Guidebooks can be added to the property detail section to share property-specific guidebooks with guests who book that property.
The %guidebook% shortcode is how you share this link with your guests in your guest messages.
Note: Shortcodes like %guidebook% only populate when automated messages are sent. If a template containing this shortcode is manually copied and sent (instead of used in an automated message), the placeholder will remain as plain text. For this reason, you should always add the link manually in this instance.
Add your guidebook link to each property
Log in to your Hospitable account
Navigate to 'Properties' → select the property.
In the sub-navigation, click 'Details'
Select Arrival and look for the section → 'Guidebook'
In the text field next to 'Guidebook', insert your property-specific guidebook URL
Repeat these steps for each property that you have a guidebook URL for
Add the %guidebook% short code to your messaging rules
Navigate to Guest Experience > Messaging
On the Rules tab, Select an existing messaging rule, or + Add new
Note: the%guidebook%short code can only be used in messaging rules for confirmed bookings, and will not be available for inquiries or requests to book.Within your messaging rule, add the
%guidebook%short code, which will be populated with that property's guidebook URL. If the property does not have a guidebook URL, it will remain blank, so make sure that all properties scoped to this messaging rule have a guidebook URL. The%guidebook%short code will contain the guidebook URL only, so it's recommended to add some context in your messaging rule to introduce what the URL is.
Apply a short delay of 5 minutes after a reservation is confirmed to allow sufficient time for third-party platforms to generate guest-specific links. Ensure your messaging rule accommodates this delay.
FAQs
Why is my guidebook link masked, hidden, or blocked when sent to guests?
Double check the following:
Was your guidebook link added to your property on Hospitable following the instructions above?
Was the
%guidebook%short code added to the messaging rule?
If the answer to both is yes, then this is a channel-specific issue. Try sending the link directly to the guest from the channel's messaging system. If it's blocked there, too, it indicates the platform is blocking the URL from the guest. Reach out to their support team for specific instructions to ensure your guests always receive a link; Hospitable is unable to bypass a platform's restrictions.