iCal Synchronization
iCal synchronization lets you connect your hejGuide calendar with external platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and others. By importing and exporting iCal feeds, you prevent double bookings across all the platforms where your property is listed.
How iCal sync works
iCal is a standard calendar format used by most booking platforms. It works in two directions:
- Import -- hejGuide reads an external calendar URL and blocks the dates that are already booked on the other platform.
- Export -- hejGuide provides a calendar URL that other platforms can read to see your hejGuide bookings.
The calendar refreshes periodically to pick up new bookings from connected platforms.
Importing an external calendar
To import bookings from another platform (e.g., Airbnb, Booking.com):
- Go to your listing settings in hejGuide.
- Open the iCal / Sync tab.
- Click "Add iCal feed".
- Paste the iCal URL from the external platform.
- Give the feed a name (e.g., "Airbnb" or "Booking.com") so you can identify it later.
- Click Save.
hejGuide will immediately fetch the calendar and block any dates that are booked on the external platform. Going forward, the feed is refreshed automatically.
TIP
You can find iCal export URLs in your Airbnb listing settings under "Pricing and availability > Calendar syncing" and in Booking.com under "Rates & Availability > Sync calendars".
Exporting your hejGuide calendar
To share your hejGuide availability with another platform:
- Go to your listing settings in hejGuide.
- Open the iCal / Sync tab.
- Copy the hejGuide iCal export URL shown on the page.
- Go to the external platform and add this URL as an imported calendar.
The external platform will now read your hejGuide bookings and blocked dates, preventing guests from booking those dates.
Sync frequency
iCal feeds are refreshed periodically. Keep in mind that there may be a short delay between a booking being made on one platform and it appearing on the other. This is a limitation of the iCal standard -- it relies on periodic polling rather than instant updates.
WARNING
For real-time synchronization, consider using the Channel Manager instead. The Channel Manager pushes availability updates instantly, eliminating the risk of double bookings during the sync delay.
iCal and the Channel Manager
If you connect a listing to the Channel Manager, iCal synchronization is automatically paused for that listing. This prevents conflicts between the two sync methods, which could lead to duplicate bookings or incorrect availability.
- Channel Manager connected -- iCal import/export is paused. The Channel Manager handles all availability syncing in real time.
- No Channel Manager -- iCal is the recommended way to keep calendars in sync across platforms.
You do not need to manually disable iCal feeds when activating the Channel Manager -- hejGuide handles this automatically.
Troubleshooting
- Bookings not appearing -- Check that the iCal URL is correct and accessible. Try opening it in a browser to verify it returns calendar data.
- Stale data -- iCal feeds refresh periodically. If you need an immediate update, you can trigger a manual refresh from the listing's iCal settings.
- Double bookings -- If you are seeing double bookings, make sure you have set up both import and export for each platform. Both directions are needed for full protection.