BetterSTR connects directly to iGMS so your properties and bookings sync automatically and every guest gets their own digital guidebook link. Unlike most integrations there is no API key to find — iGMS uses a one-click OAuth connection: you sign in to iGMS, approve BetterSTR, and you’re connected. This guide walks you through connecting, what syncs, the iGMS shortcodes you can use in guides, and what to check if something doesn’t look right.
Step 1 — Connect your iGMS account
- In BetterSTR, go to Integrations and choose iGMS, or head straight to the iGMS connection page.
- Click Connect with iGMS. You’ll be sent to iGMS to sign in (if you aren’t already) and approve the connection.
- Approve, and you’re sent straight back to BetterSTR. Your properties and bookings begin syncing immediately.
One integration at a time
A BetterSTR account can be connected to one property management system at a time. If you’re currently connected to another PMS, disconnect it first from the Integrations page before connecting iGMS.
What syncs, and how fast
- Property details — name, address, photo gallery, description, amenities, bedrooms, bathrooms, maximum guests and check-in/check-out times. Photos and the rich description can take a few minutes to land after the first sync while iGMS content is fetched in the background.
- Bookings — guest name, email, phone, party size, stay dates with the exact local check-in and check-out times, and the booking channel (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com or direct).
- Booking changes — new bookings, changes and cancellations arrive in near real-time via iGMS webhooks, with an hourly sync and a daily property refresh as a safety net. You can also pull changes manually any time with the Sync Reservations and Sync Properties buttons on the iGMS page in BetterSTR.
- Guidebook links — every booking automatically gets its own unique guest guidebook link, ready to send with BetterSTR’s SMS and email notifications.
iGMS shortcodes in the guide builder
Once connected, the guide builder’s shortcode menu gains two iGMS categories — iGMS Fields (property-level values such as the property name, check-in and check-out times, maximum guests, currency, your guest-support email and phone, and your rules of stay) and iGMS Res (per-booking values such as the confirmation code, number of guests, booking channel and the exact check-in and check-out date and time). Insert them like any other shortcode, e.g. {{igms_checkin_datetime}}, and they resolve per booking when the guide is viewed.
Troubleshooting
- “iGMS authorization was declined” — the approval was cancelled on the iGMS side. Click Connect with iGMS and approve the request to finish connecting.
- “State mismatch” during connect — the sign-in flow was interrupted (often an expired tab). Start again from the iGMS connection page; it takes seconds.
- A booking change isn’t showing yet — webhook updates normally land within moments, and the hourly sync catches anything missed. If something still hasn’t appeared, open the iGMS page in BetterSTR and click Sync Reservations.
- Photos or description missing right after connecting — property content is fetched in a background queue and usually appears within a few minutes of the first sync.
- The connection stopped syncing — if BetterSTR’s access was revoked inside iGMS, the connection stops working. Reconnect from the iGMS page in BetterSTR — one click through the same approve flow restores it, and nothing in your guides is lost.