OTA channels (Airbnb, Booking.com) — iCal sync
This article complements Accommodation rental and stays. It covers iCal calendar sync between BUKMI and booking portals (OTAs) such as Airbnb and Booking.com.
Plan: channel sync is part of the accommodation module — available on every plan (Free, Starter, Growth, Pro).
This is not the same as Calendars (Google / Outlook / Apple), which reflect your staff schedule. Here you sync room occupancy with OTAs to reduce double bookings between BUKMI and Airbnb / Booking.com.
What iCal sync does (and does not)
Section titled “What iCal sync does (and does not)”| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| Export busy dates from BUKMI to OTAs (pending and confirmed direct bookings + manual blocks) | Full OTA reservations in the Bookings list (iCal has no guest details) |
| Import busy dates from OTAs into BUKMI (as external blocks) | Sync of rates, min stay, guest counts |
| Blocks dates in BUKMI and on the occupancy calendar | Instant updates (portals refresh calendars with 15 min – 24 h delay) |
iCal is busy/free exchange, not full listing management (you still set prices and stay rules separately in each portal).
Where to configure
Section titled “Where to configure”- Accommodations → select a unit (room, apartment, cabin).
- Open Channels (nav: Occupancy · Edit · Channels).
- Configure per unit — 1 OTA listing = 1 BUKMI unit.
With multiple OTAs (Airbnb + Booking.com), add a separate import URL from each portal, but paste the same BUKMI export URL into each of them.
Export from BUKMI to OTAs
Section titled “Export from BUKMI to OTAs”What goes into the calendar file
Section titled “What goes into the calendar file”- Pending and confirmed bookings (direct / staff) — no guest PII (anonymous “Occupied — bukmi” label).
- Manual blocked dates from the accommodation service availability tab.
- Gap between stays — extends the exported range after check-out so portals do not sell nights during the cleaning gap.
OTAs refresh imported calendars with delay (minutes to hours), so a brief double-availability window is still possible despite exporting pending bookings.
General steps
Section titled “General steps”- In Channels, copy the export calendar URL.
- In the OTA extranet (Airbnb / Booking.com), find Import calendar / Calendar sync / Export availability.
- Paste the BUKMI URL as an external calendar source.
- Ensure export is enabled (toggle in BUKMI).
Link security
Section titled “Link security”The URL contains a secret token. If it leaks, use Generate new link — the old URL stops working; paste the new URL into all OTAs again.
Import from OTAs into BUKMI
Section titled “Import from OTAs into BUKMI”General steps
Section titled “General steps”- In Airbnb / Booking.com, copy the listing’s calendar export (iCal) URL.
- In BUKMI → Channels → pick the provider (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or Other).
- Paste the URL, enable import, and Save.
- Optionally click Sync now (otherwise import runs automatically about every 30 minutes).
What appears in BUKMI
Section titled “What appears in BUKMI”- OTA dates become external blocks — visible on the occupancy calendar (External channel colour) and under External blocks on the Channels page.
- They do not create a row in Bookings — iCal does not include guest or price data.
You still manage OTA stays in the OTA extranet (or manually block/cancel in BUKMI).
Sync conflicts
Section titled “Sync conflicts”The Sync conflicts section shows overlap between:
- a BUKMI booking (confirmed or pending) and
- an imported OTA block.
Because calendars update with delay on both sides, dates can briefly overlap. BUKMI does not auto-resolve them — check both channels and cancel or block dates where the reservation is wrong.
Common cases:
- A guest booked on Airbnb before import reached BUKMI — wait for the next import or block dates manually.
- A direct booking was just created — portals may not have refreshed the calendar yet; a short conflict is still possible.
Airbnb — tips
Section titled “Airbnb — tips”In the Airbnb hosting calendar (exact menu labels may vary):
- Calendar → Availability settings / sync options.
- Import calendar — paste the BUKMI export URL.
- Copy Airbnb’s Export calendar link → paste in BUKMI as Airbnb import.
Airbnb typically refreshes imports every few minutes to several hours.
Booking.com — tips
Section titled “Booking.com — tips”In the Booking.com Extranet (property → calendar / sync):
- Add calendar import — BUKMI export URL.
- Copy Booking.com’s iCal export for the room → paste in BUKMI as Booking.com import.
Booking.com also updates iCal with delay — do not expect real-time sync.
How often it syncs
Section titled “How often it syncs”- BUKMI fetches enabled portal calendars about every 30 minutes. You can also click Sync now.
- Export — Airbnb and Booking.com read your link themselves, usually with a delay from several minutes up to a day.
Can I connect the same room to Airbnb and Booking.com?
Yes — one BUKMI export to both portals + separate import URLs from each portal in BUKMI.
Does sync set prices on Booking.com?
No. Set rates and stay rules in OTAs and in BUKMI pricing separately.
Does the gap between stays block OTAs?
Yes — when exporting BUKMI stays, extra days after check-out are included so channels do not sell “cleaning nights”.
Do Free or Starter plans include Channels?
Yes — channels are part of accommodation rental, which is available on every plan (Free, Starter, Growth, Pro).
Related articles
Section titled “Related articles”- Accommodation rental and stays — units, pricing, blocks, occupancy calendar.
- Calendars — Google / Outlook / Apple (staff schedule, not OTAs).
- Business and settings — timezone (check-in/out dates and iCal).