Vrbo: installation & settings

Vrbo (formerly known as HomeAway) is an online marketplace for vacation rentals. The platform connects travelers with recreation businesses and homeowners offering accommodations such as apartments, villas and chalets. As part of the Expedia Group, Vrbo is part of a global network of travel websites, allowing you as an accommodation provider to increase your occupancy rate and generate more bookings.

In our App Store you can read more about what Vrbo can offer you.

How to install the app?

Once logged into your Booking Experts PMS, go to the App Store in the light green menu bar. To do this, click on the market stall icon. Type 'Vrbo' in the search bar and click on the appropriate result. You are now on the app's detail page. Click the green ‘+Install’ button to install the app.

In the next screen, you can see exactly what information is read and sent by Vrbo. At the bottom of this page, you will link your administrations. Check the ‘Access’ box for each administration for which you want to apply Vrbo. Then click 'Install' to authorise the app and complete the installation.

You can now set up your collaboration with Vrbo directly, and then return to the Vrbo app page to complete the settings.

Setting up collaboration

After you have installed the Vrbo app, you register your organisation with Vrbo via the VRBO Onboard webpage. A Vrbo Onboarding Specialist will further assist you in setting up your Vrbo account. It's useful to have certain information at hand; read this Vrbo support article to get to know more.

During the onboarding process at Vrbo, you will be asked for your Booking Experts organisation ID. The fastest way to find your organisation ID is to look at the URL of your organisation page in your Booking Experts PMS. Click the bold organisation name in the drop-down menu at the top left, and take note of the number after 'organizations' in the url. This is your organisation ID.

Complete the settings

On the Vrbo app page in your App Store, you'll see that the app is installed. To further complete the settings, there are three more steps to go through. Adding an advertiser, and then linking your administrations and types to it. Do this after you have set up your collaboration with Vrbo, so you can enter the correct information.

Adding an advertiser

Click 'Manage advertisers' in the top right. By adding an advertiser to this overview, you can soon start offering your types on Vrbo. To add an advertiser, click on '+Advertiser' and fill in the following information:

1. Active/inactive status: to offer your types on Vrbo, set this setting to 'Yes', active.
2. Advertise ID: this is by default your organisation ID followed by _0. Only change the number after the underscore in consultation with Vrbo!
3. Vrbo master brand: this is a Vrbo (brand) url with which you determine the language and currency. This has also been agreed in your contract with Vrbo.

You can repeat these steps if you want to add multiple advertisers.

Linking administrations

Once the advertiser has been added, you can link your administrations. This ensures that Vrbo knows from which administration(s) types should be offered. In the overview, click the name of the advertiser. Then click 'Linked administrations' and '+Linked administration' to link an administration. Fill in the following information:

1. Active/inactive status: to offer your types on Vrbo, check this box.
2. Advertiser: this is the parent advertiser, and is already filled in.
3. Linked administration: here you add the administration that you want to link.
4. Invoicing: Booking Experts Collect or Advertiser Collect. With Booking Experts Collect you are responsible for invoicing, and with Advertiser Collect Vrbo is responsible for invoicing.
5. Costs that should not be synchronised: here you can enter costs that should not be included in the link with Vrbo.
6. Cancellation policy: here you select the cancellation policy that you have agreed on with Vrbo.

7. Minimum allowed age of the main booker (primary renter).
8. Safety margin: this safety margin is a buffer that reduces the chance of double bookings. The default setting is 1, you can leave this setting as it is.

You can repeat these steps if you want to link multiple administrations.

Linking types

After you have linked your administration, you can link the types that you want to offer via Vrbo. In the overview of linked administrations (of an advertiser), click on the name of an administration. Then click on 'Linked types' and '+Linked type' to link a type. Fill in the following information:

1. Active/inactive status: to offer this type on Vrbo, check this box.
2. Linked type: choose the type you want to link from the drop-down menu.
3. Description & Property type: keep or overwrite. By checking 'Override', you can add a new description and/or accommodation type, specifically for Vrbo. If you do not do this, Vrbo will adopt the description and accommodation type as they are set in your Booking Experts PMS.
4. House rules: here you can add additional house rules and/or restrictions that apply to your type. These will then be displayed in the Vrbo advertisement under 'House Rules'.

You can repeat these steps if you want to link multiple types.

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