What has a double booking actually cost you?

Question

Trying to put a real number on something. When a cross-platform double booking happens, the cancellation fee is only part of it. Airbnb also blocks those dates so you can't rebook them, and there's the Superhost exposure on top.
For anyone who's been through one: what did it end up costing you all in, and what did you change afterwards? Did you move to a paid channel manager, or just tighten up how often you check?

I'm building a small monitoring tool in this space and I'd rather size the problem from people who've lived it than from my own assumptions. Not selling anything here.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

I don't use a PMS.  I haven't had a double booking yet, but I know that Vrbo is clunky and slow to update their calendar.  So when I get a booking on Airbnb, I go to Vrbo and sync the calendars manually.  Which is a pain.  When I get a booking on Vrbo, it's synced with Airbnb right away, so I don't need to in that case.  I would like a better way to make sure of no double bookings without the expense of going to a PMS.

Andrew Steffens · Answer

Managing about 60 properties give or take for roughly 10 years I think this only happened once due to software glitch and it was resolved fairly easily.

JD Martin · Answer

I have had this happen only once in the past 5 years and it was a non-sync from Booking to VRBO. It was resolved with no costs for anyone.

Jon Martin · Answer

With calendar syncing this is very avoidable.

Collin Hays · Answer

Haven't had one in several years, managing a number of properties.

Jules Aton · Answer

I’ve only had one that was caught quickly. PM messaged guest that it had already been rented and there was a glitch between platforms communication. He instructed them to cancel which they did without indicating they were upset.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

I don't think it's ever been overnight to sync.  Sometimes it will take just a minute or two, sometimes it can take 15-20 minutes and that's way too long.  I don't have "instant book" on for either platform, because of this lag - I don't want to risk a double booking.  Even a minute lag is too long for that, the penalties are too high now.

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

I think most hosts are using a PMS which syncs immediately, but I only have one STR so don't see the need for it otherwise.

Devin Redmond · Answer

Has only happened once in 6 years and I canceled the Booking(dot)com one because that platform delivers the least action for our properties. There was probably some penalty in the algorithm but I didn't really notice. Shortly thereafter we went on OwnerRez as our PMS and have never looked back. Their API connections always ping the source of truth calendar as a last step before confirming any bookings. Has not happened again.

Jaison Jacob · Answer

"Instant Book" is off on both platforms because of the lag is interesting. That's a real annoying cost. Anyone else doing that? Curious whether it's common or whether most people just accept the risk.

What has a double booking actually cost you?

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