| Purpose | Use this guide to connect a distribution channel, OTA, metasearch channel, booking engine, or travel partner to Cloudbeds PMS. |
| Best for | Property owners, property managers, revenue managers, distribution managers, and users responsible for setting up or managing channel connections. |
| Use this when | You already know which channel you want to connect and need the general setup steps for enabling Cloudbeds as the channel manager and mapping the channel in Cloudbeds PMS. |
| You need | All Cloudbeds PMS packages with channel distribution access, an active account or listing with the channel, access to the channel extranet, and the required Cloudbeds PMS role privileges. |
| Expected result | The channel is enabled, mapped to the correct accommodations and rate settings, and ready to sync supported rates, availability, restrictions, and reservations. |
| Important limit | Connection steps, approval times, credentials, supported features, and extra settings vary by channel. Calendar-based channels work differently from API channels and only sync availability. |
Introduction
Distribution channels are online platforms, OTAs, metasearch tools, booking engines, and other travel partners where your property can sell inventory outside of Cloudbeds PMS. When a channel is connected, Cloudbeds PMS uses the channel manager to send supported rates, availability, and restrictions to the channel and receive reservations back into your account.
Use this guide to connect a distribution channel to Cloudbeds PMS. The connection usually has three main parts: getting started with the channel, enabling Cloudbeds as the channel manager, and mapping the channel in Cloudbeds PMS.
If you need to confirm whether a channel is supported before starting the setup, review the Supported distribution channels in Cloudbeds PMS article.
Before you start
Before connecting a channel, confirm the following:
- Your property is active or live on the channel.
- Your rooms or listings are already configured in the channel extranet.
- Your rates and availability are correct in Cloudbeds PMS.
- You know whether the channel uses direct activation, activation by request, Express Connect, or a calendar-based connection.
- You have the credentials or connection details required by the channel, such as Hotel ID, Hotel Key, password, email, account number, or access token.
Review your rates and availability before activating a channel. Depending on the channel and connection status, this information may be sent to the channel when the connection is completed.
Permissions and role privileges
To connect or manage distribution channels, your role must have access to the Distribution area in Cloudbeds PMS. If you also manage rates, rate plans, availability, or closeouts, your role may need additional privileges for those areas.
If you cannot access the Distribution page or complete a channel setup, ask a user with permission to manage roles to review your privileges. For more information, check Role privileges.
Use the right connection guide
Some channels have dedicated connection guides or different connection flows. Use the table below before following the general steps in this article.
| Channel or connection type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Recommended OTAs | Use the channel-specific guide when available, such as Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb API, Priceline/Agoda, Hostelworld, Google Hotel Search, or VRBO API. |
| Express Connect channels | Use the Express Connect workflow when the channel allows you to create or connect a listing from Cloudbeds PMS. A dedicated Express Connect article will be available soon. |
| Calendar-based channels | Do not use the standard API setup flow. Calendar-based channels use iCal and only sync availability. Review the dedicated calendar-based channel articles before proceeding. |
| Additional supported channels | Use this general guide when the channel does not have a dedicated setup article. First, confirm the getting started method and connection method in the supported channels directory. |
Step 1: Get started with the channel
If you already have an account with the channel, proceed to Step 2: Enable Cloudbeds as your channel manager.
If you do not have an account with the channel, sign up with the channel before continuing. Some channels allow you to create a new listing from Cloudbeds PMS, while others redirect you to the channel extranet to finish the sign-up process.
- From your Account
, access the Distribution page
- Go to Discover
- Search for the desired channel and review the available setup options for the channel.
- Click to View Channel
- Click to create a new account, if you need to create a new listing or account.
- If the channel supports the Cloudbeds Express Connect feature, you can start creating your account from the Distribution page.
- After following the steps in Cloudbeds PMS, go to the channel extranet to finish any additional settings required by the channel.
- If the channel does not support account creation from Cloudbeds PMS, you will be redirected to the channel extranet to sign up.
- Once the account creation is complete, proceed to Step 2.
The options shown on the Channel Setup page vary by channel. Cloudbeds PMS displays the actions supported by that specific channel, such as Create New Listing, Connect Existing Listing, or Enable Channel.
Step 2: Enable Cloudbeds as your channel manager
The way you enable Cloudbeds as the channel manager depends on the channel connection method. Check the supported channels directory to confirm which method applies to the channel you are connecting.
Direct activation channels
- Log in to the channel extranet.
- Go to the channel extranet's connectivity settings.
- Enable Cloudbeds as your channel manager.
- Proceed to Step 3.
If you cannot find the connectivity settings in the channel extranet, contact the channel support team for assistance.
Activation by request channels
- Contact your channel account manager or the partner support contact.
- Ask them to connect your property to the Cloudbeds channel manager.
- Once the channel confirms the connection, contact Cloudbeds Support so the channel connection can be enabled on the Cloudbeds side.
- After the channel status changes to Ready for mapping, proceed to Step 3.
Express Connect channels
- If you are creating a new account through Express Connect, the channel manager connection may be included in that workflow.
- If you already have an account with the channel, contact the channel account manager to configure Cloudbeds as the channel manager in the channel extranet.
Each channel has its own estimated activation time. This timing depends on the channel and does not depend only on Cloudbeds Support.
Step 3: Map the channel in Cloudbeds PMS
After the channel manager connection is enabled, map the channel in Cloudbeds PMS.
- On the Distribution page, go to the Channels tab.
- Click + Add channel.
- Search for the channel you want to connect to and click it.
- Click Enable Channel.
- Enter the credentials provided by the channel, such as Hotel ID, Hotel Key, password, email, account number, or access token.
- Map the room types created in Cloudbeds PMS with their corresponding rooms in the channel extranet.
Room mapping must be one-to-one. Do not map multiple room types to one single room type in Cloudbeds PMS. For more information, check the Room Mapping Guidelines before moving forward.
- Add a Base Rate Adjustment for each room type, if needed. Click Next when completed, or leave it empty if you want to skip this step.
If the channel has no extra settings, the mapping is complete.
Channel-specific settings
Some channels display extra settings during mapping. These settings are optional because not every channel supports them, but they are important when they appear.
If extra settings appear during mapping, review and complete them before finishing the connection.
Currency
Set the correct currency if the channel works with a different currency than your default Cloudbeds PMS currency.
Rate plan mapping
Select which rate plan Cloudbeds PMS will update in the channel. We strongly advise selecting the standard rate unless your channel setup requires a different rate plan.
Create multiple rate plans for each room type and sync them to channels by using Advanced Channel Rates.
Extra bed rate setting
Some channels support extra bed rate settings in Cloudbeds PMS, such as Agoda. If the channel does not display this option, contact your channel account manager to set it up directly in the channel extranet.
Occupancy-based pricing rules
Some channels may support additional occupancy-based pricing options, such as extra infant, child, or adult charges. If these options appear, make sure the values match what is configured in the channel extranet.
Depending on the channel, you may be able to set the extra guest charge as a fixed amount or as another supported pricing rule. The options shown in Cloudbeds PMS depend on the channel and must match the channel's extranet settings.
- Charge per extra infant: Use this option if the channel supports an extra infant charge and the value is configured in the channel extranet.
- Charge per extra child: Use this option if the channel supports an extra child charge and the value is configured in the channel extranet.
- Charge per extra adult: Use this option if the channel supports an extra adult charge and the value is configured in the channel extranet.
The option(s) you select in Cloudbeds PMS must match what is set in the channel extranet. If they do not match, the channel may not apply the expected pricing rules correctly.
If you are not sure which extra settings apply to your channel, contact your channel account manager or partner support before completing the mapping.
Advanced booking settings
Some channels may display advanced booking settings during mapping. These settings control how far in advance guests can book through the channel.
- Minimum Advanced Booking Offset: It is also known as "Early Booker" or "Cutoff" restriction and defines the latest point when the room can be booked before the date of stay. For instance, if set to "720 hours", a rate will be displayed to travelers until 30 days before check-in and then hidden afterward.
- Maximum Advanced Booking Offset: It is also known as the "Last Minute Booking" restriction and defines how far in advance the room becomes available to book before the date of stay. For instance, if set to "72 hours", a rate will be displayed to travelers starting 3 days before check-in and no sooner.
By default:
- The Minimum Advanced Booking Offset value is set as 0. This means the last point the room can be booked is midnight on the date of stay.
- The Maximum Advanced Booking Offset value is set as 13200. This means the room becomes available to book 550 days before the date of stay, or about 1.5 years.
If you set the Minimum Advanced Booking Offset or Maximum Advanced Booking Offset as 0, both fields may be set to 0 on the channel. This means your property may not be bookable until midnight on the date of stay.
How to find my Myallocator (ChannelManager) Property ID?
Some distribution channels may ask you to confirm your Myallocator Property ID, also known as your ChannelManager ID, before they can enable the connection in Cloudbeds PMS. To retrieve it, please contact Cloudbeds Support for assistance.
After connecting the channel
After the connection is complete, review the channel setup and confirm that your availability, rates, restrictions, room mapping, and channel-specific settings are correct.
- Check that all mapped room types are correct.
- Confirm that your Base Rate Adjustment, if used, is correct.
- Review any extra settings displayed during mapping.
- Check the channel extranet to confirm that the property information and listing details are correct.
- Monitor the Distribution page for channel errors or activation statuses.
Troubleshooting and next steps
If a channel error appears on the Distribution page, read the error message carefully. Some errors require action in the channel extranet, while others may require assistance from the channel support team or Cloudbeds Support.
- If the channel is not ready for mapping, confirm that the connection was approved or enabled by the channel.
- If credentials do not work, confirm them with the channel or partner support contact.
- If room types do not appear as expected, review the rooms configured in the channel extranet.
- If rates or availability look incorrect, review your Base Rates, Availability Matrix, restrictions, and any Base Rate Adjustments.
- If the issue continues, check the channel troubleshooting article or contact Cloudbeds Support.
Comments
Hi Dear partner,
We would like to connect our RBNB For 6 Rooms to our channel manager cloudbeds.
Thank you!
Dar D'or Fes
Namir
Hello, Namir Mohammed!!
Thank you so much for reaching out!
We have already forwarded your request to our dedicated Support Team for further assistance. We are here to help!
Kind regards 💙
Hello how can i sign up for google hotel search
Hello, Libby Bishop!
Please access the following article for more information about Google Hotel Search. It also includes the getting started guide.
Best regards!
Hi there
Would you please help us connect to Expedia
Hello, Ionela Oanea!
We have already forwarded your Expedia connection request to our Support Team so they can assist you as soon as possible.
Regards!
Hello Can you help me connect to google hotel
Hello, Tannathron Harawong!
We have already created a ticket for you so our dedicated Support team can review your request and offer assistance as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Article is closed for comments.