Quote from @Nicole Robbins:
@Ken Boone I'm facing this same decision that you posted about 8 months ago. What did you decide to do and how are things going? Are you still on the GFH standard connection or did you make the change to the upgraded connection?
Nicole, I am still on GFH at this moment with the original connection. I have made the decision to switch to Hospitable, whenever I switch, however let me explain why I have not switched yet.
Back then, we got s notice that GFH was going to force users over to the VRBO API connection. This means, VRBO will no longer collect payments and no longer remit taxes on my behalf in my market. I do NOT want to go that route.
From the research I have done, any PMS that uses the VRBO API is in the same boat. i.e. OwnerRez. I have had extensive conversation with Hospitable and they claim to use an API, but they also emphatically state nothing changes with my VRBO connection. I have confirmed with other Hospitable users that this is in fact true, that nothing changes with your VRBO connection. I am a little perplexed how they claim API connection, yet they don't follow the same rules as the other PMSs. All I can figure is that they are really logging in to VRBO on your behalf so perhaps they are just calling it API.
I have been hesitant to move until I need to. The fact is, even though their support is the worst, I really like the user interface for GFH, I also love the income reports. And quite honestly when it is working, it works very well.
This past week I literally sent a message in to GFH asking on the status of this project is and if I will be forced to move to the VRBO API connection. Here is the response I got back a couple of days ago:
"Thank you for contacting us, Jelica here from Guesty For Hosts Customer Solutions. I hope you are well.
We received your inquiry regarding the Vrbo Standard connection and if you will be forced to move to the Vrbo Api connection.
To answer your questions, yes in the future the standard connection will be phased out and have to migrate to the new connection.
We don't have a specific time frame as to when, rest assured we will provide a heads-up for any updates on this matter and you will receive an email. We understand that some users prefer this connection so for the time being, it will remain the same."
So to me it sounds like this is still a long way off, and they are not sure of their plans.
Now someone told me this last week also, which may or may not be true, but they said they heard that VRBO will be forcing all PMS providers to use the API connection in the future. I have no idea if that is true or not, but if that is the case, then I might be wasting time to move to Hospitable, if 3 months from now it will be forced to use the same API, that puts the billing and tax remittance back on me. I was not able to confirm any of this via google so again could be speculation or flat out not true.
That was a lot but that is where things are with me and this move.
