Domain forwarding (also called a redirect) allows you to send visitors from one domain to another automatically. This is useful if you own multiple domains or want to guide guests to a single primary booking site.
This article explains how domain forwarding works, when to use it, and what to expect when setting it up.
What Domain Forwarding Does
When a domain is forwarded, anyone who visits that domain is automatically redirected to a different URL.
For example:
A guest visits yourbrandrentals.com
They are redirected to book.yourbrand.com
This helps consolidate traffic and ensures guests always land on the correct site.
When to Use Domain Forwarding
Domain forwarding is useful when:
You own multiple domains and want to use only one as your main site
You want to redirect a shorter or more memorable domain
You are rebranding and need to send traffic from an old domain to a new one
You want to avoid maintaining multiple versions of the same site
Domain Forwarding vs Connecting a Domain
It’s important to understand the difference:
Connecting a domain → Links your domain directly to your Hospitable site so it becomes your live booking website
Forwarding a domain → Redirects visitors to another domain (it does not host your site)
You must connect a domain to Hospitable if you want it to display your direct booking site. Forwarding alone will not publish your site.
Also see: How to Connect a Custom Domain to Your Site
How Domain Forwarding Works
Domain forwarding is set up with your domain provider (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains), not in Hospitable.
The general process is:
Log in to your domain provider
Find your domain’s DNS or forwarding settings
Set up a redirect to your destination URL
Save and apply the changes
DNS and forwarding changes can take time to update. It may take a few minutes up to 24–48 hours for the redirect to start working.
If your domain is managed by Hospitable
If your domain was purchased through or transferred to Hospitable, you can set up forwarding directly inside Hospitable — no external registrar needed.
Go to Settings → Domains and select your domain
In the DNS Records section, click Add Record
Set the record type to URL
Enter your destination URL in the value field (e.g.
https://book.yourdomain.com)Save your changes
Changes typically take effect within 5–30 minutes, though it can take up to 24 hours in some cases.
Types of Redirects
Most providers offer different types of redirects:
Permanent (301) → Recommended for most cases; signals that the redirect is permanent
Temporary (302) → Used when the redirect is short-term
If you're unsure, use a 301 redirect.
Important Considerations
SEO and indexing
Search engines may treat forwarded domains differently than connected domains
A 301 redirect helps preserve search ranking signals
URL behavior
Some forwarding setups change the URL in the browser
Others may “mask” the destination URL (not recommended)
Avoid masked forwarding. It can cause issues with SEO, tracking, and user trust.
Common Issues
Redirect not working
DNS changes may still be propagating
Forwarding may not be fully configured at your provider
Redirect loop
Happens when domains point to each other incorrectly
Wrong destination
Double-check the URL you entered in your forwarding settings
Best Practices
Use one primary domain for your direct booking site
Forward all secondary domains to that primary domain
Use 301 redirects for long-term forwarding
Test your domain after setup
Key Things to Know
Domain forwarding for externally managed domains is configured at your domain provider
Hospitable-managed domains can be configured in Settings → Domains.
It redirects traffic but does not host your site
You still need to connect a domain to publish your booking site
Changes may take time to propagate depending on your provider