As a host, being responsive is crucial to acquiring great reviews and gaining the algorithm’s favor. By using this tool called automated messaging, you won’t have to type out a message and send it manually through the channels.
Let’s plunge into it!
How to automate your messages?
The first step is to make sure your rate management is activated.
Next is to create/add a new rule.
Type your message, customize the rules and let the system work for you. 😉
Editing rules
After you have your rules created and you want to adapt them and make them more clear, you can use rule editing. In the rule menu select Edit and apply any changes that you need.
Note that after an automated message rule is edited, all messages linked with this rule will be rescheduled using the new version of the message. So if you need to update the scheduled messages the right way to do it is by editing the rule. There is no need to cancel the scheduled messages with the previous version of the message, it will happen automatically.
What are the possible automations you can use?
Booking confirmation message - send a message as soon as the reservation is made.
Guest arrival message - send this one a day before check-in to provide the exact property location, wi-fi passwords or door lock code.
Guest departure message - you can send this two days after they check-out to know their experience and ask for a review.
Check out this sample:
How are automated messages being delivered to guests?
Airbnb
Airbnb has stopped providing channel managers (like us) the temporary Airbnb email that would auto forward messages to the guest's real email. This means that the only way to send your message to the guest is via the Airbnb messaging system, and they will read it inside their Airbnb app or the Airbnb website. If you want your messages to reach the guest's email instead, you have to add their real email manually in the booking edit page.
Booking.com, VRBO, Expedia
For bookings originated from those channels Hosthub receives the guest email address so the automated messages are sent via email.
Ical channels
For channels connected using ical there is no way for Hosthub to retrieve the guest email address so automated messages will not be sent to the guest unless their address is manually added by the host in the booking edit page.