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vrbo api: new property and Vrbo account - onboarding specialist asking to unblock calendar

Alin S
Sep 9, 2022 7:02 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 33 posts

Hello,

I searched the forum and the documentation on how to fix this, and I couldn't find anything (maybe I just missed it).

We just started on the whole vacation rental journey with one property. I have it set up in OwnerRez and listed on Airbnb, got our first guest...everything works as expected.

Now I'm working on setting up the property on VRBO, so I created a brand new VRBO account (I never had one) and configured VRBO API integration..everything worked fine'ish. I can see the property on VRBO, everything checks out... except the calendar. I can see the rate, but the calendar is blocked.

 

I got an email from the integration specialist couple of minutes ago. 

 

We are almost ready to complete your integration process, however there is one action item that needs to be done first.
It is necessary for you to unblock your calendar at least for this year so that I will be able to check if the integration is working correctly.
Your calendar is currently blocked until 2025, please enable all the following months from this year.
Please complete this step during the weekend, I will be checking on it on Monday 12th . If this part of the integration cannot be done, Vrbo will consider your project paused.

How do i "unblock" my calendar? Do i need to do some sort of initial calendar import on VRBO side? i would expect the OR sends the calendar using the API and i don't need to do anything like that

 

Alin

Alin S
Sep 9, 2022 7:26 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 33 posts

I'm assuming "AvailabilityUpdated" is the calendar?

 

Alin

Ken T
Sep 12, 2022 11:11 AM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1580 posts

Yes, that is correct.  However, that may or may not be related to the issue with Vrbo.  If it's still stuck, please write in to the Helpdesk so we can take a look.

Alin S
Sep 12, 2022 1:15 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 33 posts

I managed to get in unstuck. honestly not sure which one of the following did it

1. I added a "channel blackout" for VRBO and then removed the blackout. 

2. I picked one orphan date I have on my calendar to change the rate and occupancy rule. After that, I waited for the normal sync to occur

 

One of those did it (inclined to believe it is the second one), and now the calendar is unblocked. I got two VRBO bookings since I opened this thread

 

Alin