| Purpose | Use this guide to understand how the Cloudbeds Express feature, also called Express Connect, helps you create or connect eligible distribution channel listings from Cloudbeds PMS. |
| Best for | Property owners, property managers, revenue managers, distribution managers, and users responsible for creating or connecting channel listings. |
| Use this when | You want to find Express Connect channels, create a new listing, connect an existing listing, or understand why a specific channel setup page shows only certain action buttons. |
| You need | All Cloudbeds PMS packages with channel distribution access, access to the Distribution page, and any account or listing details requested by the channel. |
| Expected result | You understand which Express Connect action to use, whether to create a new listing, connect an existing listing, or continue with the general channel connection workflow. |
| Important limit | Express Connect options vary by channel. Cloudbeds PMS only displays the actions supported by the selected channel. |
Introduction
Express Connect is a Cloudbeds PMS channel connection option that allows you to start creating or connecting eligible distribution channel listings directly from the Distribution page.
Use this article to understand when to use Express Connect, how to find Express Connect channels, what the available setup options mean, and when to continue with the general channel connection guide.
For the full channel connection workflow, including enabling Cloudbeds as the channel manager and mapping the channel, check Connect a distribution channel to Cloudbeds PMS.
What is Express Connect?
The Cloudbeds Express feature, also known as Express Connect, helps you start a channel setup from Cloudbeds PMS when the channel supports this workflow. Depending on the channel, you may be able to create a new listing, connect an existing listing, or enable the channel for mapping.
Express Connect is useful because it guides you toward the correct setup action for the selected channel. The options shown on the Channel Setup page depend on the channel and its supported connection capabilities.
Find Express Connect channels
You can filter the Discover page to find channels that support Express Connect.
- From your Account
, go to Distribution
- Go to the Discover tab.
- Click the Channel Type filter and select Express Connect.
The list of Express Connect channels may change as new channels become available. To confirm whether a channel supports Express Connect, review the Supported distribution channels in Cloudbeds PMS article.
Understand the Express Connect label
On the Discover page, Express Connect channels are marked with the Express Connect label. This label means the channel allows you to create your property listing directly from Cloudbeds.
You can also use the Legend on the Discover page to review the meaning of available channel labels, such as Express Connect, iCal, Metasearch, Booking Engine, New, Featured, and Beta.
Before you start
Before using Express Connect, confirm the following:
- You have access to the Distribution page in Cloudbeds PMS.
- You know which channel you want to connect.
- You have the property, room, or listing details required by the channel.
- Your rates and availability are correct in Cloudbeds PMS.
- You understand whether you are creating a new listing or connecting an existing listing.
Review your rates and availability before completing a channel connection. Depending on the channel and connection status, this information may be sent to the channel when the setup is completed.
Express Connect setup options
When you open an eligible channel from the Distribution page, you may see one or more setup options.
Cloudbeds PMS conditionally displays only the actions supported by the selected channel. This helps prevent unsupported setup attempts and makes the setup page easier to follow.
| Option shown | What it means |
|---|---|
| Create New Listing or Create New Account | The channel supports creating a new listing or account from Cloudbeds PMS. Use this when you do not already have an existing listing with the channel. |
| Connect Existing Listing | The channel supports connecting an existing listing to Cloudbeds PMS. Use this when your listing already exists in the channel. |
| Enable Channel | The channel is ready to be enabled and mapped in Cloudbeds PMS. Use this when you already have the channel account or listing needed for the connection. |
| Channel Setup Guide | Opens channel setup details when additional instructions are available for the selected channel. |
Why different channels show different actions
The Channel Setup page may show different actions depending on what the selected channel supports. Some channels support both creating a new listing and connecting an existing listing. Other channels support only one of those options.
- If the channel supports both actions, you may see both Create New Listing and Connect Existing Listing.
- If the channel only supports creating new listings from Cloudbeds PMS, you will only see the option to Create New Listing.
- If the channel only supports connecting an existing listing or enabling the channel, you will only see Connect Existing Listing or Enable Channel.
No customer action is required to change which buttons appear. Cloudbeds PMS automatically displays the options supported by the selected channel.
Start the Express Connect setup
Use this flow when the channel supports creating a new listing or connecting an existing listing from Cloudbeds PMS. The button you see depends on what the selected channel supports.
- From your Account
- Go to Discover
- Search for the channel you want to connect to
- Click to View Channel
- Click Create New Listing or Create New Account, depending on the option shown for the channel.
- Follow the steps shown in Cloudbeds PMS.
Enable the channel and finish mapping
Express Connect starts the account or listing setup, but the channel may still need to be enabled and mapped in Cloudbeds PMS.
After creating or connecting the listing, follow the general connection guide to:
- Enable Cloudbeds as the channel manager, if required by the channel.
- Enter the credentials or connection details provided by the channel.
- Map the channel rooms to the correct Cloudbeds PMS accommodations.
- Review rate settings, availability, restrictions, and any channel-specific settings.
For detailed steps, check Connect a distribution channel to Cloudbeds PMS.
When to contact the channel
Contact the channel or partner support if:
- You cannot create or connect the listing from Cloudbeds PMS.
- The channel asks you to complete additional setup in the channel extranet.
- The channel requires approval before the listing can be connected.
- The channel needs to provide credentials, connection details, or activation confirmation.
- You are not sure which account, property ID, listing, or credentials should be used.
Troubleshooting and next steps
If the channel does not appear ready for mapping, confirm that the channel setup was completed and that any channel-side requirements were finished.
- If the channel does not show the expected Express Connect option, confirm that the channel supports Express Connect in the Supported distribution channels in Cloudbeds PMS article.
- If the setup redirects you to the channel extranet, complete the channel-side sign-up or configuration before returning to Cloudbeds PMS.
- If the channel requires approval, wait until the channel confirms the connection or changes the status to ready for mapping.
- If an error appears on the Distribution page, review Channel Distribution troubleshooting.
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