If you want to sync your calendar with a portal or platform that is not directly integrated with AvaiBook, you can do so using a generic iCal sync.
This sync only allows you to update availability, it doesn't sync prices or reservations.
🚨 Please note that it is not possible to sync Booking or Airbnb using iCal, even if you just want to update availability. The integration with these portals is done only via XML, so any synchronization of availability, prices or reservations must be done through the official AvaiBook connection with these portals.
Steps to set up a generic iCal sync:
Access the “Channel Manager” menu in AvaiBook.
Click the “Create Sync” button.
From the list of portals, select “iCal” and choose the accommodation you want to link.
Accept the terms of use by ticking the appropriate box and clicking “Next.”
Set up syncing:
Give the sync a name, something that helps you easily identify which portal it is.
Choose the type of connection you want to make:
🔁 Bidirectional:
AvaiBook sends and receives availability. In other words, the calendars will be updated on both platforms.📤 One-way from AvaiBook:
AvaiBook sends availability to the other platform. We'll provide you with an iCal URL to paste into the external portal.📥 One-way to AvaiBook:
AvaiBook receives availability from the external portal. You must paste the iCal URL of the other portal into AvaiBook.
Click "OK" when you have selected the connection type.
How do I know if I should create a two-way or one-way sync?
The choice between a two-way or one-way sync depends on the capabilities of the portal you are connecting your property to.
Two-way synchronization
You can set up a two-way connection when the platform provides an iCal URL to import and also allows you to receive the AvaiBook URL.
In this case, both calendars will update each other: AvaiBook will send information and also receive information generated by the other portal.
One-way synchronization
Some platforms can only receive or only send information. In these cases, you will need to set up a one-way sync:
If the platform can only receive data, you must choose:
Unidirectional from AvaiBook (AvaiBook → Portal).If the platform can only send data, you will need to select:
Unidirectional to AvaiBook (Portal → AvaiBook).
Finish the setup:
Depending on the type of sync you've chosen, you'll need to:
Copy the AvaiBook URL and paste it into the external portal.
Paste the URL of the external portal into AvaiBook.
Or both, if it's bidirectional.
Remember that the update time in AvaiBook is approximately 30 minutes. The refresh rate on the external platform will depend on the intervals that platform has configured.
📌 Note iCal sync from AvaiBook
The synchronization via iCal works as a chain of information between AvaiBook and the connected portals. Every 30 minutes, AvaiBook sends your calendar data to a shared cloud, where portals can access it based on their own refresh time, which we don't directly control.
In this way, information is transferred bidirectionally: portals can send their data to the cloud, and AvaiBook collects it to update your calendar. This ensures that availability remains as accurate as possible, even if the update on the portals depends on their internal synchronization frequency.
In short: AvaiBook sends and collects information every 30 minutes through iCal, but each portal decides when to collect that data and apply it on its platform, which can lead to small delays in updating dates.
💡Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have blocks that don't exist?
Why do I have blocks that don't exist?
If you have blocks in your AvaiBook calendar with the logo of a portal and on the portal you see that the block comes from AvaiBook, the first thing to do is to make sure that it is not a confirmed reservation, if you finally want to remove them:
Go to the channel manager section, click on the portal and establishment. Pause the sync on the on/off button.
When you have paused, the synchronization unlocks the affected dates in AvaiBook and in the portal.
Wait a while (at least 30 minutes) for the two platforms to update their content.
After this time, reactivate the connection.
Please note that while the synchronization is paused, we will not receive anything from the portal and they will not receive anything from us.
I would like to sync my calendars with Booking and AirBnB but only in order to sync availability.
I would like to sync my calendars with Booking and AirBnB but only in order to sync availability.
It's not possible to sync Booking or Airbnb using iCal, even if you just want to update availability. The integration with these portals is done only via XML, so any synchronization of availability, prices or reservations must be done through the official AvaiBook connection with these portals.