How to connect to Google Vacation Rentals

Google VR (Vacation Rentals) is a companion product for Google Hotels, allowing STR (Short Term Rental) managers the ability to list and be searched and users redirected to a Homhero designed listing page for booking directly via Homhero. This is an optional integration, but it's great selling tool for website direct bookings.

In this article, we will show you how to connect to Google Vacation Rentals with Homhero. 

Step 1 - Map OTA Features
Before you start on the Google Integration setup, you will need to map your Features to Google as per the following steps:

1. Click Booking Engine > Listings from the Homhero side menu
2. Click the MANAGE button
3. Select Features
4. Map all Features that you would like to make available to Google
   
   Click here to learn how to map OTA Features
   
   
   

Step 2 - Add Google Hotels in Market Place
Next step is to add Google Hotels in the Homhero Market Place.

Please Note: The approval process can take up to 2 weeks with Google (approving the brand name, brand icon and listing images).

Please follow the below steps:

1. Click Market Place from the Homhero side menu
2. Click the Google Hotels Icon
   
   
   
   
3. The number of Mapped Amenities will display here. You will need a minimum of 1 mapped amenity to proceed
4. Select a Booking Source from the drop-down. We recommend setting up a new booking source for Google.
   
   IMPORTANT: If you would like to send different communication schedules to guests that book via Google Vacation Rentals, please remember to add Google as a Booking Source to all applicable schedules
   
   
5. Select a Cancellation Policy Type from the drop-down:
   - Relaxed: Bookings cancelled at least 14 days before the start of the stay will receive a full refund. Bookings cancelled at least 7 days before the start of the stay will receive a 50% refund
   - Moderate: Bookings cancelled at least 30 days before the start of the stay will receive a full refund. Bookings cancelled at least 14 days before the start of the stay will receive a 50% refund
   - Firm: Bookings cancelled at least 60 days before the start of the stay will receive a full refund. Bookings cancelled at least 30 days before the start of the stay will receive a 50% refund
   - Strict: Bookings cancelled at least 60 days before the start of the stay will receive a full refund
   - No Refund: No refund offered for any reason or timeframe
6. The Cancellation Policy Name will pre-fill automatically based on the Cancellation Policy Type selected. You can override and customize the policy name if required (Limit of 50 characters)
7. The Refund Policy Text will pre-fill automatically based on the Cancellation Policy Type selected. You can override and customize the refund policy text if required
8. Enter your Brand Name if this is different to your Homhero account name
9. Upload your Brand Logo. Make sure your icons meet the following requirements before uploading:
   - Resolution of at least 72x72 pixels and no more than 1200x1200 pixels
   - Square dimensions only (1:1)
   - No more than 3 text characters per icon
   - PNG format
   - Transparent or on a non-white background
   - No alcohol, violence, or sexual content
   - Must match the favicon or artwork on the advertiser’s final URL
   
10. Turn the Active toggle on
11. The Review Status will update throughout the approval process. 
    - In Review: Once you have completed and saved the setup, it will update to the In Review status
    - Rejected: If any of the brand requirements fail during the review process, it will update to the Rejected status
    - Approved: Once your brand name, brand icon and listing images have been approved, It will update to the Approved status 
12. Click Save 
    
    
    

Step 3 - Google Vacation Rentals is Live
Once the review status is updated to Approved, all active listings in Homhero will automatically appear on Google Vacation Rentals. If you want to exclude any listings from showing on Google, please contact Homhero Support so we can exclude specific listings from showing.