We have an update involving Google VR (Vacation Rentals). Recognising the potential and demand for this platform, we have embarked on a beta phase to understand Google VR in more detail.

Currently, Google VR isn’t generating the expected booking volume, and we’re conscious that it might not offer immediate returns for your business. Instead, we have chosen to conduct a beta project to thoroughly review the data and user engagement. This approach allows us to be transparent about the current performance of Google VR and ensures that our development efforts are efficiently allocated.

While we acknowledge the demand for Google VR, we believe our development capacity can be better utilised by focusing on SuperControl’s UI and other integrations. Rest assured, we are closely monitoring the situation and continue to work on optimising Google VR in the background. Your patience and understanding during this beta phase are greatly appreciated as we strive to deliver the best possible solutions.

In our previous update, we mentioned our ongoing development of the new APIs for Awaze, which drives Cottages.com & Hoseasons. This project experienced a brief pause but has since progressed through extensive testing phases.

We are now in the final stages of preparing for the migration of all our clients to the new APIs. Although the full implementation hasn’t happened yet, significant work has been done behind the scenes.

Given the progress made, we wanted to bring this to your attention again and reassure you that we are diligently working towards a smooth transition. Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated as we complete this crucial update. The upgrade will feature real-time booking updates and enhanced control over cancellations, providing you with more flexibility and efficiency in managing bookings. This means you will no longer have to contact Cottages.com to amend any bookings. Stay tuned for the release of these exciting enhancements!

Our Compliance API project has been a significant focus since last year. This project addresses licencing regulations in the law for self catering holiday lets, ensuring we meet the requirements which are now set by major channels like Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo through their API's.

Here are the key changes either already implemented or pending release:

• EPC and Property Licence Number in Property Settings (Live): This feature is already live, allowing you to add these details directly in the property settings.
• EPC and Property Licence Number in Owner Login (Live): If you have owner settings configured to allow owners to add and edit properties.
• Backend Tool for API Monitoring (Coming Soon): Our developers have built a tool to monitor the main channel APIs (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo). This tool alerts us if new fields become required, allowing us to quickly react and add these fields to property settings. This feature is location-specific, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
• New Compliance Section for Each Channel (Coming Soon): You will have the option to stop sending compliance information from SuperControl if you prefer to manage it directly within the channel.
• Clear Compliance Requirements and Alerts (Coming Soon): Each compliance section for the channels will clearly show what is required and alert/validate if any information is missing, enabling clients to fill in the necessary data.

We appreciate your patience as we finalise this project, ensuring we meet the evolving compliance requirements of major booking channels.

We’ve recently made several important updates to our integration with Loqate postcode lookup in SuperControl.

Our latest improvements focus on the user interface of the booking cart. The updated UI now clearly indicates when the "find" button has been clicked, reducing confusion and preventing users from mistakenly thinking an address has been found when it hasn't. This enhancement helps create a smoother experience for both guests and you.

Additionally, we've strengthened the system's security to prevent abuse by computer bots, which previously led to unnecessary credit usage. These technical changes ensure that clients are not charged for credits due to such misuse, making the system more secure and cost-effective.

We've made important enhancements to our Booking Leadtime Report in SuperControl, found under “Statistics > Booking Leadtime.” We noted that some accounts faced issues with timeouts and slow loading times, making the report difficult to use. With the recent improvements, the report now loads instantly and offers better filtering options, making it accessible and efficient for all users.

We are in the process of integrating Airbnb-specific discounts into our APIs, aimed at enhancing listing performance. Airbnb has found that these discounts can significantly improve visibility and occupancy rates. Here’s what we have in store:

New Listing Promotion

The new listing promotion allows you to apply a 20% discount to eligible listings for the first three bookings. To qualify, a listing must have fewer than three bookings and have smart pricing disabled. This promotion helps your listings stand out, especially during shoulder seasons, and there’s no commitment—you can opt out anytime if the promotion doesn’t meet your expectations.

How it works:

• Apply the promotion, and your first three bookings will receive a 20% discount.
• This special offer can attract new guests and help you gather the three reviews needed for a star rating.
• Data from the second half of 2023 shows that approximately 50% of listings with a first booking had a New Listing Promotion applied.

Upcoming Discounts

Following the launch of the New Listing Promotion, we will be working on integrating Early Bird and Last-Minute discounts. These targeted promotions will offer additional ways to enhance your listing’s performance and increase occupancy.

These new features aim to help you attract guests more quickly and maximise your occupancy rates. Stay tuned for more updates as we roll out these new tools.

Approximately 35% of visitors to the housekeeper login choose to do so on mobile. However, the current mobile experience can be challenging to navigate.

We’re developing an updated Housekeeper Login to ensure navigation is clear, simple, and user-friendly on mobile devices. This makeover will focus on design changes to enhance the mobile experience. The new design will also be available on desktop, ensuring a consistent experience across devices.

What’s Changed?

Unified Reporting: We’ve merged the 'Arrival and Departures' report, the daily report, and the add booking notes tab into a single, easy-to-navigate page. Housekeepers will be directed to a filter page where they can view all necessary information in one place.

Simplified Form: A simple report to view arrivals and departures with the ability to:

• Set a clean status
• Set occupied status
• Add & Edit booking notes

These changes aim to provide a smoother, more intuitive mobile experience for housekeepers, making it easier for them to perform their tasks efficiently.