Hostaway centralizes communication from Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO and direct bookings, so you can configure registration once and let Hostaway deliver it. Best Guest connects in two ways:

  • Automated messages — Hostaway Automated Messages deliver your registration link.
  • iCal sync — Best Guest imports every reservation Hostaway manages.

Estimated setup time: 5–10 minutes.

Before you start

  • An active Hostaway account with connected channels
  • A Best Guest account
  • Your Best Guest registration link, e.g.
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing?channel=hostaway

(Use your real link. ?channel=hostaway records the reservation origin.)

Using the right link: every listing — each apartment, room, tent, RV, or whatever counts as your smallest bookable unit — has its own unique registration link. If you manage more than one listing, double-check you’re copying the correct one. Find all your links in Best Guest under Properties → [property] → Listings → Copy listing link, or grab them during the Listings step of onboarding.

Path 1 — Automated message

  1. Go to Dashboard → Messages → Automated messages.
  2. Create automated message named “Best Guest Registration”.
  3. Recipient Guest, trigger 2 days before check-in (1 day for short stays; immediately for same-day).
  4. Delivery channel: start with Booking channel (add email later).
  5. Condition: reservation status Confirmed (keep it simple at first).
  6. Paste the template and insert Hostaway’s guest-name field from the editor.
Hello (guest first name),

Before arrival, please complete your online guest registration:
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing

The process takes under 2 minutes. We look forward to welcoming you.

Best Guest automatically reminds the main guest if they started registration but haven’t finished it. If a guest never opens the form at all, though, that reminder can’t reach them — so it’s worth scheduling a second Automated Message, timed 1 day after arrival instead of before it, using only the link:

Hello (guest first name),

Everything alright? Did you fill out all your forms and is the data correct?
Please follow this link if you still need to add/change some information:
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing

Path 2 — iCal sync

To import Hostaway reservations into Best Guest’s Reservation Verification, copy the property’s iCal / calendar export link from Hostaway and paste it into Best Guest. Reservations from every connected channel then appear in one calendar, with missing registrations flagged.

  • Reservation confirmed → confirmation only
  • 2 days before arrival → registration link
  • Arrival day → access instructions
  • 1 day after arrival → reminder for guests who haven’t completed registration
  • Day before departure → checkout reminder

Avoid combining registration with access instructions. For large portfolios, group automations (e.g. one per portfolio) to keep reporting clean.

Troubleshooting

Message didn’t send — check the automation is enabled, listing assignment, conditions, and trigger timing.

Behaves differently across channels — some OTAs impose their own messaging rules; test a direct, Airbnb and Booking.com reservation through Hostaway.

Reservation missing in Best Guest — verify the URL and ?channel=hostaway.

Next steps