Connect calendar channels to Cloudbeds PMS

Lorena Pamplona

Updated April 01, 2024 16:48

This article will guide you on how to connect calendar-based channels.

Things to note before getting started

Check this article before moving forward: Calendar channels (ical connection) - Everything you need to know
Cloudbeds PMS only provides ical for room types, not individual rooms.
You will need to copy/import the URL of each room type separately.
For one-way channels: you will need to adjust inventory on Cloudbeds PMS manually for any incoming bookings from that channel/calendar or to manually create a reservation on Cloudbeds PMS.
Calendar-based channels do not provide us with the number of customers that booked, so bookings for shared/dorm rooms will be imported as 1 bed by default, even though there could be more!
Pitchup: This channel does not accept mapping more than one unit per accommodation type. If you have multiple units for an accommodation type, be sure to create each unit a specific listing in Pitchup to be able to map.

Connect calendar based channels

Step 1 - Copy the room type ical URL in Cloudbeds PMS

Access the Distribution page and,

Go to the Discover page and search for the channel you want to connect or, if the channel is not listed, calendar
Click to view channel/view ical links

Click to Enable channel, if the channel was listed
Each room will have their correspondent URL link. Copy each one at a time to follow step 2.

For listed channels:

For one-way channels (not listed):

Step 2 - Import the ical URL into your calendar channel/calendar

Login to the Calendar Channel of your choice.
Find the page where you can manage your room types/listings.
Locate the specific room type/listing/calendar that you want to manage.
Find the option to enter an external calendar for Import. This option will vary from channel to channel ("sync" calendar, "import" calendar, etc). Find below some channel extranet's details for this step.
Paste the URL that you copied in Step 1 into the calendar import.
Repeat all steps above for each of your room types/beds.

For one-way channels, the connection is complete.

For two way channels, you also need to export their calendar URLs to Cloudbeds PMS calendar. Find some examples in Step 3.

Step 3 - Export the channel's calendar to Cloudbeds PMS

Once you finish importing Cloudbeds calendar URLs to the channel,

Locate the option to Export calendar in the channel's calendar syncing page
Copy the export URL link
Paste it on Cloudbeds PMS mapping page (a blank space will be left to paste the URL there)

Repeat it for each room type and the connection will be complete.

Find below how to locate the calendar export and import url links in some common calendar-based channels listed in Cloudbeds:

GlampingHub

Import GlampingHub URL

Login to GlampinHub
Click on the calendar tab on the top menu bar
On the calendar view, click on the Calendar sync Import/Export option on the right
Select the Property on the drop-down menu
Select the Accommodation/Unit on the menu bar and click to Apply

Paste the Cloudbeds PMS URL from step 1 above in the box
Click on the sync icon to the right

Repeat the steps above for ALL of your GlampingHub rooms you'd like to sync with Cloudbeds PMS.

Export GlampingHub URL (iCal link)

On your GlampingHub dashboard, follow the steps below

Clicking to Export URL
Copy the link which corresponds to your Cloudbeds room type

Paste the GlampingHub URL into the Exported calendar URL in Cloudbeds mapping page

Repeat the steps above for ALL of your GlampingHub rooms you'd like to sync with Cloudbeds PMS.

Riparide

Riparide ical syncs once per hour.

Importing Cloudbeds URL (iCal Link)

Copy the Cloudbeds PMS link of the room type you want to sync (or click on 'copy link')

Login to your Riparide account
Go to My Listings at the top right corner
Click on the Listing that you wish to sync with Cloudbeds PMS
Select Sync Calendar from the left menu

Select Cloudbeds as your Calendar
Paste the URL you copied from above.
Click to Add

Repeat the steps above for ALL of your Riparide rooms you'd like to sync with Cloudbeds PMS.

Export Riparide URL (iCal Link)

Copy the Riparide Calendar URL for the corresponding Cloudbeds room type.
Paste the Riparide Calendar URL into the Exported calendar URL in Cloudbeds PMS

Repeat the steps above for ALL of your Riparide rooms you'd like to sync with Cloudbeds PMS.

VRBO ical (HomeAway)

Import the Cloudbeds PMS URL (iCal link)

Choose the first room type that you want to sync and click on copy link

Click on Calendar
Select Import & Export
Click on Import a Calendar

Enter the calendar URL from your Cloudbeds PMS previously copied on Step 3
Choose How calendar events import (Block or Don't block)
Click Next

In order to block availability, the event must span at least one night.

Name your calendar
Select a color for your imported calendar
Click on Import

It may take up to 20 minutes to see your imported calendar events.

If you need to sync additional calendars: select a new listing on HomeAway and repeat the steps above for all of your HomeAway rooms.

Export HomeAway URL (iCal link)

On your HomeAway dashboard, obtain your HomeAway export calendar URL:

Click on Import & Export tab
Click on Export Calendar

Uncheck the option Include Tentative Reservations in the calendar export.* This will stop all guest inquiry reservations coming through the iCal.
Click on Copy URL to copy the HomeAway calendar

Paste the HomeAway URL in your Cloudbeds PMS account

If you need to sync additional calendars: select a new listing on HomeAway and repeat the steps above for all of your HomeAway rooms.

Once you finish all your room types, on Cloudbeds PMS, click to Continue

The mapping is complete.

FAQ

How to add the calendar link into my Wordpress website?

You can also use the URLs in places that accept iCal files to interact with a calendar (e.g. an embedded website calendar widget showing a simple view of when your property is free to be booked).

We recommend this video (7min) which shows the correct way to do this for Wordpress websites.

You can follow all the instructions from the video and when promoted to insert the calendar link, you can copy the Cloudbeds PMS link and paste it in your Wordpress website editor.

Cloudbeds PMS also offers Cloudbeds Websites services as an add-on - professionally built websites that are fully integrated with the Cloudbeds booking engine, channel manager and PMS. If you're interested, check this article for more information: Cloudbeds Websites - Everything you need to know

How to import ical links to Google Calendar?

If the calendar you want to sync is the Google calendar, follow the steps below: