# General Connection Setup

Use this flow for most OTAs. Some steps vary per channel—use the channel‑specific guide if something differs.

## Before You Start

* Make sure rooms and rates exist in Hostel Mate
* Have the OTA property ID or login ready (OAuth for Airbnb)
* Disable legacy iCal feeds on the OTA to avoid conflicts

## 1) Create the Channel

1. Go to Channel Manager and click Create (top right)
2. Choose the OTA (Booking.com, Airbnb, etc.)
3. Add a Title for easy identification

## 2) General Settings

* Currency: leave Auto unless you have a specific need
* Connection Settings
  * Channel ID: paste the ID from the OTA (or use login for OAuth-based channels)
  * Min Stay Type: Arrival or Through, based on your policy
  * Booking Total Type: pick the value that matches your reporting (Payout, After Tax, Including Commission)
* Pricing Type (if shown): choose Standard or OBP as required by the OTA
* Click Test Connection (if available)

## 3) Mapping

* Open the Mapping tab
* Map each OTA room/rate to your rooms in Hostel Mate
* Click Refresh to pull the latest rooms and rates

## 4) Channel Settings

* Add Derived Rate modifiers if needed (amount or percent up/down)
* Save when finished

## 5) Activate and Verify

1. Save and activate the connection
2. Push a small price change and confirm it appears on the OTA
3. Check that occupancy/availability looks correct

## Troubleshooting

* Missing rooms: Refresh mapping; verify rooms exist and are active in the OTA
* Prices not updating: confirm mappings and derived rates, then retry syncing
* Wrong totals: adjust Booking Total Type to match how the OTA reports numbers