VRBO Mapping

VRBO / Homeaway Group

This page is about the menu  (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/HOMEAWAY > MAPPING and explains how connect your properties and rooms with VRBO/Homewaway and their companies.

1 Mapping

VRBO/Homeaways XML activation applies per Beds24 account. All properties owned by the connected Beds24 account or sub account can send to the connected VRBO account. If you want to connect properties owned by different account/sub accounts you can override this. 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 and go to "Channel Management". The setting "VRBO / Homeaway Connect via Account" allows you to set that the property connects to VRBO via a different account than the one owning it.

Step 1 - Check which information will send

Go to (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO > VIEW CONTENT and check what will send.

Step 2 - Activate rooms

Tick "Enable" for all rooms you want to send to VRBO.

If you see a red button "Fix Content Errors" your content does not meet VRBOs requirements. Click on the button. Any settings which do not meet VRBOs requirements are highlighted on red. Click on the links to go to the settings where you can fix the problems.

Step 3 - Check which prices will send

Click on "View Actual Data" to check which prices and availability will send. If you see no prices or no availability in the list check your have prices which are activated for VRBO.

Step 4 - Self-onboard to VRBO

If you have not yet done so go to (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/HOMEAWAY > ACCOUNT and

• If you have subaccounts double check you are logged into the account/subaccount you want to connect.
• Have your credit card on hand because during the onboarding process VRBO will ask you to enter your credit card.
• Then click on Connect with VRBO. This will start VRBOs self-onboarding process. Follow the steps.

In Beds24:

In VRBO if you do not yet have a VRBO account:

In VRBO if you do have a VRBO account:

Step 5 - Check the listing status

• Go to (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO > MAPPING
• Click on the View Status at VRBO" button
• Check the content especially the "activeStatus"

2 Listing Content

2.1 Checklist

These factors are important for the performance of your listings:

• Choose your headline carefully and make sure your key (first) picture and your headline work together.
• Recommended are 24 pictures", make sure all have captions.
• Add Location Type feature so your listing will show in location based searches.
• Add cleaning features.
• Listings where guests do not have to pay the full amount with the booking perform better.

2.2 Languages

VRBO/Homeaway will inform you which language is compulsory. It is the language of the VRBO/Homeaway site you are listed. If this language is different from the language you use as default language for your booking page you can set it in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway > SPECIFIC CONTENT.

If you need to activate languages go to (SETTINGS) BOOKING ENGINE > INTERNATIONALISATION.

2.3 Listings

A listing is created for every room in Beds24.

• The "Headline" for the listing comes from "Room Headline" in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > ROOM CONTENT. If this field is empty the "Headline" in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > PROPERTY CONTENT will be used.
• The "Property Name" comes from the "Name" in (SETTINGS) PROPERTIES > DESCRIPTION. If you want to give each listing its own property name even though they are in one property in Beds24 you can enter a unique "Name" for each in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO / HOMEAWAY > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT.

2.3.1 Minimum Requirements

To send property information to VRBO/Homeaway, the following information must be entered into Beds24 to meet the VRBO/Homeaway minimum content requirement for listings:

• Property name
• Property type
• Maximum number of guests
• Accurate address for each property
• Latitude and longitude for each property
• At least 6 pictures for each listing recommended resolution of 1920x1080.
• Headlines with at least 20 characters
• Each listing must have at least one bedroom and one bathroom
• For online bookings you will need prices and inventory

2.3.2 Room Configurations - Define Bedrooms and Bathrooms

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

Set up bedrooms and bathroom either in the property OR the room. If you set them up in both you will double them up. Do not send additional bathroom amenities if you have a full bathrooom.

Bedrooms and bathrooms 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 "Bedroom" or "Bathroom".
• Set the type and use the selectors to define the features within each room.
• If you have multiple bedrooms or bathrooms make sure you define them all. If you have more than 2 rooms click "Close" and SAVE. The system will then automatically add more rooms when you click on the "Edit" button again.
• 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.

VRBO/Homeaway does not support all features Beds24 offers. For a list of all feature codes VRBO/Homeaway supports see "All feature codes" below.

2.3.3 Amenities, Features and Location Type

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

Criteria which 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 which only applies to one room should be entered in the room.

Make sure you do not create duplicates.

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

Example 2: You have one unit with Internet one and another unit without Internet. In this case set the Internet 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.

Adding "cleaning" features and a "location type" is very important for your performance. You add them manually. Bedrooms and bathrooms and amenities can also be inserted manually. For more information see "All feature codes" below.

For a list of all feature codes and location types VRBO/Homeaway supports see "All feature codes" below.

2.3.4 Prices

In (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT you can set which type of price you want to send.

With Per Occupancy Pricing a price for each occupancy defined in Beds24 and prices for different length of stay can be sent.

If you use rates the price for each occupancy defined in Beds24 and prices for different length of stay can be sent.1 person, 2 person and room price will send. Room price will send for specified occupancy. Multiple rates with different occupancies can send. Prices for "Extra Person", "Extra child" and discounts set in the "Discounts" tab of the rates can not be sent.

If you use daily prices the daily price will send including occupancy. Multiple occupancy prices can send. Extra person price will send.

"Max Stay" set in the CALENDAR or rates can be sent.

VRBO/Homeaway occupancy pricing only support minimum stays up to 30 days.

With Per Day Pricing the price sent is a room price, only ONE price can be sent per date. If you have multiple prices activated for VRBO/Homeaway with different minimum stays the system will send the price with the lowest minimum stay. VRBO/Homeaway applies the minimum stay " first night only" meaning restrictions must only be satisfied for the arrival date of the booking but not on every day of the booking. If you use daily prices with "Extra Person" prices your daily price needs to be set for the max occupancy and the "Extra Person" price needs to be added with a negative value so the price for the full occupancy can send. With Per Day Pricing you can also set an extra person price.

• The number of guests for which the price applies.
• An extra person price.
• A long stay discount. Discounts are only applied to the room price not on extras. VRBO/Homeaway stay discounts are cumulative.

Click on the "View Actual Data" button in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER- >VRBO/HOMEAWAY > MAPPING to check which prices and availability will send.

2.3.4.1 Currency

VRBO defines the currency use in VRBO. You can use a multiplier if your currency in VRBO is different from your currency in Beds24.

You can either use a fixed factor for currency conversion or currency conversion template variables. All currencies supported by the booking page currency selector can be used.

Example 1 fixed factor: *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 of 85% of the normal price (i.e. lowered by 15%).

Example 2 currency conversion template variables: *[CONVERT:THB-USD]* will convert THB to USD to send to VRBO and store bookings converted into THB.

The * at the end will add an info item VRBO_MULT to the booking with the conversion rate applied to the imported booking. This info item is used to convert the financial figures back to the values originally sent by VRBO when VRBO check the status of the booking.

For example 2 the info code VRBO_MULT will convert the THB in the booking to USD when VRBO read the booking status.

VRBO reads the bookings from Beds24 and calculates their commission from what they read. Do not manually convert the prices imported from VRBO to convert currencies because VRBO will then charge you wrong commission.

2.3.4.2 Price Multiplier

If you want to add a markup to your prices you can add it to the "Price Multiplier" field in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway.COM > MAPPING.

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

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

2.3.4.3 Taxes & Fees

Taxes and fees can be added in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway.COM > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT under "Custom".

• Taxes and fees can apply as a flat fee, a percentage, per day or per guest.
• You can choose taxes and fees to be "stay collected". In this case they will not be added to the booking price.

Use the context help for detailed instructions.

A Cleaning fee is required by VRBO/Homeaway and if it is not set by one of these methods a value of zero will automatically be sent. You can enter the cleaning fee in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER- > PROPERTY CONTENT->ROOM CONTENT.

2.3.5 Pets

If you do not allow pets you choose "Pets not allowed" as feature in S (SETTINGS) PROPERTIES > DESCRIPTION. Fees for pets can be set as custom values in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER -> VRBO/HOMEAWAY > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT.

2.3.6 Policies

You can set the minimum age via a "Custom" value in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT.

2.3.6.1 Cancellation Policy

VRBO/Homeaway requires a cancellation policy. We will send the policies set in SETTING->PROPERTIES-> DESCRIPTION.

You can can set which policy applies in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT

If you want to send a custom cancellation policy you need to set the actual policy in "Custom" in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO > SPECIFIC ROOM CONTENT. Use the context help for detailed instructions.

2.3.6.2 Children

If you allow children set the number of children which are allowed or "Dont ask" in the setting for "Maximum Children" in SETTING->PROPERTIES-> ROOMS -> SETUP.

2.3.7 Payments and Payment Schedule

By default payment is due at the time of the booking. You can change this to "At Check-in " in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway.COM > SPECIFIC PROPERTY CONTENT.

If payments are due at different times you can set up payment schedules in (SETTINGS) > CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO > PAYMENT SCHEDULE and link it to your property in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway.COM > SPECIFIC PROPERTY CONTENT.

If you have set up deposit collection in (SETTINGS) PAYMENTS- > PAYMENT COLLECTION we will send the deposit amount set there to be due at the time of the booking and the remainder if any at arrival.

Listings where guests do not have to pay the full amount with the booking perform better. Payment Schedules allow to set up to five payments.

In (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER -> VRBO/Homeaway.COM > SPECIFIC PROPERTY CONTENT you can set which payment types you accept. Beds24 supports following payment options:

1. Invoice

If you choose "Invoice" you need to enter a description on how guests can pay in (SETTINGS) CHANNEL MANAGER -> VRBO/HOMEAWAY.COM > SPECIFIC CONTENT "Payment Options Description "

2. Credit Card

The cards you have activated in (SETTINGS) PAYMENTS -> PAYMENT GATEWAYS -> CREDIT CARD will be sent as accepted cards.

If you do not receive a credit card with the booking and require a payment prior to the guest arrival, you can use an Auto Action to request payments from guests.

You can collect their credit card details to charge manually see Here via your payment gateway, or automatically if you use the Stripe Integration see Here for more information.

If you do not take the total amount as a deposit, you must set up a "Payment 2" for the remaining amount.

2.4 Pictures

VRBO requires at least six pictures per listing.

Room pictures are sent. These are the pictures activated as "Room Pictures" in (SETTINGS) BOOKING ENGINE > PICTURES Only if there are no room pictures activate property pictures are sent. These are the pictures activated as "Property Pictures" in (SETTINGS) BOOKING ENGINE > PICTURES.

If you use external pictures you need to make sure they are .jpg format.

If you need to change a picture, add or change it's caption text to ensure it gets re-imported by VRBO/Homeaway.

Make sure you add captions to your pictures. Please see the pictures help page for instructions.

3 Different invoice template

If you need a different invoice template for the bookings from this channel you can use the invoicee function.

3.1 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.

Example:  One bedroom with a double bed and a crib
BEDROOM BED_DOUBLE BED_CRIB

Example: The property has 3 bathrooms with various features 
BATHROOM BIDET COMBO_TUB_SHOWER
BATHROOM BIDET 
BATHROOM_HALF TOILET

Add feature codes one for each feature separated by spaces.

Example: A property has television, internet and beach view
TELEVISION INTERNET BEACH_VIEW 

1. Bathroom Types - If there are multiple bathrooms add one code for each followed by appropriate amenity codes.

BATHROOM
BATHROOM_HALF
BATHROOM_SHOWER

1.1 Bathroom Amenities - These must be specified after the bathroom type code and are applied to the preceding bathroom type code. If there are multiple features in the room add a code for each BIDET COMBO_TUB_SHOWER JETTED_TUB OUTDOOR_SHOWER SHOWER TOILET TUB

2. Bedroom Types - If there are multiple bedrooms add one code for each followed by appropriate amenity codes.

BEDROOM
BEDROOM_LIVING_SLEEPING_COMBO
BEDROOM_OTHER_SLEEPING_AREA

2.1 Bedroom Amenities - These must be specified after the bedroom type code and are applied to the preceding bedroom type code. If there are multiple beds in the bedroom add one code for each.

BED_BUNK
BED_CHILD
BED_CRIB
BED_DOUBLE
BED_KING
BED_MURPHY
BED_QUEEN
BED_SOFA
BED_SINGLE

3. Nearest features Nearest features must consist of three parts in order joined by underscores, a feature type, the distance unit, the number value. For example NEAREST_BEACH_KILOMETERS_3 or NEAREST_BAR_METERS_200

Feature types

NEAREST_AIRPORT
NEAREST_BEACH
NEAREST_GOLF
NEAREST_RESTAURANT
NEAREST_TRAIN
NEAREST_BAR
NEAREST_FERRY
NEAREST_HIGHWAY
NEAREST_SKI

Distance units

KILOMETRES
METRES
MILES
MINUTES

4. Location type features

BEACH

BEACH_FRONT

BEACH_VIEW

DOWNTOWN

GOLF_COURSE_FRONT

GOLF_COURSE_VIEW

LAKE

LAKE_FRONT

LAKE_VIEW

MOUNTAIN

MOUNTAIN_VIEW

NEAR_OCEAN

OCEAN_FRONT

OCEAN_VIEW

RESORT

RIVER

RURAL

SKI_IN

SKI_OUT

TOWN

VILLAGE

WATER_VIEW

WATERFRONT

5. Other features

LIVING_ROOM

FIREPLACE

WOOD_STOVE

HEATING

AIR_CONDITIONING

ELEVATOR

TELEPHONE

HAIR_DRYER

ICEMAKER

IRON_BOARD

LINENS

TOWELS

DRYER

WASHER

BALCONY

DECK_PATIO_UNCOVERED

LANAI_GAZEBO_COVERED

GARDEN

PRIVATE_YARD

GRILL

GAME_ROOM

VERANDA

GARAGE

PARKING_POSSIBLE

PARKING_PAID

EV_CHARGER

BOOKS

DVD

FOOSBALL

GAMES

MUSIC_LIBRARY

TABLE_TENNIS

POOL_TABLE

CABLE

SATELLITE

STEREO

TV

TV_SMART

TOYS

VIDEO_GAMES

VIDEO_LIBRARY

BREAKFAST_NONE

BREAKFAST_POSSIBLE

BREAKFAST_INCLUDED

PRIVATE_CHEF

DESK

DESK_WITH_CHAIR

INTERNET

WIFI

KITCHEN

DINING_AREA

DINING_ROOM

COFFEE_MAKER

DISHES_UTENSILS

CHILDRENS_DINNERWARE

PACK_N_PLAY_TRAVEL_CRIB

BABYSITTING

BABY_MONITOR

DISHWASHER

HIGHCHAIR

MICROWAVE

OVEN

REFRIGERATOR

SPICES

STOVE

TOASTER

OUTDOOR_LIGHTING

OUTDOOR_FIREPLACE

FIRE_EXTINGUISHER

FIRST_AID_KIT

MEDICAL_EMERGENCY_CONTACT

POLICE_EMERGENCY_CONTACT

FIRE_EMERGENCY_CONTACT

SMOKE_DETECTOR

CO_DETECTOR

DEADBOLT_LOCK

EMERGENCY_EXIT_ROUTE

PETS_CONSIDERED

PETS_NOT_ALLOWED

HOT_TUB

MASSAGE

POOL

POOL_HEATED

POOL_INDOOR

POOL_PRIVATE

SAUNA

B_AND_B

CAR_AVAILABLE

CHAUFFEUR

CHECK_IN_OUT_SELF

CLEANING_DISINFECTANT

CLEANING_ENHANCED

CLEANING_INCLUDED

CLEANING_POSSIBLE

CONCIERGE

GUEST_HOUSE

HOTEL

SHOP

BASKETBALL_COURT

BICYCLE

BOAT

CROSS_COUNTRY_SKIING

FISHING

FITNESS_ROOM

GOLF

HIKING

HORSE_RIDING

HUNTING

ICE_SKATING

JET_SKIING

KAYAK_CANOE

KAYAKING

MOUNTAIN_BIKING

MOUNTAIN_CLIMBING

MOUNTAINEERING

PARASAILING

RAFTING

SAILING

SPORTS_SNORKELING_DIVING

SKIING

SKIING_WATER

SNOW_SPORTS_GEAR

SNOWBOARDING

SNOWMOBILING

SPELUNKING

SURFING

SWIMMING

TUBING_WATER

WATER_SPORTS

WHITEWATER_RAFTING

WIND_SURFING

CAR_NECESSARY

CAR_RECOMMENDED

CAR_NOT_NECESSARY

CHILDREN_NOT_ALLOWED

CHILDREN_WELCOME

EVENTS_ALLOWED

SMOKING_ALLOWED

SMOKING_NOT_ALLOWED

WHEELCHAIR_YES

WHEELCHAIR_NO

BAY

COIN_LAUNDRY

DUTY_FREE

HEALTH_BEAUTY_SPA

MARINA

MUSEUMS

THEME_PARKS

WATER_PARKS

WINERY_TOURS

ZOO

ANTIQUING

BIRD_WATCHING

ECO_TOURISM

GAMBLING

OUTLET_SHOPPING

PADDLE_BOATING

SHOPPING

SLEDDING

WHALE_WATCHING

WILDLIFE_VIEWING

FITNESS_CENTER

HOSPITAL

LAUNDROMAT

FAMILY

HISTORIC

ROMANTIC

3.2 Common Errors

The VRBO connection for this property is managed by account ....
It cannot be mapped to this account.
Only properties owned by the connected Beds24 account or sub account can send to the connected VRBO account. If you want to connect properties owned by different account/sub accounts you can override this. 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 and go to "Channel Management". The setting "VRBO / Homeaway Connect via Account" allows you to set that the property connects to VRBO via a different account than the one owning it. 

Fix content errors and enable rooms before generating the VRBO Software User ID
Fix content errors and enable rooms
 Go back to step 2 in the chapter "Mapping"

 VRBO Software User ID not generated 
Go back to step 4 in the chapter "Mapping"

internal error constructing XML 
 Go to  (SETTINGS)  CHANNEL MANAGER > VRBO/Homeaway-> VIEW CONTENT to check if you content meets VRBO/Homeaways requirements. Any settings which do not meet  VRBO/Homeaways requirements are highlighted on red. Click on the links in the "Settings" column to go to the settings where you can fix the problems.