What is iCal and how does it work for vacation rentals?
If you list on multiple booking channels, iCal is the backbone of your availability sync. This guide explains what iCal is, how it works, and how hosts use it to avoid double bookings - including how combined-feed export workflows can simplify ongoing calendar management.
What is iCal?
iCal (sometimes called ICS calendar feed) is a standardized format for sharing calendar events. In vacation rentals, those events usually represent booked or blocked dates.
Think of iCal as a shared calendar URL
Each channel can publish a feed URL. Tools like RentalBeam read those URLs and display a unified availability calendar.Why hosts rely on iCal
- Sync availability across multiple booking channels
- Reduce manual date blocking work
- Lower risk of double bookings
- Publish accurate availability on your own website
How iCal sync works, step by step
- 1
A channel publishes an iCal feed URL
Airbnb, VRBO, and other platforms provide export URLs for calendar data.
- 2
You connect feed URLs in your sync tool
RentalBeam reads those feeds and merges blocked/booked dates into one availability state.
- 3
Your website widget displays current availability
Guests see open vs unavailable dates without viewing OTA dashboards.
- 4
Feed updates keep data in sync
When bookings or cancellations occur in source channels, availability updates in your connected calendar widget.
One-way sync vs two-way workflow
Most hosts start with one-way sync: they export an Airbnb or VRBO iCal feed and import it somewhere else. That works, but it can get messy when you manage multiple feeds, owner blocks, Google Calendar, and website availability at the same time.
- One-way sync: export one OTA feed and import it somewhere else
- Combined workflow: import multiple OTA feeds into one tool, then export one combined URL back out again
- Manual owner blocks and maintenance windows can be added before export on plans that support date controls
- Sync-health dashboards help you see which sources are Healthy, Stale, or Error instead of guessing