The Guest Portal is the centralized experience guests use to manage their Direct booking after it has been confirmed. Guests can use it to review reservation details, complete required tasks, manage payments, and communicate with the host.
The portal is entirely web-based, so guests do not need to download an app. Access is provided through a secure link shared by Hospitable.
The content displayed in the Guest Portal updates automatically based on the reservation status and your Direct booking configuration.
What the Guest Portal Is
The Guest Portal is a secure reservation dashboard connected to a specific Direct booking.
Guests can use the portal to:
Review booking details
Complete required registration tasks
Sign rental agreements
Complete guest verification
Manage payments
View house rules and stay information
Contact the host
Purchase upsells
Leave a review after checkout
Guest Portal displaying reservation information, registration tasks, payments, and contact options.
When the Guest Portal Is Used
Before a booking is accepted
Guests do not use the Guest Portal to complete the initial booking process.
The Guest Portal does not support:
Pending booking requests
Quotes awaiting payment
Initial checkout payments
Payment for the original booking happens during the booking flow itself.
Sharing the Guest Portal before a booking is confirmed may confuse guests because payment options for pending reservations are not shown there.
After a booking is accepted
Once the reservation is confirmed:
Guests receive access to the Guest Portal
The portal becomes the main place to manage the reservation
Guests can return to the portal anytime using the original link
The Guest Portal may also be used throughout the stay for communication, payment management, and reviewing stay information.
How Guests Access the Guest Portal
Guests can access the Guest Portal in several ways.
Confirmation email
For Direct bookings, guests receive a Manage my stay button in the confirmation email.
Messaging rules
You can include the %guest_portal% shortcode in messaging rules for accepted bookings.
This allows guests to open the Guest Portal directly from your automated messages.
The %guest_portal% shortcode only works for accepted reservations.
Inbox link
Hosts can also copy the Guest Portal link directly from the Inbox conversation.
The same link can be used to preview the guest experience.
Hospitable Inbox with the option to copy the Guest Portal link.
What Guests Can Do in the Guest Portal
The available sections depend on your Hospitable configuration and reservation setup.
Complete registration tasks
Guests may be required to complete certain steps before check-in.
Guest details
Guests can confirm reservation and contact information.
Guest verification
If enabled, guests can complete identity verification directly from the Guest Portal.
This process may include:
Photo ID upload
Selfie verification
Two-factor authentication
Rental agreements
Guests can review and sign rental agreements directly in the portal.
After signing:
The task is marked complete
Guests can download a signed copy
Security deposits
If security deposits are enabled, guests can review deposit details and provide payment information if required.
Guest Portal checklist showing guest verification, rental agreement, and payment tasks.
View booking details
Guests can review important reservation information, including:
Stay dates
Property information
House rules
Cancellation policy
Property address after confirmation
For confirmed Direct reservations, the property address includes:
Google Maps integration
A copy-to-clipboard option
Manage payments
The Payments section allows guests to manage reservation payments directly from the Guest Portal.
Guests can:
View the reservation total
Review taxes and fees
See completed payments and refunds
Review upcoming scheduled payments
Pay scheduled payments early
Use same or different card for upcoming payments
Guests can also download:
Reservation summary PDFs
Payment receipt PDFs
Guest Portal Payments page displaying reservation totals, completed payments, and scheduled payments.
The Guest Portal only supports scheduled payments after the reservation has been accepted.
View and send messages
Guests can communicate directly with hosts from the Guest Portal using the Contact host button.
Guests can:
Send messages to the host
View previous reservation messages
Access scheduled and automated Inbox messages
Messages sent through the Guest Portal sync directly with the Hospitable Inbox conversation thread.
Guests will continue receiving scheduled and automated messages by email, but they can also review those messages directly inside the Guest Portal.
Viewing message history and scheduled Inbox messages in the Guest Portal is currently available for Direct and manual reservations only.
Guest Portal showing the Contact host conversation view with reservation message history.
Purchase upsells
If upsells are configured, guests can purchase available products and services directly from the Guest Portal.
This may include:
Early check-in
Late check-out
Additional services or experiences
Early check-in and late check-out options only appear within 14 days of check-in and when availability allows.
Cancel booking
Guests can cancel their reservation directly from the Guest Portal.
The refund amount is automatically calculated based on your cancellation policy.
Two-factor authentication is required before cancellation is completed.
Leave a review
After checkout, guests may be prompted to leave a review for their stay.
Guest Communication Through the Portal
The Guest Portal helps centralize reservation communication for Direct bookings.
Guests can:
Access scheduled and automated messages
Continue conversations with the host
Review previous communication related to their stay
All Guest Portal messages sync directly with the Hospitable Inbox.
This allows guests to access important stay communication even if they no longer have the original email notification.
How the Guest Portal Affects Booking Status
Some reservation actions depend on guests completing required tasks in the Guest Portal.
Depending on your configuration:
Reservations may remain incomplete until tasks are finished
Booking confirmation may be delayed
Check-in instructions may not be sent automatically
Required actions may include:
Guest verification
Rental agreement signing
Scheduled payment completion
Security deposit setup
Required tasks must be completed before some automated workflows and check-in instructions can be sent.
What Hosts Should Know
The Guest Portal is designed for post-confirmation reservation management.
Hosts should know:
The portal is not part of the initial booking checkout flow
Initial booking payments happen during checkout, not in the portal
Guests can safely use the portal after confirmation
All Guest Portal activity syncs with the reservation in Hospitable
If a guest is asking how to pay for a pending booking request or quote, direct them back to the original checkout or payment link instead of the Guest Portal.
Key Things to Know
The Guest Portal is used after a Direct booking is confirmed
Guests can manage payments, tasks, and reservation details
Guests can communicate with hosts directly from the portal
Scheduled and automated Inbox messages can also be viewed in the portal
Required tasks may impact booking confirmation and check-in readiness
All Guest Portal activity syncs with Hospitable automatically
Guest Portal overview displaying reservation details, tasks, payments, and messaging options.