# OTA Connectivity Guide

## Introduction

This guide provides general instructions for connecting **Online Travel Agencies (OTAs)** such as **Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Hostelworld, Agoda, and others** to **HostelMate**. Each OTA has a slightly different process, so refer to their specific guide for detailed steps.

> **Before proceeding:** Ensure that your pricing and rates are set up correctly and match the currency selected in the OTA setup. Incorrect pricing or currency may lead to sync issues.

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## 🔗 Connecting an OTA

1. **Log in** to the OTA extranet.
2. Navigate to **Channel Manager / Connectivity settings**.
3. Search for **"Channex"** and select it as your provider.
4. Confirm the connection request.
5. Some OTAs may require manual approval before activation.

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## 📌 Mapping Rooms & Rates

* Mapping ensures all **rooms and rate plans** in the OTA match correctly.
* Unmapped rooms or rates **will not sync** and may cause booking issues.
* Some OTAs support **occupancy-based pricing**, which requires additional mapping.
* If a room or rate plan is missing, check if it's active in the OTA extranet.

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## ✅ Final Steps

1. Once mapping is complete, **activate the connection**.
2. **Import future reservations** if needed (availability will not be affected).
3. Regularly check for errors or unmapped items.

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For specific OTA instructions, see the dedicated guide for that OTA.

## Quick Links

* General setup: [General Connection Setup](/channel-mapping-guides/general-connection-setup.md)
* Channel Manager app: <https://app.hostelmate.co/channel-manager>
* Popular guides: Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, Hostelworld

## Tips

* Push a small test price change to confirm updates are flowing
* Remove legacy iCal feeds to prevent overwriting rates/availability
* Use clear titles per connection (e.g., “Booking.com – Main Property”)


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