# Your First 24 Hours in SympleHost ## Why This Checklist Exists The fastest way to get value from SympleHost is not to configure every feature at once. It is to make sure the basics are accurate, connect one real operating workflow, and give your team a clear place to work from. Use this as your first-day path. --- ## Hour 1: Make the Account Correct 1. Click your **profile photo or name** in the top right, then open **Settings → General**. 2. Confirm your workspace name, country, currency, timezone, date format, and time format. 3. Add your logo if you have one ready. 4. Open **Settings → Company** and confirm your legal and business details. 5. Open **Settings → Profile** and add your name, photo, and preferred language. This prevents confusing currency, date, and timezone issues later. --- ## Hours 1-3: Add One Accurate Listing Start with one property before importing or connecting everything. 1. Open **Listings**. 2. Click **+ New Property**. 3. Choose the setup path that matches how you already take bookings: - **Airbnb Import** for most hosts who already have a live Airbnb listing. This is the fastest way to bring in listing details, photos, calendar information, and booking history. - **Manual** only if you are starting fresh, running a fully direct-booking business, or do not have an OTA listing to import yet. 4. Check the listing name, address, capacity, photos, amenities, and cancellation policy. 5. Save the listing before moving to pricing. After the listing exists in SympleHost, use **Channel Manager** to connect other OTAs such as **Booking.com**, **Expedia**, **Agoda**, **VRBO**, **MakeMyTrip**, or **Trip.com**, depending on what is enabled for your account. If you want to start from **Booking.com**, go to **Channel Manager**, choose **Booking.com**, then follow the setup checklist. In the Booking.com Extranet, change the connectivity provider to **Channex.io** first, then return to SympleHost to enter the Hotel ID and complete room mapping. --- ## Hours 3-5: Check Pricing and Calendar 1. Open the listing. 2. Go to **Price Settings**. 3. Set the standard nightly rate. 4. Add any seasonal or event-based rates you already know. 5. Open the **Pricing Calendar** and make sure the correct rates appear on the correct dates. 6. Open **Calendars** and check that unavailable or booked nights look right. Do not connect more channels until your pricing and availability are correct. --- ## Hours 5-8: Connect Guest Messages 1. Open **Settings → Integrations** or **Messages → Integrations**. 2. Connect the channel your guests actually use first, usually WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Gmail, or OTA messaging depending on your account setup. 3. Send a test message from another account or phone. 4. Open **Messages** and confirm the message appears. 5. Reply from SympleHost so you know the full loop works. Once messages are flowing, your team has one inbox to work from instead of separate apps. --- ## Hours 8-12: Set Autopilot to Suggestion Mode 1. Open **Messages → Autopilot**. 2. Choose **Suggestion** first. 3. Review a few suggested replies before using full auto-reply. 4. Keep sensitive guests, owner contacts, complaints, and unusual requests on manual handling. Autopilot works best when your property information, house rules, and operating notes are clear. --- ## Hours 12-18: Invite Your Team and Assign Work 1. Open **Settings → Team Members**. 2. Invite managers, booking coordinators, cleaners, or maintenance staff. 3. Use the narrowest role that fits the person's job. 4. Open **Operations** and create one real task, such as a cleaning task for the next checkout. 5. If your workflow repeats, create a reminder or automation after you confirm the manual version works. --- ## Hours 18-24: Prepare Direct Bookings Before you send guests to a direct booking link: 1. Open **Settings → Payment Gateway** and connect the gateway available for your country. 2. Review **Settings → Direct Bookings → Deposits**. 3. Review cancellation policies, fees, taxes, and guest contact settings. 4. If websites are enabled for your account, open **Websites** and review your direct booking site. 5. Create a test quotation or manual reservation to check the payment and confirmation flow. --- ## Day-One Success Looks Like This By the end of the first 24 hours, you should have: - One accurate listing - Correct pricing and calendar availability - One connected guest messaging channel - Autopilot set to suggestion mode - The right team members invited - One real operations task created - Payment and direct booking settings reviewed before going live --- ## Related Articles - [Welcome to SympleHost](/getting-started/welcome-to-symplehost/) - [Adding a Listing Manually](/getting-started/adding-a-listing-manually/) - [How to Import or Connect Listings from an OTA](/getting-started/import-listings-from-ota/) - [Connecting Messaging Integrations](/platform-guides/connecting-messaging-integrations/) - [Autopilot, Automated Messages, and Concierge](/platform-guides/setting-up-autopilot/)