What is an iCal synchronisation?

iCal is a format for calendar data exchange, which means it helps different calendar systems talk to each other and stay updated. When we mention 'synchronisation', we are referring to the process of keeping all your various calendars - such as your personal Google Calendar and your Airbnb calendar - up to date with the same events. So, when you add an event to one calendar, iCal ensures that this event appears on all your other calendars as well.

Understanding the calendar sync tool on Travelnest

Our calendar sync tool imports external calendars into Travelnest (such as Airbnb or Booking.com) - you can also export your Travelnest calendar into other external calendars you have.  This makes it easier to manage your availability and reduces the risk of double bookings. Plus, with iCal, your calendars get updated every hour.

How does Travelnest handle blocked dates from an external calendar?

In order to have an accurate representation of your calendar, the Travelnest iCal sync looks for bookings, not manually blocked dates. This means that if you manually block out dates on your Airbnb calendar, this will not affect the Travelnest calendar and those dates will remain open with us. The same scenario applies if you've linked another calendar with Airbnb that isn't connected to Travelnest.

If you’re a Travelnest customer we highly recommend that if you have any manual dates blocked on your Airbnb or Booking.com calendars make sure to block the same dates in your Travelnest calendar. 

How to Import/Export using the Travelnest calendar

If you're a Travelnest customer your Travelnest calendar imports iCal links as well as exports its own link. Remember to complete a calendar sync for each individual property in your Travelnest account.

1. log in to your Travelnest account and select Properties from the dashboard.

2. All the properties you list with Travelnest will be shown. Select the property you want to apply the calendar sync to. You'll see the Property Profile on the next screen. Scroll down to Booking availability (under Edit photos, description and availability) and select Edit.

Note: Selecting the Calendar icon at the top of the screen does not take you to an individual property calendar - sync is not available from there.

3. On the next screen, you'll see your property's calendar. Scroll down to find the 'Additional calendar features'.

Click on the drop-down menu and look for 'Calendar sync'. This is where you can:

• Import a calendar from outside Travelnest (e.g. Booking.com, Airbnb, Google, Vrbo)

• Export your Travelnest calendar to a calendar outside Travelnest (Booking.com, Airbnb, Google)

Travelnest Tip: To make sure your bookings show up on both your Travelnest calendar and an external calendar, you need to do two things. First, bring in an outside calendar to Travelnest (Import). Second, send your Travelnest calendar to an outside calendar (Export). Please make sure to do both for proper synchronisation.

Managing property listings on multiple travel platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com, or Vrbo can be a complex task if you don't keep your calendar up-to-date. The risk of double bookings is real and can negatively impact your listing's performance. For instance, without synced calendars, you could end up with two guests booking the same dates simultaneously. This would force you to cancel one of the bookings, affecting your listing's performance and potentially leading to cancellation fees.

At Travelnest, we understand these challenges. That's why we offer a calendar sync tool called iCal. With it, customers can import and export calendars between Travelnest and other platforms, creating a unified view of all bookings. This ensures you avoid the stress of double bookings. Remember to manually block dates on the Travelnest calendar that are blocked on external ones for complete synchronicity.

By using our calendar sync tool, you can streamline your booking management process, save time, and prevent potential financial losses due to cancellations. It's a simple yet effective solution for maintaining harmony across all your property listings.

What our customers say about our calendar feature

''The thing we love most about Travelnest is the fact that our cabin is advertised over lots of different travel websites but we only have one easy calendar to manage everything in only one place.''