SMS notifications
What it is
The SMS notifications screen in the website administration. Short messages about a booking that go to guests and to you.
It is part of the Premium plan.
Why you need it
An e-mail can be missed. An SMS about an arrival tomorrow is not missed.
SMS come in addition to e-mails, they do not replace them.
How to switch it on
- In the left menu open SMS notifications.
- Turn on the main Send SMS to guests toggle.
- Below that, switch on the individual messages.
Until you turn the main toggle on, no SMS is sent, even when the individual messages are switched on.
Which messages can be sent
Messages to guests
| Message | When it goes out |
|---|---|
| Booking confirmation | As soon as the booking is created |
| Reminder before arrival | The day before arrival |
| Practical info on arrival day | On the morning of the arrival day |
| Booking cancellation | When a booking is cancelled |
The reminder before arrival is on by default, switch the others on yourself.
Messages to you
| Message | When it goes out |
|---|---|
| New booking | As soon as the booking is created |
| Double booking (conflict) | As soon as a conflict is detected |
The conflict SMS is worth it - it is the one thing that has to be dealt with within hours, not days. See Connecting to Booking and Airbnb.
Where they reach you
In the Messages to you block fill in the Phone number for alerts in
international format, for example +421901123456, and click Save number.
If you leave the field empty, your property's public contact is used. But if the property has no phone number listed, no SMS will reach you - in that case fill the number in.
Preview
Every message has a Preview with sample data. You see exactly what the guest receives.
How many messages you have
In the Message balance block:
| Figure | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Monthly allowance | How many messages are in your plan, and how many you have used |
| Purchased | How many extra you have bought |
| Remaining in total | The sum you actually have |
Purchased messages never expire and carry over to the following months. The monthly allowance renews.
When only a few are left, the system warns you. When the allowance is used up, no further SMS will be sent until you buy more.
Packs are bought on the ubytora.com portal - see
Add-ons and limits.
Recent messages
In the Recent messages block you see what went out and what did not:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sent | The message went out |
| Failed | Sending failed |
| Not sent | Skipped. The system gives the reason - for example a missing phone number. |
Common problems
The SMS notifications item has a padlock. It is part of the Premium plan.
Guests are not getting anything. Check the main Send SMS to guests toggle. Without it nothing goes out.
One particular guest did not get an SMS. Look at the Recent messages block. The most common reason is that the guest has no phone number on the booking - typically on a booking where they did not fill it in.
My allowance is used up. Buy more messages on the portal. Purchased ones do not disappear at the end of the month.
I am not getting SMS but guests are. Fill in the Phone number for alerts in the Messages to you block.
The system will not accept my number. Enter it in international format with
the country code, for example +421901123456.