Common questions: listing on marketplaces, Viator, GetYourGuide, and calendar feeds

Quick answers about selling through outside channels and about calendar feeds. Most small shops never need Distribution; if you only take bookings on your own website you can skip this page.

Where to find it

• Distribution: Settings → Distribution (Owners and Managers). It only exists once Renta has switched Distribution on.
• Calendar feeds: Settings → Integrations → Calendar Sync and Per-Vehicle Feeds.

Questions and answers

What is Distribution?

A page that shows every outside channel you could sell through and what each one costs before you connect anything. Its heading reads "See what every channel actually costs before you connect anything." See Listing your items on Viator or GetYourGuide.

Why don't I see Distribution in Settings?

Three reasons. Renta has to have switched it on (when it is off the page does not exist for anyone). You need to be an Owner or Manager. And your subscription has to be in good standing: otherwise the page says "Distribution channel cost transparency is part of your paid subscription. Reactivate your plan in Billing to see channel costs and referral links."

Which channels are on the page?

Google Things to Do (a referral link), GetMyBoat, Outdoorsy, RVshare, and Airbnb (calendar sync), and Viator and GetYourGuide (a "Channel API (OTA)" connection, marked Coming soon).

What does each channel cost me?

Each card says. Calendar-sync channels: "Nothing — these bookings are made on the marketplace and never touch Renta. Calendar sync is free on every plan." Google Things to Do: your normal booking fee, since the renter checks out on your own storefront. Viator and GetYourGuide: $25 a month while connected on the Commission plan, or "Included with your plan" on the Flat plan.

What is the "Preview day-rate" box?

A number you can type to see each channel's worked example (Listed price, Channel commission, You absorb, Lands in your account). It starts from your first fleet item's rate and is not saved.

How does calendar sync with GetMyBoat, Outdoorsy, RVshare, or Airbnb work?

You swap calendar links so a booking on either side blocks the vehicle on the other. You copy Your Renta feed URL into the marketplace, and paste the Marketplace's iCal URL into Renta. Renta checks the marketplace calendar every 15 minutes.

How do I connect a calendar-sync channel?

On the channel's card press Connect. Then pick a vehicle and a unit and press Map vehicle. Next press Copy next to Your Renta feed URL, paste it into the marketplace, and paste the marketplace's calendar URL into Marketplace's iCal URL and press Save.

Why can't I pick my item when mapping a vehicle?

The item must be tracked per unit, so there is one physical vehicle to point the listing at. Renta says '"[item]" isn't tracked per unit' and asks you to turn on per-unit tracking for the item in Fleet settings first.

Can two people double-book a vehicle?

There is a short window. Renta only checks the marketplace every 15 minutes, so a booking made there can take up to about 15 minutes to block the vehicle in Renta. Renta warns "Don't treat it as instant, or a booking made in that window can double-book the vehicle."

What do "Never synced", "Synced", and "Sync error" mean?

They are the health of that vehicle's link: not yet checked, last check worked (with "Last synced [date]"), or the last check failed. A warning like "N events in the marketplace calendar couldn't be read and were skipped" means check the marketplace calendar directly for those dates.

How do I remove a vehicle or disconnect a channel?

Press Remove on a vehicle row and confirm "Remove this vehicle from the channel?", or press Disconnect on the channel card.

What is Google Things to Do?

A referral link only. Nothing to connect: the card shows a link to your own storefront with attribution attached, so you can see bookings that came from Google Things to Do. Press Copy to copy it.

What are Viator and GetYourGuide?

Online travel agencies that sell tours and activities. You need your own supplier account with each. The channel collects the renter's payment ("Channel collects payment") and keeps its commission before paying you. Renta's starting commission for both is 25%, and each card shows a worked example.

Can I connect Viator or GetYourGuide today?

You can start the setup wizard and fill in everything except the last step. The card says "Renta is applying to become an approved [channel] partner. You'll be able to go live once that's approved." until approval comes through.

What does connecting Viator or GetYourGuide cost?

On the Commission plan, $25 a month while the channel is connected, in place of Renta's usual 2.5% booking fee, because the channel collects the payment. On the Flat plan the add-on is included. See Renta's fee vs. your subscription plan.

Can I charge more on Viator than on my own website?

No. The channel requires rate parity, so Renta cannot list a different price there than on your own site.

What are the steps in the Viator or GetYourGuide wizard?

Press Start setup (or Manage connection). The five steps are Before you start, Connect accounts, Match your products, Test connection, and Go live.

What do I enter to connect Viator?

Your Viator SupplierId and the API key Viator gave you, then press Connect. Renta does not make this key, Viator does. Later use Replace key to change it. Once saved, Renta shows an address to give your Viator connectivity contact, which is where Viator sends availability and booking requests.

How do I match my products?

In Match your products, choose a vehicle (and unit), an optional start time, and the pricing categories, then press Save mapping. Renta creates the product ID for you, and you copy it into the channel's supplier portal. The price shown is worked out with the same pricing rules as a direct booking.

How do I test before going live?

In Test connection press Send test availability request for a vehicle and use Preview price to see what the channel will show. For GetYourGuide, "Push availability" stays off because Renta has not set up a GetYourGuide sandbox yet.

How do I go live on a channel?

In Go live press Switch to live and confirm. It turns off test mode, so the channel sends real bookings and real payouts, and the dialog warns to check your mappings and pricing first. Until the channel approves Renta, the step says "Waiting on Renta's partner certification".

How do I see my bookings in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook?

Go to Settings → Integrations → Calendar Sync and press Create Calendar Feed. Then press Add to Google Calendar or Add to Apple Calendar, or copy the Feed URL into Outlook or any calendar app that can subscribe to a link. Events update as bookings change.

Who can see my calendar feed?

Anyone who has the link. Renta says "Keep this link private. Anyone with this link can view your booking details. Treat it like a password. If compromised, regenerate it."

How do I limit which bookings appear in the feed?

Open Feed Options and use Include bookings with status and Filter by location, then press Save Filter Changes.

How do I get a new feed link, and does the old one stop?

Press Regenerate URL and confirm "Regenerate Calendar URL?". The old link stops working at once, so any calendar using it must re-subscribe. A feed also stops serving on the date shown ("This URL stops serving on [date]"); regenerating gives a new one-year window.

What are Per-Vehicle Feeds?

One feed link per physical vehicle, for a marketplace listing such as Outdoorsy, RVshare, GetMyBoat, or Airbnb, so it never gets double-booked. They show only busy blocks, with no customer names, phone numbers, or totals. Choose an item and a unit and press Add Feed; each feed also has Regenerate URL and a remove option.

Why is my item missing when I add a per-vehicle feed?

It has to be tracked per unit. Turn on per-unit tracking for the item in Fleet settings and come back.