What is a channel manager — and do you still need one?
The tool that syncs one calendar across OTAs, explained — and the question hosts should ask in 2026.
What it does
A channel manager pushes availability and prices from one master calendar to every connected OTA, near real time, so a booking on one channel instantly blocks the others. It solved the double-booking problem.
What it doesn’t do
It doesn’t write your listings, answer your guests, schedule your cleaner or decide your prices. A channel manager is plumbing; the work above the plumbing stays yours.
The 2026 question
If software can sync calendars, and AI can now do the work around them — writing, replying, scheduling, pricing — do you want to operate a channel manager, or just get the outcome? Stays includes the plumbing and does the work: 2% per booking.
The honest answers.
Which booking channels do you publish to?
The leading ones — Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia, Holidu and HomeToGo among them. The exact set depends on your property type and region; we publish wherever your property earns most, with one synced calendar so double bookings can't happen.
How can you charge 2% when others charge 15–30%?
Because our costs are different, not our service. Traditional managers pay local teams to answer messages, coordinate cleaners and update prices by hand. Our AI does that work at near-zero cost, so we don't need your margin to cover salaries. Cleaning itself is paid by guests through cleaning fees, exactly as it works on Airbnb today.
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Keep your 2% rate forever.
We'll send back your finished listing within 48 hours — free, no commitment. If you like it, we publish it and your property starts earning.
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