iCal makes it possible to show bookings on multiple sites to prevent double bookings.
the site/platform that initiated a booking is and stays the owner of that booking.
this owner offers his own bookings in a iCal link.
the other site/platform imports this iCal link and will show these 'external' bookings.
A vice-versa setup is always required; bookings made on another site/platform must be received.
Synchronisation is a continous process, the more frequent it repeats the fast the bookings are shown.
If you understand these 6 rules, you understand how iCal sync is working.
Examples
Your site with Airbnb
Your site with Airbnb and with Booking.com
Frequently made errors
If you only exchange with AirBnB, you need to enter 2 files: One exported by Booka.place and imported by Airbnb (type 3) and one exported by AirBnB and imported by Booka.place (type 5). If you are syncing with AirBnB and Booking.com there are 3 files involved and you need to change 6 (SIX) settings: One exported by Booka.place and imported by Airbnb and Booking.com (type 3), one exported by AirBnB and imported by Booka.place and Booking.com (type 5) and one exported by Booking.com and imported by Booka.place and AirBnb (type 5)
After you made changes to the settings it might take some time before those changes become visible on your website/platform. For example: In Booka.place you need to click the red 'Update' button, then you need to wait up to 5 minutes, because the iCal synchronisation interval is 5 minutes.
If you just finished the first setup, it might take some time extra before the platforms execute your new setup. Otherwise, check the synchronisation frequency of your platform. For example: Booka.place renews all your channels every 5 minutes, that is 15 times per hour, 360 times per day.
No, you can only change a booking at platform where the booking is made. For example: In Booka.place you can see all your bookings (by switching 'Show imported iCals' on), but you can not change a booking that is made at the AirBnB platform. Login at AirBnB to change a booking that is made via AirBnB.
