After publishing your direct booking site, you can connect your own domain so guests can access your site using your branded URL instead of the default Hospitable subdomain.
This article explains how to connect a custom domain and what to expect during setup.
Before You Start
Make sure:
Your direct booking site is published
You own a domain (e.g., through GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains)
Custom domains can only be connected after your site is published.
How to Connect a Custom Domain
To connect your domain:
Go to Direct Bookings → Websites
Select your site
Open the Domain section
Click Add your own domain
Follow the setup instructions shown in Hospitable
Verify your domain by following the instructions in the verification email sent to you after adding the domain.
Locate the Verification Email: Check your inbox, spam, junk, or promotions folders for an email containing keywords like "ICANN" or "Hospitable." If you cannot find the email, request a new verification email through your Hospitable.com dashboard.
Complete the Verification: Open the email and click the verification link to confirm ownership. If your domain shows a 'Setup Required' status, go to Settings > Domains in your Hospitable.com dashboard. Select the domain and click 'Verify Now' to prompt a new verification email.
Domain settings page in Hospitable with Add your own domain button
Choose Your Setup Method
When connecting your domain, you’ll choose how DNS is managed:
Option 1: Let Hospitable manage DNS (recommended)
Hospitable configures DNS records for you
Faster and simpler setup
You can manage DNS directly within Hospitable
Option 2: Manage DNS yourself
You update DNS records with your domain provider
Requires manual configuration
Gives you full control over your DNS
If you manage DNS yourself, you’ll need to add the correct records exactly as shown in Hospitable.
Domain Types
You can connect:
Root domain
Example:
yourdomain.com
Subdomain
Example:
book.yourdomain.com
Subfolders (e.g., yourdomain.com/book) are not supported.
What Happens After Setup
After connecting your domain:
DNS changes begin to propagate
Your domain starts pointing to your direct booking site
Hospitable provisions an SSL certificate automatically
During this time, domain suspension is lifted, SSL certificates refresh, and DNS caching updates across networks and devices. To confirm that your domain is active:
Test the domain in an incognito/private browser window.
Try accessing the domain on a different browser or device.
Check both the HTTPS and HTTP versions of your website. If your domain is accessible, the verification process is complete. No further action is required.
This process may take:
30 minutes to 2 hours in most cases
Up to 24–48 hours in some cases
During setup, your site may show a temporary security warning until SSL is fully configured.
Common Issues
If your domain is not working:
DNS records may be incorrect or incomplete
There may be conflicting records (e.g., existing A or CNAME records)
DNS propagation may still be in progress
Missing Verification Email: Check spam or junk folders, ensure you are checking the email address registered with your Hospitable.com account, and adjust email filter settings to allow messages from the verification sender.
Domain Still Shows 'Setup Required': Wait a few minutes and try again, as recent changes might still be processing.
Also see: Troubleshooting Domain Connection Issues
Important Things to Know
Your site must be published before connecting a domain
You can use either a root domain or subdomain
Subfolders are not supported
DNS changes may take time to propagate
SSL certificates are automatically created by Hospitable