Automatically sync bookings from Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, and other OTAs into Zitlin. Prevent double bookings without manually checking multiple extranets. Available on Pro.
If you list your property on more than one OTA, you already know the problem. A booking comes in on Airbnb and you have to immediately log into Booking.com and block the same dates — manually, every time. Miss it once and you have a double booking.
Zitlin Pro includes OTA Sync to automate this. Connect your OTA calendars once, and Zitlin keeps them in sync automatically.
This is a Zitlin Pro feature.
How OTA Sync Works
OTA Sync uses iCal — a universal calendar format supported by every major booking platform. You connect each OTA by exchanging calendar links between Zitlin and the OTA's extranet. No API agreement, no approval process, no technical integration work beyond copying and pasting two URLs.
Once connected, sync runs automatically every 5 to 15 minutes in both directions:
- OTA → Zitlin: New bookings from Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, or any connected OTA appear in your Zitlin dashboard automatically
- Zitlin → OTA: When a room is booked (via any channel or directly), those dates are pushed to all connected OTA calendars and marked as unavailable
Which OTAs Does It Work With
iCal is a universal standard. Any OTA that supports iCal calendar export and import is compatible. This includes:
- Airbnb
- Booking.com
- Expedia
- Vrbo / HomeAway
- Agoda
- TripAdvisor / Flipkey
- Google Vacation Rentals
- Any OTA that supports iCal export
If an OTA has an iCal feed — and virtually all major ones do — it works with Zitlin OTA Sync.
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What OTA Sync Does and Doesn't Do
iCal sync is not a full channel manager. Understanding the difference helps you decide if it fits your operation.
OTA Sync handles:
- Automatic booking import from all connected OTAs
- Automatic availability block across all channels when a room is booked
- Prevention of most double bookings
- Works with all OTAs without any API partnership or technical approval
OTA Sync does not handle:
- Rate synchronisation — you update pricing on each OTA extranet separately
- Minimum stay or restriction sync
- Instant sync — there is a 5 to 15 minute window between a booking and the availability update reaching other OTAs
Who this is right for: Small to mid-size properties — guesthouses, boutique hotels, STR operators, homestays — that list on 2 to 5 OTAs and want bookings to flow into one place automatically without double-booking risk.
Who should consider a full channel manager instead: High-volume properties above 30 rooms, properties that need real-time rate sync across OTAs, or operations where a 15-minute double-booking window during peak demand is unacceptable.
Why iCal Over a Full Channel Manager for Small Properties
Full channel managers — SiteMinder, Cloudbeds, Little Hotelier — typically cost ₹3,000–8,000 per month on top of your PMS subscription. They make sense for larger properties that need real-time rate parity across dozens of OTAs.
For a 5 to 60 room property listing on 2 to 4 OTAs, iCal sync solves 90% of the problem at a fraction of the cost. Bookings come in automatically, availability stays current, and double bookings are rare. You update rates on each OTA manually — which for a small property typically takes 10 minutes a week.
Zitlin Pro includes OTA Sync as part of the plan — not as a separate add-on fee.
How to Set Up OTA Sync in Zitlin
Setup takes under 10 minutes per OTA:
- In your Zitlin Pro dashboard, go to OTA Sync and generate your iCal export URL for the relevant room type
- Paste that URL into your OTA extranet's iCal import field (Airbnb: Calendar → Import, Booking.com: Calendar → Sync)
- Copy your OTA's iCal export URL and paste it into Zitlin's iCal import field
- Repeat for each OTA
Zitlin handles the sync automatically from that point. No ongoing maintenance required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OTA Sync free or Pro only? OTA Sync is a Zitlin Pro feature. It is not available on the free plan.
How long does sync take after a booking? Sync runs every 5 to 15 minutes. A booking made on Airbnb will appear in Zitlin within 15 minutes, and your Booking.com calendar will show those dates as unavailable within the same window.
Can a double booking still happen with iCal sync? Rarely, but yes — during the 5 to 15 minute sync window, a simultaneous booking on two OTAs is theoretically possible. For most small properties this risk is very low. If your property regularly sells out within minutes during peak periods, a real-time channel manager may be more appropriate.
Does it sync rates and pricing to OTAs? No. iCal sync handles availability and bookings only. Rates must be updated on each OTA extranet separately.
Do I need to apply or get approved for any OTA integration? No. iCal is a universal standard — you connect by exchanging calendar URLs directly in each OTA's settings. No approval process required.
Which OTAs are compatible? Any OTA that supports iCal export and import. All major OTAs — Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Vrbo, Agoda — support iCal.
How many OTAs can I connect? There is no hard limit on the number of OTA calendars you can connect per room type.
What happens to existing bookings when I first connect? Existing confirmed bookings in Zitlin will push to your OTA calendars as blocked dates on the first sync. Existing OTA bookings will import into Zitlin on the first pull.
Upgrade to Pro — start syncing your OTAs
