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Staff Reference

API Integrations - Vrbo Messaging

For those accounts connected via API to Vrbo, native in-app Vrbo messaging is available! Corresponding with Vrbo guests directly in OwnerRez allows users to unify their guest messaging that much more. With OwnerRez's inbox, conversation view, system alerts, and channel templates/triggers, you can automate more of your messaging to be delivered via the channel (or "on the platform").

If you already use Airbnb messaging in OwnerRez, you'll be quite comfortable with the addition of Vrbo messaging.

OwnerRez recommends keeping your email triggers in place for Vrbo bookings alongside any new Vrbo channel triggers until all bookings that were booked prior to June 7th, 2023, have departed. After that, users can rely only on Vrbo messaging if they so choose.

Vrbo messages come into OwnerRez even before a booking is made! So, if the prospective guest has a question about your property, it will appear in OwnerRez. There may be a minute or two delay for it to appear in OwnerRez (i.e., you may see the message come through via email alert from Vrbo or the Vrbo Owner mobile app first). Once it comes into OwnerRez, there are a few different places you can see it, but if it's not yet a booking, the quickest way to get to it will be the Inbox. If you keep alerts enabled, you can click the link in the email system alert you receive.

Inbox

The Inbox is located within the CRM menu of OwnerRez. Users can navigate to their Inbox by clicking on the CRM drop-down menu and selecting Inbox.

OwnerRez Inbox

Vrbo messages are listed in the Inbox. Note that the Via column indicates where the messages are from, in this example Vrbo.

Inbox

Clicking on each individual message opens the message in the Conversation View.

In the Conversation View, users can see any comments that Vrbo guests have added allowing them to respond directly to the Vrbo guest within OwnerRez.

Conversation View

Inquiries

Vrbo inquiries appear in the OwnerRez Inquiries section. Note the Via Listing Site shows that these inquiries are from Vrbo guests.

Vrbo Inquiries

When users view the inquiry, they will see all the information associated with this inquiry. 

Further down on the inquiry page, users can see the following.

  • General Info about
    • Date the quote was received
    • Which property
    • Number in party
  • Channel information
  • Guest information
  • Requested Dates calendar view
  • Any Comments added by the potential Vrbo guest
  • Inquiry Activity

Vrbo Inquiry

Users can respond to inquiries by clicking on the Answer Button button.

Conversation View

When users open the Conversation View, they can see any comments that Vrbo guests have added allowing them to respond directly to the Vrbo guest. Click Send.

Conversation View

Users will see a Message Queued modal pop-up in the upper right side of the screen letting them know that the message is outgoing.

Message Queued Modal Pop-up

Back in the Conversation View, users will be able to see their guest conversations. Note that this outgoing message is still in the queue to be sent. Users can open specific sections by clicking on the right side downward facing arrow Expand Arrow to view more information. 

Conversation View

Users can open specific sections by clicking on the right side downward facing arrow Expand Arrow to view more information. Clicking on the View Vrbo Message will display that specific Vrbo message.

View Vrbo Message

Users can view message details at the top of the message including the following.

  • Message sender
  • Message recipient
  • What Inquiry number the message was sent regarding
  • How the message was sent. In the case below the message was sent manually.

Vrbo Message

Users can click on the green links to return to the Inquiry or All Messages.

Communication History

More info and screenshots coming soon...

Alerts

Vrbo messaging Alerts (found under the Profile dropdown menu) are enabled by default. You can disable them if you do not want to receive email alerts when a message comes in or fails to send. We recommend you keep them enabled until you know how they assist you in your workflow.

Please Note: Turning off Channel Message Received Alerts will also disable alerts for Booking.com

Channel Templates and Triggers

Users can utilize Channel Templates (e.g., Booking, Guest) and booking triggers to automate messaging to their guests via the channel (e.g., Vrbo, Airbnb, Booking.com). This can be done in place of or to augment other custom messages (e.g., email, SMS) sent on your behalf to the guest.

Common Issues and Questions

Can I still use the Vrbo Owner App to answer guest inquiries/questions?

Yes, the Vrbo Owner app (or the Vrbo.com inbox) can still be used to answer if you like. Your answer will sync over to OwnerRez.

Can I send attachments to Vrbo guests?

Yes. Vrbo accepts PDF, JPEG, PNG, and GIF attachments. If you attach other types of files, such as MOV, OwnerRez will insert a link to those files in the message instead of the actual file.

Why do I have duplicate Vrbo contacts?

As historical Vrbo messages are being imported into your OwnerRez account, Vrbo doesn't include any sort of unique id identifying the inquirer or tracing the inquiry through to the booking. OR does check by guest name if possible, but sometimes it's not.

Users can safely merge the guests together, allowing the message threads to combine.

My non-API connected Vrbo listing is no longer receiving Vrbo inquiries by email. How do I fix that?

If your Non-API connected Vrbo listing is no longer receiving Vrbo inquiries by email, OwnerRez recommends that users verify that the Inquiry parsing for non-API connected Vrbo identifier mapping configuration is correct.

Vrbo listings may or may not have a ha suffix, and the Vrbo identifier mapping configuration must be consistent with the Inquiry parsing. If your Vrbo URL includes the ha suffix, e.g., https://www.vrbo.com/4444444ha, the Vrbo identifier mapping configuration must include the ha suffix as well. The converse is also true.

To solve this issue, users should update their identifier mappings to include both versions, both with and without the ha suffix. Update the identifier mappings by navigating to Settings > Channels > Identifier Mapping > Current > Map Vrbo > Change Mappings. Verify that both the Vrbo listing number and the Vrbo listing number with the ha suffix are included and separated by a comma. Click Save.

Settings > Channels > Identifier Mapping > Current > Map Vrbo > Change Mappings