By default, your Guest Portal is available using a Hospitable domain.
If you'd like guests to access your Guest Portal using your own branded URL, such as stay.yourdomain.com or guest.yourdomain.com, you can connect a custom domain from your Guest Portal branding settings.
Your default Hospitable Guest Portal URL will continue to work even after you configure a custom domain.
Looking to set up a custom domain for your Owner Portal instead? See Using a Custom Domain for Your Owner Portal.
The Guest Portal Branding page showing the Domain section with the subdomain field, parent domain dropdown, and DNS Configuration Required panel.
Before You Start
Before configuring a custom domain for your Guest Portal:
You need a domain that you own.
The domain can be managed by Hospitable or an external DNS provider.
If you're using an external DNS provider, you'll need permission to manage DNS records.
If you don't already have a domain or you'd like to purchase one through Hospitable, see: Domains
DNS changes can take several minutes to propagate. Depending on your DNS provider, it may take a few hours before your custom domain becomes available.
Step 1: Open the Guest Portal Branding Settings
Go to Guest Experience → Guest portal.
Select the Branding tab.
Scroll to the Domain section.
Here you can configure the custom domain that guests will use to access your Guest Portal.
Step 2: Choose Your Domain
In the Domain section:
Enter the subdomain you'd like guests to use, such as:
stay
guest
book
Select the parent domain from the dropdown.
You can choose:
A Hospitable-managed domain, which requires no additional DNS configuration.
An externally managed domain, which requires a DNS record to be added with your DNS provider.
If your domain doesn't appear in the list, you'll need to add or purchase it first.
Also see: Domains
Your full Guest Portal URL is displayed beneath the domain fields so you can preview the final address before saving.
The Guest Portal Branding page showing the subdomain field, parent domain selector, and the generated Guest Portal URL preview.
Step 3: Configure DNS (External Domains Only)
If you're using an externally managed domain, Hospitable displays a DNS Configuration Required panel containing the DNS record you need to create.
Add the following record with your DNS provider.
Field | Value |
Type | CNAME |
Name / Host | Your chosen subdomain (for example, stay) |
Value / Points to | stay-custom.hospitable.com |
TTL | 3600 (or your provider's default) |
Enter only the subdomain in the Name / Host field. Most DNS providers automatically append your domain name.
The DNS Configuration Required panel displaying the required CNAME record for connecting a Guest Portal custom domain.
Step 4: Verify Your Custom Domain
After adding the DNS record:
Save your Guest Portal branding settings.
Wait for your DNS changes to propagate.
Visit your custom Guest Portal URL in a browser.
Confirm that your Guest Portal loads successfully.
Once Hospitable detects the CNAME record, an SSL certificate is automatically provisioned for your custom domain.
If you receive a security or certificate warning immediately after setup, wait for the SSL certificate to finish provisioning before trying again.
Troubleshooting
My custom domain isn't loading
Check that:
The DNS record is a CNAME.
The Value is stay-custom.hospitable.com.
The Name / Host contains only your chosen subdomain.
Your DNS changes have finished propagating.
You can also use a public DNS lookup tool to confirm that the CNAME record has propagated.
I see a security or certificate warning
SSL certificates are automatically provisioned after Hospitable detects the correct CNAME record.
If you receive a certificate warning:
Wait for DNS propagation to complete.
Allow additional time for SSL provisioning.
Refresh the page and try again.
If the warning persists after your DNS record has propagated, reconnect the custom domain and try again.
Guests are still seeing the Hospitable Guest Portal URL
Existing Guest Portal links in previously scheduled or already-sent messages continue to use the original Hospitable URL.
New Guest Portal links generated after the custom domain is configured will use your branded domain.
I want to change or remove my custom domain
Go to GX → Guest portal → Branding.
Update either:
the subdomain, or
the parent domain.
Save your changes.
If you're using an external DNS provider, remember to update or remove the previous CNAME record after you've confirmed the new domain is working.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my original Hospitable Guest Portal URL still work?
Yes. Your default Hospitable Guest Portal URL remains available even after you configure a custom domain.
Do I need to manage DNS if my domain is managed by Hospitable?
No. Hospitable automatically configures the required DNS records for Hospitable-managed domains. For more information about purchasing or managing domains through Hospitable, see Domains.
Can I use the same domain for other Hospitable features?
Yes. You can use different subdomains on the same domain for your Guest Portal, Owner Portal, Direct website, and other Hospitable features.
How long does it take before my custom domain works?
Most DNS providers update within 5 to 30 minutes, although some providers may take several hours for DNS changes to fully propagate. SSL provisioning begins automatically after Hospitable detects the correct DNS record.