Receive Vrbo guest inquiries and guest portal messages in the Hostfully Inbox
Currently I can communicate with Vrbo guests via email in the Hostfully Inbox. Here's how I do that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzrIBhiitBY&t=4s.
Also, it's great that when the guest sends me a message in a booking request through Vrbo, then that message appears in the Hostfully Lead/Stay Details.
There are a couple of scenarios where I would appreciate a deeper integration with Vrbo's messaging. For example, if the guest sends me a message through the Vrbo guest portal, then it doesn't come into the Hostfully inbox and I can only reply through my email. Another example is if the guest sends me an inquiry before booking through Vrbo, then I can only manage that communication through my email.
Michele
shared this idea
We are currently working with VRBO's team to define the VRBO messaging API that will best support this use case.
In the meantime, this video shows a simple workaround to activate the communication channel with VRBO guests through the Hostfully Inbox, using a simple template+trigger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzrIBhiitBY&t=129s
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Carole Heiman-Kezios
commented
This suggested workaround seemed like a good solution but I have only started using Hostfully in the last couple of weeks and have already had guests who did not reply to me by replying to my email - they replied within the VRBO portal. I will continue to check both but this seems really counterintuative to the idea that Hostfully is integrated with VRBO.
As we know, guest communication is a really important part of the guest experience and it would seem that getting these two to function as truely integrated would be a really high priority.
Until then how (as a new user) do I deal with guests who INQUIRE to book - or use the CONTACT OWNER - button in VRBO that don't come into the Hostfully system? -
Kelly
commented
I couldn't agree more! The lack of integration leave VRBO guests confused often!
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Chelsea Dunckley
commented
This seems to be the most requested item. Does Hostfully have any intention on starting on this?