Managing your property’s finances efficiently starts with having full visibility over your Payment Status in OTAs (Online Travel Agencies). For property managers and hosts, keeping track of when and how you get paid is essential for cash flow planning and smooth operations.
At RentalWise, we know that clear financial reporting is one of the most important features of a Channel Manager and Property Management Software. The way your payment status updates depends entirely on whether you act as your own Merchant of Record—meaning you process payments yourself through providers like Stripe, PayPal, or other Payment Providers integrated in our system.
Below, we’ll break down how payment information is handled on the major OTAs and what you need to do to ensure accuracy.
Airbnb Payments
Airbnb uses a fixed system called Payments by Airbnb. This means you cannot be your own Merchant of Record when listing on their platform. Instead, Airbnb collects money from the guest and pays you two days after checkout—regardless of whether the booking was made months in advance.
Payment Status in RentalWise: Always displayed as UNPAID. Airbnb does not provide real-time payment details through their API.
Action Required: You must manually mark each Airbnb booking as “Paid” once you receive the payout.
Note: Automations related to payments will not work for Airbnb, since your RentalWise account cannot detect their transactions.
Booking.com Payments
Booking.com gives you two possible payment structures:
1. Merchant of Record (You process payments)
You collect the money directly, either at booking or according to your own payment schedule.
Payment status updates automatically within your Channel Manager as Paid, Partially Paid, or Unpaid.
This gives you full control of your cash flow and guest payment experience.
2. Payments by Booking (Booking.com processes payments)
Similar to Airbnb’s model, Booking.com pays you two days after checkout.
Payment status in your system will remain Unpaid until you update it manually.
VRBO Payments
With VRBO, you’re always the Merchant of Record when connected through a Channel Manager. This gives you full control over your financial flow.
Payment Status: Automatically updated based on the payment schedule you configure (e.g., full payment at booking or split into installments).
Benefit: No manual updates needed—everything syncs directly with your Channel Manager.
GVR Payments
GVR connects directly with your RentalWise website, and here you have flexibility:
Online Payments (Stripe, PayPal, etc.)
Payment status updates automatically to reflect Paid, Partially Paid, or Unpaid.
Offline Payments (Cash, Bank Transfer, etc.)
You’ll need to manually mark bookings as Paid once you’ve collected payment.
Why Understanding Payment Status Matters
Accurate Financial Reports: Prevents confusion about pending or received payments.
Cash Flow Management: Helps you forecast revenue and plan expenses.
Automation & Efficiency: When available, automatic updates reduce manual work and human error.
By knowing how each OTA handles payment reporting, you can better align RentalWise with your business needs.
Final Thoughts
Each OTA has its own rules when it comes to payments, and these directly impact how Payment Status is displayed in RentalWise. While Airbnb and Booking.com (with Payments by Booking) require more manual intervention, VRBO and GVR give you greater control and automation.
At RentalWise, we’re committed to making financial management as seamless as possible, giving you the tools to stay on top of every transaction.