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The article is in draft right now, but here's the basic info on the API vs platform modes and what changes...
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Right now you're on what's called the HomeAway/VRBO "platform" mode, where HomeAway payments is the merchant of record and collects the payments on your behalf. HomeAway also offers API integrated/Integrated Property Manager (IPM) mode for accounts with at least 5 properties. With API integrated mode, you're the merchant of record and all payments will be processed through the credit card processor you have connected to OwnerRez. It's a little less publicized because of that 5 property restriction, and you have to go through the IPM team to get your account set up that way. If you don't have a credit card processor yet (or are on PayPal which doesn't support processing cards directly), we recommend Lynnbrook Group.
You also get a bunch of automation with the API mode as well as being the payment processor/merchant of record. Once the API connection is in place and running live, OwnerRez will drive all updates to your HomeAway account. Any changes made in OwnerRez - for property content photos, amenities, rates, rules - will always overwrite whatever is in HomeAway. And when you login to HomeAway, their system won't let you make updates there. They will direct you to use OwnerRez instead. Bookings from HomeAway/VRBO websites will automatically be pushed to OwnerRez for processing.
If you don't have property content (photos, amenities) in OwnerRez yet, you would need to do that first. You can use our Import From HomeAway or Import from Airbnb pages to suck in a bunch of content from your live listings. Look for those tools on Tools > Import/Export page. Or use the links on the Properties menu.
We also have a Tools > Listing Quality Analyzer that will show you all the problems/holes with your listings and the recommended course of action.
Don't be worried about overriding blank or empty content - that won't happen. During the process of connecting the API, a HomeAway integration specialist will be assigned to you, and you will not be able to move forward until they verify everything.
FYI, There are two limitations that we're aware of on the API vs. platform: bookings must all be instant book via credit card (no invoice or 24 hour review), and because it's instant book there's no way to customize a quote. Instead you would alter the booking charges and payments after it comes in if you need to adjust amounts. With the API integration you have full control over charges and payments for HomeAway bookings just like you do on direct bookings in OwnerRez.
HomeAway is able to take your existing listings and convert them to API mode while retaining the listing numbers, reviews, etc. The ranking will be the same for API integrated as the platform side.
What booking is it that you are running against?
Currently there isn't a trigger for reactivation.
I'm using a trigger for when a booking is canceled/deleted but it's not wanting to fire.
I have a similar trigger for dates changed and I found I needed to check the box to allow it to be sent multiple times, but of course I can't cancel a booking multiple times so I'm thinking that isn't the issue.
Otherwise my trigger seems enabled and has an email associated with it... any ideas ? My triggers all have the term 'Podio Alert' in them so they are easy to see
(updated) also wondering if there is a trigger available for when a booking is reactivated.
Thank you for the feedback and suggesting those points to think about.
I've already been migrated to HomeAway's new in-house processor (Hyperwallet) rather than Yapstone, and I'm seeing a standard, flat 3% fee. I did not accept Yaps offer to get early payments with a 6% fee on their payment platform.
I will look at Lynnbrook for direct bookings to see what rate I can get there.
I already collect and remit all taxes so this won't be a change for me.
Is there a help article I could read to see more about how this would work on the integration/API side? Right now I use channel bridge and ical sync. My understanding is that if I go to PM status at HA, I will be able to use an API connection to integrate listings and process my own payments directly. Still looking for more details on that migration process.
Hi, Chris -- and anyone who has successfully done this.
I'm working on automation for my pet approval/contract... which for me is a 2 part process.
1. I require a completed pet questionaire for pet approval.
2. Once that is complete I require a separate pet contract.
Is the best way to do this to add additional fields to my booking page for the pet questionnaire? I have not tried that in the past. How would that work for HA/VRBO/ABB bookings?
And once I receive that info, I would trigger a separate contract? How would that trigger work? When I look at the regular email triggers, I don't see my legal documents as options. I do know that I can go to 'legal' under each reservation and send them manually.
TIA
Unfortunately we don't have any special influence or contacts with BDC. You'll just have to keep bugging them until they get it done.
A couple points to consider as you make this decision:
- We've heard from some users that, when they converted to the new payment system and returned to "on time" (early) payments, their fees increased. So if you have your own card processor and use them instead, your net card fees may go down, saving you money. This is less true for Stripe, but processors like Lynnbrook are often considerably less expensive. We recommend doing some research and the math.
- If you use your own card processor, you'll also have to both collect and remit all applicable taxes. In many cases, HA/VRBO does this for you if you are using their payment system.
yes the idea is to switch to OR payments, However process is slow as molasses and it usually takes 3-4 phone calls to get anything done on BDC. I already told 3 reps that I need it switched to OR processing, and they still have not done a thing.
Yes. "Seasons" can overlap, and they have the ability to set minimum and maximum number of nights. And you can connect them to different rate schemas.
So you'd have the "Summer short" season with 3 day minimum and 13 day maximum. And a "Summer long" with 13 day minimum and 27 day maximum. And a "Summer month" season with 28 day minimum and no maximum. Each with rates accordingly.
Hope this helps!
You're using the BDC API, so OR will know when guests make payments using BDC.
Is that what you want thought? You might want to talk to BDC support about switching that third property to use your OR processor like the other 2.
Disregard. I figured it out.
Has anyone migrated their normal HA/VRBO account to PM status in order to have an API connection and process their own payments? I've been invited to do this by HA/VRBO but I would like to have more info before I do.
The recent HA/VRBO changes make me think this might be a good idea, but I've already been converted to the new payment system and returned to "on time" (early) payments with them (which I had for years with Yap) so I'm not as desperate as I might have been were I on delayed payments.
I have 7 listings, process direct payments through Stripe and list on VRBO/HA/Air/Direct/Houfy.
Maybe this is a question for Paul or Chris?
Maybe there are help articles I should be reading first but a lot of what i came up with was dated when I searched.
TIA
Getting confused. I have seasons set up by specific dates. And these seasons appear in season rates. I went to update Thanksgiving season and changed the dates to 2019 versus 2018. I saved as recurring. It's not showing in season rates. I then created a new season specific dates and called it Thanksgiving with 2019 dates. This also is not showing in season rates. What am I not doing? Thanks.
In case above isn't clear, this is my goal:
3 day minim @ x nightly rate. Guest can book between 3-13 nights at that same rate per night
14 min @ x rate for 14 nights. Guest can book between 14-27 nights and any nights over 14 will be at a prorated per night rate. x/14= per night rate
monthly 28 day min at x rate for 28 nights. Guest can book 28+ and any nights over 28 will be prorated at per night rate x/28 = per night rate.
Newbie here. I've looked through the forum and can't find info on what I'm trying to do. I know it's user error, just not sure what exactly it is. Technically i'm not supposed to rent for less than 14 days per HOA. But my low season is next to nothing since that so I want to offer 3 days min for certain seasons. I need the rate to be per night for 3-13 days. The next category is 14-28 days and then anything more than that should be at the monthly rate. Please help.
Thank you
Do not delete. Just disable it. It will be not applicable to future bookings but the old ones should still work. On the 2nd question, it depends.
1. Do you have 5+ properties listed on vrbo?
~ If no, no go., you are stuck with vrbo or yapstone payments. The end.
~ If yes, are they all in ownerrez?
2. Do you have Ownerrez channel management enabled?
3. have you called vrbo help desk to connect ownerrez as your channel manager?
My questions was about mixed set up 2 of my properties do not have BDC paymenst, one does. I was asking how channel can handle that?
Still to date I have had only about 4 BDC bookings.. that is 2 properties for a year.
I have opposite experience with Airbnb. Mots book without bargaining (or do not book at all) and my rates there are higher.
Good day,
I just set up payments through Lynnbrook but have an existing link to Paypal within OwnerRez. Ideally I only want one payment processor and want that to be Lynnbrook moving forward. I am unable to delete Paypal because there are current bookings that I assume have Paypal attached to them. Is there a way to switch those over to Lynnbrook instead to keep it clean with one processor?
Also, just confirming that switching to Lynnbrook will allow me to avoid the mess that has become Yapstone and Homeaway payments?
Thank you.
I have booking.com take the payments, to make sure the guests actually pay. Apparently if I do it I cannot collect until they show up! We wrestle Uber getting the proper banking information set up, but they are smooth as Clockwork.
I have had multiple Airbnb client so far and haven't gotten a single payment. Have to go chase him I guess.
I'm noticing so far that Airbnb clients are skinflints and constantly seek extremely deep discounts to an inquiry. I make about twice as much for my booking.com clients over Airbnb. I'm not on VRBO or TripAdvisor yet
So I had 2 properties on BDC, they were on OR channel manager/Stripe payments. I just added 3rd property to BDC (also on OR channel), but BDC put it on BDC payments. Will this work? Or the OR channel will see bookings coming from that property as "unpaid"?
Thanks
For the last three days, when I import payments or security deposit refunds from HomeAway using channel bridge, I either receive "no change" when importing the second payment and/or when I import the security deposit refund from HomeAway, it is somehow deleting the guests second payment showing a balance is owed. Does this weirdness have anything to do with HomeAway starting up their own credit card processing and dumping Yapstone?
thanks Chris!
When you're creating/editing the tax, add a booking criteria to it for Number of Nights. See screenshot.
That'll let you set the max number of nights for which the tax applies.
In Palm Desert I don't have to charge tax for stays 29+ days. I don't see where I can set the tax setting to only charge for 28 days or less. What am I missing?
Thanks
This depends on how you have the site configured. By default it will accept instant book (we call it "book now"). Or you can change the widgets on the booking page and property page to inquiry only mode, and then you'd only get inquiries.
Stupid Question
For hosted website - I assume outside inquiries coming to my website are inquiries, and there is no such thing as an "instant book" (direct book) on my website, correct?"
Are you working with the disallow gaps setting? OR the allow min nights in gaps setting?
Im sorry - Im not getting what I should be setting up in the system.
Do I set gaps to 1?
Say I have a 1-2 or 3 night gap - setting gap to 1 would allow any to be booked -correct ??
Renata
Excellent! Thank you for your prompt repair.
Yep, Airbnb recently tweaked their format slightly which was causing the issue. We just pushed out a fix.
Run channel bridge again and it'll update the future payments.
