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Product Updates

Launch Your Direct Booking Website with HostMoat

April 2, 2026 · 5 min read

Platform commissions add up fast. On a $2,000 booking, Airbnb's new unified 15.5% host-only fee takes $310, and VRBO's ~8% (5% commission + 3% payment processing) takes about $160. Multiply that across a full calendar year and you are handing thousands of dollars to platforms that did not manage your property, respond to guest questions, or coordinate your cleaning team. That money is yours to keep — and today, with HostMoat's new Booking Site feature, collecting it directly is easier than ever.

Your Property, Your Brand, Your Page

Every Pro property now gets a hosted booking page at yourslug.hostmoat.com. It's a full-featured listing site: hero photo, property gallery, amenity list, guest capacity, bedrooms and bathrooms, a house rules section pulled from your Guidebook, and a live availability calendar that syncs in real time with your Airbnb and VRBO calendars. Guests see real-time open dates without you lifting a finger to keep it updated.

Inquiry Mode or Instant Book — Your Choice

Not every host wants to automate every booking. Some prefer to review each request, especially for high-demand dates or large groups. That's why the Booking Site supports two modes. Inquiry Only sends guest requests to you for approval before confirming. Instant Book confirms the reservation automatically as soon as the guest completes the form — including any required deposit. Switch between modes from your Booking Site settings at any time.

Automatic Contracts on Every Direct Booking

One of the most time-consuming parts of managing direct bookings is getting a signed rental agreement before the guest arrives. With the Booking Site, you can attach a contract template to your property. When a guest books — whether through Inquiry or Instant Book — HostMoat automatically sends the contract for e-signature. No manual step required. The signed contract is stored on the booking and linked to the guest portal so you can access it any time.

Collect Deposits Without the Friction

Deposits protect you from last-minute cancellations and help guests feel more committed to their booking. The Booking Site lets you configure a deposit amount (or full payment) collected at the time of booking via Stripe. The rest of the payment can be collected later via invoice — or you can use the auto-invoice feature tied to your contract to schedule the balance automatically.

Pro tip: Set up a contract template with auto-invoicing enabled. When a guest books directly and signs the contract, HostMoat creates and sends a deposit invoice immediately and schedules the balance invoice automatically. The entire financial flow runs without any manual work.

Custom Domains

Your hostmoat.com subdomain works great for getting started, but if you want a more professional presence — book.villakaraway.com, for example — Pro subscribers can connect a custom domain. Add a CNAME record at your registrar, enter the domain in Booking Site settings, and HostMoat handles the rest. Your booking page becomes fully branded, with no HostMoat branding visible to guests.

Getting Set Up in Minutes

Go to Guests > Booking Site in your HostMoat dashboard. Choose your slug, set your booking mode and deposit settings, upload your photos, and you're live. The content tab pulls in your property details, amenities, and house rules so you're not starting from scratch. The Preview tab shows you exactly what guests will see before you share the link. Share it in your email signature, your guest communication templates, or your social media bio — wherever past and potential guests will find it.

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