Overview
Before you request a new OTA connection via the channel manager, your Amenitiz account and the OTA need to be set up so they match. This article walks through the prerequisites — once these are in place, you can request the connection.
Step-by-step instructions
Create your OTA account and accommodations with matching structure. Your account must exist on the OTA first, and the accommodations you list there must follow the same structure as on Amenitiz.
If you have 5 rooms in 1 listing on Amenitiz (1 room with 5 units), set it up the same way on the OTA side.
If you have 4 rooms in 4 separate listings on Amenitiz, do the same on the OTA.
For Airbnb, you only need to create the listing — stock will be sent automatically during the connection.
Only OTAs on this list can be connected via the channel manager. For others, you can sync calendars via iCal.
(Booking.com only) Set up pricing per person on the OTA. If you use pricing per person on Amenitiz (check under
Property→Accommodations), configure the same on Booking.com so the two stay aligned.Create matching rate plans for the OTA. The number of rate plans on the OTA and on Amenitiz has to match.
If you want to send the OTA a price different from your Booking Engine, create a rate plan dedicated to that OTA. You can also reuse one OTA rate plan across several OTAs.
If the OTA has multiple rate plans (e.g. Standard and Non-refundable), Amenitiz needs the same plans so each pair can be linked during the connection. Plans without a counterpart on Amenitiz won't sync, and reservations made on those plans won't reach Amenitiz.
On Booking.com, check that every rate plan is XML in
Rates & Availability→Rate Plans. XML plans are "Managed by your calendar / previous channel manager". Plans labelled "x% lower/higher than the standard rate" aren't XML and can't be connected.
Leave the OTA calendar empty. You don't need to fill in seasonalities or restrictions on the OTA's calendar — Amenitiz pushes your inventory during the connection. The exception is OpenPro and Smartbox, where you need to configure the calendar on the OTA side too.
Request the connection. Once both sides are ready:
For Airbnb, you can launch the connection yourself from your Amenitiz account.
For every other OTA, contact [email protected] so the team can launch the connection on their side.
FAQs
Which OTAs can be connected via the channel manager?
Which OTAs can be connected via the channel manager?
See the full list of channel-manager-supported OTAs in How to connect to an OTA via XML.
What if my OTA isn't on the list?
What if my OTA isn't on the list?
If the OTA isn't supported by the channel manager, you can still sync availability via iCal. See How to connect with an OTA through iCal. iCal syncs availability only — new bookings need to be added to Amenitiz manually.
Why do the rate plans need to match on both sides?
Why do the rate plans need to match on both sides?
Each Amenitiz rate plan needs a counterpart on the OTA so the two can be linked during connection. If a rate plan exists only on the OTA, it can't be connected — and reservations taken on that plan won't be sent to Amenitiz.
What about OpenPro and Smartbox?
What about OpenPro and Smartbox?
OpenPro and Smartbox are the two exceptions to the "leave the OTA calendar empty" rule. For these two OTAs, you need to configure seasonalities and restrictions on the OTA side as well.
How do I check what "pricing per person" means in Amenitiz?
How do I check what "pricing per person" means in Amenitiz?
Go to Property → Accommodations in Amenitiz. If your accommodations are priced per guest rather than per room, that's pricing per person — and you'll need to mirror that setup on Booking.com before the connection.