button next to the "Features" field.
In the pop up click on "Amenities".
Tick the amenities you provide.
Close the pop up and then press SAVE.

You can also manually add bedrooms and bathrooms and amenities. For more information see "All feature codes" below.

Tripadvisor Rentals does not support all features Beds24 offers. For a list of all feature codes, Tripadvisor Rentals supports see "All feature codes" below.

6.2 Languages

We can only send one language. You can set the language in SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS->SPECIFIC CONTENT.

6.3 Pictures

In SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS -> SPECIFIC CONTENT you can set which pictures are sent.

Tripadvisor only allows cover (first) pictures in landscape format.

Tripadvisor will not auto change pictures. If you want to change your pictures do this in Beds24 and then ask Tripadvisor to review your pictures and update them for you.

Tripadvisor only allows each picture to be used once. Please go to Settings > Channel Manager > Tripadvisor Rentals XML > Specific Content and set Pictures = Room. Then go to Settings > Booking Engine > Pictures and make sure all 'Room' pictures are only used once.

6.4 Check if data is complete and correct

Go to SETTINGS->CHANNEL MANAGER->TRIPADVISOR RENTALS ->CONTENT or click on the "View content sent to Tripadvisor" link.

To update the listing content click on the links on this page. and check the information which will be sent to Tripadvisor Rentals is correct and complete.

If you do not meet the minimum requirements Tripadvisor Rentals might reject all data sent.

To check which information is sent to Tripadvisor Rentals click on the "View content sent to Tripadvisor Rentals" link. This will show you the raw data. A click on "View Actual Data" will show you which prices are sent.

6.5 All feature codes

You can also manually add bedrooms and bathrooms and amenities typing the feature codes exactly as listed below into the "Features" field.

Each room feature code can have additional features added to it separated by a space which will list the features within this room. Multiple rooms can be added.

BEDROOM

BEDROOM_LIVING_SLEEPING_COMBO

BEDROOM_OTHER_SLEEPING_AREA

BED_BUNK

BED_CRIB

BED_DOUBLE

BED_SOFA

BED_SINGLE

BED_KING

BATHROOM

BATHROOM_FULL

BATHROOM_SHOWER

BATHROOM_HALF

AIR_CONDITIONING

BALCONY

BEACH_FRONT

BEACH

LAKE

BICYCLE

BOAT

CABLE

SATELLITE

CEILING_FAN

HEATING

POOL_CHILDREN

CITY

CYCLING

DISHWASHER

DRYER

DVD

ELEVATOR

FREEZER

FIREPLACE

FISHING

GAME_ROOM

GOLF

GRILL

GYM

POOL_HEATED

HIKING

HORSE_RIDING

CLEANING_INCLUDED

POOL_INDOOR

INTERNET

IRON_BOARD

HOT_TUB

KETTLE

LINENS

MICROWAVE

MOUNTAIN_VIEW

OCEAN_VIEW

DECK_PATIO_UNCOVERED

TABLE_TENNIS

POOL_TABLE

PRIVATE_YARD

PARKING_INCLUDED

REFRIGERATOR

RURAL

SAUNA

SKIING

STAFF

STEREO

SAFE

STOVE

ROOF_TERRACE

TENNIS

TOASTER

TOWELS

TRAMPOLINE

TV

POOL

POOL_PRIVATE

WASHER

WATERFRONT

WATER_SPORTS

WATER_VIEW

WIFI

CHILDREN_NOT_ALLOWED

PETS_CONSIDERED

SMOKING_ALLOWED

7 Updates

Changes to availability and prices will be instantly sent to the channel. Changes for other settings for example minimum stays will send with the next update. Click on "Update" if you want to push them through instantly.

8 Common Errors

Validation failures prevented publishing ACTIVATION / PASS_MANUAL_VERIFICATION Violation 
TripAdvisor might need a Identification validation, you should have received a email from Tripadvisor with further instructions, if not please contact Tripadvisor.

ACTIVATION = FAILURE
Most likely you have set in your Tripadvisor account that content will be sent from Beds24 but you have not ticked "Content" in SETTINGS-CHANNEL MANAGER-TRIPADVISOR RENTALS we can not send content. Either change the setting in Beds24 or in Tripadvisor.

domain":"CALENDAR","status":"NOT_CONTROLLED
Preferences the fields in the Tripadvisors owner's center, under Listings -> Preferences  have been set to No. This section allows you to turn on or off specific sections you want to update via API. You will need to change these to "Yes".

NOT_FOUND 404
 Contact Tripadvisor and ask to check if your are properly connected to Beds24 channel manager via the TripadvisorRentals Content API.

Forbidden 403
Contact Tripadvisor and ask to check if your are properly connected to Beds24 channel manager via the TripadvisorRentals Content API.

9 Notes

Tripadvisor collects the full payment from the client and transfers it to you after arrival.
After departure, Tripadvisor sends out a review requests to guests.
For support contact Tripadviosr.

10 Disconnect

Untick "Inventory", "Prices ", "Bookings", "Content" to stop Beds24 sending data and importing bookings.
Contact Tripadvisor and as them to terminate the connection.