Channel Integration

Argonautas connects your properties to major online travel agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and Google Vacation Rentals through a centralized distribution network. Manage all your channel connections, monitor sync status, and control data flow from a single dashboard.

Overview

Channel integration lets you distribute your property listings, rates, and availability across multiple booking platforms without manually updating each one. When a guest books through any connected channel, the reservation automatically flows into Argonautas and availability updates propagate to all other channels in real time.

The system uses provider-agnostic terminology throughout — you will see references to "Distribution" rather than any specific provider name. This means the underlying channel technology can evolve without affecting your day-to-day workflow.

How It Works

Connecting a Property

Before a property can be distributed to OTAs, it must pass a validation check. The system verifies that required fields are complete:

• Property name and description
• Address and location
• At least one photo
• Room configuration (bedrooms, beds, bathrooms)
• Base rate and currency
• Cancellation policy

Once validated, the property can be connected to the distribution network. Each connected property receives a Distribution ID that links it to its counterparts on the various OTA platforms.

The Distribution Dashboard

Navigate to Distribution in the main sidebar to reach the channel dashboard. The page shows:

1. Connection Status — A status card at the top confirms whether your distribution connection is active, along with the timestamp of the last successful sync.

2. Sync Statistics — Four circular gauges display key metrics at a glance:

   • Properties Synced — How many of your properties are connected to the distribution network.
   • OTA Connections Active — The total number of active OTA channel links across all properties.
   • Sync Errors — Properties currently in an error state that need attention.
   • Last 24h Syncs — Total sync operations completed in the past 24 hours.

3. Quick Links — Cards linking to Sync Control (per-property sync management) and Sync Logs (detailed operation history).

4. Connected Properties — A list of your connected properties showing each one's name, sync status, and last sync timestamp. Click Details on any property to jump to its sync control panel.

5. Recent Sync Logs — A table of the latest sync operations showing timestamp, operation type (e.g., Push Content, Pull Booking), status, record count, and any messages. Click View on a log entry to see the full detail.

[Screenshot: Distribution dashboard showing connection status, gauges, and property list]

Sync Control Panel

The Sync Control page (Distribution > Sync Control) gives you granular control over synchronization for each property. The page displays:

• Summary gauges — Properties connected, OTA connections, and current error count.
• Per-property cards — Each connected property is shown with its name, Distribution ID, current sync status, and last sync time.

For each property you can:

• Sync Now — Trigger an immediate sync for that specific property.
• View Logs — Jump to the filtered sync log for that property.

At the top of the page, the Sync All Properties button triggers a full sync across every connected property at once.

[Screenshot: Sync Control panel showing property cards with sync actions]

Key Concepts

Sync Types and Frequencies

The distribution network synchronizes three categories of data, each on its own schedule:

Sync Type	Frequency	Direction	What It Covers
Content	Every 24 hours	Push	Property descriptions, photos, amenities, policies
Pricing	Every 1 hour	Push	Nightly rates, seasonal pricing, length-of-stay discounts
Availability	Real-time	Both	Calendar blocks, booking confirmations, cancellations

Availability sync is bidirectional — when a booking arrives from an OTA, your calendar updates immediately. When you block dates in Argonautas, the block pushes out to all connected channels.

Sync Statuses

Each property mapping has one of four statuses:

• Synced — The property is up to date across all channels. Shown with a green indicator.
• Pending — A sync operation is queued or in progress. Shown with a yellow indicator.
• Error — The last sync attempt failed. Check the sync logs for details. Shown with a red indicator.
• Never Synced — The property is connected but has not completed its first sync yet. Shown with a gray indicator.

Incoming Bookings

When a guest books through a connected OTA:

1. The distribution network sends the reservation to Argonautas.
2. A new booking record is created with the OTA reference number, guest details, and stay dates.
3. Availability immediately updates across all connected channels to prevent double bookings.
4. The booking appears in your Bookings dashboard with the source channel indicated.

This entire flow happens automatically — no manual entry is required.

Property Validation

Not every property field is required for day-to-day management, but OTAs have strict content requirements. The validation check before connecting ensures your listing meets the minimum standards across all major platforms. If validation fails, you will see which fields need attention before the property can be distributed.

Connecting to Google Vacation Rentals

Google Vacation Rentals (GVR) is connected through a guided wizard rather than the standard mapping flow. From a property's Channels tab, choose Google Vacation Rentals to open a three-step wizard:

1. Readiness -- The wizard checks that the property meets Google's requirements. It confirms you have at least 8 photos uploaded and flags anything blocking the connection. (A multi-unit complex with more than one active unit type can't connect as a single Google listing -- each unit type needs its own connection.) You can't continue until any blocking issues are resolved.
2. Settings -- Configure how guests book:
   • Use Channex booking engine -- On by default; guests book through a hosted booking page. Turn it off to point Google at your own booking URL instead (you'll be asked to enter it).
   • Collect credit card at booking -- When the built-in booking engine is on, choose whether card details are captured during booking.
   • Send email notifications -- Optionally receive an email whenever a new booking arrives from Google, sent to an address you specify.
3. Confirm -- Review your choices (booking engine, booking URL, card collection, notifications) and click Connect to Google.

Once connected, Google Vacation Rentals behaves like any other channel on the distribution dashboard -- content, rates, and availability sync on the same schedules described above.

Multi-Unit Properties

Multi-unit properties sync to distribution channels differently from single-unit properties.

How It Works

A multi-unit property (a complex with multiple unit types) maps to a single listing on the distribution network. Each unit type within that property maps to a separate room type on the channel. For example, a resort with "Garden Villa" (4 units) and "Oceanview Suite" (2 units) appears as one property listing with two room types.

Availability syncs as a count, not as open/closed. If 3 of 4 Garden Villas are booked for a given date, the channel sees 1 Garden Villa available. When all units of a type are booked, that room type closes automatically.

Distribution IDs

Multi-unit properties show a Distribution ID for the property (the complex), not for individual units. Each unit type also has its own room type ID within the channel -- these are managed automatically and do not appear in the distribution dashboard.

Connecting a Multi-Unit Property

The connection process is the same as for single-unit properties. Once connected:

• All unit types are synced to the channel as room types.
• New unit types added after connection are linked to the channel automatically.
• Availability and rates sync per unit type.

If a unit is put into maintenance mode, the available count for that unit type decreases on the channel immediately.

Content and Rate Plans

Each room type's content on distribution channels is drawn from the first active unit of that unit type:

• Description -- The unit's full description is used as the room type description on the channel.
• OTA Title -- If the unit has an OTA title set, it is used as the room type title; otherwise the unit type name is used.
• Photos -- The unit's photos are included in the room type listing.
• Amenities -- Shared complex amenities and unit-type-specific amenities are merged together for each room type automatically.

To update how a room type appears on OTAs, open the first unit of that type from the unit types table and edit its description, OTA title, and photos.

Rate plans added or modified via the Channels tab are pushed to the connected channel immediately -- you do not need to wait for the next scheduled sync cycle.

Common Questions

Can I connect a property to some channels but not others? Channel connections are managed at the OTA level within the distribution network. Contact your administrator to configure which OTAs each property is listed on.

What happens if a sync fails? The property's status changes to "Error" and the failure details appear in the sync logs. The system will retry on the next scheduled sync cycle. You can also trigger a manual retry from the Sync Control panel.

How quickly do availability changes propagate? Availability syncs are real-time. When a booking is created or cancelled — whether in Argonautas or on an OTA — the update typically reaches all connected channels within seconds.

Can I pause syncing for a property? You can manage sync behavior from the Sync Control panel. If you need to temporarily take a property offline from distribution, contact your administrator.

I see "Never Synced" on a newly connected property. Is that normal? Yes. After connecting, the first full content sync runs on the next scheduled cycle (or you can trigger it manually from Sync Control). Once that completes, the status will update.

Related

• Sync Logs — Detailed history of all sync operations
• Properties — Managing your property listings
• Bookings — Viewing and managing reservations