The following tables shows the different reservation statuses, the relevant channels, their meanings, and the information displayed in the API for each status.
"Request" reservation status
The "requested" reservation status applies to inquiries or requests to book. There are several sub-categories to it, which deal with the different statuses or stages of those inquiries or requests to book.
Sub-category UI | Sub-category API | What it means for Airbnb | What it means for Booking.com | What it means for Vrbo | What it means for Direct/Manual |
Pending | pending / awaiting_approval / reservation_request | The guest sent a request to book. The host can choose to accept or reject the request from the Hospitable inbox. | The guest sent a request to book. The host can choose to accept or reject the request from the Hospitable inbox. | The guest sent you a request to book. The host needs to accept or reject the request directly on Vrbo. | The guest sent a request to book. The host can choose to accept or reject the request from the Hospitable inbox. |
Pending Verification | pending_verification | The guest needs to complete their profile verification on Airbnb in order to complete the booking. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. | The guest needs to complete the verification process in order for the host to be able to accept the request. |
Awaiting payment | request_for_payment | The host has sent a request for payment to the guest through the Airbnb Resolution Centre. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. |
Pre-approved | preapproved | The guest's inquiry has been pre-approved. The guest needs to confirm their booking. | The guest's inquiry has been pre-approved. The guest needs to confirm their booking. | The guest's inquiry has been pre-approved. The guest needs to confirm their booking. | Not relevant. |
For pending reservation / booking requests for Vrbo specifically:
You have 24 hours to accept or decline the request. If you don't respond in time, the request is automatically declined. Vrbo booking requests cannot be managed from Hospitable, you must accept or decline them directly on Vrbo:
Log in to your Vrbo account.
Go to Inbox.
Select Booking requests.
📖 See Vrbo's guides: Manage your booking requests
"Accepted" reservation status
The "accepted" reservation status applies to reservations that have been accepted, either as instant bookings or via the host accepting an inquiry or request to book, which results in a booking.
Sub-category UI | Sub-category API | What it means for Airbnb | What it means for Booking.com | What it means for Vrbo | What it means for Direct/Manual |
Accepted | accepted / booking / staying / reservation / post_stay (only relevant to Vrbo. It means the reservation is in the past) / accept / modified / manual_booking | The reservation has been accepted and confirmed. | The reservation has been accepted and confirmed. | The reservation has been accepted and confirmed.
| The reservation has been accepted and confirmed. |
Cancellation requested | cancellation_requested / traveler_cancel_request | The reservation is accepted, but the guest has requested to cancel. | The reservation is accepted, but the guest has requested to cancel. | The reservation is accepted, but the guest has requested to cancel. | The reservation is accepted, but the guest has requested to cancel. |
"Cancelled" reservation status
The "cancelled" reservation status applies to reservations that have been cancelled. These can be cancelled in three ways: By the guest (traveller), by the host, or, in some rare cases, by the booking platform itself. The third one can happen, for example, if there is an issue with the reservation or guest profile which the platform needs to step in and resolve.
Sub-category UI | Sub-category API | What it means for Airbnb | What it means for Booking.com | What it means for Vrbo | What it means for Direct/Manual |
Cancelled | cancelled / canceled / cancelled_by_traveller / cancelled_by_guest | The reservation was cancelled by the guest. | The reservation was cancelled by the guest. | The reservation was cancelled by the guest. | The reservation was cancelled by the guest. |
Cancelled | cancelled_by_owner / cancelled_by_host / | The reservation was cancelled by the owner or host. | The reservation was cancelled by the owner or host. | The reservation was cancelled by the owner or host. | The reservation was cancelled by the owner or host. |
Cancelled | cancelled_by_admin | The reservation was cancelled by the booking platform. | The reservation was cancelled by the booking platform. | The reservation was cancelled by the booking platform. | The reservation was cancelled by the booking platform. |
"Not accepted" reservation status
The "not accepted" reservation status applies when an inquiry or a request to book has been declined, was withdrawn by the guest, or has expired due to missing steps in the booking process.
Sub-category UI | Sub-category API | What it means for Airbnb | What it means for Booking.com | What it means for Vrbo | What it means for Direct/Manual |
Declined | declined / reservation_request_declined / deny / denied / reservation_declined | An inquiry or request to book that has been rejected by the host. | An inquiry or request to book that has been rejected by the host. | An inquiry or request to book that has been rejected by the host. | A request to book that has been rejected by the host. |
Withdrawn | withdrawn / booking_request_withdrawn | An inquiry or request to book that has been withdrawn by the guest. | An inquiry or request to book that has been withdrawn by the guest. | An inquiry or request to book that has been withdrawn by the guest. | A request to book that has been withdrawn by the guest. |
Expired | expired / timedout / timeout / reservation_request_expired / payment_request_expired / reservation_pending_voided / spam / pending_voided | An expired inquiry or request to book. | An expired inquiry or request to book. | An expired inquiry or request to book. | An expired request to book. |
"Checkpoint" reservation status
The "checkpoint" status is only relevant to Airbnb reservations and tells us if the guest needs to complete their profile verification on Airbnb. If the guest fails to do this within the allotted time, the reservation or booking request will be voided.
This is only relevant to Airbnb reservations.
Sub-category UI | Sub-category API | What it means for Airbnb | What it means for Booking.com | What it means for Vrbo | What it means for Direct/Manual |
Checkpoint | checkpoint / at_checkpoint | The guest needs to complete their profile verification on Airbnb. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. |
Failed verification | expired / failed_verification / reservation_pending_voided / checkpoint_voided | The guest failed to verify their account in time, meaning the reservation or request was rejected by Airbnb. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. | Not relevant. |
Guest Verification and Reservation Statuses For Direct Premium
If you use Direct Premium with guest verification enabled, your reservations may pass through verification-related statuses. Here's how they differ from standard statuses:
Pending Verification means the reservation is waiting for the guest to complete identity verification. The guest has been sent a verification link and must submit the required checks (ID, selfie, etc.) before the booking can move forward. No action is needed from you at this stage — the system is waiting on the guest.
⚠️ If you see a Pending Verification status, but the guest says they have not received an email, have the guest check Spam/Junk folders first. If they still can't find it, you can send them the Guest Portal link found in the conversation page with the guest in your Hospitable Inbox. They can complete verification via the Guest Portal.
Pending means the guest has completed all required steps (including verification, if applicable), and the reservation is now waiting for you to accept or decline it. If you have Instant Book turned on, this step is handled automatically. If Instant Book is off, you must manually accept the booking.
Key point: Verification completion does not automatically confirm a booking. Verification is a prerequisite — once it passes, the reservation moves to "Pending" (awaiting your acceptance) or is auto-accepted if Instant Book is enabled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My guest's verification shows as complete, but the booking is still "Pending." Why?
Verification and booking acceptance are two separate steps. Verification confirms the guest's identity. After verification passes, the booking still needs to be accepted — either by you manually, or automatically if you have Instant Book turned on. Check your Instant Book settings if you expected the booking to auto-confirm.
Q: What's the difference between "Pending Verification" and "Pending"?
"Pending Verification" means the guest hasn't completed identity verification yet. "Pending" means verification is done (or wasn't required), and the reservation is waiting for you to accept it.
Q: Does verification apply to Booking.com or Airbnb reservations?
No. Guest verification through Hospitable is a Direct Premium feature. Booking.com and Airbnb have their own verification processes managed on their respective platforms. You won't see "Pending Verification" on OTA reservations.
Q: The reservation expired before my guest could finish verification. What can I do?
Direct booking requests have a 24-hour window for the guest to complete all required steps, including verification. If the reservation expired, you can send the guest a new booking request or a custom quote. The guest will need to complete verification again with the new request. Consider adjusting your booking request message to let guests know about the time limit, especially if they're in a different time zone.