CHANNEL MANAGER
iCal calendar synchronization
What iCal is, where it is used and how to export iCal from MyRent
Share availability for apartments, villas and holiday homes through an iCal link. Understand what it transfers, how to set up an export and why a change on one channel does not appear instantly on another.
Most major OTA channels support iCal
Automatic transfer of blocked dates
Works with external calendars
Ideal for smaller portfolios or extra channels
What is iCal?
iCalendar, often called iCal, is a standard format for exchanging calendar information. In short-term rentals, it is mainly used to share booked or blocked dates between systems. The receiving system can display these events as unavailable dates in its own calendar.
ICS is the usual file extension for this format. An iCal link is an address from which another system retrieves a calendar; the address does not have to end in .ics. This is not the same as exchanging a complete reservation through an API.
Where is iCal used?
iCal makes sharing calendars easier when a direct API connection is unavailable or only an availability overview is needed. It reduces manual copying of dates, but delays mean it cannot eliminate every double-booking risk.
OTA and booking channels
Share blocked dates between listings and systems that support calendar imports or exports.
PMS and other systems
Connect availability without a full integration for rates, restrictions and reservation details.
External calendars
View dates in Google Calendar, Outlook or another calendar that supports subscriptions to ICS links.
Booking websites
Share availability with a compatible booking system on your own website.
Important – iCal is not real-time synchronization
A change must be available in the source calendar, and the receiver sees it only after reading the link again. Each OTA or calendar application sets its own refresh interval. MyRent cannot control when another system retrieves the MyRent calendar.
The dates may remain open on another channel in the meantime. Cancellations and date changes can also be delayed. For urgent changes, check the receiving calendar and refresh or block dates manually if the channel supports it.
iCal or MyRent Channel Manager?
Choose the connection based on the information you need to exchange, not just the number of channels. API capabilities depend on each integration.
| Your requirement | iCal | MyRent Channel Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Date availability | ✓ | ✓ |
| Update speed | × | ✓ |
| Rates and restrictions | × | ✓ |
| Reservation and guest details | ×Limited; depends on feed contents | ✓ |
| Main purpose | × | ✓ |
How to export iCal from MyRent
Set up the connection for the correct apartment or accommodation unit. The illustrations explain the process; the controls may look different in your application version.
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1
Find the apartment
Open the property whose availability you want to share. Confirm that you are connecting the correct accommodation unit, not a different listing.
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2
Choose iCal
Open the iCal option for the selected property and find its calendar export link.
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3
Copy the link
Copy the full generated iCal URL, including its parameters. Do not shorten or edit the address manually.
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4
Add it to the receiving system
In the OTA or calendar application, choose calendar import by URL or subscription from the web. Paste the link and save it.
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5
Check blocked dates
After a refresh, compare known bookings, arrival and departure dates, and manual blocks. Check when the calendar was last successfully retrieved.
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6
Keep the link private
Anyone with the link may be able to read the information it publishes. Keep it off public websites, screenshots and publicly shared documents.
Popular channels that support iCal
Most leading OTA platforms allow calendar connections using iCal links.
Frequently asked questions about iCal
Is iCal the same as .ics?
iCalendar is the format and .ics is its usual file extension. An iCal URL provides access to that calendar but does not have to end in .ics.
Do all OTA channels support iCal?
Do not assume every channel or account offers the same capabilities. Check whether your particular listing supports import, export or both. Where an API connection exists, compare its scope with iCal.
Why is a booking not visible on another channel yet?
The receiver may not have refreshed its calendar. Check the complete link, the last successful retrieval and the connection status. Wait for that system's interval or refresh manually if available.
Does iCal transfer prices and all guest information?
OTA iCal connections primarily share blocked dates. A feed may contain basic event descriptions, but it does not replace a full API exchange of prices, restrictions and guest data.
Can I use the same link on several channels?
You can add the same unit's link to several compatible systems. Each retrieves it independently. Do not connect one apartment's calendar to another apartment, or assume the return import is configured automatically.
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