We want to help you understand the process of activating or linking your property management software to your property listing. Let’s walk through each step required for activation and look at the team members that will assist you. The entire activation process can take up to three weeks, depending on the property manager’s readiness, responsiveness, and engagement during the process.

This process begins once you've signed a purchase order after initiating the activation project with the Partner Success team.

Partner readiness and appointment setting
You can contact Partner Success Account Manager, or Integrated Property Management (IPM) Support via these steps:
  1. Select Contact Us on the Vrbo Help Home page.
  2. Select Software Integration.
  3. Select whether you wish to Call or Email support.
Note: If you aren’t the primary contact for this project, please provide the appropriate contact’s preferred email address and phone number.
Take the following actions before contacting us:
  • Verify that Vrbo is enabled as a channel partner within your software.
  • Enable your listings to feed to Vrbo from your software.
  • Obtain the name of your payment processor set up in your software.
  • Be aware that you’ll have a credit card on file.
  • Know your software account ID.
  • Confirm your VAT number / Tax Identifier.
  • Make sure you have the 3D Secure authentication set up with your bank on your credit/debit card. 

Project kickoff

An Implementation Specialist will contact you by email or phone to discuss the following topics:
  • Minimum content requirements for listings
  • Payment processor information
  • Cancellation and rental agreements
  • Saving listing information in your software
At this point, the Implementation Specialist can answer any additional questions you may have.

Account preparation
Steps performed during this stage will ensure that your listing information, rates, calendars, and reviews are configured appropriately.  This will include:
  • ID mapping for existing listings on Vrbo to match properties that are already in your software
  • Account consolidation (if necessary) for customers with multiple accounts on Vrbo
  • Account set-up for new customers (if necessary)

Integration enablement and testing

An online booking is required to activate your listings feed. During this step, the Implementation Specialist will:
  • Enable the feed from your software directly to Vrbo.
  • Explain how to troubleshoot any errors after activation.
  • Explain that all future listing updates must be made in the software.
At this point, the Implementation Specialist and Property Manager will work together to generate a test booking. This is done to ensure that the booking is created successfully. The property manager should cancel the test booking in their software after the test is completed. Keep test bookings to a minimum, as cancellations can impact your conversion.

Requirements for Online Booking:
  • Credit card processor: The method needed for processing guest credit card information. This information is sent from Vrbo to your software. Currently, credit cards and invoice payments are the payment methods used between guests and Property Managers.
  • Accurate feed of rental rates and calendar information: To use integrated online booking, rental rates and calendars must be sent from your software.
  • Approved payment method for PPB listings: If publishing Pay-Per-Booking (PPB) listings, you will need to provide an approved method of payment for commission charges. Property Managers in the EU are required to use a credit card.
  • Booking and feed information: Booking information is the only data sent back to your software from Vrbo. Listing content runs on a one-way feed from your software to Vrbo. In addition, all content in the Dashboard is overwritten by content sent from your software (like photos, descriptions, headlines), unless it's been configured otherwise.

Partner training

Once your feed and Online Booking are enabled, the Implementation Specialist will set up a live demo of your Vrbo Dashboard that explores the following areas:
  • Incomplete and unassigned listings
  • How to enable new listings
  • Pay-Per-Booking (PPB) statements and transactions
  • Marketplace feed
  • Ranking Metrics
  • How to contact the dedicated support team for Integrated Property Managers