RMS Configuration Requirements for connecting to VROB

Minimum Listing Requirements

Minimum listing requirements are mandatory setup items that must be completed in RMS to be valid for connection to VRBO/Stayz.

Complete the following setup in RMS before mapping to VRBO/Stayz in the Channel Manager.

All minimum listing requirements must be completed in RMS before activating the channel connection and initiating VRBO onboarding.

If the requirements are not met, the following error will appear when trying to connect the VRBO channel in RMS. The error will indicate which sections need more information, and these must be updated before mapping can be completed in RMS.

Further Information about the VRBO connection can be found HERE

• Property Information: Default Area Permissions

The default area permissions can be overridden on an individual area after being set up in the property information.

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Property Options > Property Information

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Property.

Navigate to the 'Online' tab.

Select the default option for Children Allowed, Events Allowed, Pets Allowed, and Smoking Allowed.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.

• General Information: Default Reservation Times

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Property Options > General Information

Navigate to the 'Reservation Defaults' tab.

Select the Default Times for Placing Reservations or select the checkbox 'Use Category Default Times'.

The default times for placing reservations set up here can be overridden on the category setup.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

Any changes made to the default times for placing reservations will apply to all reservations created in RMS after the changes are saved.
 

• General Information: Channel Mapping by Area

The option to enable channel mapping by area must be enabled to complete channel mapping for VRBO.

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Property Options > General Information.

Navigate to the 'Features' tab.

Select the checkbox 'Allow separate Channel Credentials for each Area'.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.

• Online Options: Payment Types

A payment gateway and at least one card type must be set up in RMS before completing this setup.

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Online Bookings > Online Options.

Navigate to the 'Payment Options' tab.

Select the Accepted Payment Methods and choose the button.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

• Online Options: Minimum Age

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Online Bookings > Online Options

Navigate to the 'Page Settings' tab.

Enter the Minimum Age Required to Make a Booking.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

• Online Options: Policies

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Online Bookings > Online Options.

Navigate to the 'T&C/Policies' tab.

Enter the Property Cancellation Policy and select a Policy Type.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

Select the 'Exit' icon to leave the setup.

• Online Options: Property Description

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Online Bookings > Online Options

Navigate to the 'Extra Information' tab.

Enter a Property Description.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

• Photos: Area Photos

Only photos set up for an area will be used for the VRBO connection.

VRBO requires a minimum of six photos per area listing. The minimum photo resolution required by VRBO is 1024 x 683, with the recommended resolution being 3840 x 2160.

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Online Bookings > Photos

Select the 'Add' icon on a Category.

Select the 'Select Images' button and choose the image files.

Select the 'Next' button.

Select each Area in the Category the images apply to.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.

Repeat for all Areas that will be mapped to VRBO.

★ Tip: Select the 'Edit' icon on a category photo and select the checkbox for an area to also use it as an area photo.

• Attributes: Area Attributes for VRBO Listing Amenities

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Lookup Tables > Attributes.

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Area Attributes or select the 'Add' icon.

Select the 'Associated To' as 'Area'.

Enter the Attribute name.

Enter the corresponding External Reference from the VRBO Amenities table below.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and return to the setup screen.

Repeat for all Area amenities.

Safety amenities must be set up as area attributes and allocated to all areas that will be listed on VRBO.

VRBO Amenities

• Category: Maximum Occupants

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Category/Area

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Category.

Navigate to the 'Category Details' tab.

Enter the Maximum Occupants Per Area.

The maximum number of occupants per area is the maximum number of guests permitted in each area within this category.

The maximum number of occupants per category is a guest cap that uses the sum of guests staying in all areas within the category and will prevent a reservation in an unoccupied area if the total guest count has been reached across the category.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

• Category: Reservation Times

Setting the default times for placing reservations on a category is optional and will override the times set up in General Information.

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Category/Area

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Category.

Navigate to the 'Times' tab.

Select the Category, Arrive Time and Depart Time.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

• Area: Description

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Category/Area.

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Category.

Navigate to the 'Area' tab.

Select an existing Area and choose the 'Edit' icon.

Navigate to the 'Area Details' tab.

Review the Area Description.

Enter the Area Address, Town, and State.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

Navigate to the 'Description' tab.

Enter a long description between 400 - 10,000 characters. This can also include the listings Terms & Conditions

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.

Repeat this for all areas that will be mapped to VRBO.

• Area: Details

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Category/Area.

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Category.

Navigate to the 'Area' tab.

Select an existing Area and choose the 'Edit' icon.

Navigate to the 'Options' tab.

Select an Accommodation Type.

'Accommodation Type' is a lookup table in RMS that includes predefined system types for use with VRBO that cannot be modified or deleted.

Enter the Latitude and Longitude of the Area location.

Enter the Number of Full Baths, Half Baths, Showers and Bedrooms.

Optional: Select if Smoking, Pets and/or Children are allowed.

Any area-level permissions will override the default area permissions set up on the property.

Enter a Headline.

The headline entered will be used as the 'Unit Listing Name' on VRBO.

Enter the Licence Number.

Enter the state or government-issued registered license number for this area.

Select the 'Save' icon to store the changes made.

Repeat this for all areas that will be mapped to VRBO.

• Area: Attributes

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Category/Area.

Select the 'Edit' icon on an existing Category.

Navigate to the 'Area' tab.

Select an existing Area and choose the 'Edit' icon.

Navigate to the 'Attributes' tab.

Select the Area Attributes and choose the button.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.

Repeat this for all areas that will be mapped to VRBO.

• Rates: Rate Type Deposit

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Charts > Rate Manager.

Select the 'Rates' icon and choose 'Rate Types'.

Select the VRBO Rate Type or Derived Rate Type and choose the 'Edit' icon.

Navigate to the 'Deposits' tab.

Select the checkbox 'Use Deposits'.

Enter the First Deposit Percentage.

Select the  'Save' icon to store the changes made.

• Rates: Length of Stay

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Charts > Rate Manager.

Select the 'Rates' icon and choose 'Rate Types'.

Select the VRBO Rate Type or Derived Rate Type and choose the 'Edit' icon.

Navigate to the 'Min/Max Nights' tab.

Enter a Minimum and Maximum Length of Stay value for each day of the week.

A value greater than zero must be entered for both the minimum and maximum number of nights for all days of the week.

The value entered as the maximum number of nights must be greater than the value entered as the minimum number of nights.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.

• Rates: Additional Guests

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Charts > Rate Manager.

Select the 'Rates' icon and choose 'Rate Tables'.

Select the VRBO Rate Table and choose the 'Edit' icon.

The rate table selected must be a rate table used in the rate lookup for the VRBO rate.

Enter the Minimum and Maximum Allowed for each applicable Guest Type.

Enter the Additional Guest Fees.

Fees for additional guests set up on the rate table or derived rate type must increase by the same value per person.

e.g. 1 Guest $15, 2 Guests $30, 3 Guests $45.

• Rates: Future Availability

VRBO requires a minimum of two years of future rates and availability loading at all times.

Set up the Rate Lookup or Derived Rate Type with an 'All Year Round' Rate Period, or setup an extended Rate Period to maintain the appropriate amount of future availability for the VRBO Rate.

Derived Rate Type with a Rate Table and VRBO Rate Period.

Rate Lookup using an All-Year-Round Rate Period.

From January 1st, 2025, if the Victorian short stay levy applies to you, you can apply 8.108108% in Adjustment 2 to account for the 7.5% levy

• Cancellation Reasons: VRBO Cancellation Reasons

The VRBO cancellation reasons must be set up and used on any reservation where VRBO is set as the travel agent.

In the Side Menu of RMS, go to Setup > Lookup Tables > Reasons

Select the 'Add' icon.

Enter the Reason.

Optional: Enter a Short Description.

Enter the Reason Code.

Select the Action "Associated To" as 'Reservation Cancelled'.

Select the 'Save/Exit' icon to store the changes made and leave the setup.