Collect guest registration automatically for VRBO bookings. Best Guest connects in two ways:

  • Automated messages — VRBO’s scheduled messages deliver your registration link before arrival.
  • iCal sync — Best Guest imports every VRBO reservation from your calendar.

Estimated setup time: 5 minutes.

Before you start

  • An active VRBO host account with a published property
  • A Best Guest account
  • Your Best Guest registration link, e.g.
https://app.bestguestapp.com/l/your-listing?channel=vrbo

(Use your real link. ?channel=vrbo 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 pre-arrival message

VRBO supports scheduling messages relative to reservation and stay events.

  1. Open your VRBO Inbox / Owner Dashboard.
  2. Go to Templates → Scheduled Messages.
  3. Create a template named “Best Guest Registration”.
  4. Set the trigger to 2 days before check-in (1 day for short stays; immediately for same-day bookings).
  5. Add your message and insert VRBO’s guest-name placeholder from the editor.

Recommended message:

Hello (guest first name),

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

It takes about 2 minutes. Safe travels — we look forward to hosting you.

Don’t exclude short stays. VRBO bookings often happen close to arrival; make sure same-day and short stays still receive the message — missing this is the most common reason guests never get the link.

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 Scheduled 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 VRBO reservations into Best Guest’s Reservation Verification:

  1. In VRBO, open the property Calendar.
  2. Find Export calendar / iCal and copy the .ics link.
  3. Paste it into Best Guest for the matching property.

VRBO automation can differ depending on whether the listing uses a native, API, or PMS connection. If your VRBO listings are managed through a channel manager, set up automation there instead — see all integrations.

  • 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
  • Evening before departure → checkout instructions

Keep the registration request separate from access instructions.

Troubleshooting

Guest never received it — check the scheduled message is enabled, the timing, trigger conditions, and that short stays are included.

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

Next steps