Sharing Direct Booking Website Guidebook via AirBNB & VRBO Message

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Sharing Direct Booking Website Guidebook via AirBNB & VRBO Message

Josh Ball
Real Estate Agent · Louisiana · Member since 2017 · 214 posts · 146 votes

I've attached my guidebook to my direct booking site. Will AirBNB or VRBO flag me for sending this via message if I link the guidebook page because it is on the same site as my direct booking? It is a different tab/page but with 1 click could be back to main page for booking. 

I am seeing mixed answers when I've done some digging, wasn't sure if anyone has taken this approach?

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Christina B.
Boulder, CO · Member since 2023 · 169 posts · 95 votes
11mo

Thank you @Patricia Andriolo-Bull. I have a rental agreement for the direct booking site but not the platforms. This will change, lol. I have to say that of the various options I looked at, I liked and enjoyed testing OwnerRez the most before realizing for our purposes, we'd be better off creating it on our own (because it's just one property).

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  • Justin Miller
    Interior Decorator · Nationwide · Member since 2017 · 44 posts · 35 votes
    11mo

    Airbnb and VRBO's automated systems actively scan messages for external links, especially those leading to sites where direct booking is possible.

    Even if the link points only to your Guidebook page, if that page is hosted on your direct booking website and is "one click" away from a pricing or booking page, the platforms consider it an attempt to solicit off-platform bookings, which violates their Terms of Service. This can lead to your link being blocked, and potentially to penalties like reduced visibility or account suspension.

    Alternatively, consider StayFi. They offer a WiFi solution that helps you collect emails from guests for direct marketing.

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    • John UnderwoodPro Member
      Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
      11mo
      Quote from @Justin Miller:

      Airbnb and VRBO's automated systems actively scan messages for external links, especially those leading to sites where direct booking is possible.

      Even if the link points only to your Guidebook page, if that page is hosted on your direct booking website and is "one click" away from a pricing or booking page, the platforms consider it an attempt to solicit off-platform bookings, which violates their Terms of Service. This can lead to your link being blocked, and potentially to penalties like reduced visibility or account suspension.

      Alternatively, consider StayFi. They offer a WiFi solution that helps you collect emails from guests for direct marketing.


       Yep not worth the risk of them suspending you and canceling bookings.

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  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    11mo

    Yeah @Josh Ball, they will flag it and might suspend your listings for violating the terms of service like @Justin Miller said.

    You should be able to put your guidebook on AirBNB and VRBO directly. I can't remember if it is possible but ask your rep if it isn't obvious.

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  • Patricia Andriolo-Bull
    Member since 2022 · 527 posts · 413 votes
    11mo

    Do not put your guidebook link in either booking site.  They will scan for it and also scan guidebooks for links to direct booking sites - this is the guidance I received from Touchstay.  I get each guests email and then email them my guidebook.

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  • Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
    Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11mo

    100% do not do.  The only option is to have things in the physical house directing them to book direct next time.  There are also products like StayFi that can help collect guest info so you can direct some marketing campaigns toward return guests.

    [email protected]813-563-0877
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  • Dena Beck
    Member since 2024 · 43 posts · 15 votes
    11mo

    My PMS collects email addresses pretty well.  I'm still finishing up my guidebook, and I'll probably email it off platform if I feel like it has a probability of being problematic. I  know there is a risk in that as well, but that is one I'm not too afraid of. 

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  • Josh Ball
    OP
    Real Estate Agent · Louisiana · Member since 2017 · 214 posts · 146 votes
    11mo

    Thanks everyone for the feedback. I found a work around. My PMS, Hostaway allows me to send messages via SMS. I scheduled it to send via SMS the day of check in to by pass the AirBNB & VRBO platforms.

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  • Christina B.
    Boulder, CO · Member since 2023 · 169 posts · 95 votes
    11mo

    @Josh Ball Thanks for asking as I'm now rethinking what I've been doing. I usually send out my online guidebook to guests two weeks in advance of their arrival date. It's pretty comprehensive but does include a link to our direct booking site. So far, this has not hurt me yet but I'm wondering if that's a matter of time.

    @Patricia Andriolo-Bull How do you collect the guests' email from Airbnb ahead of their stay? Do you text them and ask for it? Airbnb is already clamping down on phones (for example) and it's probably just a matter of time before VRBO does the same. Or do you reach out to them via their phone (Airbnb) and email or phone (VRBO)? (Doesn't this violate the TOS for not messaging off-platform?)

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    • Patricia Andriolo-Bull
      Member since 2022 · 527 posts · 413 votes
      11mo
      Quote from @Christina B.:

      @Josh Ball Thanks for asking as I'm now rethinking what I've been doing. I usually send out my online guidebook to guests two weeks in advance of their arrival date. It's pretty comprehensive but does include a link to our direct booking site. So far, this has not hurt me yet but I'm wondering if that's a matter of time.

      @Patricia Andriolo-Bull How do you collect the guests' email from Airbnb ahead of their stay? Do you text them and ask for it? Airbnb is already clamping down on phones (for example) and it's probably just a matter of time before VRBO does the same. Or do you reach out to them via their phone (Airbnb) and email or phone (VRBO)? (Doesn't this violate the TOS for not messaging off-platform?)

      I send them a link to a rental agreement. When they complete the rental agreement they provide phone and email. I do this using OwnerRez. 
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  • Christina B.
    Boulder, CO · Member since 2023 · 169 posts · 95 votes
    11mo

    Thank you @Patricia Andriolo-Bull. I have a rental agreement for the direct booking site but not the platforms. This will change, lol. I have to say that of the various options I looked at, I liked and enjoyed testing OwnerRez the most before realizing for our purposes, we'd be better off creating it on our own (because it's just one property).

    1Reply
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