Question 1

Do I need to download an app?

Accepted Answer

No. Hostivate is fully web-based. Works on any browser — phone, tablet, or laptop. No install needed.

Question 2

Which platforms does Hostivate support?

Accepted Answer

Airbnb, MakeMyTrip, Booking.com, VRBO, and Google Calendar via iCal sync — plus manual and direct bookings. iCal sync works with any platform that exports a calendar URL, and all bookings appear in one place with source labels.

Question 3

What is iCal sync and do I need API approval?

Accepted Answer

iCal sync lets Hostivate pull bookings from any OTA using a standard calendar URL — no special API access or Airbnb approval required. Paste the iCal link from your platform settings and bookings sync automatically every few hours. Add your Hostivate export link back into the OTA and you get full two-way sync: dates booked anywhere get blocked everywhere.

Question 4

What happens if two platforms sell the same night?

Accepted Answer

Hostivate detects the overlap immediately, marks both bookings on your calendar, and sends you an alert with exactly which platforms clashed — so you can cancel one before it becomes a guest-experience disaster.

Question 5

What happens after my 14-day trial?

Accepted Answer

You'll be prompted to subscribe at ₹999/property/month. Your data stays safe either way — we'll never delete it without notice.

Question 6

Can my cleaner use it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. They get a simple portal link via WhatsApp or email — no login, no app download required.

Question 7

How many properties can I manage?

Accepted Answer

As many as you want. Each property is ₹999/month. Manage 1 or 10 — the experience is the same.

Question 8

Can I add bookings manually?

Accepted Answer

Yes! You can add bookings manually for direct bookings or bookings from other platforms. Hostivate handles them just like Airbnb bookings — including check-in, check-out, and cancellation status.

Question 9

Can I see which property is most profitable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The analytics dashboard shows revenue, occupancy rate, and booking count for each property — side by side. You can spot which property earns most and which has gaps to fill.

Question 10

Can I sell experiences and services to my guests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Create a menu of add-ons — sunset tours, airport pickups, breakfast trays, yoga sessions. Guests order from their private portal link. You get notified and confirm each order.

Question 11

Is my data safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We use bank-grade encryption and never share your data with third parties. Your guest data is yours.

Question 12

How do I sync my Airbnb calendar without API access?

Accepted Answer

Airbnb gives every listing an iCal export link under Calendar → Availability → Connect calendars. Copy that link into Hostivate and your reservations and blocked dates import automatically. Then copy Hostivate's export link back into Airbnb so dates booked elsewhere get blocked on Airbnb too. No developer account, no API application, no waiting for approval.

Question 13

How quickly does iCal sync update?

Accepted Answer

iCal is a polling standard, not a live feed — both sides refresh on a schedule rather than instantly. Hostivate re-checks your feeds every few hours, and OTAs typically re-read yours on a similar cycle. That is fine for normal availability management, but for same-day, back-to-back bookings on multiple platforms you should still keep a buffer. Hostivate flags any overlap it detects so you can act before the guest does.

Question 14

Can I use Hostivate for a homestay, villa, or service apartment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Nothing in Hostivate is Airbnb-specific — a property is a property. Homestays, villas, service apartments, farm stays and guest houses all work the same way, whether the booking came from an OTA, a phone call, or your own direct booking page.

Question 15

What if I already use a channel manager?

Accepted Answer

You can run both. Hostivate connects over iCal, so it sits alongside whatever you already have rather than replacing your existing connections. Most hosts who switch do so because they want guest messaging and cleaner coordination in the same place as the calendar.

Question 16

Do I have to charge GST on my bookings?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your turnover and how you are registered — the common thresholds are ₹20 lakh of annual turnover (₹10 lakh in special-category states), and tariff-based slabs apply to the room rate itself. OTAs often collect and remit tax on bookings made through them. Hostivate produces per-property revenue reports with tariff slabs applied so your accountant has clean numbers, but it is not tax advice — confirm your own position with a CA.

Question 17

Is there a free plan?

Accepted Answer

There is a 14-day free trial with no card required, and referring another host adds free days to both accounts. After that it is ₹999 per property per month. We would rather be honestly priced than free-with-a-catch.

	Spreadsheet + WhatsApp	Hotel channel manager	Hostivate
One calendar across every platform	Copy dates by hand from each extranet	Yes, but usually via paid API connections	Two-way iCal sync — no API approval needed
Double-booking protection	You find out when the second guest arrives	Usually included	Overlaps flagged on the calendar the moment they appear
Guest messages	Typed manually, easy to forget at 11pm	Often an add-on module	Scheduled per booking in your own timezone
Cleaner coordination	WhatsApp threads and phone calls	Rarely covered	A link your cleaner opens — no login, no app
Direct bookings	A phone number in your Instagram bio	Booking engine, usually a higher tier	Shareable booking page with discount codes built in
GST-ready revenue reports	Rebuilt by hand every quarter	Hotel-shaped reports	Per-property revenue with tariff slabs applied
What it costs	Free — you pay in hours	Typically several thousand ₹/month, often with setup fees	₹999 per property per month, 14-day free trial

Host more.Worry less.

Everything a host needs

Guest messages that feel personal, sent automatically.

Revenue analytics. Know which property earns.

One calendar. Every property.

Guest directory

iCal sync. No API approval needed.

Guest portal — WiFi, door code, add-ons

All platforms in one dashboard

Direct booking page — zero commission

Sell experiences & add-ons

Collect & showcase reviews

Import listing from URL

Smart pricing rules

Cleaner portal — checklist + photo upload

What hosts are saying

A week in the life

Before Hostivate

After Hostivate

Built for India.Not adapted for it.

Priced in INR

WhatsApp-native

IST-aware scheduling

Up in 10 minutes

Connect your platforms

Set your message templates

Track revenue and guests

Guides for hosts

How to write a guest welcome message that gets 5-star reviews

Pricing your property: seasonal rates, weekday discounts, length-of-stay deals

How to get more direct bookings and avoid platform fees

Setting up your cleaner portal: step-by-step

iCal sync: keep all your calendars in sync without the Airbnb API

Upselling add-ons: how top hosts earn 20% more per booking

How to stop double bookings when you list on multiple platforms

GST for Airbnb hosts in India: what actually applies to you

The complete guide to Airbnb hosting in India

What are platform commissions costing you?

How hosts do this today

Common questions

Simple, honest pricing

Free Trial

Pro

Your guests deserve a 5-star experience.You deserve to sleep.

Host more.
Worry less.

Built for India.
Not adapted for it.

Your guests deserve a 5-star experience.
You deserve to sleep.