In 30 seconds: iCal is a link that publishes a calendar's booked dates. To avoid double bookings you need both directions: Amplistay imports each channel's calendar, and each channel imports Amplistay's. You do it once, in about 5 minutes.
How many links do you need?
🟢 If you use a channel manager (AvaiBook, Lodgify, Smoobu, Beds24…): usually one. Your channel manager already combines Airbnb, Booking.com and the rest, so its iCal is enough.
🔵 If you don't: one per channel. Airbnb's, Booking.com's, Vrbo's… each one separately.
Step 1: import your channels into Amplistay
- On the platform (Airbnb, Booking.com…), open the listing's calendar and look for Sync calendars or Export calendar. Copy the link.
- In Amplistay, under Your channels for your property, pick Airbnb, Booking.com or Other, paste the link and save.
- Hit Test to check it reads correctly.
For each channel, choose what to do with its bookings:
- Only block dates: your website won't take bookings on those days, and that's it.
- Import to Reservations: they also show up in your Reservations tab, so you can add the guest's name or price, or give them their "Your stay" page.
Step 2: export Amplistay's calendar
If you only import, your website knows what happens on Airbnb, but Airbnb doesn't know what's booked on your website. To close the loop:
- Under Your channels → Export this calendar, copy the "Amplistay bookings only" link.
- In Airbnb, Booking.com or your channel manager, find Import calendar, paste it and give it a name (say, "My website").
There's a second link, "All bookings", with everything combined: it's for viewing in Google Calendar, not for importing into platforms, because they'd read their own bookings back.
Good to know
- It isn't instant. Amplistay reads your channels every few minutes, but each platform reads imported calendars on its own schedule, sometimes every few hours. That's why extensions keep a security buffer (16 hours by default, and you can change it).
- iCal only carries dates, not prices or guest details. So for imported bookings, you fill in the name and price yourself if you need them.
- One link per unit. If you have several cabins or apartments, each one has its own calendar.
Quick questions
I'm getting a duplicate booking. This usually happens when the "All bookings" calendar is imported into a platform. Always export "Amplistay bookings only".
Which tools does it work with? Anything that gives you an iCal link: Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, AvaiBook, Lodgify, Smoobu, Beds24, Hostaway, Amenitiz, Cloudbeds, Rentals United…
Do I have to leave my channel manager? No: you can take direct bookings without ditching it.
Calendar sync is included in Amplistay, along with your website and direct bookings: $19 / €19 per month per website, tax included, no commission.