Hostify Connection User Guide

How to Connect Hostify to Lake.com

Integrating your Hostify account with Lake.com allows you to import and manage your vacation rental listings seamlessly. Follow these steps to connect:

Step 1: Sign Up and Verify Your Lake.com Account

• Visit Lake.com and sign up with your email.
• After verifying your email, you’ll land on a confirmation page: “Congratulations, your account’s been created.”
• Indicate that you are a Host.

Step 2: Choose Listing Import Option

• You’ll be asked whether you want to create a listing from scratch or import an existing listing.
• Select the option to Import Listing.

Step 3: Connect Hostify

• Click Connect with Hostify.
• You’ll be prompted to enter your Hostify API key.
• Retrieve your API key from the Settings section in your Hostify dashboard.

• Copy your Hostify API Key and paste it into Lake.com
• Once you’ve entered the API key and click Connect.

Step 4: Confirm Connection

• A confirmation message will appear: Connection Successful.
• Listings from Hostify will automatically begin syncing to Lake.com.

Step 5: View Imported Listings

• Listings may take a few seconds to appear—refresh your screen if needed.
• Your property (e.g., “Charming Apartment in the City”) will now be visible on your Lake.com Listings page.

Step 6: Manage Listings

• Listing updates should be made in Hostify. Changes will sync to Lake.com automatically.
• When you update your property listing information on Hostify, static content such as the property title, description, amenities, and photos will be updated every 6 hours. Dynamic content, such as calendar availability and pricing, will update every 5 minutes. This means, if you have a dynamic tool implemented such as Beyond, PriceLabs or Wheelhouse, you’ll have these pricing changes updated on Lake.com too.
• You can view how your property appears to guests on Lake.com.
• To temporarily hide a listing while maintaining the connection, toggle the status to Unlisted.

Step 7: Promote Your Listings

Share Your Lake.com Listing on Social Media

Once your listing is live, use your Lake.com property link to promote it across Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn. Include beautiful photos, seasonal offers, or a unique selling point (like lakefront access or a hot tub) to capture attention. Social shares drive direct traffic and build awareness.

Highlight Seasonal Specials or Updates

Keep your listing fresh by updating photos or highlighting seasonal experiences—like paddleboarding in summer or cozy fireside evenings in winter. Updates made in Hostify automatically sync to Lake.com, so your listing stays current and relevant for browsers.

Feature Your Lake.com Listing on Your Website or Email

If you have a personal website or newsletter, link directly to your Lake.com listing. This builds trust with your audience and helps drive direct bookings through a familiar channel. You can even add a “Book Now” button that links to your Lake.com page.

What Data Gets Synchronized Between Lake.com and Hostify

The integration between Lake.com and Hostify enables the secure and automated synchronization of key data. This includes:

• Guest information: first name, last name, profile picture, email address, and phone number
• Listing details: name, address, description (view and edit)
• Calendar data: availability and booking updates (view and edit)
• Reservations: import and update bookings in real time
• Guest profile details: first name and profile picture (view only)

Benefits of Connecting Lake.com and Hostify

Centralized Property Management

Linking Hostify with Lake.com enables property managers to manage listings, bookings, and communications from a single, unified dashboard. Hostify’s powerful Channel Manager ensures that your availability and rates are synced in real-time across all platforms—Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and more—preventing double bookings and saving you valuable time.

Streamlined Operations and Automation

Hostify automates repetitive yet critical tasks, such as guest messaging, reviews, payment processing, and calendar updates. This automation minimizes manual work and maximizes efficiency, allowing you to focus on delivering top-tier guest experiences.

Powerful Analytics and Reporting

Hostify’s built-in analytics and reporting tools help you track key metrics, including occupancy rates, revenue performance, and booking trends. These insights enable more informed business decisions and more effective pricing strategies.

Scalable for Every Portfolio

Whether you’re managing five properties or five hundred, Hostify scales effortlessly to meet your needs. Its robust infrastructure supports complex operations, making it an ideal partner for fast-growing property management businesses.

Enhanced Guest Experience

Seamless, automated communication helps ensure that guests receive timely updates, clear check-in instructions, and responsive support—leading to better reviews and increased repeat bookings.

Troubleshooting a Connection Between Lake.com and Hostify

If you’re experiencing issues with the integration, try the following steps:

1. Check Connection Status

• Confirm that Lake.com and Hostify are linked in your Hostify account Channel Manager.
• Re-enter your API credentials if needed, ensuring accuracy.
• Refresh your API key at Hostify if needed and try again.

2. Test the Connection

• Manually update a listing in Hostify and verify that the change is reflected on Lake.com.
• Check for syncing issues with reservations or availability.

3. Clear Browser or Network Obstacles

• Clear your browser cache and cookies.
• Ensure no firewall or network settings are blocking Hostify’s API communication.

4. Retry the Integration

• Make sure both platforms are running the latest version.
• If issues persist, disconnect and reconnect the integration to refresh the setup.

5. Reach Out to Support

• Contact Hostify Support for technical help or integration errors.
• Reach out to Lake.com Support for help from our onboarding or tech teams.

Frequently Asked Questions

What steps allow a safe disconnection of Hostify from Lake.com without affecting guests?

To disconnect safely, first confirm that all active reservations are synced in both Hostify and Lake.com. Pause the integration in Hostify, then export your calendars and rate tables for backup. Once you’ve verified no pending bookings will be disrupted, remove the Lake.com connection from the Hostify integrations panel. This ensures confirmed guest reservations remain unaffected while preventing future syncs.

How do I map Hostify listing data accurately to Lake.com required fields?

All of the mapping is done automatically. When you connect Hostify and Lake.com, each Hostify field is matched with its Lake.com counterpart:

• Property details: title, description, amenities, and policies.
• Rates and fees: nightly rates, cleaning fees, and additional charges.
• Media: high-resolution photos and captions in the correct order.
• Availability: calendar settings that reflect booking rules.
  Accurate mapping guarantees that your listings display correctly to travelers searching on Lake.com.

How much time does Lake.com need to finish importing all Hostify properties on first sync?

The initial sync can take from a few minutes to 24 hours, depending on the number of listings, the volume of photos, and the complexity of your rate plans. Single-property imports often appear quickly, while multi-property portfolios may require several hours before becoming visible on Lake.com.

Does Lake.com support advanced Hostify pricing rules like weekly discounts and length-of-stay pricing?

Yes. Lake.com imports advanced pricing rules set in Hostify, including weekly and monthly discounts, minimum and maximum stay requirements, and length-of-stay (LOS) pricing. Ensure these rules are configured correctly in Hostify, as Lake.com mirrors the data it receives during synchronization.

How can I fix Lake.com bookings not pushing back into Hostify Reservation Manager properly?

If bookings aren’t syncing:

• Verify the API connection between Hostify and Lake.com is active. On the Connections page, it should have a green badge that says “Connected.”
• Confirm that properties are active.
• Check that your Hostify account is active and there isn’t a billing issue.
• Trigger a manual sync from the integration panel. You can do this by updating any of your properties such as the title, description or amenities.

Learn More About Hostify

Hostify is a robust, all-in-one vacation rental software designed to simplify and scale property management. From syncing listings and automating communication to managing payments and tasks, Hostify centralizes everything in one easy-to-use platform. With tools like a unified inbox, automated workflows, mobile app access, and full analytics, it’s built for property managers who want more bookings and less hassle.

Book a Demo with Hostify to explore how it can power your business.