# Connect Hostaway

When Hostaway is connected, every reservation (from Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, direct …) is imported into your guest portal automatically: dates, number of guests, the guest's name and contact details. Cancellations and date changes follow. Your check-in data, payments and notes are never overwritten by the import.

## 1. Create a Hostaway API key

1. Sign in to your Hostaway dashboard.
2. Open **Settings → Hostaway API**.
3. Click **Create** to add a new API key, give it a name (for example *Guest portal*) and save.
4. Copy the **Account ID** and the **API key** (Hostaway calls it the client secret). The key is shown only once.

## 2. Connect Hostaway in your dashboard

1. Open **Settings → Channels → Hostaway**.
2. Paste the **Account ID** and the **API key (client secret)**.
3. Tick **Enabled** and click **Save**, then **Test**. You should see *Hostaway: connected*.

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

## 3. Link your properties

1. Click **Show listings** in the Hostaway card. You see every listing with its ID.
2. Open **Settings → Properties → Settings** for each property and paste the listing ID into **Hostaway listing ID**.
3. Save. Properties that don't exist yet can be created with **+ Add property** first.

## 4. Import

Click **Import now** to fetch reservations immediately. After that, imports run automatically every 30 minutes for stays from 30 days ago up to about 18 months ahead.

## 5. Invite guests

Imported bookings get their own portal link at once. You can send it:

- by email from the booking (**Email portal link to guest**);
- **in the channel's chat** — **Send portal link via Airbnb** (or Booking.com, Vrbo …) on the booking. The message goes through Hostaway into the guest's inbox on the platform they booked with;
- automatically a few days before arrival: **Settings → Email** — *Email the portal link to new guests automatically* and/or *Also send it through the booking channel's chat*.

## 6. Message guests

The booking's **Messages** section shows the conversation from Hostaway (guest messages and yours) and lets you reply in the channel's chat. Messages are sent exactly as written — placeholders such as `[guest_name]` are not filled in, so a message that still contains one is refused. Details: [Email and notifications](/docs/email-and-notifications).

## Frequently asked questions

### Which data comes from Hostaway and which stays here?

Inquiries, pending and unconfirmed requests (for example a Vrbo request to book), expired or declined requests and owner stays are not imported — only real stays. Hostaway owns the dates, status, guest counts and the contact details from the booking. The online check-in data, payments, deposit status, door codes and your notes live in the guest portal and are never overwritten.

### What happens when a reservation is cancelled in Hostaway?

The booking is marked as cancelled at the next import; the guest portal shows the cancellation and the dates become free.

### Some guests have no email address?

Channels often hide the real email. Send the portal link through the channel's chat instead — **Send portal link via …** on the booking, or switch on the automatic chat invitation in **Settings → Email**.