A field guide from CampGrid
Calendar Sync
Import OTA iCal feeds and export CampGrid availability to reduce double bookings.
Best for
- Airbnb calendar import
- Hipcamp calendar import
- Vrbo calendar import
- Avoiding double bookings across channels
Before you start
- Know which OTA listing maps to which CampGrid site.
- Find the OTA export or iCal URL for that listing.
- Open the CampGrid dashboard for the property you want to protect.
What calendar sync does
Calendar sync imports external iCal events from Airbnb, Hipcamp, Vrbo, or another calendar feed. Imported events block the matching CampGrid site so guests cannot book over those dates.
This is double-booking prevention. It is not full channel management: CampGrid does not push rates, photos, listing content, guest messages, taxes, or payments into OTAs.
Why one feed maps to one site
Most OTA iCal links represent one listing, not an entire campground. If Airbnb Site 12 is the same physical place as CampGrid Site 12, connect that feed to that one CampGrid site.
If you list ten sites on an OTA, add ten feeds. This keeps imported blocks precise and avoids closing the wrong inventory.
Check
- The OTA listing and CampGrid site refer to the same physical campsite, cabin, or RV pad.
- The feed name makes the source obvious to staff.
- Each external feed is connected to only the CampGrid site it should block.
Import an OTA calendar
Use the Sync toolbar button in the reservation workspace.
Steps
- 1Open Dashboard or Reservations.
- 2Choose the reporting period you want to review.
- 3Choose the Sync toolbar button.
- 4Select the provider.
- 5Choose the CampGrid site that matches the OTA listing.
- 6Enter a feed name such as Airbnb - Site 12.
- 7Paste the external iCal URL from the OTA.
- 8Add the external feed.
- 9Check the imported blocks on the reservation calendar.
Send CampGrid blocks to an OTA
CampGrid also publishes calendar feeds. Export links include active CampGrid reservations and imported external blocks, so another calendar can see dates that are unavailable in CampGrid.
Steps
- 1Open Dashboard or Reservations.
- 2Choose the Export toolbar button.
- 3Pick All sites or a specific site feed.
- 4Copy the feed URL or open the export link.
- 5Paste that URL into the OTA calendar import settings.
- 6Use Rotate URL if a feed link was shared with the wrong person.
How imported blocks affect availability
CampGrid bookings block based on reservation status, not payment status. Confirmed bookings and valid pending bookings block availability. Cancelled bookings and expired unpaid Stripe holds do not block.
Imported OTA events block because iCal feeds usually do not include reliable payment status. Treat the OTA as the source of truth for whether that listing is occupied.
Read sync health
Each imported calendar shows a status, last refresh time, imported block count, and the latest error if the feed cannot be read.
Check
- Synced means CampGrid read the feed and imported its current events.
- Needs attention means the last refresh failed.
- Paused means the feed no longer blocks dates until it is resumed.
- Refresh feed runs a manual import immediately.
- Delete removes the connection and its imported blocks.
Troubleshooting
If imported dates look wrong, confirm the OTA feed belongs to the same listing as the selected CampGrid site. A feed connected to the wrong site will block the wrong inventory.
If the URL is rejected, make sure it is a public http or https calendar URL. CampGrid blocks private network and localhost URLs outside the built-in development test feed.
Tips
- Use clear feed names such as Vrbo - Cabin 3.
- After adding a feed, try creating a manual reservation over the imported dates to confirm the block works.
- If an OTA removed a reservation but CampGrid still shows it, use Refresh feed.
- For broad closures that are not tied to an OTA listing, use blackout windows instead.