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How to delete/disable an API-connected property

Undercard_Wonder
Feb 5, 2024 6:02 PM
Joined Nov, 2023 44 posts

Very long backstory made very short -- in order to take advantage of Vrbo's new listing boost, both Vrbo and OwnerRez reps agree that I need to delete/archive an existing API-connected listing, and then regenerate the property as a new listing.

OK. It's easy on Vrbo to hide, then archive a property. 

On the OwnerRez side, however, I cannot find how to disable/delete a property from the API connection.  I can see how to disable the entire channel, but not a single property.

Any ideas?  Thank you in advance.

 

Ken T
Feb 6, 2024 3:53 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1572 posts

The short answer is - you really can't.  It is not possible to disconnect a property from the Vrbo API and then reconnect it as a new property, from the OwnerRez side.  It is theoretically possible to be done from the Vrbo end, with the assistance of their IPM tech support team, but I don't recall ever seeing them do it because normally it is considered a violation of their TOS.  I have seen them swap properties around when they got mixed up in the first place during the initial API setup process, but not otherwise.

Undercard_Wonder
Feb 6, 2024 4:31 PM
Joined Nov, 2023 44 posts

It is the Vrbo IPM group that suggested it.

I don't need to reconnect it.  I just need to delete it from the Vrbo API.  Then I would generate a *new listing* on Vrbo. That may be different than a reconnecting.

You get a considerable algorithm boost on Vrbo if you have a new property. Vrbo recognizes the property as "new" on their side, even though I created a "dummy" listing on their site back in August, which was never public and never received any bookings.  But for some reason (says Vrbo), there is a flag or an indication somewhere from OwnerRez that marks the property as not being eligible for the new property boost.

I took this to support, and your colleague Adria told me that trying to reset this flag within the two systems would be *way* more trouble than it's worth.  She suggested that I delete the listing and reconnect.  I then called Vbro and they told me that sure, this was fine with them.  Now I seem to be hearing that this cannot be done.

How can I accomplish this then? I really would like to because otherwise I have start at an algorithmic disadvantage, and this has a direct economic consequence.

Thanks!

PS I have no current bookings from Vrbo for the property.

Ken T
Feb 6, 2024 4:47 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1572 posts

Hmm, I see your ticket - we can explore this issue more that way.

Undercard_Wonder
Feb 6, 2024 5:21 PM
Joined Nov, 2023 44 posts

Triffic!  I look forward to hearing from you.