Channel Manager

[Rick3054]

Hello Everyone.  I have just taken over the rental property portfolio for a large property management company in Cabo San Lucas.  I am overwhelmed by the number of channel manager/vacation rental management software available.

After wasting the last 2 days researching I am hoping that your experiences will help me narrow the search field.  I have a number of key features that are required in any software we purchase.  Your input will help me greatly

1) Connected to Airbnb/booking.com/expedia/homeaway via API and not just ical

2) Wordpress plugin that is robust and customizable - not just booking page wrapped in a frame (I will also consider using a proprietary website builder if it is half decent)

3) Owner portal (We have a lot of different owners.  This is a must)

4) Excellent reporting

5) Easy to use interface (please, please, please - I can't handle working in a software that feels like it is from the 80s)

Beyond that I would hope that it does the obvious things well (I thought I found a good one until I found they don't allow me to add tax and a cleaning fee through the bookings off my own website 😱)

If any of you have any suggestions I would be greatly appreciative.  Thanks in advance for your time

[David3095]

I am in the same situation. Have been using NoBeds for a year for free. Looking to switch. I like your selection list. Would like to hear from successful users.

[Rebecca362]

Hi Rick, it's surprising, the lack of information or support in this area. Have you found a software solution? I have six rentals that I'd like to manage in one area, for all of the major channels. There are quite a few out there so it's somewhat hard to make a decision.

[Anita325]

I was using Rentals United for a while but when I switched credit cards and didn't update the account RU did the following: canceled my account and DELISTED my Airbnb listings....yes they made my listings invisible to the world/unable to book. I've tried through their help center to resolve for 2 months now and have given up. I manually updated the Airbnb listings to active.

I am now moving on to attempt Guesty. Have a friend of a friend with a LOT of vaca homes and he uses Guesty. So we'll see.

In the meantime I have to disconnect RU and cannot figure out how to do that from Airbnb. I am thinking it maybe would be done but RU but of course that account was canceled. So calling Airbnb in the morning.

I will say the RU got my listings up high in the search results and that has been suffering. Hoping Guesty can do the same!

[Susan17]

@Anita325 

I don't use a channel manager myself, so I don't have any personal experience of any of the different PMS systems available. However, there are lots of indepth discussions on this subject on most of the Airbnb-related FB groups, from management companies who do use, and have tested, just about all of the available options, and they share their experiences there. Both Guesty and RU are discussed regularly - pluses and minuses - so you'll be able to find a wealth of information there. 

I don't know (or really even understand!) the ins and outs of APIs, CRMs or PMSs, but I do know that Vincent Breslin, the founder of Uplisting is really generous with his time in personally chatting with hosts about how his product works, and is also completely upfront about the limitations (if any) it might have for that host's particular needs and situation. If you need specific advice on anything channel management related, Vincent is the man to speak with. He's a really nice guy and there's absolutely no hard sell with him at all - if you like his product, that's great, but he certainly doesn't put any pressure on people to sign up for it (as some do)

Many of the founders of other channel management system firms are active on those FB groups too, so you can connect with others there and perhaps chat with them also.  

So you found that using a Channel Management system like RU definitely gave you priority placement in the searches, and you've found your placement has suffered as a result of listing them yourself? 

[Rick3054]

We have decided to move forward with KIGO.  They have been excellent to this point.  We are still in the onboarding stage but should have the whole system up and running by the end of January 2020.  They have been able to provide us with most of what we needed out of the box.  Support has been very good and you really feel like you are supported by a team.  I will happily update as we continue to move foward.

[Whitney73]

Yes Rick, please update us!

[Tammera0]

Hi Rick. How has KIGO been treating you?

[Andrew1027]

Hi Rick ,

Also interested in knowing how your time with KIGO has been?

If anyone was looking for or interested in a channel manager, I would recommend HotelRunner. 

As Airbnb’s Preferred Software Partner, I can help anyone get setup whenever they needed.

Just @ me or shoot me a message 🙂