There are two ways to get a reservation into Best Guest: automated messages and iCalendar sync. This article explains iCal — the simplest way to make sure no reservation slips through, regardless of which channel it came from.

What iCal sync does

Almost every booking channel and channel manager publishes each property’s bookings as an iCal (.ics) calendar feed — a standard link that any other system can read. Best Guest reads that feed and imports your reservations into one centralized calendar.

This powers Best Guest’s Reservation Verification:

  1. Connect an iCal link — paste the iCal URL from Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO, or your channel manager for that property.
  2. Reservations are imported — bookings from every connected channel show up in one calendar.
  3. Compared against registration status — Best Guest checks each reservation against completed check-in forms.
  4. Missing data stands out immediately — any stay without a completed guest registration is flagged right away.

Because it’s read-only and standards-based, iCal works with practically any source — see the Reservation Verification feature for the full picture.

iCal vs. automated messages — which do I need?

They solve different halves of the same problem:

  • iCal sync answers “which reservations exist, and which are still missing guest data?” It imports the booking, but it doesn’t contact the guest.
  • Automated messages answer “how do I get the guest to register?” by delivering your registration link before arrival.

Most hosts use both: iCal to guarantee every stay is visible, and automated messages so guests register themselves.

What iCal sync is not

iCal feeds carry dates and basic booking details — not full guest identities, and not payment or pricing control. Best Guest is not a PMS: it never touches your rates or availability. It only verifies that every stay has the guest data your legal reporting requires.

One more limitation to know: iCal feeds refresh on the channel’s schedule (often every few hours), so a brand-new booking may take a little while to appear. For time-sensitive registration, automated messages are more immediate.

The exact menu differs per platform, but it’s almost always under a “Calendar export”, “Sync calendars” or “Export calendar” option. Copy the export URL (the one you give to other apps), then paste it into Best Guest. Each integration guide links to the right place for that platform.

Next steps