Calendar synchronisation ensures consistent availability across all connected booking platforms. By managing synchronisation, tourism operators can avoid double bookings and maximise revenue by accurately reflecting availability on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.
Accessing this feature
Go to Settings > Integrations. From there, locate the Calendar Synchronisation section. This area allows you to configure your connections, view synchronisation status, and initiate manual updates.
How to use it
Resolving calendar synchronisation conflicts requires a systematic approach to identify the source and apply the correct solution. Follow these steps to manage and resolve discrepancies:
Identify the Conflict
Recognise the symptoms: Mismatched bookings, double-bookings, blocked dates appearing as available, or unavailable dates appearing as open.
Pinpoint the affected dates and resource (e.g., room, tour, property).
Determine which calendar system (your primary system or an external platform) displays the incorrect information.
Locate the Discrepancy's Origin
Log in to both your primary calendar within Tourism Accelerator and the connected external calendar (e.g., Airbnb, Booking.com, Google Calendar).
Compare the availability for the conflicting dates.
Identify which system holds the correct, intended availability and which is displaying the error.
Check for recent manual changes made in either system that may not have synchronised correctly.
Review Synchronisation Logs and Status
Within the Calendar Synchronisation section, look for any available synchronisation logs, error messages, or a status indicator for the specific integration.
These logs often give insights into failed sync attempts, authentication issues, or data formatting errors.
Prioritise and Correct the Primary Calendar
Make sure the availability in your Tourism Accelerator primary calendar is accurate and reflects your true availability.
Make any necessary manual adjustments or block-outs directly in Tourism Accelerator.
This step is important as Tourism Accelerator should be your single source of truth for availability.
Initiate a Manual Synchronisation
After confirming the accuracy of your primary calendar, return to the Calendar Synchronisation section.
Locate the option to "Synchronise Now" or "Force Sync" for the specific external calendar connection experiencing the conflict.
Triggering a manual sync forces an update, pushing the correct availability from Tourism Accelerator to the external platform.
Verify External Calendar Updates
Allow a few minutes for the synchronisation process to complete.
Log back into the external calendar platform and verify that the availability for the conflicting dates has been corrected and now matches your Tourism Accelerator calendar.
If the issue persists, clear your browser cache and cookies, then re-check.
Troubleshoot Persistent Issues
Invalid iCal URL: Confirm the iCal URL being used for the integration is correct and active. An expired or incorrect URL will prevent synchronisation.
Permissions: Make sure that the iCal URL has the necessary read/write permissions (if applicable) for two-way synchronisation.
External Platform Overrides: Some external platforms may allow manual overrides that can temporarily block incoming syncs. Check their specific settings.
Data Format: While rare, make sure no unusual characters or malformed data are present in your bookings that could disrupt the iCal feed.
Key Capabilities
Our calendar synchronisation functionality gives tools to manage your availability efficiently and reduce conflicts:
Two-Way Synchronisation: Enables updates, pushing availability from Tourism Accelerator to external platforms and pulling bookings from external platforms back into Tourism Accelerator.
Configurable Synchronisation Frequency: Allows you to set how often your calendars automatically synchronise, ensuring updates.
Manual Synchronisation Initiation: Gives the ability to trigger a synchronisation cycle for specific integrations, useful for urgent updates or conflict resolution.
Primary Calendar Designation: Establishes Tourism Accelerator as the source for your availability, ensuring consistency across all channels.
Integration Status Monitoring: Offers an overview of the status of each calendar integration, including the last successful sync time and any errors.
Conflict Detection Alerts: (Where applicable) The system can highlight discrepancies or failed sync attempts within the integration dashboard.
Tips
Following best practices minimises the occurrence of calendar synchronisation conflicts and makes sure operations are running well:
Designate a Single Source of Truth: Always manage your availability and make primary blocking decisions within Tourism Accelerator. This prevents conflicting data entry points.
Regularly Review Synchronisation Status: Periodically check the status of your calendar integrations within Tourism Accelerator to identify any warnings or errors early.
Understand Sync Direction: Be aware of whether your integrations are one-way (exporting availability from Tourism Accelerator) or two-way (exporting and importing bookings). This clarity helps in troubleshooting.
Avoid Simultaneous Manual Edits: Avoid manually blocking or unblocking dates directly on all connected external calendars at the same time. Make changes in Tourism Accelerator first, then allow the sync to propagate.
Test New Integrations Thoroughly: When setting up a new calendar integration, run small tests with dummy bookings or blocked dates to confirm correct two-way synchronisation before launching.
Maintain Stable Internet Connection: Make sure a reliable internet connection when configuring or initiating manual synchronisations, as interruptions can lead to incomplete data transfers.
Keep iCal URLs Secure: Do not share your iCal URLs publicly. They contain availability information.
Document Your Setup: Maintain a record of which calendars are connected to which platforms, their sync direction, and any configurations.
Need help?
For further assistance, contact us at [email protected]