Connecting with channel
The VRBO integration involves connecting the VRBO account to Boom, with the remaining steps, like mapping, being managed by the channel's support team. The channel may get in touch for verification and queries, so being readily available to respond is crucial.
⚠️ Note that only one VRBO account can be connected to Boom at a time. However, if there's a requirement to connect an additional account, Boom will contact Rentals United to obtain an extra “Advertiser ID.”
Before starting this process, ensure that all your properties meet the channel’s minimum requirements. Your properties will be scanned to verify compliance, and if any errors are found, a quality check will display the issues that need to be fixed. To avoid this, please make sure all your properties meet the channel’s minimum standards.
Minimum Requirements
Address (Street name and number, Post code) and Location (Geo-coordinates) need to be complete;
Licence number must be provided;
Description: minimum 400 characters, maximum 10,000 characters;
Bathroom: At least 1 bathroom. The bathroom needs to have at least a toilet as an amenity and one of the following: shower, bathtub, bath with shower. Only then the additional amenities for the bathroom will be displayed in VRBO.
Kitchen: There must be a kitchen at the property (make sure to select "Kitchen").
Photos: minimum 6 photos (minimum width: 1024 px; minimum height: 768 px) are uploaded and the number of photos cannot exceed 50;
Bedding composition across rooms needs to be provided (bedding must match the max occupancy set);
Prices and availability are provided for some seasons;
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation Policy is selected;
Arrival information, Normal check-in and check-out times, as well as Arrival instructions are provided.
Steps
Tip: Before proceeding, log-in to your VRBO account and, make sure that you fill in the Merchant name and the Company name in the Company Profile. If the information is missing, you will not be able to connect to VRBO.
In Boom: Open the Channels page and navigate to the Channels tab (default page)
From the below list under “Connect to more sales channels”, locate VRBO and click on “Connect”
Review the “How it works” section, checkmark the bottom statement “I read and understand…” and click on “Save & Next”
Select the relevant currency and click on “Save & Next”
Add markup (optional) and click on “Save & Next”
Select the Cancelation Policy and click on “Save & Next”
Select Pre-payment (Down payment) and click on “Save & Next”
| Recommended: 100%
Set a minimum guest age and click on “Save & Next”
Select the properties you wish to push to VRBO and click on “Save & Next”
Confirm the downpayment and markup for the listings and click on “Connect and Next”
You will now be presented with instructions on how to start the integration.
Click on the “Take me to VRBO” button and do the following (see below "VRBO Process Screens"):
When asked for the name of your vacation rental software, enter: Quickconnect
When asked for your Software User ID, enter what showing on the page - should look like : “RentalsUnited_1234”
Once done: Go back to Boom and checkmark the “I completed the registration…” and click on “Save & Next”
The properties are now pushed to VRBO, however, they are NOT live. VRBO will contact to complete the channel integration and they will confirm once the listings are live.
STEP 14 - VRBO SELF-SERVICE ONBOARDING
IMPORTANT BEFORE PROCEEDING - You have to be logged in to your VRBO account on the same browser before clicking on "TAKE ME TO VRBO"
To navigate to the first "self service onboarding page on VRBO, go to Boom > Marketing Tab > Channels > Channels > Click on VRBO.
You will then be directed to the page with a button that will say "TAKE ME TO VRBO". Click the button to start the process.
First page
Next page will lead to the Company Profile. If there are any items missing they will be highlighted in red
Go to Boom copy and paste Quick Connect (with the space) (#1)
Copy and paste User ID (#2) - please see photo below:
Verify the currency in use
Confirm by clicking on "Continue"
Confirm by checking the statement below and click on "Continue"
Add your CC details for the channel commission payment
The process in VRBO is completed, go back to boom and confirm you have finished the registration
9. Go back to Boom VRBO channel manager page, and tick the "ATTESTATION" then "SAVE & NEXT"
After the self service onboarding process, Be ready to receive a call or an email with instructions on how to proceed. Please let your migration manager know once the process is complete and make sure [email protected] is CC-ed on your email communication with VRBO Onboarding.
VRBO will also provide an excel sheet:
Listings mapping
Reservation Summary
IMPORTANT --- Please provide your migration manager with these sheets and they will fill in the details for you.
VRBO Contact Details
VRBO Contact Details
Online support: [email protected]
US: +1 877 239 2592; https://www.help.homeaway.com/contact
DE: +49 69 2573 78892; https://www.hilfe-direct.de/contact
UK: +44 203 514 5512; https://www.help.homeaway.co.uk/contact
FR: +33 413 681044; https://www.aide.abritel.fr/contact
ES: +34 911 238 313; https://www.ayuda.homeaway.es/contact
IT: +39 069 480 2125; https://www.aiuto.homeaway.it/contact
PT: +351 308 804 358; https://www.ajuda.homeaway.pt/
Publish a new listing to VRBO
Open the Channels page in Boom and navigate to the channels section
Select VRBO
Click on the "Add property" button
Select the property you wish to publish on the channel (multiple selection is possible)
Click on "Save & Next"
The content quality of the listing is now analyzed. The process should take up to a few minutes.
The summary of properties’ content is then displayed.
If the property shows not ready to publish check the content quality by unfolding the section with warning
Correct the content indicated in the report and click on the "Re-Check" button
If the properties are ready to publish, adjust the mark-up for each of them. You can adjust the mark-up for each property one by one or apply the same mark-up value for all at once. For Vrbo, it is also possible to specify Down payment at this point.
Click the Publish properties button.
The published properties enter the
Pending status.The property status changes to
Active and you can receive reservations now.
VRBO Resources
VRBO doesn't allow copy/text/logos in any photos, you can learn more here
Any changes to VRBO photos are updated once every 24 hours, the updates from Boom will not be immediate on this channel. This is a limitation on the VRBO end not from Boom.