# Connect Channex

Channex is a channel manager used by many PMS and hosts. The guest portal reads your Channex bookings and creates a portal link for every guest.

## 1. Create a Channex API key

1. Sign in to Channex (`https://app.channex.io`, or your white-label Channex address).
2. Open your user profile and go to **API keys**.
3. Create a new key named *Guest portal* and copy it.

## 2. Connect in your dashboard

1. Open **Settings → Channels → Channex**.
2. Paste the **API key**.
3. **Base URL**: leave `https://app.channex.io` unless you test on `https://staging.channex.io`. Only Channex addresses are accepted.
4. Tick **Enabled**, **Save**, **Test**.

![Settings → Channels](/site/img/docs/d-settings-channels.webp "Settings → Channels")

## 3. Link your properties

**Show listings** lists your Channex properties with their IDs (UUIDs). Paste each ID into **Settings → Properties → Settings → Channex property ID**.

## 4. Import

Click **Import now**; afterwards bookings are imported every 30 minutes, including modifications and cancellations.

## 5. Acknowledge booking revisions (optional)

Channex expects the system that manages your bookings to **acknowledge** every booking revision from its feed; unacknowledged revisions are sent again and Channex warns you by email. Tick **Acknowledge booking revisions** in the Channex card when the guest portal is the only system reading this Channex account. If another system (another PMS, or codeb-demo) already acknowledges them, leave it off — the guest portal then reads the bookings directly and nothing is lost.

## 6. Message guests

For Booking.com, Airbnb and Expedia bookings you can write to the guest in the channel's own chat: the booking's **Messages** section shows the conversation, **Send portal link via …** sends the stay-guide link, and **Settings → Email → Also send it through the booking channel's chat** does it automatically before arrival.

- The Channex **Messages** app must be installed (app.channex.io → Applications).
- Expedia Partner Solutions / affiliate bookings don't support messages.
- Bookings imported before messaging was available are linked at the next import.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does the guest portal change anything in Channex?

No. The connection reads bookings (and, if you switch it on, acknowledges booking revisions) and sends the guest messages you write. Availability and prices stay managed in Channex.

### I use Channex through my PMS — can I still connect?

Yes, as long as you can create a Channex API key with access to the properties. Ask your PMS provider if you only have a white-label login.