My staff struggles with basic technology. How can they adapt?

• We’ve onboarded teams ranging from 18‑year‑old volunteers to a 72‑year‑old owner in Costa Rica. Our guided walkthrough and in‑app videos keep training under 30 minutes, and our support chat is available 24/7.

Do I need to discontinue my current OTAs?

• Nope. A blended strategy wins. Most of our top‑performing hostels keep 3‑4 core OTAs active while pushing direct bookings with bundled perks—free late check‑out, cheaper surf lessons, and zero hidden fees.

How long does channel mapping really take?

• Average time last month: 47 seconds per channel. Connect, map your rooms, hit 'Sync', done.

Is Hostel Mate just a fancy iCal?

• Absolutely not. We use certified two‑way API connections with Airbnb, Booking.com, Hostelworld, Expedia, Agoda and 20+ others. Every change—rates, availability, restrictions—travels both ways in real time.

Channel Manager Built for Hostels, Not Hotels

Real‑time inventory sync across Airbnb, Booking.com, Hostelworld & 20+ channels—no spreadsheets, no drama.

Why Juggling OTAs Is Killing Your Mojo

If your reception feels more like a call‑center than a hammock hangout, you’re not alone. Manual updates eat hours, commissions shrink margins, and one delayed API call can nuke your guest experience.

Updating 7 extranets that still look like Windows 95.
18–25 % commissions siphoning profit.
Direct site buried under OTA SEO spend and rate‑parity rules.
Angry backpackers when Bed 8 double‑sells during La Tomatina.

“We became data‑entry clerks instead of storytellers.”

Hostel staff stressed while updating multiple OTA dashboards

Your Real‑Time Control Tower

Live Inventory Sync—47 s Setup per OTA

Two‑way API muscle, zero iCal lag:

Map rooms and restrictions in clicks, not coffee breaks.
Auto‑close OTAs first when beds fill—protect direct revenue.
Stealth mode: Keep your website 5–7 % cheaper without violating rate‑parity small print.
Price nudge: Smart algorithm undercuts slow nights and surges on festival weekends—hello, RevPAR.

Curious which marketplaces we cover? Peek at the full OTA Integration List.

Payment & Cash Control for People Who Hate Math

“Did Carlos pay cash or card? And why is there €200 in pesos under the keyboard?” Our dashboard says:

Flags unpaid bookings right at check‑in.
Generates multilingual receipts that don’t look like grocery lists.
Reconciles OTA payouts vs. bar tabs in one ledger—accountant‑approved.

Hold Bookings without Gutting Occupancy

Intelligent Wait‑Lists That Actually Convert

Stop turning away groups when beds sell out. Instead:

Reserve beds for tentative enquiries—no upfront payment.
Protect rates from last‑minute discount panic.
Auto‑notify wait‑listed guests when availability opens.

Why competitors can’t match this:

Most PMSs mark provisional bookings as “sold,” killing your visibility on OTAs. We separate “held,” “sold,” and “open,” so your occupancy stats stay honest and your beds stay full.

Frequently asked questions

We’ve onboarded teams ranging from 18‑year‑old volunteers to a 72‑year‑old owner in Costa Rica. Our guided walkthrough and in‑app videos keep training under 30 minutes, and our support chat is available 24/7.

Nope. A blended strategy wins. Most of our top‑performing hostels keep 3‑4 core OTAs active while pushing direct bookings with bundled perks—free late check‑out, cheaper surf lessons, and zero hidden fees.

Average time last month: 47 seconds per channel. Connect, map your rooms, hit 'Sync', done.

Absolutely not. We use certified two‑way API connections with Airbnb, Booking.com, Hostelworld, Expedia, Agoda and 20+ others. Every change—rates, availability, restrictions—travels both ways in real time.